Device for prevention of ulcers in the feet of diabetes patients

Details Device for prevention of ulcers in the feet of diabetes patients Device for prevention of ulcers in the feet of diabetes patients

1996-03-26

1997-06-24

Mullen, Thomas

Communications: electrical

Condition responsive indicating system

Specific condition

128736, 128779, 73172, A61B 500

Patent

active

056420960

ABSTRACT:
A device for prevention of ulcers in the feet of diabetes patients is embodied in a footwear article such as in a shoe. The device includes a sensor disposed in a contained liquid mass of a hydrocell carried in the shoe inner sole, the sensor being one that detects both pressure and temperature values to which the patient's feet are exposed. The sensor includes a bridge circuit comprised of four piezoresistors arranged in two diagonally arrayed pairs, the resistance of one pair of resistors increasing and the resistance of the second pair decreasing in the presence of an increase in the pressure condition in the hydrocell, the resistance of all the resistors increasing or decreasing responsive to respective increases and decreases of temperature in the hydrocell. Outputs from the bridge circuit denotive of respective pressure and temperature values are acquired by a warning signal generator to operate same to generate a patient discernible warning signal that indicates to the patient a need to take action to avoid continuance of exposure to the condition. A grid array sensor detects localized pressure changes on the bottom of the foot by reducing the resistance between conductors present at the location of the increases pressure. The decreased resistance causes an increase in current flow between the conductors which is detected by a processor which in turn provides an indication of the increased pressure condition.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3791375 (1974-02-01), Pfeiffer
patent: 3974491 (1976-08-01), Sipe
patent: 4554930 (1985-11-01), Kress
patent: 4647918 (1987-03-01), Goforth
patent: 4858620 (1989-08-01), Sugarman
patent: 5033291 (1991-07-01), Pudoloff
patent: 5230249 (1993-07-01), Sasaki
patent: 5253654 (1993-10-01), Thomas
patent: 5546955 (1996-08-01), Wilk

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