Instrumented mobility assistance device
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving a sensor signal from a sensor associated with a mobility-assistance device operated on a surface by a user;
relating the sensor signal to a contact attribute associated with a contact of the user with the surface; and
determining a gait characteristic of the user, based on the contact attribute.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various implementations are disclosed for an instrumented mobility assistance device, such as an instrumented walker. The device includes an attached sensor that is operable to convert an operational action of a user of the mobility assistance device into a sensor signal. A use analyzer is operable to relate the sensor signal to a contact attribute associated with a contact of the user of the mobility assistance device with an underlying surface. The use analyzer is further operable to determine a gait characteristic of the user, based on the contact attribute. The sensor may include a force or moment sensor. The contact attribute may include a foot-initial contact, or a foot-off contact. In this way, gait characteristics of the user may be determined during normal operation of the instrumented device. Also, the sensor may be used to determine a stability measure associated with the device.
127 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving a sensor signal from a sensor associated with a mobility-assistance device operated on a surface by a user;
relating the sensor signal to a contact attribute associated with a contact of the user with the surface; and
determining a gait characteristic of the user, based on the contact attribute. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system comprising:
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a data acquisition system that is operable to receive a sensor signal from a sensor associated with a mobility assistance device; and
a use analyzer that is operable to relate the sensor signal to a contact attribute associated with a contact of a user of the mobility assistance device with an underlying surface, and further operable to determine a gait characteristic of the user, based on the contact attribute. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A system comprising:
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a mobility assistance device;
a sensor attached to the mobility assistance device and operable to convert an operational action of a user of the mobility assistance device into a sensor signal; and
a use analyzer that is operable to relate the sensor signal to a contact attribute associated with a contact of the user of the mobility assistance device with an underlying surface, and further operable to determine a gait characteristic of the user, based on the contact attribute. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer program product encoding a computer program for executing on a computing device a computer process, the computer process comprising:
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receiving a sensor signal from a sensor associated with a mobility-assistance device operated on a surface by a user;
relating the sensor signal to a contact attribute associated with a contact of the user with the surface; and
determining a gait characteristic of the user, based on the contact attribute. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A method comprising:
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receiving a sensor signal from a sensor associated with a mobility-assistance device operated by a user;
determining a plurality of tip-over axes defined with respect to a frame of the mobility-assistance device; and
determining a stability measure of the mobility-assistance device, based on the sensor signal and the tip-over axes. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A system comprising:
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a data acquisition system that is operable to receive a sensor signal from a sensor associated with a mobility assistance device; and
a use analyzer that is operable to relate the sensor signal to a rigid body model associated with a frame of the mobility assistance device, and further operable to determine a stability measure associated with the mobility assistance device, based on the sensor signal and the rigid body model. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification