Wearable Socks with Visual Cues for Patient Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients face challenges in retaining physical therapy instructions due to pain, medication, and language barriers, leading to incorrect ambulation and increased risk of falls and injuries after hospital discharge, with a lack of effective visual and physical training tools for safe mobility.
Innovation Solution
Wearable garments, such as socks, with visual cues and text-based instructions in multiple languages, including color indicators for 'UP' and 'DOWN' and 'GO' and 'STOP', along with a non-skid bottom surface, designed to assist patients in proper ambulation and prevent falls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If patients receive verbal instructions during physical therapy, then they can be taught proper ambulation techniques, but their ability to retain and understand instructions is impaired due to pain, medication, and language barriers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of verbal instruction delivery with a visual information system. Color-coded socks with visual cues (arrows, symbols) and text-based instructions substitute for verbal therapy instructions, allowing patients to learn and retain ambulation techniques through visual perception rather than auditory processing, thereby overcoming barriers related to pain, medication, and language comprehension
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable color-coded socks serve as an intermediary device between the therapist and the patient. Instead of direct verbal communication from therapist to patient, the socks act as a visual mediator that conveys ambulation instructions continuously, allowing patients to reference instructions independently without requiring real-time verbal communication or strong language skills
2Reliability
If patients are discharged without visual training tools, then discharge can be streamlined, but patients ambulate incorrectly leading to falls and re-hospitalization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs color-coded socks where different colors represent different feet (e.g., red for left foot, blue for right foot) and different patterns or colors indicate different actions (e.g., arrows pointing up for stepping up, arrows pointing down for stepping down). This color-coding system provides intuitive visual guidance for proper ambulation sequences, making complex mobility instructions easily distinguishable and memorable
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable socks enable patients to self-instruct during ambulation activities. The visual cues on the socks allow patients to independently determine which foot to move and in what sequence, eliminating the need for continuous therapist supervision or complex external training equipment. Patients can reference the instructions on their own socks at any time during practice
3Loss of information
If multiple discharge instructions are provided simultaneously, then comprehensive care can be given, but patient confusion increases due to information overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the comprehensive set of discharge instructions into discrete, manageable visual cues that are distributed across the socks. Rather than providing all instructions at once in verbal or written form, the ambulation instructions are broken down into individual visual elements (arrows, symbols, text) placed on different parts of the socks, allowing patients to process information in small, manageable units during actual ambulation tasks
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for assisting and educating patient mobility and recovery are disclosed. In one embodiment, wearable garments, such as socks, include at least one visual indicator to instruct and educate patients to ensure that the proper foot is used for mobility and recovery. The wearable garments includes a number of visual indicators to aid with instruction and education even for patients with visual impairments. The wearable garments additionally includes a non-skid bottom surface for preventing slips.