Metatarsal-phalangeal joint strength measuring device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017086751-A1
Application number	US-201615274976-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 23, 2016
Priority date	Sep 24, 2015
Publication date	Mar 30, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A metatarsal-phalangeal joint strength measuring device is provided and includes a base plate, a first toe plate, and a first force sensor associated with the first toe plate. The base plate receives a heel of a foot and defines a longitudinal axis extending between a first edge and a second edge. The first toe plate receives at least one toe of the foot, is movable relative to the base plate, and measures a load applied to the first toe plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A metatarsal-phalangeal (MTP) joint strength measuring device comprising:
a base plate operable to receive a heel of a foot, the base plate defining a longitudinal axis extending between a first edge and a second edge; a first toe plate operable to receive at least one toe of the foot, the first toe plate movable relative to the base plate; and a first force sensor associated with the first toe plate and operable to measure a load applied to the first toe plate.

2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a heel plate movably secured to the base plate and opposing an upper surface of the base plate, the heel plate including a heel cup operable to receive the heel of the foot.

3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the heel plate is linearly movable relative to the base plate along the longitudinal axis.

4 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the heel plate is rotatable relative to the base plate.

5 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a motor operable to pivotally move the first toe plate relative to the base plate about the first axis of rotation.

6 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a rotational position sensor operable to measure an angular position of the first toe plate relative to the base plate.

7 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one wall extending from the base plate and pivotally supporting the first toe plate about the first axis of rotation, the at least one wall receiving a retaining member operable to retain the first toe plate at different angular positions relative to the base plate.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first toe plate includes a first toe-engaging surface and a first contact surface disposed on an opposite side of the first toe plate than the first toe-engaging surface and opposing a support plate, the first toe-engaging surface operable to receive one of a hallux of the foot and the four lesser toes of the foot.

9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the first force sensor is disposed between the first contact surface and the support plate, the first force sensor operable to measure a load applied by the one of the hallux of the foot and the four lesser toes of the foot to the first toe-engaging surface.

10 . The device of claim 8 , further comprising a second toe plate disposed adjacent to the first toe plate and including a first edge that extends substantially co-linear with the first edge of the first toe plate, the second toe plate pivotally movable relative to the base plate about the first axis of rotation and including a second toe-engaging surface and a second contact surface disposed on an opposite side of the second toe plate than the second toe-engaging surface and opposing the support plate, the second toe-engaging surface operable to receive the other one of the hallux of the foot and the four lesser toes of the foot.

11 . The device of claim 10 , further comprising a second force sensor disposed between the second contact surface and the support plate, the second force sensor operable to measure a load applied by the other one of the hallux of the foot and the four lesser toes of the foot to the second toe-engaging surface, the measured load applied to the second toe-engaging surface isolated from a load applied to the first toe-engaging surface.

12 . A metatarsal-phalangeal (MTP) joint strength measuring device comprising:
a support plate; a first toe plate opposing the support plate and operable to receive a hallux of a foot; a second toe plate coplanar with the first toe plate and opposing the support plate, the second toe plate operable to receive the four lesser toes of the foot; a first force sensor associated with the first toe plate and the support plate, the first force sensor operative to measure a load applied by the hallux to the first toe plate; and a second force sensor associated with the second toe plate and the support plate, the second force sensor operative to measure a load applied by the four lesser toes to the second toe plate.

13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the support plate is movable relative to a ground surface and in unison with the first toe plate and the second toe plate.

14 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the first toe plate and the second toe plate are pivotally movable about a first axis of rotation between multiple angular positions relative to the ground surface, the first axis of rotation substantially aligned with a first edge of the first toe plate and a first edge of the second toe plate.

15 . The device of claim 12 , further comprising a motor operable to pivotally move the first toe plate and the second toe plate relative to the ground surface about the first axis of rotation.

16 . The device of claim 12 , further comprising a rotational position sensor operable to measure an angular position of the first toe plate and the second toe plate relative to the ground surface.

17 . The device of claim 12 , further comprising at least one wall pivotally supporting the support plate, the first toe plate, and the second toe plate about the first axis of rotation, the at least one wall receiving a retaining member operable to retain the first toe plate and the second toe plate at multiple angles relative to the ground surface.

18 . The device of claim 12 , further comprising a base plate operable to receive a heel of a foot and defining a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a ground surface, the base plate extending between a first edge and a second edge with one of the first edge and the second edge being disposed proximate to a first edge of the first toe plate and a first edge of the second toe plate.

19 . The device of claim 18 , further comprising a heel plate movably secured to the base plate and opposing an upper surface of the base plate, the heel plate including a heel cup operable to receive the heel of the foot.

20 . The device of claim 19 , wherein the heel plate is linearly movable relative to the base late along the longitudinal axis.

21 . The device of claim 19 , wherein the heel plate is rotatable relative to the base plate.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Amos Michael S
• Donovan Sharna M
• Jackson Thomas W
• Leedy Gregory R

Classifications

• A61B5/702 Primary

  Posture restraints · CPC title

• A61B2562/0261

  Strain gauges · CPC title

• A61B5/4528

  Joints (A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B5/1074

  Foot measuring devices · CPC title

• A61B5/1036

  Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies · CPC title