Instrumented mobility assistance device
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of sensor signals from a plurality of sensors associated with a mobility-assistance device operated on a surface by a user, including receiving a left sensor signal from a left sensor attached to a left side handle of the mobility assistance device, and receiving a right sensor signal from a right sensor attached to a right side handle of the mobility assistance device;
relating the plurality of sensor signals to a contact attribute associated with a contact of the user with the surface, including estimating an approximate time of the contact attribute including a foot initial contact, using a peak signal representing a summation of right and left sensor signals; and
determining a gait characteristic of the user, based on the contact attribute.
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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.
46 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of sensor signals from a plurality of sensors associated with a mobility-assistance device operated on a surface by a user, including receiving a left sensor signal from a left sensor attached to a left side handle of the mobility assistance device, and receiving a right sensor signal from a right sensor attached to a right side handle of the mobility assistance device; relating the plurality of sensor signals to a contact attribute associated with a contact of the user with the surface, including estimating an approximate time of the contact attribute including a foot initial contact, using a peak signal representing a summation of right and left sensor signals; 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)
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12. A system comprising:
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a data acquisition system that is operable to receive a plurality of sensor signals from a plurality of sensors associated with a mobility assistance device; and a use analyzer that is operable to relate the plurality of sensor signals 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, wherein the data acquisition system is configured to receive a left sensor signal from a left sensor attached to a left side handle of the mobility assistance device, and to receive a right sensor signal from a right sensor attached to a right side handle of the mobility assistance device, and wherein the use analyzer is configured to estimate an approximate time of the contact attribute including a foot initial contact, using a peak signal representing a summation of right and left sensor signals. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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a mobility assistance device; a plurality of sensors attached to the mobility assistance device and operable to convert an operational action of a user of the mobility assistance device into a plurality of sensor signals; and a use analyzer that is operable to relate the plurality of sensor signals 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, wherein the use analyzer is configured to receive a left sensor signal from a left sensor attached to a left side handle of the mobility assistance device, and to receive a right sensor signal from a right sensor attached to a right side handle of the mobility assistance device, and configured to estimate an approximate time of the contact attribute including a foot initial contact, using a peak signal representing a summation of right and left sensor signals. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A computer program product tangibly embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium and encoding a computer program for executing on a computing device a computer process, the computer process comprising:
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receiving a plurality of sensor signals from a plurality of sensors associated with a mobility-assistance device operated on a surface by a user, including receiving a left sensor signal from a left sensor attached to a left side handle of the mobility assistance device, and receiving a right sensor signal from a right sensor attached to a right side handle of the mobility assistance device; relating the plurality of sensor signals to a contact attribute associated with a contact of the user with the surface, including estimating an approximate time of the contact attribute including a foot initial contact, using a peak signal representing a summation of right and left sensor signals; and determining a gait characteristic of the user, based on the contact attribute. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification