Arm-Worn Sensor Walker Usage Detection via Movement Variance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Monitoring walker usage in elderly or disabled individuals is challenging due to the need for dedicated sensing devices and systems, which are costly and burdensome.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses an arm-worn movement sensor to detect variance in arm movement during transfers between locations, inferring walker usage by analyzing movement data, thereby eliminating the need for additional sensors and complex signal processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a dedicated motion sensor is installed on the walker to monitor walker usage, then the measurement precision and reliability of walker usage monitoring is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The arm-worn movement sensor serves multiple functions: it monitors both general arm movement for activity tracking and specifically detects walker usage patterns through variance analysis. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a dedicated walker sensor while maintaining monitoring accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing arm-worn sensor system monitors its own usage patterns and infers walker usage from its detected movement data. The system uses self-collected movement variance information to determine walker usage, eliminating external dedicated sensing requirements.
2Device complexity
If an arm-worn movement sensor is used to infer walker usage, then the device complexity and cost are reduced, but the measurement precision may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter being measured from direct walker contact detection to arm movement variance analysis. By analyzing the statistical variance of arm movement patterns during transfers, the system indirectly infers walker usage with sufficient accuracy while using simpler sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
Arm movement variance serves as an intermediary indicator that mediates between the simple arm-worn sensor and the target measurement of walker usage. The variance in arm movement patterns during transfers indirectly reveals whether a walker was used, bridging the gap between simple sensing and accurate monitoring.
3Reliability
If dedicated sensing devices are deployed for walker monitoring, then the reliability of monitoring is improved, but the ease of operation and user burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The arm-worn sensor already worn for general activity monitoring is repurposed to also detect walker usage, eliminating the need for users to don additional dedicated walker sensors. This maintains monitoring reliability while significantly reducing user burden.
Data Source
AI summary
Presented are concepts for monitoring walker usage by a subject. One such concept obtains movement data comprising values of detected movement of an arm of the subject for a first time period during which the subject is determined to have transferred between first and second locations the first time period. It is determined if the subject used a walker during the first time period based on a measure of variance in the values of detected movement of the subject's arm during the first time period.