Footwear Sensor System for Ambulation Turn Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack effective methods to determine if an individual has turned during ambulation, which is crucial for monitoring physical therapy progress and identifying potential physical limitations or impairments.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers into footwear to gather and analyze foot parameters, allowing for the identification of changes in stance and stride data to determine if a turn has been made during ambulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are incorporated into footwear to detect foot parameters, then measurement precision of ambulation data is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses footwear as an intermediary carrier to house sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers) that indirectly measure foot parameters. The footwear acts as a mediator between the sensing elements and the user's feet, allowing precise measurement of stance and stride parameters without directly instrumenting the foot itself, thus improving measurement precision while managing device complexity through a familiar, non-intrusive interface.
2Loss of information
If multiple sensors are used to gather comprehensive foot parameters, then information completeness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (accelerometers for acceleration data, gyroscopes for angular velocity, magnetometers for orientation) into an integrated sensing system within the footwear. This merging of multiple sensing functions into a unified system allows comprehensive collection of foot parameters (stance, stride, orientation, acceleration) while managing complexity through integrated hardware and synchronized data processing that treats the sensor array as a cohesive measurement unit rather than separate independent systems.
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
Enables accurate detection of turns, including direction and sharpness, facilitating timely interventions and improvements in ambulation techniques.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers into footwear to gather and analyze foot parameters
Implementation Method 2
Incorporating sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers into footwear to gather and analyze foot parameters
Implementation Method 3
Incorporating sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers into footwear to gather and analyze foot parameters
Data Source
AI summary
Determining whether an individual has turned during ambulation includes identifying a first foot parameter for the individual in at least two or more successive stances and identifying a change in the first foot parameter between the two or more successive stances. The determination also includes identifying a second foot parameter for the individual in at least two or more successive strides and identifying a change in the second foot parameter between the two or more successive strides. Based on the identified changes in the first and second foot parameters, a determination can be made whether the individual has turned during ambulation.