Method, system and apparatus for fall detection

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for detecting fall events of a person. Fall events are falls that are likely to occur, are occurring, or have occurred. Fall detectors and fall detector systems detect fall events of the person. Data relating to the person are received from sensors and analyzed to perform fall detection. Data relating to the person includes accelerations and forces experience by the person, changes in body position of the person, movements of the person, and body signals and sounds of the person. Neurological tests are administered to determine levels of responsiveness and awareness of the person in response to detections. Warnings are issued, and safety measures are deployed, in response to detections. Data relating to fall events are recorded and logged. Fall event histories based upon the logged data and fall detection algorithm performance are used to improve future fall detection and prediction.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]The subject matter described herein relates to systems and methods for anticipating and detecting falls of subjects.[0003]2. Background Art[0004]Falls are a grave problem for the elderly and others prone to falling. The American Council on Exercise estimates that 35%-45% of persons 65 year of age or older fall down at least once per year. Injuries, which may be serious, even fatal, are commonly associated with falling. Some current solutions for fall detection allow a person who has fallen to manually press a button for assistance. However, injuries and other effects of falls may leave a person unable to seek or obtain help. For example, a person who is unconscious or dazed and unaware of their surroundings may be incapable of utilizing existing solutions to seek help. Although falls are often regarded as accidents, the incidence of falls differs from a Poisson distribution, and this suggests causal factors are involved. The current state of t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes ways to predict and detect when people fall down. This can be helpful in identifying potential risks and reducing the likelihood of falls.

Problems solved by technology

Falls are a grave problem for the elderly and others prone to falling.

Injuries, which may be serious, even fatal, are commonly associated with falling.

However, injuries and other effects of falls may leave a person unable to seek or obtain help.

For example, a person who is unconscious or dazed and unaware of their surroundings may be incapable of utilizing existing solutions to seek help.

The current state of the art in fall detection and aids lacks mechanisms for detecting falls and issuing warnings as falls occur or before falls occur.

The current state of the art also lacks mechanisms for correlating causal factors of falls with fall detection techniques to improve the efficacy thereof.

The reporting of falls in the art is often inaccurate as people frequently have difficulty remembering details about causes of many falls.

The current state of the art in fall detection and aids lacks mechanisms for tracking and reporting causal factors of falls and fall-specific data and details for treatment and prediction.

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