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  • Summary of Foot Switch Responses

    The following is the responses that I got about simple foot switches to use
    in gait analysis. I sincerely appreciate everyone who responded. I was
    able to find what I wanted and needed. The BIOMCH-L archives were also very
    helpful. I should have started there. Thanks again.

    =================================================
    >There is a company called B&L Electronics in the LosAngeles area that
    >manufactures footswitches. I have used them with good results. Hope this
    >is helpful.
    >
    >Ronita L. Cromwell, Ph.D.
    >Temple University
    >Physical Therapy Department
    >3307 N. Broad St.
    >Philadelphia, PA 19140
    >
    >Phone215) 707-4871
    >Fax: (215) 707-7500
    >
    >
    >
    =================================================
    >Mark,
    >why are you looking to buy a foot switch when you can construct one
    >by yourself? Just use one of your force channels.
    >************************************************* *******
    >
    > Nick Stergiou, Ph.D.
    > Assistant Professor, Biomechanics
    > Department of Health, Physical Education & Recreation
    > University of Nebraska at Omaha
    > Omaha, Nebraska USA 68182
    > (402) 554-2670 Phone
    > (402) 554-3693 FAX
    > Email: stergiou@coe.unomaha.edu
    > [http://www.unocoe.unomaha.edu/hper/hper.htm]
    >
    =================================================
    >Dear Mark,
    >
    >I am also looking for footswitches and was wondering if you would send a
    list of replies either to Biomch-L or to me directly. I am looking for a
    system with 4 or 5 footswiches per foot, each with a different voltage
    change so that on one channel I can get timing of contact of various parts
    of the foot.
    >
    >Thank you,
    >
    >Stan Ajemian
    >McCaig Centre for Joint Injury and Arthritis
    >University of Calgary
    >stan@mccaig.ucalgary.ca
    >
    =================================================
    >Hi Mark,
    >
    >Here are a few notes/ideas:
    >
    >(1) Search on BiomchL archives (I think there is now a Web site with a site
    >search function built in) for: foot switches or footswitches
    >(2) Motion Analysis Corp. is a manufacturer not on your list that makes
    >switches. They are in Santa Rosa, CA
    >(3) Accelerometers (e.g. over the tibia) are sometimes a better indicator
    >of footstrike or at least shank deceleration. Switches in or on shoes
    >sometimes don't go on or off "accurately" or consistently between different
    >steps.
    >
    >Good luck,
    >
    >Michael
    >
    >Michael Slavin
    >mmslavin@ucdavis.edu
    >(w) 916 752-9048; (h) 916 SLUM-ART
    >
    >
    >
    ============================================
    >Dear Mark,
    >
    >Just in case your reference to Vicon is not Vicon Motion Systems
    >(formerly B & L Engineering), I have included a description of our
    >footswitches. A picture of a couple of pairs of footswitches is in our
    >Web Site in the description of Footswitches.
    >
    >-Lee Barnes
    >
    >================================================= =
    >FOOTSWITCHES
    >
    >
    >Footswitches are used to determine foot/floor contact for gait analysis
    >or other biomechanical measurements.
    >
    >The Footswitches are worn as insoles in the subject's shoes or taped to
    >the bottom of bare feet, and indicate the total time each foot is and is
    >not bearing weight. Contacts are provided in the Heel, 5th Metatarsal,
    >1st Metatarsal, and Great Toe areas to indicate when these areas of the
    >foot are bearing weight. The heel section is separated from the
    >forefoot section so that one pair of switches can accommodate a range of
    >shoe sizes. Each Footswitch has a thin cable with 5 leads (one for each
    >switch and common).
    >
    >The Footswitches come in standard adult sizes such as Mens 7, Mens 9,
    >Mens 11 (M-7, M-9, M-11) and Womens 5 and Womens 7 (W-5, W-7). We have
    >Childrens sizes 1, 6 and 11, but we ask for an outline of the foot for
    >children to make sure the desired size is delivered to the customer.
    >
    >The Footswitches are durable and will function properly for a long
    >period of time.
    >
    >The materials used in the construction include: closed cell neoprene
    >with conductive rubber modules placed in small holes, brass shim
    >plates, wires, and black duct tape.
    >
    >Three choices of connectors are available: 5-pin LEMO, 5-pin DIN, or 5
    >leads stripped, tinned and labeled. The 5 leads are: 1 for each switch
    >and "common".
    >
    >The price is $195.00 per pair (any size).
    >
    =================================================
    >Mark:
    >
    >We've developed our own system here at ASU that incorporates force
    >sensing resistors (FSRs) from Interlink Electronics in California.
    >We use four sensors, two on each foot - one over the large toe and
    >one over the heel. A single lead (telephone wire) comes up from
    >each foot to a small junction box that we attach at the waist. An
    >umbilical cord then comes from the junction box to the power supply
    >and output box. It all runs off of a 9V battery. We can read each
    >FSR individually or we can combine two FSRs onto a single output
    >channel. I can provide more information if you want.
    >
    >Phil Martin
    >Exercise and Sport Research Institute
    >Arizona State University, Tempe AZ 85287-0404
    >email: philip.martin@asu.edu
    >phone: (602) 965-1023
    >fax: (602) 965-8108
    >
    >
    >
    ===========================================
    >Mark,
    >
    >Have you tried the BTS system out of Italy? They sell a program called
    >GAitEMG and have footswitches that come in various sizes.
    >
    >AnnaLisa Lauer, MA
    >
    ===========================================
    >Hi:
    >
    >We make our own footswitches using a commercially available force sensing
    >resistor. We get them from Interlink Electronics, 546 Flynn Rd., Camarillo, CA
    >93012 (Phone 805-484-8855). They are 1/2" in diameter, about 1 mm thin, and
    >have solder tabs for easy hook-up to lead wires. They're only US$4.00 each,
    >fairly durable, and trigger with very little force. We mount ours on a thin
    >piece of plastic to keep them flat during use and then put 1/2" shrinkwrap
    >around it.
    >
    >G. Robert Colborne, PhD,
    >University of Saskatchewan,
    >Canada.
    >
    >
    ============================================
    >Hi again:
    >
    >We have our own 9-volt battery-powered EMG beltpack, with 4 inputs for EMG to
    >differential amps, and 4 DC channels for footswitches, accelerometers, or any
    >other DC-powered transducer. The 9-volt DC current is sent to the foot switch
    >along a 4-lead wire or ribbon cable, and you can use each switch independently
    >(2 of the leads), or in series using the other two leads to provide a
    pattern of
    >heel-ball-toe contact-liftoff. Incidentally, we have also found a really good
    >connector with nice, protected pins that are easy to insert to the
    beltpack, and
    >easy to solder to. They are from Hypertronics at 16 Brent Dr., Hudson, MA,
    >01749. Part No D01 PB406 MST (Male plug, 4-pin) and D01 EEB406 FST (Female
    >chassis-mount, 3 pin). They're about $4.00 each. They also have 3 and 9 pin
    >plugs, which we use for EMG leads and umbilicals.
    >
    >G. Robert Colborne, Ph.D.,
    >University of Saskatchewan,
    >Canada.
    >
    >
    ======================================
    >Mark,
    >
    >You wrote ...
    >
    >> I am looking into the various options available for the use of foot switches
    >> in gait analysis. I am familiar with what Vicon and Noraxon has, but was
    >> wondering if anyone knew of others that were commercially available. I
    >> would appreciate any information that any of you might have. Thanks!
    >
    >When I was at ASU last year, Phil Martin and I designed and built
    >footswitches for use in his gait studies. He has all the circuits
    >etc. and it would be better from a logistics perspective if you could
    >deal with him rather than me. If, however, you have no luck with
    >Phil, let me know and I will dig up the information you need. By the
    >way, we used force sensing resistors (Interlink Electronics) in our
    >design.
    >
    >Cheers,
    >
    >Rob
    >
    >
    >_____________________
    >Robert Neal, PhD
    >Department of Human Movement Studies
    >The University of Queensland
    >QLD, AUSTRALIA
    >
    >ph 61 7 3365 6240
    >FAX 61 7 3365 6877
    >EMAIL NEAL@HMS.UQ.OZ.AU
    >_____________________________
    >
    Mark W. Cornwall, PhD, PT, CPed
    Gait Research Laboratory
    Dept. of Physical Therpay
    Northern Arizona University
    P.O. Box 15105
    Flagstaff, AZ 86011
    (520) 523-1606
    (520) 523-9289 FAX
    Mark.Cornwall@nau.edu
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