Fall prevention training system and method using a dynamic perturbation platform

• US 20060247104A1
• Filed: 12/06/2005
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Simbex
• Original Assignee: Simbex
• Inventors: Palifka, Robert, Grabiner, Mark, Chu, Jeff, Greenwald, Richard, Buck, Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 7,980,856 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0176 By stopping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1616 Holding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1621 Holding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1635 Hand or arm, e.g. handle hand-held, A61H2201/0153; fore-arm support, A61H2003/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/164 Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1652 Harness
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5064 Position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5079 Velocity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/008 Using suspension devices for supporting the body in an upright walking or standing position, e.g. harnesses drawing-out devices A61H1/0218
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0278 with reversible direction of the running surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0683 Input by handheld remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0292 separate for each leg, e.g. dual deck
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0064 Attachments on the trainee preventing falling

Abstract

A new apparatus, system and method for fall prevention training is provided that delivers, studies and analyzes the biomechanics of a disturbance event, such as a slip or trip incident, so that an appropriate response can be executed by the person to reduce or eliminate the number of falls experienced. The apparatus includes a platform that delivers a disturbance event in less than about 500 ms and preferably in the range of about 100 ms to about 200 ms. The method includes a unique protocol for fall prevention training using the apparatus.

Claims

1. A disturbance simulation apparatus for fall prevention training of an individual, comprising:

a perturbation platform movable to create a disturbance event that induces a response from the individual;

a plurality of sensors located proximate to the individual and the platform;

data being outputted from the plurality of sensors;

means for collecting and storing the data during a disturbance event; and

means for outputting the data.

2. The disturbance simulation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the perturbation platform is movable to create the disturbance event in less than 500 ms.

3. The disturbance simulation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the perturbation platform is a motorized belt.

4. The disturbance simulation apparatus of claim 3, wherein the motion of the motorized belt is bi-directional.

5. The disturbance simulation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the perturbation platform is two motorized bi-directional belts.

6. The disturbance simulation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an obstacle positioned proximate to the platform to induce the response from the individual to the disturbance event.

7. The disturbance simulation apparatus of claim 6, wherein the obstacle is selected from the group consisting of a light beam, a three-dimensional object and a hologram.

8. A method of fall prevention training, comprising the steps of:

providing a platform configured to support an individual standing thereon;

from a stop, producing a sequence of disturbance events with incrementally increasing perturbation distance that establishes a first threshold of that individual'"'"'s foot in place step response and not a step response;

from a stop, producing a sequence of disturbance events with incrementally increasing perturbation distance that establishes a second threshold beyond which the individual can not execute a single step response;

placing a first obstacle, having a first obstacle height, proximate to the platform at a first obstacle distance to induce the step response of the individual to the disturbance event;

from a stop, producing a sequence of disturbance events with incrementally increasing perturbation distance that establishes a third threshold beyond which the individual can not execute a single step response without contacting the first obstacle;

from a stop, producing a sequence of the combination of a disturbance event with incrementally increasing perturbation distance followed by a continuous platform motion simulating walking velocity that establishes a fourth threshold beyond which the individual can not achieve a stable gait response;

placing a second obstacle, having a second obstacle height, proximate to the platform at a second obstacle distance to induce the step response of the individual to the disturbance event;

from a stop, producing a sequence of a combination of a disturbance event with incrementally increasing perturbation distance followed by a continuous platform motion simulating walking velocity that establishes a fifth threshold beyond which the individual can not achieve a stable gait response;

from a first walking velocity created by a continuous platform motion, producing a sequence of the combination of a disturbance event with incrementally increasing perturbation distance followed by a continuous platform motion returning to the first walking velocity that establishes a sixth threshold beyond which the individual can not achieve a stable gait response; and

placing a third obstacle, having a third obstacle height, proximate to the platform at a third obstacle distance to induce the step response of the individual to the disturbance event;

from a second walking velocity created by a continuous platform motion, producing a sequence of the combination of a disturbance event with incrementally increasing perturbation distance followed by a continuous platform motion returning to the second walking velocity that establishes a seventh threshold beyond which the individual can not achieve a stable gait response.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

moving the platform from a stop to the incrementally increasing perturbation distance in less than 500 ms.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

stopping the sequence of disturbance events when the first threshold is met.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

stopping the sequence of disturbance events when the second threshold is met.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

stopping the sequence of disturbance events when the third threshold is met.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

increasing the first obstacle distance on each successive repetition.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

increasing the first obstacle height on each successive repetition.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the first obstacle is selected from the group consisting of a light beam, a three-dimensional object and a hologram.

16. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

stopping the sequence of disturbance events when the fourth threshold is met.

17. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

stopping the sequence of disturbance events when the fifth threshold is met.

18. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

increasing the second obstacle distance on each successive repetition.

19. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

increasing the second obstacle height on each successive repetition.

20. The method of claim 8, wherein the second obstacle is selected from the group consisting of a light beam, a three-dimensional object and a hologram.

21. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

stopping the sequence of disturbance events when the sixth threshold is met.

22. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

stopping the sequence of disturbance events when the seventh threshold is met.

23. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

increasing the third obstacle distance on each successive repetition.

24. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

increasing the third obstacle height on each successive repetition.

25. The method of claim 8, wherein the third obstacle is selected from the group consisting of a light beam, a three-dimensional object and a hologram.

26. A method of fall prevention training, comprising the steps of:

providing a platform configured to support an individual standing thereon;

moving the platform in less than 500 ms to create a disturbance event that induces a response from the individual;

recording the response of the individual;

a plurality of sensors located proximate to the individual and the platform;

data being outputted from the plurality of sensors;

means for collecting and storing the data during a disturbance event; and

means for outputting the data.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of:

from a stop, producing a sequence of disturbance events with incrementally increasing perturbation distance that establishes a first threshold of that individual'"'"'s foot in place step response and not a step response;

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of:

stopping the sequence of disturbance events when the first threshold is met.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of:

from a stop, producing a sequence of disturbance events with incrementally increasing perturbation distance that establishes a second threshold beyond which the individual can not execute a single step response.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

stopping the sequence of disturbance events when the second threshold is met.

31. The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

placing a first obstacle, having a first obstacle height, proximate to the platform at a first obstacle distance to induce the step response of the individual to the disturbance event; and

from a stop, producing a sequence of disturbance events with incrementally increasing perturbation distance that establishes a third threshold beyond which the individual can not execute a single step response without contacting the first obstacle

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

stopping the sequence of disturbance events when the third threshold is met.

33. The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

from a stop, producing a sequence of the combination of a disturbance event with incrementally increasing perturbation distance followed by a continuous platform motion simulating walking velocity that establishes a fourth threshold beyond which the individual can not achieve a stable gait response.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of:

stopping the sequence of disturbance events when the fourth threshold is met.

35. The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

placing a second obstacle, having a second obstacle height, proximate to the platform at a second obstacle distance to induce the step response of the individual to the disturbance event; and

from a stop, producing a sequence of a combination of a disturbance event with incrementally increasing perturbation distance followed by a continuous platform motion simulating walking velocity that establishes a fifth threshold beyond which the individual can not achieve a stable gait response.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of:

stopping the sequence of disturbance events when the fifth threshold is met.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of:

increasing the second obstacle distance on each successive repetition.

38. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of:

increasing the second obstacle height on each successive repetition.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein the second obstacle is selected from the group consisting of a light beam, a three-dimensional object and a hologram.

40. The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

from a first walking velocity created by a continuous platform motion, producing a sequence of the combination of a disturbance event with incrementally increasing perturbation distance followed by a continuous platform motion returning to the first walking velocity that establishes a sixth threshold beyond which the individual can not achieve a stable gait response.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of:

stopping the sequence of disturbance events when the sixth threshold is met.

42. The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

placing a third obstacle, having a third obstacle height, proximate to the platform at a third obstacle distance to induce the step response of the individual to the disturbance event;

from a second walking velocity created by a continuous platform motion, producing a sequence of the combination of a disturbance event with incrementally increasing perturbation distance followed by a continuous platform motion returning to the second walking velocity that establishes a seventh threshold beyond which the individual can not achieve a stable gait response.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising the step of:

stopping the sequence of disturbance events when the seventh threshold is met.

44. The method of claim 42, further comprising the step of:

increasing the third obstacle distance on each successive repetition.

45. The method of claim 42, further comprising the step of:

increasing the third obstacle height on each successive repetition.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein the third obstacle is selected from the group consisting of a light beam, a three-dimensional object and a hologram.