Systems, devices, and methods for monitoring an under foot load profile of a tibial fracture patient during a period of partial weight bearing

摘要

Systems, devices, and methods for measuring an under foot load profile of a tibial fracture patient during a period of partial weight bearing are described. The system may include a walking boot cast. A housing, including an inner surface and an upper surface that cooperate to define an inner cavity, may be oriented with respect to a patient's tibia. The upper surface is slidably received within the inner cavity in a piston and cylinder configuration. The system may include a pressure sensor configured to monitor the load profile of a patient during the desired period of partial weight bearing. The pressure sensor may be located below the upper surface. The system may include a noncompressible force transmitter positioned within the inner cavity and at least partially encapsulating an upper portion of the pressure sensor to transmit pressure within the housing to the pressure sensor.

主权项

1. A system for measuring an under foot load profile of a tibial fracture patient during a period of partial weight bearing, the system comprising:
a walking boot cast including a foot bed; a housing configured to be oriented with respect to the patient's tibia, said housing having an inner surface and an upper plate, said upper plate being aligned with respect to said foot bed, said inner surface and said upper surface plate cooperating to define an inner cavity, said inner surface being rigid, said upper surface plate being sized to be slidably received within said inner cavity in a piston and cylinder configuration with said upper plate acting as the piston and said inner surface acting as the cylinder, said upper plate being rigid; a pressure sensor configured to monitor the load profile of a patient during the desired period of partial weight bearing, said pressure sensor located below said upper plate; and a noncompressible gel positioned within said inner cavity of said housing and at least partially encapsulating an upper portion of said pressure sensor to transmit pressure within said housing to said pressure sensor.