System and method for enhancing venous circulation in a limb of a user
OwnerEvans Tachie-Menson, Kingsley Essel Arthurinventors
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Abstract
An apparatus enhances venous circulation in a limb using a first sensor set that detects load, a second sensor set that optically detects a blood circulation level, and a third sensor set that detects movement and orientation. A controller determines a venous-pooling index from the sensed load, blood circulation level, and motion data and activates a haptic actuator to deliver external stimulation when the index exceeds a threshold. In some embodiments the controller applies filtering and optional machine-learning personalization to adjust stimulation based on user activity or environmental conditions, including zero-gravity operation.
Claims20
An apparatus for enhancing venous circulation in a limb of a user, the apparatus
- comprising:
- a first set of sensors positioned under heel, arch, and forefoot regions of a foot, the first set of sensors configured to measure plantar loading associated with a plantar-venous-plexus foot-pump cycle;
- a second set of sensors positioned beneath at least a first and second metatarsal head of the foot, the second set of sensors configured to optically detect perfusion through the plantar venous plexus and to compute a perfusion index (PI) derived from a photoplethysmographic (PPG) AC/DC signal;
- a third set of sensors configured to detect movement, gait-phase transitions, and orientation of the limb;
- a haptic actuator positioned beneath at least one metatarsal head and configured to deliver targeted mechanical stimulation to the plantar venous plexus;
- and
- a controller in communication with the first, second, and third sensors and the haptic actuator, the controller configured to:
- (1) determine a venous-pooling index using a weighted algorithm integrating plantar loading, perfusion index, and immobility duration;
- (2) maintain, under zero-gravity conditions, a preload assembly configured to apply a contact force of 0.5-2 N to the first set of sensors to ensure continuous skin-sensor contact;
- and
- (3) instruct the haptic actuator to deliver plantar-venous-plexus stimulation when the venous-pooling index exceeds a personalized threshold generated by at least one artificial-intelligence or machine-learning model.
A method for enhancing venous circulation in a limb of a user, the method comprising:
- detecting, by a first set of sensors, an amount of load exerted by the limb of the user, where the first set of sensors are configured to be placed in contact with the limb of the user;
- detecting, by a second set of sensors, a blood circulation level corresponding to the limb of the user, where the second set of sensors are configured to be placed in contact with a portion of skin of the limb of the user to optically detect the blood circulation level;
- detecting, by a third set of sensors, movement and orientation of the limb of the user, where the third set of sensors are configured to be placed in contact with the limb of the user, and generating, by a haptic actuator, an external stimulation, where the haptic actuator is configured to be placed in contact with the limb of the user;
- and
- determining, by a controller, a venous-pooling index based on the amount of load that is exerted by the limb of the user, the blood circulation level corresponding to the limb of the user, and the movement and orientation of the limb of the user, and instructing, by the controller, the haptic actuator to generate the external stimulation for the limb when the venous-pooling index exceeds a pre-defined threshold, to enhance the venous circulation in the limb of the user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.