WO2018121814A1

WO2018121814A1 - Shoe sole for measuring a foot temperature, pair of shoe soles, shoe and pair of shoes

Info

Publication number: WO2018121814A1
Application number: PCT/DE2017/101101
Authority: WO
Inventors: Norbert Schidlowski
Original assignee: Orthopädie-Technik-Service aktiv GmbH; automation & software Günther Tausch GmbH
Priority date: 2017-01-02
Filing date: 2017-12-22
Publication date: 2018-07-05
Also published as: DE202017100006U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a shoe sole for measuring a foot temperature, comprising padding material, a foot contact surface and a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor being arranged at a distance from the foot contact surface, and a heat conducting body is arranged thermally conductively between the foot contact surface and the temperature sensor such that a foot temperature is guided via the heat conducting body to the temperature sensor.

Description

Shoe sole for measuring a foot temperature, shoe sole pair,

Shoe and pair of shoes

[Ol] The invention relates to a shoe sole for measuring a foot temperature with a cushioning material, a foot contact surface and a temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor has a distance from the foot contact surface. Furthermore, the invention relates to a shoe sole pair, a shoe and a pair of shoes.

[02] In patients with diabetes, severe and long-term complications result in damage to the nerves and blood vessels in the legs and feet, resulting in patients feeling abnormal in the feet. These emotional disorders (neuropathy) and

Circulatory disorders are the main cause of diabetic foot syndrome (so-called diabetic foot).

[03] Patients with diabetic foot syndrome may experience overloading of the feet due to mechanical stimuli such as pressure or trauma due to altered and / or decreased pain perception

Cutting injury, and temperature stimuli not adequately perceive. In particular, the sole of the foot and the lateral areas of the foot are endangered. The altered and / or diminished perception leads to the fact that even the smallest injuries lead to very difficult healing wounds and often deep ulcers can occur in particular by constantly existing mechanical stimuli. Not Inflammation detected and treated in good time can lead to amputation of parts or the entire foot and severely impair the quality of life of those affected.

To detect circulatory disorders in patients with diabetes early, temperature sensors in footwear are known.

WO 2009/005373 A1 discloses a separate insole or shoe integrated sole for diabetic patients in which the temperature sensors are in direct thermal contact with the foot.

[06] From DE 10 2014 008 091 AI a device for detecting pressure load and / or temperature differences in a pair of insole for diabetic feet is disclosed, wherein in the sole variable pressure and temperature sensors are incorporated. In this case the textile, capacitive pressure sensors are designed in each case from two opposite surfaces on the sole upper sensor ^¬ and bottom, with the interposition of cushioning material is arranged.

[07] In US 2017/0127999 A1, the temperature sensors communicate with the sole surface and are disposed on a flexible circuit board which in turn is positioned on a flexible insole.

A disadvantage of known shoe or insoles is that the foot is in direct contact with the temperature sensor and due to Material differences of the temperature sensors to the surrounding sole material and / or the hardness of the temperature sensors themselves just the risk that a diabetic foot is mechanically irritated and damaged as a result.

[09] In order to avoid damage, sensor soles are also known in which the temperature sensors are usually arranged in a lower sole plane in order to avoid pressure points on the foot. The overlying cushioning material absorbs the pressure of the foot of the sole support, but prevents due to its heat insulating properties and due to the distance of the temperature sensors to the foot, a heat transfer of the measured body heat of the foot to the temperature sensors.

In order to improve a heat transfer through the cushioning material, at the position of a temperature sensor, the cushioning material can be provided with a breakthrough. As a result, the heat transfer is in principle improved, but the air present in the breakthrough is a poor conductor of heat, whereby the temperature measurement result can be falsified. In addition, the different material properties and the position of the material change between a breakthrough and the padding material can in turn lead to a mechanical irritation of the diabetic foot.

[11] The object of the invention is to improve the state of the art

The problem is solved by a shoe sole for measuring a foot temperature with a cushioning material, a Foot contact surface and a temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor has a distance from the Fußkontaktfläche, and a heat-conducting body is disposed in heat-conducting between the Fußkontaktfläche and the temperature sensor, so that a foot temperature is passed through the heat conducting body to the temperature sensor.

Thus, by means of the heat-conducting body, an accurate measurement of the foot temperature is realized without the foot having to come into direct contact with the temperature sensor and, if necessary, mechanically irritated. Due to the special heat-conducting body between the foot contact surface and the temperature sensor, the foot is not directly exposed to the material and shape properties of the temperature sensor.

Consequently, by the heat conducting body, an elevated temperature at the foot, for example when increasing the foot temperature due to an inflammatory reaction, or a lowered temperature at the foot, for example due to circulatory disorders, reliably, quickly and timely detected and detected.

An essential idea of the invention is based on the fact that to ensure by means of a heat conducting both optimal heat transfer from the foot to the temperature sensor and thereby a reliable measurement of the foot temperature and at the same time a high level of comfort in sensitive diabetic feet.

[16] The following is explained: [17] A "shoe sole" is in particular a component of the shoe bottom and thus of the part of the shoe which is located underneath a foot A shoe sole may, in particular, represent a layer and / or layer of the shoe bottom A shoe sole is also a cover insole or a partial cover insole, which is glued and / or arranged on the insole.A shoe sole has in particular a layer and / or layer or several layers and / or layers as well as an integrated heat conduction body. Insole "is in particular the shoe sole, which lies within the shoe and comes directly into contact with the sole of the foot. The "outsole" or "outsole" is in particular the outer part of the shoe bottom, which is in contact with the ground. A shoe sole is in particular also an "insole" which is inserted loosely as an additional insole into the shoe An insole may also be an insole (footbed or orthopedic insole).

[18] The shoe sole has in particular a padding material, a foot contact surface and at least one temperature sensor. In particular, a shoe sole can comprise a material or various materials, such as cardboard, plastic, synthetic fabric, leather, rubber, rubber, a mixture of synthetic rubber with natural rubber, wood, cork and / or similar materials.

[19] A "foot temperature" is in particular the temperature of a foot or part of the foot, the Temperature may have a temperature distribution over the surface of the foot. A foot temperature is in particular the temperature and / or temperature distribution present or existing at the foot sole or its parts and the lateral areas of the foot.

The "foot contact surface" is, in particular, the contact surface of the shoe sole which comes into contact or stands in contact with the foot Thus, the foot contact surface is in direct contact with the sole of the foot and / or the underside of a sock surrounding the foot.

[21] A "temperature sensor" is, in particular, an electrical or electronic component which supplies an electrical signal as a measure of a temperature and / or temperature distribution, for example a temperature sensor which may be a resistance thermistor or PTC thermistor or components, which directly provide a processible electrical signal, such as integrated semiconductor temperature sensors or a diode connected transistor, a temperature sensor may also be a spatially resolving temperature sensor such as a temperature grid sensor.

[22] A "cushioning material" is, in particular, a material which effects mechanical damping, size compensation and / or embedding and supporting the foot The cushioning material is in particular an elastic suspension, insulation and / or padding Padding material can be used in particular natural or synthetically produced substances, such as vegetable or animal fibers or synthetically produced foams and foam flows and other plastics and polymers. The cushioning material serves in particular as a spacer between

Foot contact surface and sole bottom, wherein in the cushioning material, a heat-conducting body or more heat-conducting body is embedded or are and the cushioning material acts heat-insulating.

[23] In particular, a high heat flow through the heat-conducting body from the warmer foot to the temperature sensor takes place, and the heat-conducting body can, for example, have one or more identical or different thermally conductive elements. A heat-conducting body can also have an electrically nonconductive heat-conducting foil, which can adapt in its shape to the substrate and / or the temperature sensor, thereby ensuring very good thermal contact with the surface of the temperature sensor The heat-conducting body is itself formed in particular of an elastic material and thus as a padding material or has an elastic padding material or a plurality of elastic padding materials surrounded by a heat-insulating material so that no heat loss occurs and Temperature error measurements can be avoided. The heat-insulating material may be, for example, a cushioning material.

In particular, a distance means a distance and / or a distance between the temperature sensor and the foot contact surface and the Fußkontaktfläche arranged so that it ensures the distance.

[25] In a further embodiment of the shoe sole, the shoe sole has a second heat conducting body, a third heat conducting body, a fourth heat conducting body, a fifth heat conducting body and / or further heat conducting bodies or the heat conducting body is designed continuously over an entire surface of the shoe sole.

[26] Thus, the heat conduction can be improved and thus the quality of the temperature measurement can be optimized. Furthermore, a temperature sensor can be arranged on each heat-conducting body, so that in each case a foot temperature can be measured at different points of the sole of the foot.

In the case of the embodiment of a heat-conducting body as a continuous layer over the entire surface of the shoe sole, with a single heat-conducting body, the heat conduction to a temperature sensor or from different points of the sole of the foot to different Temperature sensors or a spatially resolving

Temperature sensor to be transmitted. A continuous heat-conducting body offers the particular advantage that it has a uniform material property and / or hardness over the entire surface of the shoe sole, so that a mechanical irritation, for example by

Material transitions, the diabetic foot is avoided.

[28] A "second, third, fourth, fifth and / or further heat-conducting body" corresponds in its design and function to the above-defined Wärmeleitköper.

In order to be able to recognize differences in temperature at the sole of the foot and / or to measure specifically at certain endangered areas of the sole of the foot, the shoe sole has a second temperature sensor, a third one

Temperature sensor, a fourth temperature sensor, a fifth temperature sensor and / or more

Temperature sensors on.

[30] The "second, third, fourth, fifth and / or further temperature sensor" corresponds in its design and function to the above-defined temperature sensor.

[31] In a further embodiment of the shoe sole is or will be the temperature sensor or the

Temperature sensors by a spatially resolving

Temperature sensor formed.

[32] Thus, with a temperature sensor, a local variation of the temperature of the foot can be detected. The spatial resolution describes in particular a spatial Distance within a measured temperature signal at which two different signals can still be separated. A spatially resolving temperature sensor is, for example, a temperature grid sensor based on a wire grid sensor principle.

[33] Thus the heat conduction body different

Properties and functions can realize, has or have the heat-conducting body or the heat-conducting body on a core and a heat-conducting shell.

Thus, the heat conduction between the foot contact surface and the temperature sensor is realized via the heat-conducting sleeve, while the core of the heat-conducting body does not necessarily have to be thermally conductive itself.

[35] In particular, the casing is very good heat-conducting but does not have to be very electrically conductive, and can adapt to the shape of the substrate and / or the temperature sensor, which makes it a very good heat-conducting material If the core of the heat-conducting body itself is not thermally conductive, heat conduction takes place only via the heat-conducting casing the thermally conductive sheath may also have a net-like structure, for example in the form of a braid thermally conductive coating may be applied to the core and / or an enclosed padding material.

[36] In a further embodiment of the shoe sole, the core comprises a heat-conductive and / or elastic material or at least partially consists of the cushioning material.

[37] If, in addition to the thermally conductive sheath, the core is also thermally conductive, the thermal conductivity is thus improved and / or accelerated and thus the temperature measurement is qualitatively improved. In addition, by an elastic material of the core or by a core which has at least partially a padding material, the wearing comfort increases and in particular a damping can be achieved.

[38] A "thermally conductive and / or elastic material" corresponds to the above-defined material of the Wärmeleitkörpers.

The term "elastic" is understood to mean, in particular, a property of the core and / or of the heat-conducting body to change its shape under the action of force and to return to the original shape when the acting force ceases Stress by the foot and returns to its original form in reducing and / or eliminating the burden, such as when the shoe wearer sits or the shoe sole is not used. [40] The padding material may in particular be the padding material of the shoe sole mentioned above or another padding material which has similar properties.

In order to ensure good heat conduction, the thermally conductive sheath comprises a metal, a metal foil, in particular aluminum foil, a metallic fabric, a metallic braid or a heat-conducting

Plastic material on.

[42] Thus, both the high thermal conductivity of different metals and / or plastic as well as the special shape and design of the heat-conducting sheath can be used for optimizing the heat conduction.

Of course, the thermally conductive film, mesh or fabric may also be a non-metal material, such as a thermally conductive plastic, as well as a composite.

[44] In a further embodiment of the invention, one of the heat-conducting bodies is of substantially columnar design and has a circular, elliptical, triangular, quadrangular or polygonal base surface.

[45] Thus, the heat-conducting body in each case has an optimum base area as a contact surface to the temperature sensor and to the sole of the foot and / or an optimally configured transmission path for the heat conduction and / or an optimal damping distance. [46] In order to position the temperature sensor below the sole of the foot, the distance between one of the temperature sensors and the foot contact surface is a vertical distance.

[47] In a further embodiment of the shoe sole, a heat-conducting sheath is enclosed between the heat-conducting body and the foot contact surface

Padding material placed on the heat conducting body.

[48] Thus, the heat conduction from the foot to the temperature sensor can be ensured but still the comfort and the damping and / or embedding can be further increased.

[49] For this purpose, for example, the padding material can be enclosed with an aluminum foil or with highly thermally conductive metallic or non-metallic foils. The coated padding material does not necessarily have to have a good thermal conductivity itself, but rather it can realize the desired compression hardness.

[50] In order to supply the temperature sensor with voltage and / or reshape, evaluate and / or transmit a temperature signal, the shoe sole has an electronic component.

[51] An "electronic component" is, in particular, a voltage supply, such as a battery or an accumulator, a radio module and / or an evaluation unit. Transponder, which transmits the measurement signals to an external reader and its power supply from the emitted electromagnetic field of the reader relates.

[52] In a further aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a pair of shoe sole, with a left shoe sole and a right shoe sole, wherein one of the two shoe soles is a shoe sole described above.

[53] Thus, at least one foot of a diabetic patient can be monitored. It is particularly advantageous if both shoe soles are designed as shoe soles according to the invention, so that disease-related changes that can occur precisely in limited local areas of each foot can be detected early and comprehensively.

[54] In a further aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a shoe which has at least one previously described shoe sole.

[55] A "shoe" is a footwear with a solid base made of leather, wood, rubber or plastic, which is always connected to the upper part

(Shoe bottom), which primarily serves the protection of the sole of the foot. A shoe may be any type of footwear such as loafers, boots, moccasins and / or rubber boots. [56] In an additional aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a pair of shoes which has a previously described pair of shoe sole.

[57] Thus, both the right and left foot of a diabetic patient can be measured and monitored.

[58] A "pair of shoes" represents a group of two consisting of a pair of right and left shoes.

[59] In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments. Show it

Figure la is a highly schematic

Sectional view of an upper one

Upholstery element with a heat-conducting element of a shoe sole in the unloaded state,

Figure lb is a highly schematic

Sectional view of the upper one

Upholstery element with a

Wärmeleitelement the shoe sole in loaded condition and

Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of the entire shoe sole with a centrally, vertically introduced temperature sensor.

[60] In the unloaded state, a shoe sole 101a has a heat-insulating foam 104 as an upper cushioning element. The foam 104 has a thickness 105a and in the foam 104, a heat conducting element 107 is introduced. The heat-conducting element 107 has a core 109 made of foam, which is covered with an aluminum foil 111. In the uppermost area of the shoe sole 101a, a foot contact surface 103 is arranged. Directly below the heat-conducting element 107, a temperature sensor 121 is arranged, which is in a touching contact with the aluminum foil 111 of the heat-conducting element 107.

[61] In the loaded state, the shoe sole 101b corresponds in structure to the shoe sole 101a described above, but by loading the shoe sole 101b on walking, the shoe sole 101b is compressed, so that the loaded vertical distance 105b is smaller than the unloaded vertical distance 105a. In addition, the heat-conducting element 107 is compressed by the load, whereby the aluminum foil 111 throws wrinkles, since the core 109 is also compressed from the elastic foam.

[62] The temperature sensor 221 rests on a lower cushioning material 108. The temperature sensor 221 is equipped with an RFID chip and transmits measurement data to a reading device, not shown, which is arranged externally outside the shoe sole 101a, b and also supplies voltage to the temperature sensor 221 via its electromagnetic field.

[63] The shoe sole 101a, b is incorporated in a shoe, not shown, and is worn by a diabetic patient. [64] Both when the diabetic patient is sitting and thus the shoe sole 101a is in the unloaded state, and when the diabetic patient is standing or walking and thus the shoe sole 101b is in the loaded state, heat of the foot of the diabetic patient is caused from a place where the foot is in contact with the heat-conducting element 107, forwarded via the heat-conducting element 107 to the temperature sensor 221. By arranging the heat-insulating foam 104 around the heat-conducting member 107 around, heat loss and thus temperature measurement errors are avoided. The temperature sensor 121 determines the temperature at regular intervals and transmits them to the reading device, not shown, for evaluation. As soon as the detected temperature at the foot exceeds or falls below a certain temperature threshold, a corresponding alarm of the reader is triggered, so that then medical measures can be taken to prevent a further worsening of the illness or even amputations.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

101a unloaded shoe sole

101b loaded shoe sole

103 foot contact area

104 foam

105a unloaded vertical distance

105b loaded vertical distance

106 upper cushion element

107 heat-conducting element

108 lower padding material

109 core

111 aluminum foil

221 temperature sensor

Claims

Claims:

A shoe sole (101a, b) for measuring a foot temperature having a cushioning material (104), a foot contact surface (103) and a temperature sensor (221), the temperature sensor having a distance (105a, b) from the foot contact surface, characterized in that Heat conducting body (107) is arranged in heat-conducting between the Fußkontaktfläche and the temperature sensor, so that a foot temperature is passed through the heat conducting body to the temperature sensor.

2. Shoe sole according to claim 1, characterized in that the shoe sole has a second heat conducting body, a third heat conducting body, a fourth heat conducting body, a fifth heat conducting body and / or further heat conducting body or the heat conducting body is designed continuously over an entire surface of the shoe sole.

3. Shoe sole according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shoe sole has a second temperature sensor, a third temperature sensor, a fourth temperature sensor, a fifth temperature sensor and / or further temperature sensors.

4. Shoe sole according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the temperature sensor or the temperature sensors is or are formed by a spatially resolving temperature sensor.

5. Shoe sole according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat-conducting body or the heat-conducting body has or have a core (109) and a heat-conducting sheath (111).

6. Shoe sole according to claim 5, characterized in that the core comprises a heat conductive and / or elastic material or at least partially consists of the cushioning material.

7. Shoe sole according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the heat-conducting sheath comprises a metal, a metal foil, in particular aluminum foil, a metallic fabric, a metallic braid or a heat-conducting plastic material.

8. Shoe sole according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the heat-conducting body is configured substantially columnar and has a circular, elliptical, triangular, quadrangular or polygonal base.

9. Shoe sole according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance between one of the temperature sensors and the Fußkontaktfläche is a vertical distance.

10. Shoe sole according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the heat conducting body and the Fußkontaktfläche or enclosed by a heat-conducting shell padding material is placed on the heat conducting body.

11. Shoe sole according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shoe sole has an electronic component.

12. Shoe sole according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shoe sole is designed as an insole.

13. Pair of shoe soles, with a left shoe sole and a right shoe sole, at least one of the two Shoe soles is a shoe sole according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 12.

14. Shoe, which has a shoe sole according to one of claims 1 to 12.

15. shoe pair, which has a pair of shoe sole according to claim 13.