1. Ambulatory Foot Pressure Monitoring System David Nolan Electronic Engineering

2. Introduction  This is a SFI UREKA sponsored project involving the Department of Electronic Engineering and the Department of Occupational Therapy in NUI Galway.  During the summer a prototype system was designed and built. This prototype provided feedback to the user through a GUI running on a server PC.

3. Current System  The current system takes in the sensor values to an ADuC831 micro-controller.  The microcontroller converts these analogue readings to digital and sends the data out through the UART to the Server PC.  The Server PC uses this data to visually feedback information on the patients gait to the patient.

4. Aim of this Project  The aim of this project is to: –Change the mode of feedback from visual to aural. –Create a wireless link between the system and a PC Server for data storage and analysis. –Create a web browser interface to allow a therapist access patient information.

5. Feedback Method  A method of feedback was obtained through discussion with the Department of Occupational.  This method is thought to be the most appropriate, as it can be used by a wide variety of stroke patients.  The patient shall require minimal training using this method.

6. Feedback Method  This method involves the following: –If the patients gait is detected to be correct no sound shall be output from the system. –If the patients gait it detected to be incorrect a pitched sound is output from the system. –The pitch of the output signal changes in accordance with the margin of error of the gait. –The pitch will rise with an increase of force on the left foot and will fall with an increase of force on the right foot.

7. Wireless Link  A wireless link is required as it allows the system to be used throughout the patients home, whilst providing a link to the PC Server.  A Radiometrix wireless com port is used here as it requires less external circuitry than a Wi-fi link.  This also means that there is no need to upgrade the existing microcontroller.

8. Web Browser Interface