Method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for generating a set of recommended orthotic products

Abstract

In an embodiment, the present invention is an apparatus, comprising: a foot mat; a depth sensing camera; an elevated foot platform that reduces or prevents rotational movement of a foot; a processor in communication with the depth sensing camera, the processor further configured to calculate the circumference of a user's leg based on data from the depth sensing camera while the user has one foot on the foot mat and one foot on the elevated foot platform, the processor further configured to select a recommended product for the user's knee or ankle from among a set of pre-manufactured candidate products for knees or ankles based at least in part upon the leg circumference of the user; and an output device to display information received from the processor, the information identifying the recommended product to the user.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]Conventional orthotic products for upper and lower extremities, such as elbow braces, arm braces, forearm-wrist braces, forearm-wrist-thumb braces, forearm-wrist-hand braces, knee braces, ankle braces, etc., are typically sold from conventional retail displays. Although packaging may provide some guidance, customers may have difficulty understanding which product(s) is / are appropriate in view of the customer's own physical attributes. Further, even if a customer were given an opportunity to try on a product, the customer may not know the most appropriate type of support or size of orthotic product for their particular body configuration e.g., the arch type of the customer's foot, the circumference around their knee or ankle, or activity level. This uncertainty may result in the customer buying multiple products before the customer finally finds a product that meets the customer's needs.[0002]Custom orthotic products may also be sold to provide a customer with the pro...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a process for recommending a product to a user based on their body shape. The process involves using an apparatus with a foot mat and a depth sensing camera to capture data on the user's leg shape. This data is then used by a processor to select the best product for the user's knee or ankle. The recommended product is then displayed to the user on an output device. The system can also combine information from two different foot positions to get a more accurate measure of the user's leg shape.

Problems solved by technology

Although packaging may provide some guidance, customers may have difficulty understanding which product(s) is / are appropriate in view of the customer's own physical attributes.

Further, even if a customer were given an opportunity to try on a product, the customer may not know the most appropriate type of support or size of orthotic product for their particular body configuration e.g., the arch type of the customer's foot, the circumference around their knee or ankle, or activity level.

This uncertainty may result in the customer buying multiple products before the customer finally finds a product that meets the customer's needs.

Custom orthotic products may have adjustable support, yet not be of the proper size for a customer's physical attributes and may require significant time to identify the proper sizing.

However, this requires time to measure the extremity and then a period of time to make the orthotic product.

Because such orthotic products are custom-made, they may be typically more expensive than pre-manufactured orthotics.

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