Fall Prevention System Using Center of Mass Trajectory Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fall detection systems lack reliability and only provide warnings after a fall has occurred, failing to prevent falls effectively, especially in individuals with increased risk due to insecurity, fatigue, multi-tasking, or environmental hazards.
Innovation Solution
A fall prevention system that monitors the trajectory of the user's centre of mass relative to a lower body portion, distinguishing between variations in gait caused by irregular surfaces and those indicating an increased risk of falling by comparing the trajectories of the centre of mass and base of support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the system monitors only the trajectory of the feet or base of support, then it can detect variations in gait, but it cannot reliably distinguish between gait variations caused by irregular surfaces and those indicating increased fall risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the gait analysis into two independent components: trajectory of the feet/base of support and trajectory of the centre of mass. By monitoring these separately and comparing them, the system can distinguish between gait variations due to surface irregularities (affecting only the base of support) and those indicating fall risk (affecting the centre of mass trajectory).
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces the trajectory of the centre of mass as an intermediary measurement that mediates between the base of support movement and the fall risk assessment. This intermediary allows the system to filter out false positives from surface irregularities while maintaining sensitivity to true fall risks.
2Device complexity
If the system provides warnings only after a fall has occurred, then the detection system is simpler, but it fails to prevent falls effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting changes in the trajectory of the centre of mass relative to the base of support before a fall occurs. This allows the system to issue warnings and enable interventions that can prevent the fall, rather than merely detecting it after the fact.
3Measurement precision
If the system monitors the trajectory of the centre of mass relative to the base of support, then it can accurately distinguish stable from unstable gait patterns, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multi-functional sensors (such as accelerometers and gyroscopes) that can simultaneously measure both the trajectory of the base of support and the trajectory of the centre of mass. This universal approach allows the system to perform multiple measurements with a single sensor suite, reducing overall complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a system for fall prevention for a user, comprising one or more sensors for attachment to respective portions of the body, each sensor being adapted to measure movement of the respective portion of the body and to translate the movement into a signal; and a controller adapted to receive the signal or signals and to determine a risk of falling by estimating a trajectory of the center of mass of the user relative to a trajectory of a lower portion of the body from the signal or signals.