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Embedded Software

Diagnostics & Prognostics

Foot Pressure and Shear Data

Foot ulceration is a diabetic complication estimated to result in over $1 billion worth of medical expenses per year in the United States alone. This multifaceted problem involves the response of plantar soft tissue to both external forces applied to the skin and internal changes such as vascular supply and neuropathy. Increasing evidence indicates that a combination of elevated external forces (pressure and shear) and altered tissue properties is of prime importance in the etiology of foot ulcers. Foster-Miller is developing a software package that will allow a clinician to see accurate three-dimensional pressure and shear patterns on the plantar surface and identify areas of concern. Adaptable to pressure and shear measurement systems, the software uses innovative techniques to visualize horizontal shear and color mapping to visualize vertical pressure. Additional cues, such as scaled, directed arrows, are available as an option to enhance the visualization.