US 12,436,047 B2Granted

Stretchable fiber optic pressure sensors and uses thereof

AssigneeCornell University

InventorsJeyeon Jo, Heeju Park

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Abstract

A stretchable fiber optic pressure sensor is a sensing device that uses stretchable optical fibers that deform in response to an applied force. A deformation of a fiber causes a decrease in an intensity or alters a duration of the transmitted light due to a bend, crease, or dent in the fiber. The sensor may be configured to determine a pressure or force as applied by an appendage of a user. Multiple sensors may be configured to be in contact with multiple appendages, such as insoles inserted in shoes to determine walking attributes such as a gait, posture, pace, toe-walking, limping, stumbling, foot drop, swaying, or shuffling of a user. The sensor is configurable to transmit data associated with the applied pressure or force to a user's mobile device or computer to monitor or diagnose health issues associated with walking attributes determined through the use of the sensor.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A sensing device, comprising:

a first layer;
a second layer;
a sensor device platform comprising a plurality of stretchable optical fibers disposed between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the plurality of stretchable optical fibers comprise one or more elastomer materials;
one or more light sources, each of the stretchable optical fibers being connected to at least one of the light sources;
one or more light detectors each connected to at least one of the stretchable optical fibers and each configured to receive light signals emitted from the one or more light sources and transmitted by the stretchable optical fibers;
a control unit that receives inputs associated with the received light signals from the one or more light detectors and that determines one or more deformation states of the second layer based on the received input;
a printed circuit board, wherein the one or more light sources, the one or more light detectors, and the control unit are affixed to the printed circuit board;
and
a power source affixed to the printed circuit board such that the power source is coupled to the control unit.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/577,193Filed 7 Jul 2022 · us provisional application
Priority: 7 Jul 2021
Published: US 2024/0230434 A111 Jul 2024
Granted: 7 Oct 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification23 codes

G01L 1/243
The material being an optical fibre: using means for applying force perpendicular to the fibre axis
A43B 3/44
With electrical or electronic arrangements: with sensors, e.g. for detecting contact or position
A61B 5/1038
Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies: measuring plantar pressure during gait
A61B 5/1116
Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor or mobility of a limb: determining posture transitions