Clinical Step Recorder

描述(申请人提供)：糖尿病(DM)和周围神经病变(PN)患者是下肢皮肤破裂和随后截肢的高风险患者。压力的大小和重复是皮肤破裂和神经性溃疡形成的重要指标。目前，还没有一种设备可以轻松而不引人注目地测量较长时间(例如，两周)内压力和总负重时间的重复。治疗这些神经性溃疡最常见的方法是使用全接触石膏(TCC)或踝足矫形器(AFO)在溃疡部位减重。这项拨款提案的主要目的是开发一种不显眼、独立、廉价的设备，可以安装在鞋子、石膏或AFO中，它将记录和时间戳AT-DSIC患者的步数、平均压力和负重时间，并延长时间。完成的临床步长记录器(CSR)系统将在目前使用TCC的患者和穿着带矫形器的鞋子的受试者身上进行验证。CSR设备还将有许多其他用途，包括肥胖症患者或老年人的活动监测器，它可以帮助评估负重活动并鼓励定期体力活动。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and peripheral neuropathy (PN) are at high risk for lower extremity skin breakdown and subsequent amputation. Magnitude and repetition of pressures are important indicators of skin breakdown and formation of neuropathic ulcers. Currently, there are no devices that can easily and unobtrusively measure the repetition of pressures and total weight-bearing time over a prolonged period of time (e.g., 2 weeks). The most common method of treatment of these neuropathic ulcers is off loading weight over the ulcer site using a total contact cast (TCC) or an ankle foot orthosis (AFO). The primary purpose of this grant proposal is to develop an unobtrusive, self-contained, inexpensive device that can fit inside a shoe, cast, or AFO, that will record and time stamp steps, average pressures, and weight-bearing time for "at-dsiC patients for extended periods of time. The completed Clinical Step Recorder (CSR) system will be validated with patients currently using a TCC, and subjects wearing shoes with orthotic inserts. The CSR device will have many other uses, including that of an activity monitor for patients with obesity, or the elderly, which could help assess weight-bearing activities and encourage regular physical activities.