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US 9,427,178 B2Granted
Wireless sensor based quantitative falls risk assessment
AssigneeCare Innovations, LLC
InventorBarry R. Greene
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems may provide for a plurality of kinematic sensors to be coupled to a corresponding plurality of shanks of an individual, a processor, and a memory to store a set of instructions. If executed by the processor, the instructions can cause the system to calculate a timed up and go (TUG) time segment based on angular velocity data from the plurality of kinematic sensors. The instructions may also cause the system to calculate a derived parameter based on the angular velocity data, and generate a falls risk assessment based on at least one of the TUG time segment and the derived parameter.
Claims21
A system comprising:
- a plurality of shank-mounted kinematic sensors for coupling to an individual that are configured to measure tri-axial angular velocity data while the individual is walking;
- a processor configured to receive the measured tri-axial angular velocity data and for obtaining a plurality of adaptive thresholds based on the measured tri-axial angular velocity data, wherein values of the plurality of adaptive thresholds are configured to change based on the measured tri-axial angular velocity data;
- a user interface device configured to allow a user to interact with and perceive information from the system, and
- a memory to store a set of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:
- start obtaining at the processor measured tri-axial angular velocity data during a period of time using the plurality of shank-mounted kinematic sensors coupled to the individual while the individual is walking and, at the end of the period of time, stop obtaining at the processor measured tri-axial angular velocity data using the plurality of shank-mounted kinematic sensors;
- using the processor, obtain the plurality of adaptive thresholds based on the tri-axial angular velocity data received from the plurality of kinematic sensors, wherein the plurality of adaptive thresholds defines a likely range of a plurality of heel-strikes and toe-off points in the angular velocity data;
- determine, using the processor, the plurality of heel-strikes and toe-off points based on the plurality of adaptive thresholds;
- generate, using the processor, a falls risk assessment used to indicate a risk of falling, the falls risk assessment being based on at least the period of time, the measured tri-axial angular velocity data, and the plurality of heel-strikes and toe-off points;
- and
- provide to a user via the user interface device at least the generated falls risk assessment for user interaction therewith.
7 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing a plurality of shank-mounted kinematic sensors on an individual, the sensors being configured to measure tri-axial angular velocity data while the individual is walking;
- measuring tri-axial angular velocity data during a period of time using the plurality of shank-mounted kinematic sensors, the angular velocity data being measured while the individual is walking;
- obtaining, at a processor, the measured tri-axial angular velocity data during the period of time and obtaining a plurality of adaptive thresholds based on receiving the measured tri-axial angular velocity data, wherein values of the plurality of adaptive thresholds change based on the angular velocity data received from the plurality of shank-mounted kinematic sensors, wherein the plurality of adaptive thresholds defines a likely range of a plurality of heel-strikes and toe-off points in the angular velocity data;
- determining, using the processor, the plurality of heel-strikes and toe-off points based on the plurality of adaptive thresholds;
- and
- generating, using the processor, a falls risk assessment used to indicate a risk of falling, the falls risk assessment being based on at least the period of time, the measured tri-axial angular velocity data, and the plurality of heel-strikes and toe-off points;
- and
- providing to a user via a user interface device at least the generated falls risk assessment for user interaction therewith.
5 more elements
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions which, if executed by a processor, cause a processor to:
- start obtaining at the processor measured tri-axial angular velocity data during a period of time using the plurality of shank-mounted kinematic sensors coupled to the individual while the individual is walking and, at the end of the period of time, stop obtaining at the processor measured tri-axial angular velocity data using the plurality of shank-mounted kinematic sensors;
- using the processor, obtain the plurality of adaptive thresholds based on the tri-axial angular velocity data received from the plurality of kinematic sensors, wherein the plurality of adaptive thresholds defines a likely range of a plurality of heel-strikes and toe-off points in the angular velocity data;
- determine, using the processor, the plurality of heel-strikes and toe-off points based on the plurality of adaptive thresholds;
- generate, using the processor, a falls risk assessment used to indicate a risk of falling, the falls risk assessment being based on at least the period of time, the measured tri-axial angular velocity data, and the plurality of heel-strikes and toe-off points;
- and
- provide to a user via the user interface device at least the generated falls risk assessment for user interaction therewith.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.