SYSTEM, GARMENT AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A system that is worn by a person to monitor or sense pressure either separately or in combination with any one or more of temperature, stress, strain, angulation or a physiological condition such as the make up of sweat or body exudate, the system including:
- a) a flexible substrate that can be worn by, or fitted directly or indirectly to surfaces of a user subject to loads or pressure such as, but by no means limited to feet, or stumps of a limb of an amputee; and
b) one or more than one pressure sensor is either integrally incorporated into the substrate, fixed to the substrate or movably connected to the substrate,whereby, when the substrate is fitted or worn to the user, each pressure sensor is able to be positioned at desired locations on the surfaces of the user.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a system and garment that incorporates sensors that can be used for measuring or monitoring pressure or forces in feet, the stumps of limbs of an amputee that are fitted with prosthetic devices, or any other parts of the body that are subject to forces such as the buttock while seated or when external pressure inducing devices are employed, such as for example, pressure bandages. The invention also relates to a method to monitor or diagnose any foot or limb related activity for recreational, sporting, military or medical reasons and is particularly aimed at the treatment of neuropathic or other degenerating conditions.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system that is worn by a person to monitor or sense pressure either separately or in combination with any one or more of temperature, stress, strain, angulation or a physiological condition such as the make up of sweat or body exudate, the system including:
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a) a flexible substrate that can be worn by, or fitted directly or indirectly to surfaces of a user subject to loads or pressure such as, but by no means limited to feet, or stumps of a limb of an amputee; and b) one or more than one pressure sensor is either integrally incorporated into the substrate, fixed to the substrate or movably connected to the substrate, whereby, when the substrate is fitted or worn to the user, each pressure sensor is able to be positioned at desired locations on the surfaces of the user.
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2. A system that is worn by a person to monitor or sense pressure either separately or in combination with any one or more of temperature, stress, strain, angulation or a physiological condition such as the make up of sweat or body exudate, the system including:
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a) a flexible substrate that can be worn by, or fitted directly or indirectly to surfaces of a user subject to loads or pressure such as, but by no means limited to feet, or stumps of a limb of an amputee; and b) one or more than one pressure sensor is either integrally incorporated into the substrate, fixed to the substrate or movably connected to the substrate, wherein the substrate and pressure sensors can be worn directly or indirectly against surfaces of the user and the sensors can be positioned at desired locations without causing an increase in pressure in the surfaces of the sensors. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. (canceled)
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23. A garment that is worn by a user to monitor or sense pressure either separately or in combination with any one or more of temperature, stress, strain, angulation or a physiological condition such as the make-up of sweat or exudate of the user, the system including:
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a) a flexible substrate that can be worn by, or fitted directly or indirectly to surfaces of a user subject to pressure or forces such as, but by no means limited to feet, or stumps of a limb of an amputee; and b) one or more than one discrete pressure sensor that is either integrally incorporated into the substrate, fixed to the substrate or movably connected to the substrate, wherein the substrate and sensors can be worn directly or indirectly against surfaces of the user and the sensors can be positioned at desired locations without causing an increase in pressure in the load bearing surfaces as result of the presence of the pressure sensors.
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24. A method of monitoring or treating a patient, the method including the steps of:
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placing a pressure sensitive garment, sleeve or bandages in contact with the buttock, hand, foot or limb of a patient; and monitoring the pressure readings attributable to either the weight of the patient or the pressure applied externally to the patient, for example, the pressure gradient applied by pressure bandages to a limb of a patient. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification