Orthotic Foot Mapping With Segmented Pressure Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing footwear often fails to provide proper support, leading to foot pain and related issues such as plantar fasciitis, claw toes, and increased risk of falls due to improper fitting, necessitating a solution to capture precise foot measurements for customized orthotic inserts.
Innovation Solution
A kiosk-based system that scans a user's foot using a foot plate with sensors, allowing for two-dimensional and three-dimensional data capture, enabling the selection of orthotic inserts tailored to individual arch heights and providing support rib members for enhanced arch support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a kiosk-based scanning system is implemented to capture precise foot measurements, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The foot scanning system is segmented into multiple independent sensor arrays distributed across the foot plate, each capturing local pressure data. This segmentation allows the complex measurement task to be divided into simpler, manageable sensor readings that are later processed collectively to achieve high measurement precision without requiring a single overly complex sensing mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces traditional mechanical measuring tools (such as physical calipers or manual measurement devices) with an electronic sensor array that optically and electrically detects foot pressure distribution. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms while achieving superior measurement precision through electronic data capture and processing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If customized orthotic inserts are provided based on detailed foot scans, then adaptability is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary data capture by positioning pressure sensors across the entire foot plate before the user actually steps on it. The scanning process is initiated automatically upon user approach, and the system pre-positions all sensing elements and prepares the data processing pipeline, so that when the user steps on the plate, measurements are captured instantly without requiring sequential or manual measurement steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic sampling of pressure data at high frequency during the brief moment the user stands on the foot plate. By capturing multiple rapid snapshots of pressure distribution and averaging or selecting the best readings, the system achieves highly accurate customized measurements in a single quick action, eliminating the need for repeated manual measurements or prolonged data collection periods.
Data Source
AI summary
An orthotic apparatus and method that is operable to provide foot mapping of a user and provide guidance to an orthotic insert that mateably fits the user's foot. The present invention includes a kiosk wherein the kiosk includes an upright housing and a base member operably coupled thereto. The base member has a foot plate member thereon configured to have a user superpose their feet onto the upper surface thereof. The method of the present invention includes a plurality of steps that require the user to manipulate the position of their feet and further place increased pressure on various parts thereof. During manipulation of the feet the multitude of sensors embedded within the foot plate member provide surface data mapping of the bottom of the user's foot. The data mapping obtains a plurality of alternate measurements of three regions of the user's foot to provide guidance on a proper orthotic.