Patent Application
20160331322
A steady stream of medical studies has recently shown a strong correlation between fitness and activity to overall personal health leading to rising demand for devices that can track a number of metrics, including the number of steps taken, activity levels, heart rate, quality and length of sleep, calories burned, etc. These “fitness trackers” are rapidly increasing in popularity, both with individuals that are trying to stay fit, and with those who have serious health issues and are looking for motivation to get healthier. By tracking metrics and daily habits, a user can identify trends and adjust their habits and lifestyles accordingly. Furthermore, with the increased popularity and improved capabilities of smart phones, users are able to connect multiple devices with applications running on a smart phone to aggregate data from numerous sources.
Fitness trackers are often worn around the user's wrist, chest, or waistband, which are ideal locations for measuring the user's pulse and steps taken. However, because of the location and/or position on the user's body, these devices are not capable of measuring some important biometric parameters such as, for example, a user's weight. A user's weight can closely correlate to risk factors for some serious diseases, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, etc. The most common way to measure weight gain or loss is for an individual to step on a scale (e.g., either in a doctor's office or at home) and then track weight gain or loss over time. However, when using a personal scale, users can choose when to weigh themselves, and can even avoid the scale when they know they have gained a few pounds. Additionally, while some users may write down their weight, many users do not track the change in any formal way. Recently, some bathroom scales have become WiFi or Bluetooth enabled, which allows a user's weight to be sent to a smartphone or other device for weight tracking purposes, however, the user still has to step on the scale to initiate the measurement. Thus, when the user avoids the scale or forgets to use it, there can be large gaps in data and/or insufficient data to show an accurate trend in the user's weight.
Attempts have been made to use shoe insoles with capacitive sensors to measure a user's weight, but these capacitive sensors can be problematic for a number of reasons. For example, capacitive sensors typically have two parallel plates that work best for measuring a force normal to the plane of the plates. Thus, the weight measurement determined when the user stands straight on the insole may be accurate, but the capacitive sensors provide inaccurate, erroneous readings if the plates are misaligned (i.e., if they are not in a parallel relationship). Based on the nature of walking, running, and sporting activities such as basketball, football, baseball, figure skating, and the like, the force on the insole is rarely normal to the insole, which leads to a data set that has a very weak correlation to the user's actual weight. Furthermore, one strong force or repeated shear forces can cause the capacitive plates to become misaligned, thereby causing permanent damage to the sensors resulting in inaccuracies in all of the weight measurements taken anytime thereafter. Yet another problem arises because these discrete pressure sensors only record a small cross-section of the total downward force. For example, smart insoles often employ several sensors placed in locations where there is more downward force, such as regions that correspond to a user's heel, ball, and toe regions. As a result, the sensors only obtain a partial recording of the downward force, thus failing to record the total force distributed over the entire foot and in all directions and orientations.
Apparatuses, devices, and methods for measuring fluid pressure are described herein. In some embodiments, a device includes an insole configured to be disposed under a foot of a user during use. The device further includes a fluid reservoir formed at least partly within the insole, the fluid reservoir containing a fluid. The device further includes a sensor fluidically coupled to the fluid reservoir and configured to sense an indication of pressure in the fluid reservoir during use. The device also includes a communications component communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to receive the indication of pressure from the sensor. The communication component is further configured to transmit pressure information associated with the indication of pressure to a remote device.
In some embodiments, a method includes sensing an indication of pressure in a fluid reservoir formed at least partly within an insole, when the insole is disposed under the foot of a user and the fluid reservoir contains a fluid. The method further includes transmitting pressure information based on the indication of pressure to a remote device.
In some embodiments, a kit includes a pair of footwear, and a device. The device includes an insole configured to be disposed under the foot of a user during use. The device further includes a fluid reservoir formed at least partly within the insole, the fluid reservoir containing a fluid. The device further includes a sensor fluidically coupled to the fluid reservoir and configured to sense an indication of pressure in the fluid reservoir during use. The device also includes a communications component communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to receive the indication of pressure from the sensor. The communication component is further configured to transmit pressure information associated with the indication of pressure to a remote device.
In some embodiments, a kit includes a first device, the first device being wearable by a user. The kit also includes second device that includes an insole configured to be disposed under the foot of the user during use. The second device further includes a fluid reservoir formed at least partly within the insole, the fluid reservoir containing a fluid. The second device further includes a sensor fluidically coupled to the fluid reservoir and configured to sense an indication of pressure in the fluid reservoir during use. The second device also includes a communications component communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to receive the indication of pressure from the sensor. The communication component is further configured to transmit pressure information associated with the indication of pressure to the first device.
Apparatuses, devices, and methods for measuring fluid pressure variation in an insole to determine the weight of a user are described herein.
Weight can be an important metric when determining health and wellbeing of an individual. In particular, weight can be an important factor in determining the user's body mass index (BMI), and can be indicative of risk factors for certain diseases and conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and the like. Additionally, rapid changes in weight can be an early indication for some serious diseases such as, for example, pancreatic cancer and congestive heart failure.
As part of a recent trend to improve health and fitness, devices have been developed to track steps taken, activity levels, heart rate, sleep metrics, calories burned, etc. These devices are often worn around a user's wrist, chest, or waistband, and are often referred to as “fitness trackers,” “activity monitors,” or “wearables.” Wearables have rapidly grown in popularity as many people have developed an increased interest in their health and wellbeing. A variety of metrics can be tracked by wearables, and these metrics can then be transferred to a user's device, such as a smart phone, tablet, or personal computer. This allows users to view trends in these metrics, and adjust their lifestyle accordingly. Although some attempts have been made to track a user's weight using capacitive sensors in insoles, these sensors have a number of flaws, therefore, there is a need for a new wearable sensor that allows a user to accurately and easily track weigh gain and/or loss over time.
As used herein, the word “fluid” is used to indicate air, liquid, gas, foam, fluid gels, combinations thereof, and/or any other material/medium used within a bladder of the insole.
As used herein, the word “pressure” is used to indicate measurements of pressure and/or pressure change, such as measuring pressure using a sensor. In some embodiments, estimates of mass and weight can be derived from measurements of pressure and/or pressure change.
As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, the term “a member” is intended to mean a single member or a combination of members, “a material” is intended to mean one or more materials, or a combination thereof.
As used herein, the terms “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially” as used herein in connection with a referenced numeric indication means the referenced numeric indication plus or minus up to 10% of that referenced numeric indication. For example, the language “about 50” units or “approximately 50” units means from 45 units to 55 units. Such variance can result from manufacturing tolerances or other practical considerations (such as, for example, tolerances associated with a measuring instrument, acceptable human error, or the like).
In some embodiments, a device includes an insole configured to be disposed under a foot of a user during use. The device further includes a fluid reservoir formed at least partly within the insole, the fluid reservoir containing a fluid. The device further includes a sensor fluidically coupled to the fluid reservoir and configured to sense an indication of pressure in the fluid reservoir during use. The device also includes a communications component communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to receive the indication of pressure from the sensor. The communication component is further configured to transmit pressure information associated with the indication of pressure to a remote device.
In some embodiments, the insole 110 can be configured to fit a specific user such that the insole 110 is customized for that user. In some embodiments, the insole 110 can be configured to fit a specific footwear size, shoe brand, shoe type, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the insole 110 can be made in one or more standard sizes (e.g., small, medium, large, etc.), and the user can trim the outer edges of the insole 110 to make the insole 110 fit into the footwear of their choice. Thus, one insole 110 can be configured to fit several footwear sizes. For example, one size insole can be configured to fit a men's size 6-8 shoe and a women's size 7-9 shoe. The insole 110 may be sized initially to fit a men's size 8 and a women's size 9, but the insole 110 can be cut or otherwise reshaped to fit shoes as small as a men's size 6 and a women's size 7 without damaging the shoe insole 110. In some embodiments, the smallest acceptable size (i.e., the minimum size to which a user can trim the insole 110 to) can be marked on the insole such that the user does not damage other portions of the insole, such as a fluid reservoir or electronics.
In some embodiments, a user can have one insole 110 that the user transfers between different pairs of footwear, such as, for example, between different pairs of shoes, between a pair of heels and a pair of shoes, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the user can have one insole 110 that stays in a single pair of shoes that the user wears regularly, such as sneakers that the user wears to commute, or to run daily. In other embodiments, the user can have multiple insoles 110 that are in different shoes. The insole 110 can take various shapes, and can be configure to fit in different types of shoes. For example, the insole 110 can be configured to fit into a pair of sneakers, a pair of dress shoes, a pair of flats, a pair of heels, and/or the like. The user can have an insole 110 in each shoe or have an insole configured to be placed in each type of shoe.
As illustrated in
The memory 170 and/or the database of the device 100 can independently be, for example, a random access memory (RAM), a memory buffer, a hard drive, a database, an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable read-only memory (EEPROM), a read-only memory (ROM), Flash memory, and/or so forth. In some embodiments, instructions associated with performing the operations described herein (e.g., body weight calculation) can be stored within the memory 170 and executed at the processor 180. The processor 180 can be, for example, a general purpose processor, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), and/or the like. The processor 180 can be configured to run and/or execute application processes and/or other modules, processes and/or functions associated with the device 100. In some embodiments, In some embodiments, the processor can include one or more components/modules (not shown), where each can independently be a hardware component/module and/or a software component/module. In some embodiments, each of the components/modules can be operatively coupled to each other. In other embodiments, the functionality of one or more of the components/modules can be combined and/or overlap. In some embodiments, the functionality of one or more components/modules and/or the interaction between the components/modules can be based on regulatory requirements for data processing, storage, integrity, security, and/or the like. While shown as being implemented in the processor 180, in other embodiments, the components/modules, or a portion thereof, can be distributed, and implemented in other processors and/or network devices. Such processors and/or network devices can be communicatively coupled via, for example, a network.
In some embodiments, the fluid reservoir 120 is formed at least partly within the insole 110. In some embodiments, the fluid reservoir 120 (also referred to herein as “bladder”) can include a top substrate (not shown) and a bottom substrate (not shown) that are made from plastic such as polyethylene or polyurethane, neoprene, soft rubber, foam, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the top substrate and bottom substrate can be attached to each other around the outside edges to create a seal around a perimeter to form the fluid reservoir 120 and the fluid reservoir 120 can be filled with a fluid such as, for example, air, liquid, foam, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the fluid reservoir 120 can include one or more of a gas, a liquid, foam, gel, and/or combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, the fluid reservoir 120 can be refillable by the user. In some embodiments, the fluid reservoir can include a valve (not shown) configured for filling at least a portion of the fluid reservoir with the fluid and/or draining at least a portion of the fluid from the fluid reservoir. For example, a refilling mechanism (not shown) can be used to add or remove the fluid via the valve of the fluid reservoir 120. The refilling mechanism can include a needle and/or pump or other similar refilling mechanism. In some embodiments, the refilling mechanism can be custom made to refill the fluid reservoir 120 of the device 100, and in other embodiments, the refilling mechanism can be a standard refilling mechanism similar to that used to refill a basketball, etc. In some embodiments, the fluid reservoir 120 is not refillable by a user.
In some embodiments, the device 100 can include a single fluid reservoir 120. When the device 100 includes a single fluid reservoir 120, the fluid reservoir 120 can be substantially the same shape as the insole 110 and can occupy substantially the entire interior of the insole 110.
In some embodiments, the device 100 can include multiple fluid reservoirs 120. In some embodiments, the device 100 can include a single fluid reservoir 120 that is subdivided into multiple portions or compartments (not shown). In some embodiments, the fluid reservoir includes multiple portions, and at least a first portion and a second portion of the multiple portions are in fluid communication with each other. In some embodiments, the fluid reservoir includes multiple portions, and at least a first portion and a second portion of the multiple portions are fluidically isolated from each other. In some embodiments, the fluid reservoir can include multiple portions, and a first portion of the multiple portions is made from a different material than a second portion of the multiple portions. In some embodiments, the fluid reservoir can include multiple portions, and a first portion of the multiple portions at least partly overlays a second portion of the multiple portions during use.
In some embodiments, the fluid reservoir 120 can occupy less than the majority of the interior of the insole 110 to help increase stability. For example, the fluid reservoir 120 can occupy the heel portion of the insole 110. In some embodiments, the insole 110 includes multiple fluid reservoirs 120, and/or the fluid reservoir 120 is divided into multiple portions, leading to increased stability and accuracy of resulting measurements, such as, for example, body weight measurements based on an indication of pressure in the fluid reservoir(s) 120.
For example, in some embodiments, the fluid reservoir 120 can be “quilted” to subdivide the fluid reservoir 120 into multiple portions that are in fluid communication with each other. This can be accomplished in several ways, such as by connecting, at various predetermined locations, the top substrate of the fluid reservoir 120 to the bottom substrate of the fluid reservoir 120. For example, in some embodiments, relatively small, discrete, intervals of the top and bottom portions can be connected to one another in a predetermined pattern such that fluid can pass from one section within the fluid reservoir 120 to another section between these connected portions. In some embodiments, relatively larger portions of the top and bottom substrates of the fluid reservoir 120 can be connected to one another, but at further distances from each other. In some embodiments, supports can be positioned between the top and bottom substrates at predetermined locations, such that the top substrate and the bottom substrate are connected through the supports, while the fluid can move freely around the supports within the fluid reservoir 120. In some embodiments, the interior of the bladder is filled with an open-cell foam, which can allow fluid to move through the cells. The foam can optionally be adhered to at least one of the top or bottom substrate of the fluid reservoir 120, but can also be unattached. In some embodiments, the foam portion can be smaller than the fluid reservoir 120, which can also be configured to provide support in some places. In other embodiments, the foam can cover substantially all of the interior area of the bladder 120. Any combination of the embodiments described herein for subdividing the fluid reservoir 120 can be used to increase the stability of the insole 110.
As described herein, multiple fluid reservoirs 120 can be used to increase the stability of the device 100. In some embodiments, the fluid reservoir 120 can include multiple portions, at least one portion of the multiple portions formed under the ball of foot of the user during use. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the fluid reservoir can be formed under the ball of foot of the user during use. In some embodiments, the fluid reservoir can include multiple portions, at least one portion of the multiple portions can be formed under the arch of foot of the user during use. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the fluid reservoir can be formed under the arch of foot of the user during use. In some embodiments, the fluid reservoir can include multiple portions, at least one portion of the multiple portions can be formed under the heel of foot of the user during use. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the fluid reservoir can be formed under the heel of foot of the user during use. For example, in some embodiments, three bladders (i.e., distinct fluid reservoirs) can be included in the device 100: a first fluid reservoir (not shown) near the front of the insole 110 and configured to be positioned under the ball of the user's foot; a second fluid reservoir (not shown) near the middle of the insole 110 and configured to be positioned under the user's arch; and a third fluid reservoir near the back of the insole 110 and configured to be positioned under the user's heel. In some embodiments, more or fewer reservoirs can be included to increase the stability of the device 100 and/or otherwise optimize the weight sensing or other capabilities of the device 100. Furthermore, any or all of the fluid reservoir(s) 120 can be further subdivided as described above with perforations and the like.
In some embodiments, multiple fluid reservoirs 120 can provide some additional flexibility and/or functionality. For example, at least one of the fluid reservoirs 120 can be filled to different capacities or with different fluids than another one of the fluid reservoirs 120. In some embodiments, the fluid reservoirs 120 can have a second functionality such as, for example, as an orthotic. For example, for a user with flat feet, a fluid reservoir under the user's arch can be filled such that the fluid reservoir also adds support for the user's arch. In some embodiments, each of the fluid reservoirs can be made from different materials. For example, a fluid reservoir under the user's heel may require reinforcement because of the additional force incurred when the user's heel hits the insole (as compared with the user's arch, for example). By having multiple fluid reservoirs, a different material (or the same material with extra reinforcement) can be used under the user's heel, under the user's arch, and/or under the ball of the user's foot. In some single fluid reservoir implementations, however, the material can be varied in different parts of the fluid reservoir 120. For example, the bladder material may be thicker under the user's heel than under the user's arch.
When the user stands on the fluid reservoir 120, the force applied to the fluid reservoir 120 can be measured by determining the pressure in the fluid reservoir 120 and/or the pressure variation of the fluid reservoir 120, regardless of the angle of the force. The sensor 140 coupled to or placed on, in, or within the fluid reservoir 120 can measure the pressure and/or change in the pressure of the fluid reservoir 120. The absolute pressure, relative pressure, and/or the change in pressure can be used to determine metrics such as the user's weight. Thus, one or more sensors 140 can be disposed within, attached to, fluidically coupled to, placed in, or otherwise connected to the fluid reservoir 120. The sensor 140 is configured to sense an indication of pressure in at least one of the first portion and the second portion. In some embodiments, the sensor 140 is fluidically coupled to the first portion of the multiple portions and is further configured to sense the indication of pressure in the first portion. In some embodiments, a second sensor (not shown) is fluidically coupled to a second portion of the multiple portions of the fluid reservoir to sense an indication of pressure in the second portion.
In some embodiments, an indication of pressure can include an indication of one or more of absolute pressure, absolute pressure change, gauge pressure, and gauge pressure change. In some embodiments, the sensor 140 can be further configured to sense a temperature of the fluid reservoir, or in the proximity thereof. In some embodiments, the sensor 140 can be further configured to sense a temperature of the insole, or in the proximity thereof. In some embodiments, the sensor 140 is a first sensor, and a second sensor can be configured to sense a temperature of the fluid reservoir, or in the proximity thereof. In some embodiments, the sensor 140 is a first sensor, and a second sensor can be configured to sense a temperature of the insole, or in the proximity thereof. In some embodiments, one or more additional sensors are fluidically coupled to the fluid reservoir to sense additional indications of pressure in the fluid reservoir during use.
The sensor 140 can measure an indication of pressure within the fluid reservoir 120, and the measured pressure can be the basis for and/or correlated to a body weight of the user. In some embodiments, the sensor 140 measures a change in pressure, and the change in pressure can be the basis for and/or correlated to a body weight of the user. In some embodiments, the sensor 140 can be MEMS sensors, piezoelectric sensors, optical sensors, electromagnetic sensors, piezoresistive strain gauges, and/or the like.
In some embodiments, the sensor 140 can measure absolute pressure, such as measuring pressure against an internal reference, and in other embodiments, the sensor 140 can measure gauge pressure relative to the outside atmosphere. Gauge pressure can take into account situations where the outside pressure changes, such as on a plane, or use of the device 100 at elevation. In some embodiments, a gauge pressure sensor can be partially exposed to the outside atmosphere in order to obtain a comparative or base line measurement. In another embodiment, one or more external pressure sensors can be used to obtain the comparative measurements of atmospheric pressure, and the measurements from those sensors can be compared to the measurements from the sensor 140. A temperature sensor (not shown), such as a thermistor or thermocouple, can also be incorporated. Changes in temperature can occur due to the outside air temperature and/or due to body heat. Due to the correlation between temperature and pressure, the temperature inside the insole can affect the pressure measurement(s) determined by the sensor 140. The temperature sensor can be separate from sensor 140 or it can be incorporated into the sensor 140. In some embodiments, the temperature sensor can be inside the fluid reservoir 120 or otherwise attached to the insole 110.
In some embodiments, a single sensor 140 can be used. The sensor 140 can be disposed within, attached to, fluidically coupled to, placed in, or otherwise connected to the fluid reservoir 120. In some embodiments, multiple sensors 140 can be used. When multiple sensors 140 are used, the multiple sensor measurements can be synchronized and/or statistically analyzed in order to accurately determine the user's weight. In some embodiments, one sensor 140 can be used for each fluid reservoir 120. Thus, in embodiments with multiple fluid reservoirs 120, one sensor 140 can be included in the device 100 for each fluid reservoir 120. Multiple sensors 140 can also be used with each fluid reservoir 120.
In some embodiments, additional sensors 140 can be used to determine an average pressure and/or average pressure change, and this average can be the amount used to determine the weight of the user. The additional sensors 140 can also be used as backup if one of the sensors 140 stops working properly. If the sensors detect substantially different pressures and/or pressure changes, a determination can be made as to which sensor is producing a faulty reading, and measurements from that sensor 140 can be disregarded. In some embodiments, when multiple sensors 140 are used, each sensor 140 can be tracked independently, and these measurements can be synchronized and/or statistically analyzed. In some embodiments, this analysis can be used to determine a time-varying measurement of the user's gait.
Once a pressure measurement is taken, the pressure and/or pressure change can be stored, e.g., in the memory 170, at least temporarily, and the stored measurement can be communicated to a remote device (e.g., a user's device), such as a cell phone, computer, tablet, fitness device, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the remote/user device can include a device for dynamic control, as generally disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 14/881,677 titled “SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR DYNAMIC CONTROL”, filed Oct. 13, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In some embodiments, the remote/user device can include a device for representing facial expressions and/or indications of activity, as generally disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 14/336,064 titled “METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DISPLAYING REPRESENTATIONS OF FACIAL EXPRESSIONS AND ACTIVITY INDICATORS ON DEVICES”, filed Jul. 21, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In some embodiments, the remote/user device can include a device configured for data transfer as generally disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 14/309,195 titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DATA TRANSFER”, filed Jun. 19, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The measurement can be stored and transmitted to the user device using the communications component 160, which can be disposed within or attached to the device 100. The communications component 160 can receive readings from the sensor 140 and transmit the readings to a remote/user device. As described herein, in some embodiments, the device 100 can also include the processor 180 and the memory 170. The memory 170 can be configured to store a number of measurements taken by the sensors 140. In some embodiments, the memory 170 may be able to store the measurements data locally within the device. These measurements can then be communicated to the remote/user device via the communications component 160 when the remote device is available for transfer.
In some embodiments, the processor 180 can be configured to generate, based on the indication of pressure, an indication of a body weight of the user, and the communication component 160 can be configured to transmit body weight information based on the indication of the body weight of the user. In some embodiments, the memory 170 can be configured to store body weight information based on the indication of the body weight of the user. In some embodiments, the sensor 140 can include one or more of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, an optical sensor, an electromagnetic sensor, a piezoresistive strain gauge, and combinations thereof.
The communications component 160 can be configured to transmit the measurements using one or more wireless technology standards, such as Bluetooth, WiFi, RFID, ANT+, ZigBee, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the communications component 160 can be configured to transmit the measurements via a network such as, for example, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a virtual network, a telecommunications network, a data network, and/or the Internet, implemented as a wired network and/or a wireless network. In some embodiments, any or all communications can be secured using any suitable type and/or method of secure communication (e.g., secure sockets layer (SSL)) and/or encryption. In other embodiments, any or all communications can be unsecured.
In some embodiments, the communications component 160 can be configured to store the raw sensor data received from the sensor 140 in the memory 170. Said another way, the sensor 140 can measure an indication of pressure and/or pressure change, and the indication of pressure and/or pressure change can be stored in the memory 170. In some embodiments, the communications component 160 can be configured to determine, via the processor 180, an indication of he weight of the user based on the pressure and/or pressure change measurements. In some embodiments, the memory 180 can be configured to store the indication of the weight of the user. In some embodiments, the memory 170can store both the indication of the weight of the user and the indication of pressure and/or pressure change. In some embodiments, the communications component 160 can be configured to communicate with the memory 170 to transfer an indication of both the sensor data and the body weight of the user to the remote device. In other embodiments, the memory 170 can be configured to store only the indication of body weight of the user, and the communications component 160 can be configured to transfer body weight information based on the indication of body to the remote device.
In some embodiments, the sensor(s) 140 can be used to determine other metrics in addition to or instead of weight. For example, the data collected by the sensor 140 can be used to determine foot strike, gait analysis, footsteps, pace, stride length, combinations thereof, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the data collected by the sensor 140 can be used to perform foot pressure analysis. In some embodiments, the data collected by the sensor 140 can be used to determine whether a runner (for example) is running heel-to-toe or toe-to-heel. In some embodiments, the data collected by the sensors 140 can be used to determine whether a user needs orthotics or what type of orthotics a user needs based on a foot pressure analysis. In some embodiments, the data collected by the sensor 140 can be used to measure balance and weight distribution, including determining whether the user's weight is balanced evenly between the left and right leg based on sensor data from a device 100 under each of the user's feet.
In some embodiments, the communications component 160 can be configured to detect when the remote device is available for transfer. This can be referred to as an active communications module. In some embodiments, the remote device can be configured to initiate the transfer of data. In such embodiments, the communications component 160 is passive, and the remote device can send a signal to the communications component 160 that activates the module. The communications component 160 can access the memory 170 and transmit, via the processor and communications adapter, an indication of the data stored in the memory to the remote device.
In some embodiments, when multiple sensors 140 are included in the device 100, either one or multiple communications components 160 can be used. For example, one communications component 160 can be included in the device 100 for every sensor 140. In other embodiments, multiple sensors 140 can be communicatively coupled to a single communications component 160. For example, each insole 110 may only include one communications component 160, regardless of how many sensors 140 are included in the device 100. In some embodiments, the number of communications components 160 may correlate to the number of fluid reservoirs 120 included in the device 100, regardless of the number of sensors 140 included
In some embodiments, the sensing at step 210 further includes sensing the indication of pressure in at least one of the first portion and the second portion from multiple portions in the fluid reservoir, where the first portion of the multiple portions and the second portion of the multiple portions are in fluid communication with each other. In some embodiments, the sensing at step 210 further includes sensing the indication of pressure in at least one of the first portion and the second portion in multiple portions in the fluid reservoir, where the first portion of the multiple portions and the second portion of the multiple portions are fluidically isolated from each other.
In some embodiments, the fluid includes one or more of a gas, a liquid, foam, gel, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the method includes filling at least a portion of the fluid reservoir with the fluid. In some embodiments, the indication of pressure includes an indication of one or more of absolute pressure, absolute pressure change, gauge pressure, and gauge pressure change.
The method 200 also includes step 220, which includes transmitting pressure information based on the indication of pressure to a remote device.
In some embodiments, the method 200 further includes sensing a temperature of the fluid reservoir, or in the proximity thereof. In some embodiments, the method further includs sensing a temperature of the insole, or in the proximity thereof. In some embodiments, the method further includes sensing additional indications of pressure in the fluid reservoir when the insole is disposed under the foot of the user.
In some embodiments, the method 200 further includes generating body weight information associated with the user based on the indication of pressure. In some embodiments, the method 200 further includes generating, based on the indication of pressure, an indication of a body weight of the user, and transmitting body weight information based on the indication of the body weight of the user to the remote device. In some embodiments, the method 200 further includes storing the body weight information. In some embodiments, the method 200 further includes generating, based on the indication of pressure, one or more of the following: foot strike information, gait information, footstep information, pace information, and stride information.
Embodiments disclosed herein are further directed to one or more kits including a device for pressure measurement. In some embodiments, a kit includes a pair of footwear, and a device. The device includes an insole configured to be disposed under the foot of a user during use. The device further includes a fluid reservoir formed at least partly within the insole, the fluid reservoir containing a fluid. The device further includes a sensor fluidically coupled to the fluid reservoir and configured to sense an indication of pressure in the fluid reservoir during use. The device also includes a communications component communicatively coupled to the sensor, and configured to receive the indication of pressure from the sensor. The communication component is further configured to transmit pressure information associated with the indication of pressure to a remote device.
In some embodiments, a kit includes a first device, the first device being wearable by a user. The kit also includes a second device, the second device including an insole configured to be disposed under the foot of the user during use. The second device further includes a fluid reservoir formed at least partly within the insole, the fluid reservoir containing a fluid. The second device further includes a sensor fluidically coupled to the fluid reservoir, and configured to sense an indication of pressure in the fluid reservoir during use. The second device also includes a communications component communicatively coupled to the sensor, and configured to receive the indication of pressure from the sensor. The communication component is further configured to transmit pressure information associated with the indication of pressure to a remote device.
In some embodiments, the insole 310 can be structurally and/or functionally similar to the insole 110. The insole 310 can include a single fluid reservoir 320 (e.g., structurally and/or functionally similar to the reservoir 120), and a sensor 340 (e.g., similar to the sensor 140) can be disposed within, attached to, fluidically coupled to, placed in, or otherwise connected to the fluid reservoir 320. A communications component 360 can be connected to the sensor 340 and can also be disposed within, attached to, fluidically coupled to, placed in, or otherwise connected to the fluid reservoir 320 and/or disposed within, attached to, coupled to, placed in, placed on, or otherwise connected to the insole 310. As illustrated in
At least one sensor is used to determine the pressure and/or pressure change within the bladders 620. In some embodiments, there can be one sensor disposed within, attached to, fluidically coupled to, placed in, or otherwise connected to each fluid reservoir. For example, as illustrated, sensor 640a corresponds to bladder 620a, sensor 640b corresponds to bladder 620b, and sensor 640c corresponds to bladder 620c. In some embodiments, more than one sensor can correspond with each bladder 620. When multiple sensors 640a, 640b, and 640c (collectively referred to herein as “sensors 540”) are used, the multiple sensor measurements, or an indication thereof, can be synchronized and/or statistically analyzed in order to accurately determine the user's weight.
At least one communications component 660 (not shown) communicates the pressure and/or pressure change measurements, or an indication thereof, to a remote device (not shown). In some embodiments, the device 600 and/or the remote device is configured to determine the user's body weight based on the measurements. In some embodiments, a communications component 660 is provided for each of the sensors 640; for example, as illustrated in
Referring now to
While fluid can flow between the chambers 724 within one of the fluid reservoirs, fluid cannot flow from one fluid bladder (e.g., bladder 720a) to another fluid bladder (e.g., bladder 720b). As illustrated in
Sensor 740a, 740b, and 740c (sometimes collectively referred to herein as “sensors 740”) can measure the pressure and/or pressure changes within each of the bladders 720. These measurements can be synchronized and/or statistically analyzed to determine the weight of the user. The pressure and/or pressure changes, or an indication thereof, can be communicated to a user device (not shown) using communications components 760a, 760b, and 760c.
Some embodiments described herein relate to a computer storage product with a non-transitory computer-readable medium (also can be referred to as a non-transitory processor-readable medium) having instructions or computer code thereon for performing various computer-implemented operations. The computer-readable medium (or processor-readable medium) is non-transitory in the sense that it does not include transitory propagating signals per se (e.g., a propagating electromagnetic wave carrying information on a transmission medium such as space or a cable). The media and computer code (also can be referred to as code) may be those designed and constructed for the specific purpose or purposes. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include, but are not limited to: magnetic storage media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical storage media such as Compact Disc/Digital Video Discs (CD/DVDs), Compact Disc-Read Only Memories (CD-ROMs), and holographic devices; magneto-optical storage media such as optical disks; carrier wave signal processing modules; and hardware devices that are specially configured to store and execute program code, such as Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), Read-Only Memory (ROM) and Random-Access Memory (RAM) devices. Other embodiments described herein relate to a computer program product, which can include, for example, the instructions and/or computer code discussed herein.
Examples of computer code include, but are not limited to, micro-code or micro-instructions, machine instructions, such as produced by a compiler, code used to produce a web service, and files containing higher-level instructions that are executed by a computer using an interpreter. For example, embodiments may be implemented using Java, C++, .NET, or other programming languages (e.g., object-oriented programming languages) and development tools. Additional examples of computer code include, but are not limited to, control signals, encrypted code, and compressed code.
While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Where methods and/or schematics described above indicate certain events and/or flow patterns occurring in certain order, the ordering of certain events and/or flow patterns may be modified. While the embodiments have been particularly shown and described, it will be understood that various changes in form and details may be made.
This applications claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/138,215 entitled “APPARATUSES, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS FOR MEASURING FLUID PRESSURE VARIATION IN AN INSOLE”, filed Mar. 25, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62138215 | Mar 2015 | US |
