GAIT-BASED BIOMETRIC SYSTEM FOR DETECTING WEIGHT GAIN OR LOSS

• US 20160022143A1
• Filed: 10/08/2015
• Published: 01/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autonomous ID Canada Inc
• Original Assignee: Autonomous ID Canada Inc
• Inventors: POLOTSKI, Vladimir, SMALE, Barry, GRAY, Todd, GRISONI, Bernard F.
• Granted Patent: US 9,451,881 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/00 Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 for weighing persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/52 Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture with walking sticks A45B3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 3/14 measuring variations of electrical resistance G01G3/13 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods for determining a user'"'"'s static weight while standing as well as the user'"'"'s load bearing weight. A sensor module with multiple sensors is placed inside a user'"'"'s shoe and biometric data is gathered from the sensors when the user stands and when the user takes a step or walks. The data is used to generate data loops as the various sets of data are plotted against each other. The loops obtained from the data are then compared against stored loops previously obtained. Using the biometric loop baseline data, it can be determined whether the user has lost or gained weight, whether a specific load bearing weight condition is worsening while standing and while walking or running. The system can also determine whether a specific load bearing weight condition is improving or worsening.

Claims

1. A method for determining changes in a user'"'"'s weight using a foot-based gait device, said device having a plurality of sensors for gathering gait-based data, the method comprising:

a) selecting two of said plurality of sensors;

b) gathering data from each sensor selected in step a);

c) correlating data gathered from said two sensors such that data points gathered at similar instances are matched with one another to result in data pairs;

d) determining at least one characteristic loop from said data pairs, each characteristic loop being a loop formed when said data point pairs are plotted;

e) retrieving baseline characteristic data, said baseline characteristic data being derived from data resulting from biometric data previously gathered from said user;

f) determining a baseline characteristic loop from said baseline characteristic data;

g) comparing characteristics of said at least one characteristic loop determined in step d) with characteristics of said baseline characteristic loop determined in step f);

h) in the event a comparison of said characteristics compared in step g) produces results not within predetermined limits, determining that a change has occurred in said user'"'"'s weight;

i) in the event a comparison of said characteristics compared in step g) produces results within predetermined limits, determining that a change has not occurred in said user'"'"'s weight.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said device is an insole for gathering data regarding an individual'"'"'s weight.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein step d) comprises determining multiple characteristic loops using multiple sets of data gathered from sensors selected in step a) and averaging said multiple characteristic loops to result in an average loop.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said average loop is compared to said baseline characteristic loop in step f).

5. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of applying a filter to data gathered from said sensors prior to producing said data point pairs.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said characteristic compared in step f) includes at least one of:

a length of said loops;

a width of said loops;

an angle of said loops with a given axis;

a direction of propagation of said loops; and

an area of said loops.

7. A method according to claim 2, wherein said insole is removable from a shoe worn by a user.

8. A system for diagnosing a change in a user'"'"'s weight, the system comprising:

a sensor module comprising at least one sensor for gathering gait-based biometric data from said user;

a data storage module for storing data relating to a baseline loop, said baseline loop being a loop resulting from a plot of data pairs derived from data gathered from said sensor module when said user first uses said system;

a data processing module for receiving data from said sensor module, said data processing module being for determining characteristic loops from said data received from said sensor module and for comparing characteristics of said characteristic loops with characteristics of said baseline loop;

wherein

a change in said user'"'"'s weight is indicated when said characteristics of said characteristic loops are not within predetermined limits of said characteristics of said baseline loops.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said sensor module comprises an insole for use with said user'"'"'s shoe.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said at least one sensor detects and measures a force applied to said sensor module by a foot of a user as said user is standing and while said user is walking.

11. A system according to claim 8, wherein said at least one sensor detects and measures at least one of roll, pitch, or yaw of a user'"'"'s foot as said user is walking.

12. A system according to claim 9, wherein said at least one sensor detects a force applied to different areas of said sensor module by said user'"'"'s foot as said user is walking.

13. A system according to claim 9, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors, each sensor being for detecting and measuring an amount of force applied to different areas of said sensor module by said user'"'"'s foot.

14. A system according to claim 9, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a strain gauge configured and adapted to measure forces applied to different areas of said insole by said user'"'"'s foot.

15. A system according to claim 9, wherein said insole is removable from a user'"'"'s shoe.