Altimeter with Opposed Sensing Ports for Fall Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current body orientation and motion monitoring systems, particularly for fall detection, face limitations in detecting soft falls, near falls, and lateral falls, and often require multiple sensors and complex setups, which are not suitable for all environments and users such as emergency workers or race horses.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising triaxial accelerometers, high sensitivity pressure sensors, and gyroscopes to monitor translational and rotational movements, with an altimeter to measure height changes, enabling detection of hard, soft, and near fall events, and providing autonomous alert systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If accelerometer-based waist worn devices are used to detect hard falls, then detection of sudden rapid descents is improved, but ability to detect soft falls, near falls, and lateral falls deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (accelerometers, gyroscopes, and pressure sensors) into an integrated monitoring system. This fusion of sensors enables the system to detect various fall types including hard falls, soft falls, near falls, and lateral falls by analyzing data from multiple sources simultaneously, thereby resolving the limitation of accelerometer-only devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system is designed to perform multiple detection functions beyond just hard fall detection. It can identify soft falls, near falls, lateral falls, and even distinguish between falling and resting states, making it a universal solution for various fall detection scenarios that a single accelerometer cannot handle.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and complex setups are used to improve detection accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple sensor types (accelerometers, gyroscopes, and pressure sensors) into a single wearable device. This consolidation maintains high detection accuracy for various fall types while reducing the complexity of having separate devices and multiple sensor setups, as all sensors are combined in one unit worn by the user.
3Measurement precision
If accelerometer-based devices are used, then hard fall detection is improved, but ability to distinguish between lying down and fallen deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines data from accelerometers, gyroscopes, and pressure sensors to analyze movement patterns, orientation changes, and impact forces. This multi-sensor approach provides sufficient information to distinguish between a person lying down voluntarily and a person who has fallen, preventing false alarms while maintaining accurate hard fall detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors sensor data and uses feedback from multiple sources to analyze the context of detected events. By examining patterns across all sensors over time, the system can determine whether a detected orientation change represents a fall or a voluntary resting position, thereby preserving accurate fall detection while eliminating false positives.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively discriminates between various body orientations and movements, including soft and near falls, with improved sensitivity and accuracy, allowing for reliable monitoring in diverse environments and user scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
an altimeter configured to measure changes in height of the body
Implementation Method 2
a device configured to monitor at least one of the translational movement and the rotational movement of the body
Implementation Method 3
a device configured to monitor at least one of the translational movement and the rotational movement of the body
Data Source
AI summary
A system, a method and an apparatus for autonomous monitoring, detecting and tracking of at least one of movement and orientation of a body or portion of a body. The apparatus comprises a device configured to monitor the translational movement and/or rotational movement of the body; and an altimeter including at least one pair of opposed high sensitivity sensors configured to measure changes in height of the body. An alert condition is determined based on the translational and/or rotational movement of the body and changes in height of the body or portion of the body. The alert condition may comprise a hard fall event, a soft fall event, a susceptibility to a fall, or a near fall event.