Multi-Sensory Shoe with Wireless Feedback

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。在正常行走过程中，对不敏感的皮肤施加过大的压力，是导致皮肤破裂的主要因素。最近的文献主张组织维持或加强的最佳应力窗口，高于或低于该窗口都会导致组织损伤。这项建议的目标是开发仪器来测量、记录、分析和提供关于长时间功能活动期间足底表面的垂直力、温度和湿度的反馈。位于鞋内的数据收集单元(DCU)将收集、分析和存储数据，并通过射频(RF)链路将信息传输到患者反馈单元(FBU)。DCU还将数据下载到计算机，计算机将数据传输到中央数据库进行进一步分析。这项研究的长期目标将是确定最佳的应激窗口，然后通过对患者的实时反馈和警告最终防止皮肤破裂和截肢。这种设备的使用也可以扩展到老年或肥胖患者，或者用于测试各种鞋类或矫形设备的有效性和效率。

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. Excessive stresses applied to insensitive skin during normal walking, constitutes a primary contributing factor to skin breakdown. Recent literature advocates an optimal window of stress for tissue maintenance or strengthening, above or below which leads to tissue damage. The goal of this proposal is to develop instrumentation to measure, record, analyze, and provide feedback regarding vertical forces, temperature, and humidity on the plantar surface of the foot during prolonged functional activities. A data collection unit (DCU), located within the shoe, will collect, analyze, and store the data, and transmit information to the patient feedback unit (FBU) via a radio frequency (RF) link. The DCU will also download the data to a computer that will transmit the data to a central database for further analysis. The long-term goal of this research will be to determine the optimal window of stress and then ultimately prevent skin breakdown and amputation through real-time feedback and warnings to patients. This device usage may also be extended to elderly or obese patients, or for testing efficacy and efficiency of various footwear or orthotic devices.