# US 11,076,803 B2 · Passive multiple foot sensor insole real-time feedback device

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- Number: US 11,076,803 B2
- Document ID: US11076803B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/981,888
- Filed: 2018-05-16
- Published: 2021-01-28
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-17
- Assignees: Rehabit Health, LLC
- Applicants: Michael J. Malawey; Thomas H. Lupfer; Patrick M. Steusloff; Thomas A. Liguori; Michael A. Kurtz; Michael J. Thilenius
- Inventors: Michael J. Malawey; Thomas H. Lupfer; Patrick M. Steusloff; Thomas A. Liguori; Michael A. Kurtz; Michael J. Thilenius
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076803B2

## CPC

- A61B 5/7455: {characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation}
- A43B 3/34: with electrical or electronic arrangements
- A43B 17/006: {multilayered}
- A61B 5/0004: {characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted}
- A61B 5/1038: {Measuring plantar pressure during gait}
- A61B 5/112: {Gait analysis}
- A61B 5/486: {Biofeedback (using electroencephalography [EEG] A61B5/375)}
- A61B 5/6807: {Footwear}
- A61B 5/7405: {using sound}
- A61B 5/742: {using visual displays (displays for heart-related electrical signals, e.g. ECG, A61B5/339)}
- A61H 3/061: {with electronic detecting or guiding means}
- G01L 1/18: using properties of piezo-resistive materials, i.e. materials of which the ohmic resistance varies according to changes in magnitude or direction of force applied to the material
- G01L 1/205: {using distributed sensing elements}
- G01L 1/2206: {Special supports with preselected places to mount the resistance strain gauges; Mounting of supports}
- G01L 1/2212: {particularly adapted to unbounded-wire-type strain gauges}
- G01L 5/0052: {measuring forces due to impact (G01L5/0061, G01L5/14 take precedence; impact testing of structures G01M7/08; impact testing of material G01N3/00)}
- G01L 25/00: Testing or calibrating of apparatus for measuring force, torque, work, mechanical power, or mechanical efficiency
- H04M 1/72412: using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
- A45B 3/00: Sticks combined with other objects
- A61B 5/0002: {Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network (endoradiosondes A61B5/07)}
- A61B 50/26: floor-based
- A61B 2560/0214: of power generation or supply
- A61B 2562/0247: Pressure sensors
- A61H 3/04: Wheeled walking aids for patients or disabled persons
- A61H 2201/0165: Damping, vibration related features
- A61H 2201/1635: Hand or arm, e.g. handle
- A61H 2201/164: Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
- A61H 2201/5007: computer controlled
- A61H 2201/5043: Displays
- A61H 2201/5071: Pressure sensors
- A61H 2201/5097: wireless
- H04M 2250/12: including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)
- G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G)
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- A45B: WALKING STICKS (walking aids, e.g. sticks, for blind persons A61H3/06); UMBRELLAS; LADIES' OR LIKE FANS (cane or umbrella stands or holders A47G25/12)

## Abstract

A foot sensor feedback device with multiple passive sensors in a shoe insole to provide real time feedback for a microprocessor to control a haptic device on the ankle of a person and to store and display data on an application on a smart phone to provide balance to a person while standing still or walking.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A feedback device for a person comprising:
an insole adjacent to a foot of said person;
three or more force sensors in said insole for measuring the force of said person with each sensor generating a force data signal:
a microprocessor for receiving each force data signal from each sensor and processing
said force data signals and comparing said processed data signal against a baseline;
a haptic device for generating vibrations to said person upon receipt of a signal from said microprocessor; said microprocessor sending such signal if said process data signal meets or exceeds the baseline;
a wireless communications device;
a smart phone, said microprocessor sending such signal if said process data signal meets or exceeds the baseline through said wireless communications device to said smart phone; and
an application running on said smart phone, said application upon receipt of a signal from said microprocessor, generating a visual, audio, and/or vibration feedback display in said smart phone showing an alignment of a center of mass over a base of support of said person;
said person shifts the person's force on said sensors to generate new data signals so that said microprocessor receives the new data signals and processes said new data signals to create a new signal to be sent through said wireless communications device to the application on said smartphone, said application upon receipt of the signal from said microprocessor, generating a new visual, audio, and/or vibration feedback display in said smart phone showing the new alignment of the center of mass over the base of support of said person; repeating until said center of mass is approximately aligned with the base of support of said person to indicate to said person that said person has placed enough weight upon his/her foot to safely take the next step, and wherein said microprocessor processes each force data signal from each sensor by averaging said force data signal to create the process data signal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The feedback device of claim 1 wherein said three or more force sensors are three piezoresistive sensors in said insole.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The feedback device of claim 2 wherein said foot has a heel, mid foot and a fore foot, and wherein three piezoresistive sensors are positioned under the heel, the mid foot and the fore foot of said foot.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The feedback device of claim 1 wherein said three or more force sensors are five piezoresistive sensors in said insole.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The feedback device of claim 4 wherein said five piezoresistive sensors are positioned under the heel, the fifth metatarsal head, the first metatarsal head, the space between the second metatarsal head and the third metatarsal head, and the big toe of said foot.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The feedback device of claim 1 further comprising:
a battery for powering said microprocessor, said haptic device and said wireless communications device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The feedback device of claim 1 wherein said wireless communications device is Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The feedback device of claim 1 further comprising:
a housing for securing said microprocessor, said haptic device, and said wireless communications device to an ankle of said person, said ankle being on the same leg as said foot of said person, said haptic device generating vibrations to said ankle of said person.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The feedback device of claim 1 wherein said haptic device is in said insole, said haptic device generating vibrations to said foot of said person.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The feedback device of claim 1 further comprising:
said insole having an upper layer adjacent to said foot, a lower layer adjacent to said shoe on said foot, and an intermediate layer between said upper layer and said lower layer; said intermediate layer having openings for each force sensor of said three or more force sensors.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The feedback device of claim 1 further comprising:
said insole having an upper layer adjacent to the foot and a lower layer adjacent to the shoe on said foot; said lower layer or said upper layer or both said upper layer and said lower layer having recesses for each force sensor of said three or more force sensors.

### Claim 12

A feedback device for a person comprising:
an insole adjacent to a foot of said person:
three or more force sensors in said insole for measuring a force of said person with each sensor generating a force data signal;
a microprocessor for receiving each force data signal from each sensor and processing said force data signals and comparing said processed data signal against a baseline,
a haptic device for generating vibrations to said person upon receipt of a signal from said microprocessor: said microprocessor sending such signal if said process data signal meets or exceeds the baseline,
a wireless communications device;
a smart phone, said microprocessor sending such signal if said process data signal meets or exceeds the baseline through said wireless communications device to said smart phone; and
an application running on said smart phone, said application upon receipt of a signal from said microprocessor, generating a visual, audio, and/or vibration feedback display in said smart phone showing an alignment of a center of mass over a base of support of said person;
said person shifts the person's force on said sensors to generate new data signals so that said microprocessor receives the new data signals and processes said new data signals to create a new signal to be sent through said wireless communications device to the application on said smartphone, said application upon receipt of the signal from said microprocessor, generating a new visual, audio, and/or vibration feedback display in said smart phone showing the new alignment of the center of mass over the base of support of said person: repeating until said center of mass is approximately aligned with the base of support of said person to indicate to said person that said person has placed enough weight upon his/her foot to safely take the next step, and
a force concentrator adjacent to each force sensor of said three or more force sensors, said force concentrator having a larger surface area than said adjacent force sensor for increasing an effective area of each sensor for measuring the force of said person with each sensor generating the force data signal.

### Claim 13

A feedback device for a person comprising:
an insole adjacent to a foot of said person;
three or more force sensors in said insole for measuring a force of said person with each sensor generating a force data signal;
a microprocessor for receiving each force data signal from each sensor and processing said force data signals and comparing said processed data signal against a baseline, a wireless communications device;
a smart phone, said microprocessor sending such signal if said process data signal meets or exceeds the baseline through said wireless communications device to said smart phone; and
an application running on said smart phone, said application upon receipt of a signal from said microprocessor, generating a visual, audio, and/or vibration feedback display in said smart phone showing an alignment of a center of mass over a base of support of said person;
said person shifts the person's force on said sensors to generate new data signals so that said microprocessor receives the new data signals and processes said new data signals to create a new signal to be sent through said wireless communications device to the application on said smartphone, said application upon receipt of the signal from said microprocessor, generating a new visual, audio, and/or vibration feedback display in said smart phone showing the new alignment of the center of mass over the base of support of said person: repeating until said center of mass is approximately aligned with the base of support of said person to indicate to said person that said person has placed enough weight upon his/her foot to safely take the next step.