Inertial Sensor Self-Assessment for Physical Capability Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wearable motion sensor systems are inadequate for assessing physical capabilities of weak, elderly, or disabled individuals in home environments without external assistance, as they fail to accurately measure muscle spasticity, balance, and mobility deficits, and require specific hardware setups or trained personnel, with existing solutions being insensitive to rapid condition changes and lacking precision in angular displacement measurements.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device-based system using inertial motion sensors integrated into smartphones, smartwatches, or tablets, with synchronized video data from external cameras, capable of performing self-assessment tests like balance, range of motion, and spasticity tests, compensating for sampling rate deviations and providing numeric feedback without the need for skilled personnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If consumer grade camera systems are used for measuring linear displacement, then the system is accessible and easy to operate, but the measurement precision deteriorates (cannot achieve ≤5 mm resolution)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical measurement systems (camera-based) with inertial sensing systems (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers) for measuring human motion. This substitution enables precise measurement of linear and angular displacement, velocity, and acceleration without requiring complex camera setups, thereby achieving both high precision and ease of operation in consumer environments.
2Measurement precision
If dedicated wearable motion sensors with sampling rate ≥50 Hz are used, then the measurement precision improves (displacement error ≤5 mm), but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes multi-functional mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, wearables) that already contain inertial sensors for various purposes. By repurposing these existing sensors for medical and rehabilitation assessments, the system achieves high measurement precision without adding dedicated complex sensor hardware, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-assessment by individuals without requiring external assistance from trained personnel. The mobile device automatically collects sensor data, processes it through algorithms, and generates assessment results, making the complex measurement system easy to use for end users while maintaining scientific rigor.
3Duration of action of moving object
If activity recorders with data collection time of at least one week are used, then the system can capture long-term physical activity patterns, but the sensitivity to rapid condition changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the assessment duration based on the specific test type and clinical needs. Rather than requiring fixed long-term data collection, the patent implements protocols that can be completed in minutes to hours, enabling detection of rapid condition changes while still providing meaningful long-term tracking capability when needed.
4Ease of operation
If smartphone operating systems with non-real-time execution are used, then the ease of operation improves (widely available devices), but the measurement precision deteriorates (unstable sampling rate)
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration and characterization of sensor behavior during device initialization and setup phases. By pre-determining sampling rates and calibration parameters before actual measurement, the system compensates for the non-real-time nature of smartphone operating systems, ensuring stable and accurate measurements throughout the assessment protocol.
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, self-administered assessments of physical capabilities with improved precision and sensitivity to daily changes in motor functions, reducing measurement errors and eliminating the need for external assistance, while maintaining compatibility with non-real-time smartphone operating systems.
Implementation Method 1
angular velocity measurements are used for characterizing angular motion properties
Implementation Method 2
position calculations from linear acceleration sensor data
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a system for objective self-assessment of physical capabilities and condition changes of individuals with conditions like multiple sclerosis, the system has a mobile device with an appropriate software for carrying out a set of tests for assessment of motor capabilities such as body balance, muscle strength, and muscle spasticity, and receiving assessment feedback. The system has inertial motion sensors for performing motion sensing, wherein said inertial motion sensors are integrated with said mobile device, e.g., a smartphone, a smart watch, or a personal computer, or in a separate wearable sensor device, connected with said mobile device over wired or wireless data connection. Also disclosed is a method for such self-assessment with such system.