System and method for determining pressure distribution across the sole of a foot
US5941835A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 4, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 24, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 4, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/1036
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The method of the invention maps pressure applied by resilient body surface onto a plurality of movable gauge pins. The method includes the steps of: providing relative movement between the resilient body and the movable gauge pins to cause the gauge pins to come into contact with the body so as to define a three dimensional surface which approximates the surface of the body; measuring the position of each of the gauge pins as a reference position of each; using a spring element to apply a pressure to each of the gauge pins; measuring a position of each of the gauge pins after application of the pressure, to determine a test position of each gauge pin; subtracting the reference position of each gauge pin from the test position of each gauge pin to determine a pressure displacement of each gauge pin; and utilizing the pressure displacement and a spring constant of the spring elements which applied the pressure to the movable gauge pins to derive a pressure exerted upon each gauge pin by the resilient body surface to enable a subsequent analysis thereof.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.