Capacitive biofeedback sensor with resilient polyurethane dielectric for rehabilation

• US 5,775,332 A
• Filed: 06/06/1995
• Issued: 07/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Preventive Medical Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Preventive Medical Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Goldman, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIMELL, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US08/467,744
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 128/774, 128/779, 128/782, 390/573, 73/172
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/00 Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/00 Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0214 Capacitive electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/225 of the fingers, e.g. by monitoring hand-grip force
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/905 Feedback to patient of biological signal other than brain electric signal

Abstract

A capacitive biofeedback sensor including a polyurethane dielectric sandwiched between two wire mesh or carbon impregnated silicone rubber conductors. The sensor is placed within a patient'"'"'s shoe, boot, ankle, brace, crutch, hand grip, wheelchair, etc., and provides biofeedback to help patients relearn function or prevent complications that impede function.

Claims

1. A pressure pad feedback device comprising:

(a) upper and lower dielectric means, said dielectric having almost zero hysteresis and creep and having a very high resilience, sensitivity and dynamic response;

(b) an upper conductor, a middle conductor, and a lower conductor, wherein said upper conductor is separated from said middle conductor by said upper dielectric means, wherein said middle conductor is separated from said lower conductor by said lower dielectric means, and wherein said upper, middle, and lower conductors comprise carbon impregnated silicone rubber;

(c) electronic means connected to said upper, middle and lower conductors, wherein upon compression of said upper and lower dielectric means, said electronic means detects and measures the capacitance between said upper, middle and lower conductors and compares said capacitance with a preset value set within said electronic means; and

(d) feedback means for imparting information to a user according to the relation between said capacitance and said preset value.

2. A pressure pad feedback device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

(a) a buzzer, wherein said buzzer emits auditory tones according to the relation between said capacitance and said preset value, thereby imparting auditory feedback to a user.