Patient Balance Assessment Apparatus with Rotating Reach Targets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current balance assessment tools fail to comprehensively evaluate balance while reaching and trunk rotation, do not identify specific points of balance deficits, and lack measurement of fine motor abilities, leading to inadequate intervention design and reduced reliability due to subjectivity and instrumentation inconsistencies.

Innovation Solution

A patient assessment apparatus and method using a standardized, modular apparatus with elongated and rotatable components that receive markers, allowing for quantitative measurement of balance during weight shifts and trunk rotation, and incorporating fine motor tasks to assess balance deficits and track progress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If commonly used balance assessment tools are utilized, then balance assessment is provided, but they fail to examine balance while reaching and performing trunk rotation which are crucial elements of everyday tasks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassessment coverageVSAvoidfunctional relevance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The assessment tool integrates multiple assessment functions into a single system, enabling evaluation of static balance, dynamic balance during reaching tasks, and trunk rotation capabilities. The apparatus can accommodate various test protocols (BBS, MDRT, Tinetti) while adding novel reaching and rotation assessments, making it universally applicable for comprehensive balance evaluation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If commonly used balance assessment tools are utilized, then balance assessment is provided, but they do not identify the specific point at which the participant experiences a balance deficit

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassessment precisionVSAvoiddeficit location information

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces subjective clinical observation with objective sensor-based detection. Force plates measure center of pressure displacement, while motion capture sensors track marker positions to precisely identify where and when balance deficits occur during task performance, providing quantifiable data on deficit locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If the FES-I survey questionnaire is used, then individual concern about falling is assessed, but subjectivity of the data collected reduces the reliability of assessment scores

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassessment simplicityVSAvoidscore consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces subjective self-reporting with objective biomechanical measurement. Instead of relying on participants' interpretations of survey questions, force plates and motion sensors directly measure balance performance, eliminating subjectivity while maintaining ease of administration through automated data collection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the BBS includes common household objects, then functional balance is assessed, but physical characteristics that vary between tests reduce reliability due to inconsistencies in instrumentation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional assessment capabilityVSAvoidinstrumentation consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses standardized apparatus with consistent physical characteristics across all testing sessions. The force plate and motion capture system provide uniform measurement conditions, while the standardized reaching targets and trunk rotation protocols ensure that instrumentation remains constant, eliminating variability introduced by different household objects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

5Device complexity

If fine motor abilities are not measured, then gross motor balance is assessed, but comprehensive balance evaluation including fine motor coordination is needed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassessment simplicityVSAvoidmotor ability coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The assessment protocol integrates both gross motor balance evaluation and fine motor coordination measurement within the same testing framework. Participants perform reaching tasks that require both gross motor control for posture maintenance and fine motor skills for precise marker placement, providing comprehensive motor assessment without requiring separate testing equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8758276B2Patient assessment apparatus and method

Publication Date: 2014.06.24 AVANTIUS MEDICAL EQUIP LLC

AI summary

A patient assessment apparatus, such as for balance assessment, includes an elongated member having a length and first, second and third positions along the length, a first receiving member situated at the first position, and a second receiving member situated at the third position, the second position situated between the first and third positions. The first and second receiving members are each arranged to receive a marker from a patient. Reach characteristic data is collected from a patient using the balance assessment apparatus, and the reach characteristic data is analyzed to determine whether the patient has a balance deficit.