Peripheral sensory and supersensory replacement system

Abstract

A sensor-based quantification and analysis system includes an input device including a plurality of sensors that generate an input based on a force. The input device also includes a transmission device that transmits force information based on the input. The system also includes an output device that receives the force information. A processing unit selects, for each of the plurality of sensors, one of a plurality of levels of a likelihood of tissue damage based on the force and a predetermined time period. Further, the output device includes a display that presents or logs the one of the plurality of levels of the likelihood of tissue damage for each of the plurality of sensors.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An activity monitoring insole, comprising:
 an insole bulk;   a pressure sensing array embedded in the insole bulk and comprising a plurality of pressure sensors that are configured to generate measurements;   a processing unit embedded in the insole bulk and in communication with the pressure sensors for receiving the measurements from the pressure sensors and generating pressure information; and   a stimulator in communication with the processing unit and configured to apply a stimulus to the user in response to the pressure information.   
     
     
         2 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulus comprises at least one of a vibrotactile stimulus and an electrotactile stimulus. 
     
     
         3 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 1 , wherein the insole is configured such that the stimulator applies the stimulus in real time. 
     
     
         4 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure information comprises an indication of whether a pressure threshold has been exceeded, and the insole is configured such that the stimulator applies the stimulus when the pressure threshold has been exceeded. 
     
     
         5 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to update the pressure threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 4 , wherein the insole is configured such that the stimulator applies the stimulus when a percentage of the measurements have exceeded the pressure threshold. 
     
     
         7 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 4 , wherein the insole is configured such that the stimulator applies the stimulus when the pressure threshold has been exceeded a plurality of times. 
     
     
         8 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of times is a plurality of non-consecutive times. 
     
     
         9 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 4 , wherein the insole is configured such that the stimulator applies the stimulus at a location where the pressure threshold has been exceeded. 
     
     
         10 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 1 , wherein the insole is configured such that the stimulator applies the stimulus at a frequency that is a function of the pressure information. 
     
     
         11 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 1 , wherein the insole is configured such that the stimulator applies the stimulus at an intensity that is a function of the pressure information. 
     
     
         12 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 1 , wherein the insole is configured such that the stimulator ceases applying the stimulus on offloading of pressure. 
     
     
         13 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulator is overlapped with or adjacent one of the pressure sensors. 
     
     
         14 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 1 , wherein the insole bulk comprises an upper surface layer and a lower cushion layer, and the plurality of pressure sensors is laminated between the upper surface layer and the lower cushion layer. 
     
     
         15 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pressure sensors is configured to continuously generate the measurements at a measurement frequency of at least 4 Hz. 
     
     
         16 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless transmission node embedded in the insole bulk and in communication with the processing unit for continuously transmitting the pressure information out of the insole for activity monitoring. 
     
     
         17 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 16 , wherein the wireless transmission node is configured to continuously transmit the pressure information out of the insole at a frequency of 4 Hz. 
     
     
         18 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensors are configured to continuously generate the measurements over a plantar surface and/or a non-plantar surface of the user's foot. 
     
     
         19 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure information comprises a real-time pressure map of at least a plantar surface of the user's foot. 
     
     
         20 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 1 , wherein the activity monitoring insole comprises a low power chipset that is run by a real-time operating system. 
     
     
         21 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensors comprise low power piezoelectric, piezoresistive, and/or capacitive sensors. 
     
     
         22 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 1 , wherein the activity monitoring insole is a flat insole. 
     
     
         23 . The activity monitoring insole of  claim 1 , further comprising an accelerometer and/or a GPS sensor. 
     
     
         24 . An activity monitoring system comprising:
 an insole comprising an insole bulk, a pressure sensing array embedded in the insole bulk and comprising a plurality of pressure sensors that are configured to generate measurements, a processing unit embedded in the insole bulk and in communication with the pressure sensors for receiving the measurements from the pressure sensors and generating pressure information, a stimulator in communication with the processing unit and configured to apply a stimulus to the user in response to the pressure information, and a wireless transmission node embedded in the insole bulk and in communication with the processing unit for transmitting the pressure information out of the insole; and   an output device configured to receive the pressure information and use the pressure information in a pressure analysis system.   
     
     
         25 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 24 , wherein the stimulus comprises at least one of a vibrotactile stimulus and an electrotactile stimulus. 
     
     
         26 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 24 , wherein the insole is configured such that the stimulator applies the stimulus in real time, and wherein the output device is configured to use the pressure information in real time. 
     
     
         27 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 24 , wherein the pressure information comprises an indication of whether a pressure threshold has been exceeded, and the insole is configured such that the stimulator applies the stimulus when the pressure threshold has been exceeded. 
     
     
         28 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 27 , wherein the processor is configured to update the pressure threshold. 
     
     
         29 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 27 , wherein the insole is configured such that the stimulator applies the stimulus when a percentage of the measurements have exceeded the pressure threshold. 
     
     
         30 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 27 , wherein the insole is configured such that the stimulator applies the stimulus when the pressure threshold has been exceeded a plurality of times. 
     
     
         31 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 30 , wherein the plurality of times is a plurality of non-consecutive times. 
     
     
         32 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 27 , wherein the insole is configured such that the stimulator applies the stimulus at a location where the pressure threshold has been exceeded. 
     
     
         33 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 27 , wherein the insole is configured such that the stimulator applies the stimulus at a frequency that is a function of the pressure information. 
     
     
         34 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 27 , wherein the insole is configured such that the stimulator applies the stimulus at an intensity that is a function of the pressure information. 
     
     
         35 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 24 , wherein the insole is configured such that the stimulator ceases applying the stimulus on offloading of pressure. 
     
     
         36 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 24 , wherein the stimulator is overlapped with or adjacent one of the pressure sensors. 
     
     
         37 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 24 , wherein the insole bulk comprises an upper surface layer and a lower cushion layer, and the plurality of pressure sensors is laminated between the upper surface layer and the lower cushion layer. 
     
     
         38 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 24 , wherein each of the pressure sensors is configured to continuously generate the measurements at a measurement frequency of at least 4 Hz. 
     
     
         39 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 24 , wherein the wireless transmission node is configured to continuously transmit the pressure information out of the insole at a frequency of 4 Hz. 
     
     
         40 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 24 , wherein the pressure sensors are configured to continuously generate the measurements over a plantar surface and/or a non-plantar surface of the user's foot. 
     
     
         41 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 24 , wherein the pressure information comprises a real-time pressure map of at least a plantar surface of the user's foot. 
     
     
         42 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 24 , wherein the insole comprises a low power chipset that is run by a real-time operating system. 
     
     
         43 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 24 , wherein the pressure sensors comprise low power piezoelectric, piezoresistive, and/or capacitive sensors. 
     
     
         44 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 24 , wherein the insole is a flat insole. 
     
     
         45 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 24 , wherein the insole further comprises an accelerometer and/or a GPS sensor. 
     
     
         46 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 24 , wherein the pressure analysis system is configured to use the pressure information to generate a kinetic quantification and/or a kinematic quantification of the user. 
     
     
         47 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 24 , wherein the output device comprises at least one of a of a smartphone, a television, an LCD display, a heads up display and a computer. 
     
     
         48 . The activity monitoring system of  claim 24 , wherein the real-time pressure analysis system comprises a web-based application. 
     
     
         49 . A method for using pressure information for activity monitoring, comprising:
 a. using a plurality of pressure sensors of an insole to generate measurements over a sole of a user's foot;   b. using a processing unit of the insole to receive the measurements from the pressure sensors and generate pressure information; and   c. using a stimulator of the insole to apply a stimulus to the user's foot in response to the pressure information.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising: d. transmitting the pressure information out of the insole, and using the pressure information in an activity monitoring system. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein step d. comprises continuously transmitting the pressure information out of the insole at a frequency of 4 Hz. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein step c. comprises applying the stimulus in real time, and step d. comprises using the pressure information in real time. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein step d. comprises using the pressure information to generate a kinetic quantification and/or a kinematic quantification of the user. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein step d. comprises transmitting the pressure information to at least one of a of a smartphone, a television, an LCD display, a heads up display, a computer, and a web-based application. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein step c. comprises applying at least one of a vibrotactile stimulus and an electrotactile stimulus. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein step b. comprises determining whether a pressure threshold has been exceeded, and step c. comprises providing the stimulus when the pressure threshold has been exceeded. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein step b. further comprises updating the pressure threshold. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein step c. comprises applying the stimulus when a percentage of the measurements have exceeded the pressure threshold. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein step c. comprises applying the stimulus when the pressure threshold has been exceeded a plurality of times. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein step c. comprises applying the stimulus when the pressure threshold has been exceeded a plurality of non-consecutive times. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein step c. comprises applying the stimulus at a location where the pressure threshold has been exceeded. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein step c. comprises applying the stimulus at a frequency that is a function of the pressure information. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein step c. comprises applying the stimulus at an intensity that is a function of the pressure information. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising ceasing applying the stimulus on offloading of pressure. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein step a. comprises continuously generating the measurements at a measurement frequency of at least 4 Hz. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein step a. comprises continuously generating the measurements over a plantar surface and/or a non-plantar surface of the user's foot. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein step b. comprises generating a real-time pressure map of at least a plantar surface of the user's foot. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein step c. comprises providing the user with continuous, real-time feedback of differential pressures over an entire plantar surface.