Biofeedback system and method for monitoring animal limbs

1 . A biofeedback system for monitoring a limb of an animal comprising:

a non-rigid perforated foam lining configured to encircle the limb when attached to the limb, the non-rigid perforated foam lining including;

a wired sensor network comprising:

a plurality of wires disposed within an interior of the non-rigid perforated foam lining; and

a plurality of sensors disposed within the interior of the non-rigid perforated foam lining, wherein the non-rigid perforated foam lining supports the plurality of sensors and the plurality of wires such that each of the plurality of sensors aligns with a perforation in the non-rigid perforated foam lining and with a corresponding specific location of interest on the limb when the non-rigid perforated foam lining is attached to the limb and each of the plurality of sensors is coupled to one of the plurality of wires;

a perforated fabric layer separate from the non-rigid perforated foam lining and configured to enclose the non-rigid perforated foam lining and the wired sensor network, wherein each of a plurality of perforations in the perforated fabric layer aligns with a perforation in the non-rigid perforated foam lining such that each of the plurality of sensors protrudes through a perforation in the perforated fabric layer to contact the specific location of interest on the limb;

a control module coupled to the plurality of sensors via the plurality of wires, wherein the control module reads from each of the plurality of sensors first biometric values recorded during exercise of the animal, and

a non-rigid wrap separate from the non-rigid perforated foam lining and the perforated fabric layer and configured to enclose the non-rigid perforated foam liming and the perforated fabric layer and encircle the limb when attached to the limb.

2 . The biofeedback system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a non-rigid wired network of sensors.

3 . The biofeedback system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the biofeedback system further comprises at least one closure associated with the non-rigid wrap that securely attaches the non-rigid wrap to the limb when the non-rigid wrap encircles the limb.

4 . The biofeedback system as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the at least one closure comprises a hook and loop closure.

5 . The biofeedback system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the biofeedback system further comprises a wearable user device configured to communicate wirelessly with the control module, wherein the wearable user device receives from the control module the first biometric values recorded during exercise of the animal.

6 . The biofeedback system as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the wearable user device is configured to display processed data values associated with the first biometric values recorded during exercise of the animal.

7 . The biofeedback system as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the wearable user device is further configured to receive first biometric values received from a second non-rigid wrap attached to a second limb of the animal.

8 . A method for monitoring the limbs of an animal comprising:

attaching a first biofeedback system to a first limb, the first biofeedback system including:

a first non-rigid perforated foam lining configured to encircle the first limb when attached to the first limb, the first non-rigid foam lining including:

a first wired sensor network comprising:

a first plurality of wires disposed within an interior of the first non-rigid perforated foam lining; and

a first plurality of sensors disposed within the interior of the first non-rigid perforated foam lining, wherein the first non-rigid perforated foam lining supports the first plurality of sensors and the first plurality of wires such that each of the first plurality of sensors aligns with a perforation in the first non-rigid perforated foam lining and with a corresponding specific location of interest on the first limb when the first non-rigid perforated foam lining is attached to the first limb and each of the first plurality of sensors is coupled to one of the first plurality of wires;

a first perforated fabric layer separate from the first non-rigid perforated foam lining and configured to enclose the first non-rigid perforated foam lining and the first wired sensor network, wherein each of a first plurality of perforations in the first perforated fabric layer aligns with a perforation in the first non-rigid perforated foam lining such that each of the first plurality of sensors protrudes through a perforation in the first perforated fabric layer to contact the specific location of interest on the first limb; and

a first non-rigid wrap separate from the first non-rigid perforated foam lining and the first perforated fabric layer and configured to enclose the first non-rigid perforated foam liming and the first perforated fabric layer and encircle the first limb;

attaching a second biofeedback system to a second limb, the second biofeedback system including:

a second non-rigid perforated foam lining configured to encircle the second limb when attached to the second limb, the second non-rigid foam lining including:

a second wired sensor network comprising:

a second plurality of wires disposed within an interior of the second non-rigid perforated foam lining; and

a second plurality of sensors disposed within the interior of the second non-rigid perforated foam lining, wherein the second non-rigid perforated foam lining supports the second plurality of sensors and the second plurality of wires such that each of the second plurality of sensors aligns with a perforation in the second non-rigid perforated foam lining and with a corresponding specific location of interest on the second limb when the second non-rigid perforated foam lining is attached to the second limb and each of the second plurality of sensors is coupled to one of the second plurality of wires;

a second perforated fabric layer separate from the second non-rigid perforated foam lining and configured to enclose the second non-rigid perforated foam lining and the second wired sensor network, wherein each of a second plurality of perforations in the second perforated fabric layer aligns with a perforation in the second non-rigid perforated foam lining such that each of the second plurality of sensors protrudes through a perforation in the second perforated fabric layer to contact the specific location of interest on the second limb;

a second non-rigid wrap separate from the second non-rigid perforated foam lining and the second perforated fabric layer and configured to enclose the second non-rigid perforated foam liming and the second perforated fabric layer and encircle the second limb;

recording temperature values in the first and second non-rigid wraps during exercise of the animal; and

transferring the recorded temperature values from the first and second non-rigid wraps to a wearable user device.

9 . The method as set forth in claim 8 , further comprising:

displaying in the wearable user device processed data values associated with the recorded temperature values recorded during exercise of the animal.

10 . The method as set forth in claim 8 , further comprising:

in the wearable user device, comparing a first temperature value associated with a first specific location on the first limb with a first temperature threshold value to determine a physiological condition of the animal.

11 . The method as set forth in claim 10 , further comprising:

in the wearable user device, comparing a second temperature value associated with a second specific location on the second limb with the first temperature threshold value to determine a physiological condition of the animal, wherein the second specific location on the second limb corresponds to the first specific location on the first limb.

12 . The method as set forth in claim 11 , further comprising:

in the wearable user device, determining a difference between the first temperature value and the second temperature value and comparing the difference to a second temperature threshold value to determine a physiological condition of the animal.