OUR SOLUTION
Our solution will make it easy for therapists to gather quantitative data on the gait of the patient. A custom sensor array in a shoe insole senses the pressure the patient is putting on different areas of the foot. The information is transmitted via Bluetooth to an android device, which the therapist can use during and after a therapy session. The Podwear device can be integrated into any therapy routine that the patient performs. The pressure information can provide the therapist with a baseline level of disability for the patient, as well as a way to track progress throughout rehabilitation.
Quickly finding a therapy that is effective is very important for the patient's recovery. The quantitative metrics that the Podwear device can measure and store across therapy sessions can give the therapist a way to measure the progress of the patient, so that if the current therapy is not effective something new can be
tried sooner.
Prototype Demonstration
This short video demonstrates the functionality of Podwear.
OUR PRODUCT
Pressure data is taken from the sensors in the insole. This data is processed in a small module that the user will wear on their ankle. The module contains a microprocessor which processes the data to determine when and where the user is striking their foot when they step. This information is sent over Bluetooth to the Podwear App.
OUR APP
The Podwear app allows the therapist to see the pressure distribution in real time as the patient walks. After the patient is done walking, the therapist can go to a summary view to review the results with the patient. The therapist can see the percent of steps that were heel strikes, as well as the lateral bias of the foot. Moving to the detailed summary view lets the therapist review the real time data with the patient, so that the patient can see exactly where they are putting pressure as they walk.