Sensor shoe for monitoring the condition of a foot

• US 5,929,332 A
• Filed: 08/15/1997
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Norma Brown
• Original Assignee: Norma Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Norma
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Harshad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clark, Robin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/915,535
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 73/172, 600/592, 36/136, 36/139
• US Class Current: 73/172
• 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 3/00 Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
• 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: A43B 7/147 for sick or disabled persons, e.g. persons having osteoarthritis or diabetes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies

Abstract

A sensor shoe attached to a power source for sensing conditions of a foot positioned within the sensor shoe. The sensor shoe includes a base, a foot receiving portion extending from the base and an inner sole positioned within the foot receiving portion and atop the base. The inner sole includes a plurality of sensors positioned about an area of the inner sole for sensing conditions within the foot receiving portion and generating signals representative of the sensed conditions. A microcomputer is connected to receive the generated signals from the plurality of sensors and analyzes the signals to determine if a critical situation exists. A medication reservoir containing medication therein is connected to the microcomputer for releasing the medication upon a determination by the microcomputer that a critical situation exists.

Claims

1. A sensor shoe attached to a power source for sensing conditions of a foot positioned within said sensor shoe, said sensor shoe comprising a base, a foot receiving portion extending from said base and an inner sole positioned within said foot receiving portion and atop said base, comprising:

a) a plurality of sensors positioned about an area of said inner sole, heel and toes for sensing a number of conditions within said foot receiving portion and generating signals representative of the sensed conditions;

b) a microcomputer connected to receive said generated signals from said plurality of sensors for analyzing said signals by comparing the measured values to certain threshold values to determine if treatment of said foot with medication is required due to existence of a critical situation; and

c) a digital display comprising a light emitting diode positioned on the outer side of said foot receiving portion and connected to said microcomputer for displaying a message indicative of the conditions analyzed by said microcomputer, said display including an alarm for indicating a condition requiring attention.

2. The sensor shoe as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of sensors include a plurality of area sensors positioned all about a periphery of said inner sole.

3. The sensor shoe as recited in claim 2, wherein said plurality of sensors further include a plurality of toe sensors positioned at a front side of said inner sole for sensing conditions about toes of the wearer.

4. The sensor shoe as recited in claim 3, wherein said plurality of sensors further include a plurality of heel sensors positioned at a back side of said inner sole for sensing conditions about a heel of the wearer.

5. The sensor shoe as recited in claim 4, wherein said plurality of sensors sense degeneration of foot tissue of the wearer.

6. The sensor shoe as recited in claim 5, wherein said plurality of sensors sense a temperature of the foot of the wearer.

7. The sensor shoe as recited in claim 6, wherein said plurality of sensors sense an amount of moisture surrounding the foot of the wearer.

8. The sensor shoe as recited in claim 7, further comprising an outer sensor positioned on an outer side of said foot receiving portion for measuring a temperature outside said foot receiving portion and transmitting a signal indicative of said sensed temperature to said microcomputer.

9. The sensor shoe as recited in claim 1 having a reservoir containing a medication for use when a critical situation exists.

10. The sensor shoe as recited in claim 9 in which said reservoir includes a medication bladder and an applicator.

11. The method of monitoring the foot of a diabetic for foot injury in a shoe comprising the steps of:

a) mounting in said shoe a plurality of sensors for sensing conditions of the foot when positioned within said shoe, said shoe comprising a base and an inner sole positioned atop said base, said plurality of sensors positioned about an area of said inner sole, heel and toes for sensing a number of conditions to which said foot is exposed and generating signals representative of the sensed conditions;

b) installing in said shoe a microcomputer connected to receive said generated signals from said plurality of sensors for analyzing said signals by comparing the measured values to certain threshold values to determine if treatment of said foot with medication is required due to existence of a critical situation;

c) mounting on the outside of said shoe a digital display comprising a light emitting diode positioned on the outer side of said shoe and connected to said microcomputer for displaying a message indicative of the conditions analyzed by said microcomputer, said display including an alarm for indicating a condition requiring attention; and

d) inserting said foot into said shoe thereby enabling the monitoring of said foot.