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US 8,133,189 B2Granted
System, device and method for assessing tactile sensory deficit
AssigneeDaniel L. M. Kennedy
InventorWilliam R. Kennedy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various device embodiments comprise a substrate with a smooth surface, and a plurality of objects on the smooth surface. Each of the plurality of objects have a predetermined dimension capable of being sensed by a healthy person with a normal tactile sensory ability. Each of the plurality of objects have a different, predetermined dimension corresponding to distinct levels of tactile sensory ability.
Claims25
A method, comprising:
- identifying a subject who has or is at risk of developing a tactile sensory deficit;
- and testing the subject, including:
- requesting the subject to explore, using touch, a smooth surface to feel for and find an object on the smooth surface by rubbing a plantar pad of a finger or toe of the subject over the smooth surface, wherein the object on the smooth surface has characteristics that prevent or make it difficult to visually locate the object, the object is at a location on the smooth surface unknown to the subject before the subject feels for the object, and each object on the smooth surface has a predetermined dimension corresponding to a tactile sensory ability;
- receiving an indication from the subject indicating whether the subject found the object;
- and
- providing an objective grade of tactile sensory deficit based on whether the subject correctly found the object where the object is located on the smooth surface.
3 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a substrate with a smooth surface that is smooth to a touch of a person with a normal sensory ability;
- and
- a plurality of objects on the smooth surface, each of the plurality of objects having a predetermined dimension capable of being sensed by the person with the normal tactile sensory ability when the person with the normal tactile sensory ability rubs a plantar pad of a finger or toe over the smooth surface of the substrate, each of the plurality of objects on the smooth surface having characteristics that prevent or make it difficult to visually locate the objects, each of the plurality of objects further having a different, predetermined dimension corresponding to distinct levels of tactile sensory ability for use in determining the tactile sensory deficit of the test subject.
A system, comprising:
- a device, comprising:
- a substrate with a smooth surface that is smooth to a touch of a person with a normal tactile sensory ability;
- and
- a plurality of objects on the smooth surface, each of the plurality of objects having a predetermined dimension capable of being found by the person with the normal tactile sensory ability when the person with the normal tactile sensory ability rubs a plantar pad of a finger or toe over the smooth surface of the substrate, each of the plurality of objects on the smooth surface having characteristics that prevent or make it difficult to visually locate the objects, each of the plurality of objects further having a different dimension corresponding to distinct levels of tactile sensory ability for use in determining the tactile sensory deficit of the test subject;
- and
- a computer system, including:
- a data input device to receive input regarding which of the plurality of objects are sensed by a subject;
- a memory;
- and
- a processor adapted to communicate with the data input device and the memory to store inputted data regarding which of the plurality of objects are sensed by the subject in the memory and provide an objective grade of tactile sensory deficit.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.