Abstract: An apparatus for measuring foot blood flow has a platform with a platform contact surface configured to receive a foot force from a user placing their foot on the contact surface. The apparatus also has a plurality of PPG sets (having at least one light source and at least one detector) extending through the platform contact surface, and a plurality of springs. Each PPG set is coupled with one or more of the springs to movably couple with the platform. In addition, each spring is biased to produce a biasing force via its coupled PPG set when the contact surface of the platform receives the foot. To maintain consistent pressure against the skin and good signal to noise ratio, each PPG set and its corresponding one or more springs are configured so that the biasing force has a magnitude that is substantially independent of the foot force magnitude.

Abstract: A system has a body with a base having a top surface with a receiving region to receive the bottom of a single foot. Among other things, the base may be in the form of an open or closed platform with a plurality of temperature sensors in communication with the top surface of the receiving region. The plurality of temperature sensors are within the receiving region and configured to activate after receipt of a stimulus applied to one or both the platform and the plurality of temperature sensors. A comparator is configured to form a temperature range as a function of the temperature value distribution and compare a percentage of the range size of the temperature distribution to a threshold value. An output produces ulcer information indicating the emergence of an ulcer or pre-ulcer when the percentage of the range size equals or exceeds the threshold value.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a patient's foot forms a thermogram of the sole of at least one foot of the patient, and determines whether the thermogram presents at least one of a plurality of prescribed patterns. The method also compares the thermogram against a prior thermogram of the same foot, and produces output information indicating the emergence of an ulcer on a given portion on the at least one foot as a function of 1) whether the thermogram is determined to present the at least one pattern, and 2) the comparison with the prior thermogram, which shows non-ulcerated tissue at the given location.

Abstract: A footwear system having a plurality of temperature sensors determines the emergence of an ulcer or pre-ulcer on a person's foot. After the plurality of temperature sensors generate a plurality of discrete temperature data values, the system and method form a temperature map representing substantially the actual geometric shape of at least a portion of the foot, and the distribution of temperatures of the at least a portion of the foot. Next, the method and system determine whether the temperature map presents at least one of a plurality of prescribed patterns, and produces output information indicating an emergence of an ulcer or a pre-ulcer on a given portion on the foot. The output information is produced as a function of whether the temperature map is determined to present the at least one of the plurality of prescribed patterns.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for evaluating foot inflammation each uses at least one temperature detection modality to form a first thermogram and a second thermogram of the sole of at least one foot. Each thermogram forms a substantially continuous set of two-dimensional temperature values across the sole of the (at least one) foot. The thermograms have features; namely, the first thermogram has first features and the second thermogram has second features. The method and apparatus thus control a device to apply at least one transformation to the first and second thermograms to align the first features with corresponding second features, and determine, at any thermogram location, if at least one of the thermograms presents one of a plurality of patterns indicative of inflammation. Finally, the method and apparatus each produce output information indicating the result of the determination of whether the thermograms present one of the plurality of patterns.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a patient's foot forms a thermogram of the sole of at least one foot of the patient, and determines whether the thermogram presents at least one of a plurality of prescribed patterns. The method also compares the thermogram against a prior thermogram of the same foot, and produces output information indicating the emergence of an ulcer on a given portion on the at least one foot as a function of 1) whether the thermogram is determined to present the at least one pattern, and 2) the comparison with the prior thermogram, which shows non-ulcerated tissue at the given location.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for evaluating foot inflammation each uses at least one temperature detection modality to form a first thermogram and a second thermogram of the sole of at least one foot. Each thermogram forms a substantially continuous set of two-dimensional temperature values across the sole of the (at least one) foot. The thermograms have features; namely, the first thermogram has first features and the second thermogram has second features. The method and apparatus thus control a device to apply at least one transformation to the first and second thermograms to align the first features with corresponding second features, and determine, at any thermogram location, if at least one of the thermograms presents one of a plurality of patterns indicative of inflammation. Finally, the method and apparatus each produce output information indicating the result of the determination of whether the thermograms present one of the plurality of patterns.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a patient's foot forms a thermogram of the sole of at least one foot of the patient, and determines whether the thermogram presents at least one of a plurality of prescribed patterns. The method also compares the thermogram against a prior thermogram of the same foot, and produces output information indicating the emergence of an ulcer on a given portion on the at least one foot as a function of 1) whether the thermogram is determined to present the at least one pattern, and 2) the comparison with the prior thermogram, which shows non-ulcerated tissue at the given location.

Abstract: A method of monitoring at least one foot of a patient provides an open platform for receiving at least one foot. The open platform has at least one temperature sensor for generating a plurality of temperature data values after receipt of the at least one foot. The method also forms a thermogram of the sole of the at least one foot from the temperature data values, and determines whether the thermogram presents at least one of a plurality of prescribed patterns. Finally, the method produces output information indicating the risk of an ulcer emerging on the foot as a function of whether the thermogram is determined to present the at least one prescribed pattern.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a patient's foot provides an open platform for receiving at least one foot. The platform has at least one temperature sensor for generating a plurality of temperature data values after receipt of the at least one foot. The method then forms a thermogram of the sole of the at least one foot from the temperature data, and determines whether the thermogram presents at least one of a plurality of prescribed patterns. Next, the method produces output information indicating the emergence of a pre-ulcer or progression of a known pre-ulcer in the at least one foot as a function of whether the thermogram is determined to present the at least one pattern.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a patient's foot provides an open platform for receiving at least one foot. The platform has at least one temperature sensor for generating a plurality of temperature data values after receipt of the at least one foot. The method then forms a thermogram of the sole of the at least one foot from the temperature data, and determines whether the thermogram presents at least one of a plurality of prescribed patterns. Next, the method produces output information indicating the emergence of a pre-ulcer or progression of a known pre-ulcer in the at least one foot as a function of whether the thermogram is determined to present the at least one pattern.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a patient's foot forms a thermogram of the sole of at least one foot of the patient, and determines whether the thermogram presents at least one of a plurality of prescribed patterns. The method also compares the thermogram against a prior thermogram of the same foot, and produces output information indicating the emergence of an ulcer on a given portion on the at least one foot as a function of 1) whether the thermogram is determined to present the at least one pattern, and 2) the comparison with the prior thermogram, which shows non-ulcerated tissue at the given location.

Abstract: A method of monitoring at least one foot of a patient provides an open platform for receiving at least one foot. The open platform has at least one temperature sensor for generating a plurality of temperature data values after receipt of the at least one foot. The method also forms a thermogram of the sole of the at least one foot from the temperature data values, and determines whether the thermogram presents at least one of a plurality of prescribed patterns. Finally, the method produces output information indicating the risk of an ulcer emerging on the foot as a function of whether the thermogram is determined to present the at least one prescribed pattern.