System, garment and method
First Claim
1. A system that is wearable by a person to monitor or sense pressure, the system including:
- a) a flexible substrate in the form of a garment that can be worn by or fitted directly or indirectly to surfaces of the person; and
b) at least one pressure sensor integrally incorporated into the substrate, with leads extending from each pressure sensor, the leads terminating in contact surfaces located on an external surface of the flexible substrate and spaced a distance from an edge boundary of the flexible substrate.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a system and garment that incorporates sensors that can be used for measuring or monitoring pressure or forces in feet, the stumps of limbs of an amputee that are fitted with prosthetic devices, or any other parts of the body that are subject to forces such as the buttock while seated or when external pressure inducing devices are employed, such as for example, pressure bandages. The invention also relates to a method to monitor or diagnose any foot or limb related activity for recreational, sporting, military or medical reasons and is particularly aimed at the treatment of neuropathic or other degenerating conditions.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A system that is wearable by a person to monitor or sense pressure, the system including:
-
a) a flexible substrate in the form of a garment that can be worn by or fitted directly or indirectly to surfaces of the person; and b) at least one pressure sensor integrally incorporated into the substrate, with leads extending from each pressure sensor, the leads terminating in contact surfaces located on an external surface of the flexible substrate and spaced a distance from an edge boundary of the flexible substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A garment that is wearable by a user to monitor or sense pressure either separately or in combination with any one or more of temperature, stress, strain, angulation, sweat composition or a physiological condition, the system including:
-
a) a flexible substrate that can be worn by, or fitted directly or indirectly to surfaces of a user subject to pressure or forces; and b) at least one discrete pressure sensor that is integrally incorporated into the substrate having conductive leads that are sewn, knitted or woven to the substrate and terminate in contact surfaces located on an external surface of the substrate and spaced a distance from an edge boundary of the substrate, wherein the substrate and sensors can be worn directly or indirectly against surfaces of the user and the sensors can be positioned at desired locations without causing an increase in pressure on load bearing surfaces as result of the presence of the pressure sensors.
-
-
28. A method of monitoring a subject, the method including the steps of:
-
placing a garment comprising a flexible substrate having one or more discrete pressure sensor(s) with conductive leads terminating in contact surfaces located on an external surface of the flexible substrate and spaced a distance from an edge boundary of the flexible substrate in contact with a buttock, hand, foot or limb of the subject; mounting circuitry containing cooperating contacts that electrically connect to the contact surfaces located on the garment to position the circuitry on the garment substrate; and monitoring pressure readings attributable to either the weight of the patient or the pressure applied externally to the subject. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
-
Specification