Sensor for measuring shear forces

• US 6,955,094 B1
• Filed: 07/18/2003
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Great Lakes Neurotechnologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cleveland Medical Devices Inc.
• Inventors: Tarler, Matthew David
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ellington, Alandra
• Application Number:
  US10/622,751
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 73841-854
• US Class Current: 73/841
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 1/02 Foot-measuring devices measuring the shape, pattern or size of the body for diagnostic purposes A61B5/103, e.g. measuring physical dimensions A61B5/107
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1126 using a particular sensing technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/68 Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6802 Sensor mounted on worn items
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/00 Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/60 muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/00 Specific ball sports not provided for in A63B2102/00 - A63B2102/38
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/20 by measuring variations in ohmic resistance of solid materials or of electrically-conductive fluids of piezo-resistive materials G01L1/18; by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/228 using tactile array force sensors

Abstract

The present invention is related to a sensor for simultaneously measuring both normal and shear forces applied to two or more flexible sensors, and further a statically responsive sensor for measuring shear forces. The present invention further includes a method of designing an object, prototype or a device using these sensors to detect both shear and normal forces encountered at the sensor locations.

Claims

1. A method of designing an object or device comprising the steps of:

applying at least two flexible, compliant sensors capable of simultaneously measuring both shear and normal forces, to locations on a prototype design of an object or device being designed;

using the prototype design with the applied sensors in at least one application or test over a test period of time;

measuring both the shear and the normal forces encountered at the sensor locations of the prototype design over at least part of the test time period; and

modifying the design of the object or device in part based on the forces encountered by the prototype design during the application or test.

2. The method in claim 1, wherein the sensor is statically responsive.

3. The method in claim 2, wherein the object or device is a medical device.

4. The method in claim 2, wherein the object or device is athletic footwear.

5. The method in claim 2, wherein the object or device is consumer goods.

6. The method in claim 5, wherein the consumer goods are automobiles.

7. The method in claim 5, wherein the consumer goods are household furnishings.

8. The method in claim 4, wherein the application is a sporting event.

9. The method in claim 3, wherein the application is use by a patient.

10. The method in claim 5, wherein the application is use by a typical consumer.