{"id":1245,"date":"2012-12-09T11:02:57","date_gmt":"2012-12-09T09:02:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ruthtrumpold.id.au\/blogs\/designtech\/?p=1245"},"modified":"2012-12-09T11:03:46","modified_gmt":"2012-12-09T09:03:46","slug":"smart-insole","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ruthtrumpold.id.au\/blogs\/designtech\/2012\/12\/09\/smart-insole\/","title":{"rendered":"Smart Insole"},"content":{"rendered":"

People who have received an artificial leg, had a hip replacement, or who are recovering from a broken leg all want to avoid \u00a0developing a limp. Not only will\u00a0it limit their mobility and increase the risk of falls, but it can also lead to problems such as osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis is a joint disease that mostly affects cartilage. Cartilage is the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint. Healthy cartilage allows bones to glide over each other. In osteoarthritis, the top layer of cartilage breaks down and wears away.) That\u2019s why mechanical engineer Prof. Stacy Bamberg is developing the Rapid Rehab system, it\u2019s a \u201csmart\u201d insole paired to a smart phone app, designed to provide users with feedback on how they walk.<\/p>\n

The gel insole combines two force-sensitive resistors that measure pressure when the patient\u2019s foot is on the ground. It also contains an accelerometer for detecting leg movement, and a gyroscope (a device, used to provide stability or maintain a fixed orientation) for determining the angle and position of the foot.<\/p>\n

Data from all of those sensors is wireless and transmitted to a smartphone that uses a custom app to create a real-time profile of the patient\u2019s gait. It will note any problems with their walking pattern, and then advise them via their choice of instant visual, audio\"Stacy or sensory feedback.<\/p>\n

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