The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 19, 2005
Filed:
Jun. 18, 2003
James M. Horton, Charlotte, NC (US);
David Hinks, Apex, NC (US);
Ahmed El-shafei, Raleigh, NC (US);
Cannon Research Institute of Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a sock containing a coating applied to at least a portion of a surface of the sock for sensing pressure points on a patient's foot. The coating material comprises a pressure-sensitive film comprised of oxygen-sensitive photo luminescent probe molecules dispersed within a polymer matrix, and, optionally, an inorganic pigment. Areas of increased pressure can be detected by correspondence to areas on the film of increased fluorescence intensity. The coating material can also be comprised of a coloring agent or dye such that after the sock has been worn for a period of time, in those areas of the foot susceptible to pressure points, the coating material transfers from the interior of the sock and adheres to the foot in those points. The present invention is particularly applicable to persons having diabetic neuropathic feet wherein portions of the foot may be insensitive to pressure.