System and method for measuring plantar foot pressure

• US 7,337,680 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2003
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott Kantro
• Original Assignee: Scott Kantro
• Inventors: Kantro, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAVIS, OCTAVIA L
• Application Number:
  US10/538,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20070137295A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 738/623.91
• US Class Current: 73/862.391
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/06 by measuring the permanent deformation of gauges, e.g. of compressed bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/247 using distributed sensing elements, e.g. microcapsules along a single optical fibre G01L1/242

Abstract

A measuring device (10) is used for generating an imprint of a patient'"'"'s foot. The imprint includes a first set of at least two differentiable color density markings. The first set of differentiable density markings each correspond to a different pressure exerted on the measuring device by different areas of the patient'"'"'s foot. A calibration card (50) is provided with an indicia including a set of at least two differentiable density markings. Each differentiable density marking in the second set of differentiable density markings on the calibration card has a viewing opening (56) disposed within, such that when the viewing openings in the calibration card are placed over the imprint of the patient'"'"'s foot, the first set of different density markings from the imprint are viewable through the viewing openings so that they are readably comparable to the second set of differentiable density markings in the indicia on the calibration card.

Claims

1. A device for measuring plantar foot pressure, said device comprising:

a measuring device for generating an imprint of a patient'"'"'s foot, said imprint including a first set of at least two differentiable color density markings, said first set of differentiable density markings each corresponding to a different pressure exerted on said measuring device by different areas of the patient'"'"'s foot; and

a calibration card having an indicia thereon, said indicia including a second set of at least two differentiable color density markings, corresponding to said first set of differentiable density markings with like density markings referring to like pressure exerted on said measuring device, wherein each differentiable density marking in said second set of differentiable density markings on said calibration card has a viewing opening disposed within, such that when said viewing openings in said calibration card are placed over said imprint of said patients foot, the first set of differential density markings from said imprint are viewable through said viewing openings so that they are readily comparable to said second set of differentiable density markings in said indicia on said calibration card, allowing the pressure exerted by the patient'"'"'s foot on a particular area of said imprint to be determined.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said measuring device is a multi layered ink impression device.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said measuring device is disposable.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first set of differentiable density markings on said imprint of the patient'"'"'s footprint is a grayscale image.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein lighter regions in said grayscale depict areas of low pressure and wherein darker areas in said grayscale depict areas of higher pressure.

6. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said grayscale measures plantar foot pressure in the range of 0 kg/cm2 in white to 15 kg/cm² measured in black.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second set of differentiable density markings in said indicia on said calibration card is a grayscale.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said each of said markings in said indicia grayscale correspond to a particular range of pressure.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of said markings in said indicia grayscale, corresponding to a particular range of pressures, each maintain its own viewing opening.

10. A method for measuring plantar foot pressure, said method comprising the steps of:

generating an imprint of a patient'"'"'s foot using a measuring device, where said imprint includes a first set of at least two differentiable color density markings, said first set of differentiable density markings each corresponding to a different pressure exerted on said measuring device by different areas of the patient'"'"'s foot;

placing a calibration card over said imprint of said patients foot, said calibration card having an indicia thereon including a second set of at least two differentiable color density markings, corresponding to said first set of differentiable density markings with like density markings referring to like pressure exerted on said measuring device, wherein each differentiable density marking in said second set of differentiable density markings on said calibration card has a viewing opening disposed within; and

determining the pressure exerted by the patient'"'"'s foot on a particular area of said imprint using a calibration card, such that when said viewing openings in said calibration card are placed on said imprint, the first set of differential density markings from said imprint are viewable through said viewing openings so that they are readily comparable to said second set of differentiable density markings in said indicia on said calibration card for comparison.