Foldable Mobility Assessment Mat with Standardized Indicia
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Physicians and physical therapists face difficulties in accurately assessing patients' mobility through observation alone, as existing methods lack a standardized and practical tool to evaluate gait, speed, and balance during mobility tests.
Innovation Solution
A skid-resistant, high-contrast mobility assessment device with pre-selected indicia, designed as a flexible and foldable floor mat, provides markings for patients to follow during tests, aiding practitioners in evaluating mobility by guiding movements in specific directions and distances, and allowing for compact storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physicians and physical therapists rely on observation alone to assess patients' mobility, then the assessment method is simple and requires no additional equipment, but the accuracy and standardization of the evaluation is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The mat is pre-marked with standardized test patterns (squares of different sizes, arrows indicating directions, distance markers) that are prepared in advance. This allows practitioners to immediately conduct standardized mobility assessments without needing to set up or measure test areas during patient evaluations, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The mobility assessment mat serves as an intermediary tool between the practitioner and the patient. It provides a standardized reference framework that mediates the assessment process, enabling more accurate and consistent mobility evaluations without requiring complex equipment or extensive practitioner expertise
2Measurement precision
If a mobility assessment device is designed with detailed markings and indicia for standardized testing, then the measurement precision improves, but the device becomes more complex and harder to store
Solution Approach 1:
The assessment device is implemented as a flexible mat that can be easily rolled up or folded when not in use. This flexible film approach allows the mat to contain detailed markings and indicia for precise measurements while maintaining ease of storage and portability, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The mat is designed with modular test sections (different sized squares, directional arrows, distance markers) that are segmented across the surface. This segmentation allows practitioners to use only the specific portion needed for each test type, making the device easier to manage and store while providing comprehensive assessment capabilities
3Adaptability or versatility
If the mobility assessment mat is made large enough to include all necessary markings for various tests, then the versatility of the device improves, but the storage space required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible mat design allows comprehensive test markings to be contained in a compact, rollable format. When stored, the mat occupies minimal space; when deployed, it provides extensive marking coverage for multiple test types, effectively resolving the contradiction between versatility and storage area
Solution Approach 2:
The mat is designed to serve multiple functions with a single device, incorporating various sized squares, directional indicators, and distance markers that can accommodate different mobility tests. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple separate assessment tools, improving versatility while maintaining manageable storage requirements
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention in several embodiments is a mobility assessment device which is easy to use and which will aid practitioners in evaluating a patients' mobility. The mobility assessment device of the present invention is preferably constructed from a skid resistant high contrast material that can easily be folded, rolled or stored in a compact space.The mobility assessment device of the present invention may include markings or indicia to aid a patient in properly performing one or several mobility assessment tests. The included indicia may have measurements and other marking for aiding a medical professional in evaluating a patient's mobility.