Patent ID: 6174294
Filing Date: 2001-01-16
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A fully portable device for sensing and providing feedback relative to the load on a lower limb of the user's body or on a prosthesis comprising:a foot engagement device comprising one of an outsole for connection over the user's foot or other footwear or an insole for insertion within the user's footwear, said one outsole or insole including a substrate;at least two separate and spaced film force sensing elements connected with said substrate, each of said sensing elements capable of providing a measurable electrical property having a level which varies as a function of the magnitude of a force applied to said sensing element, said substrate including a forward, ball portion and a rearward, heel portion and wherein at least two film force sensing elements includes a first force sensor positioned in the forward, ball portion of said substrate and a second film force sensor positioned in the rearward, heel portion of said substrate;a control member connectable to a portion of the user's body at a location remote from said substrate and including a force sensor selector member to select said first force sensor, said second force sensor, or both, said control member including a signal processor operatively connected with said force sensing elements to compare the level of said measurable electrical property from said first force sensor, said second force sensor, or both to a preselected threshold level and an alarm signal generating member operatively connected with said signal processor to provide an alarm signal in response to the comparison status between the measurable electrical property from said first sensor, said second sensor, or both, and said preselected threshold level.