Foot pressure alert and sensing system

• US 7,726,206 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2007
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abena Holding A/S (Abena A/S), Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Medisens Wireless, Inc., Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Noshadi, Hyduke, Dabiri, Foad, Massey, Tammara, Terrafranca, Nicholas A. Jr., Collins, Eric, Sarrafzadeh, Majid
• Primary Examiner(s): NOORI, MAX H
• Application Number:
  US11/934,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20080287832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 73862041-862046
• US Class Current: 73/862.041
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/00 Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
• 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 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait

Abstract

This invention relates to a system that continuously monitors pressure and force on the foot, analyzes and visualizes the pressure and force exerted on said foot in real-time. The invention measures pressure and force applied to a plurality of sensors placed in various points of an orthotic, shoe, shoe lining, insert, sock or sock type device. If the sensors detect pressure or force, the sensors send a signal to a microcomputer processor located in the shoe that subsequently analyzes and sends the data wireless to either a handheld electronic device, a personal computer, an electronic data capture system or a software program. The handheld electronic device or the personal computer then displays the data to an operator of the device or computer instantaneously; while the data capture system or program forwards the information to a handheld device and/or personal computer.

Claims

1. Footwear capable of sensing and alerting a user to pressure upon a foot comprising:

a plurality of primary pressure sensors located in the footwear;

a plurality of secondary pressure sensors located in the footwear, and adapted to be activated only when one or more of the primary pressure sensors are defective; and

a medical node located in the footwear connected to the primary pressure sensors and the secondary pressure sensors, the medical node receiving data from the primary pressure sensors and the secondary pressure sensors, processing the data to generate pressure data, and transmitting the pressure data.

2. The footwear of claim 1 wherein the medical node transmits the pressure data to a base station.

3. The footwear of claim 2 wherein the base station analyzes the pressure data and generates an event alert if a predetermined condition occurs.

4. The footwear of claim 3 wherein a predetermined condition occurs when the pressure data indicates that there is pressure above a predetermined level and for longer than a predetermined time period at one or more of the plurality of primary pressure sensors.

5. The footwear of claim 3 wherein the event alert includes a media alert to an electronic device.

6. The footwear of claim 3 wherein the event alert includes a text message to a mobile phone.

7. The footwear of claim 2 wherein the base station calibrates the medical node and the pressures sensors.

8. The footwear of claim 1 wherein a rechargeable battery is connected to the medical node.

9. A system for sensing and alerting a user to pressure upon a foot comprising:

footwear containing a plurality of primary pressure sensors, a plurality of secondary pressure sensors and a medical node connected to the primary pressure sensors, and the secondary pressure sensors, one or more of the secondary pressure sensors being activated only when one or more of the primary pressure sensors become defective, the medical node receiving data from the primary pressure sensors and the secondary pressure sensors and processing the received data to generate pressure data; and

a first base station connected to the medical node to receive the pressure data, the first base station adapted to analyze the pressure data and generate an event alert when the pressure data indicates that there is pressure above a predetermined level or for longer than a predetermined time period at one or more of the pressure sensors.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the first base station includes a data storage module to store the pressure data received from the medical node.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the event alert includes a media alert to an electronic device.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the event alert includes a text message to a mobile phone.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the base station calibrates the medical node, the primary pressures sensors, and the secondary pressure sensors.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein a rechargeable battery is connected to the medical node.

15. The system of claim 9 further comprising a second base station connected to the first base station.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the base station communicates with the medical node with a variable level of security depending on a desired security level.

17. The system of claim 9 wherein the predetermined event occurs when the pressure data indicates that there is pressure above a predetermined level or for longer than a predetermined time period at one or more of the plurality of pressure sensors.

18. The system of claim 9 wherein the footwear is an insert for a shoe.

19. The system of claim 9 wherein the footwear is a sole of a shoe.