Gait Evaluation System Using Pressure and Limb Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current gait evaluation technologies are inadequate in accurately predicting falls among elderly populations and individuals with neurological diseases, as they fail to comprehensively analyze gait parameters effectively.

Innovation Solution

A gait evaluating system that combines pressure detection devices and limb sensing devices to obtain pressure values and walking limb feature values, which are then used to evaluate gait through a processor that analyzes step feature values and joint angles, determining normal or abnormal gait patterns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple sensing devices are used to comprehensively analyze gait parameters, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegait parameter measurement precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines pressure detection devices and limb sensing devices into an integrated gait evaluation system. The pressure detection device captures plantar pressure distribution while the limb sensing device records joint angles and movement, merging multiple measurement functions into a coordinated system that comprehensively analyzes gait parameters for fall risk assessment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The gait evaluation system is designed with multi-functionality to assess various gait parameters including stride length, step width, gait speed, and joint angles simultaneously. This universal approach allows the system to evaluate different aspects of gait quality through a single integrated platform, improving measurement precision across multiple parameters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If comprehensive gait analysis is performed to predict falls accurately, then reliability of fall prediction is improved, but loss of time in data processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefall prediction reliabilityVSAvoiddata processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by continuously collecting and pre-processing gait data during normal walking activities. Pressure values and limb movement data are captured and stored in advance, allowing the system to have gait information ready for rapid analysis when fall risk assessment is needed, reducing processing time while maintaining prediction reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where gait evaluation results are continuously monitored and used to adjust assessment parameters. The processor analyzes pressure distribution patterns and limb movement data in real-time, providing ongoing feedback about gait quality changes that enables timely fall risk prediction without requiring extensive batch processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4154811B1Gait evaluating system
Publication Date: 2024.10.23 IND TECH RES INST
  • EP4154811B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4154811B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4154811B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

The invention provides a gait evaluating system and a gait evaluating method. The gait evaluation system includes a gait evaluating device configured to: obtain, from a pressure detection device, a plurality of pressure values of a user walking on the pressure detection device; obtain a plurality of step feature values of the user based on the pressure values; obtain a plurality of walking limb feature values when the user walks on the pressure detection device based on a sensing data provided by a limb sensing device; and evaluate a gait of the user based on the step feature values and the walking limb feature values.