Orientation Sensor Fall Alert for TBI Balance Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) face increased risks of falls due to balance disturbances, leading to potential further injuries and decreased independence, for which existing technologies do not provide adequate warning or prevention mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A mobile wireless communications device with a housing, wireless transceiver, display, non-visual indicator, and orientation sensor, which can be switched to a stabilization mode to alert users of impending falls by activating a vibratory or audible indicator when relative angular movement exceeds a threshold, thereby reducing the number of falls and improving safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing emergency warning devices are used to detect falls, then fall detection capability is provided, but these devices do not provide adequate warning or prevention mechanisms for impending falls
Solution Approach 1:
The orientation sensor detects angular movement and alerts the user before the fall actually occurs. By performing preliminary detection of the fall trajectory and providing advance warning through audio/visual indicators, the system enables the user to take corrective action before the fall completes, thus resolving the contradiction between fall detection reliability and warning time availability.
2Reliability
If supervision is increased for TBI patients to prevent falls, then safety is improved, but independence of the patient decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The device empowers TBI patients to monitor their own balance and receive alerts when falling is detected. The orientation sensor continuously tracks angular movement and provides self-directed warnings, allowing patients to maintain independence while ensuring their safety through autonomous fall detection and alerting capabilities.
3Reliability
If a mobile device with orientation sensor and alert mechanisms is implemented, then fall prevention capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates fall prevention functionality into a mobile device that users already possess and carry daily. By adding an orientation sensor and alert mechanisms to an existing multi-functional mobile device, the system achieves fall prevention capabilities without requiring a completely new dedicated device, thus managing complexity while improving safety.
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
The device effectively alerts users of impending falls, helping to prevent injuries and enhance rehabilitation by conditioning users to maintain balance, thus improving their independence and safety.
Implementation Method 1
an orientation sensor (15) to sense a relative angular movement based upon an initial reference orientation
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
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Figure 4
AI summary
A mobile wireless communications device may include a housing, a wireless transceiver carried by the housing, and a display carried by the housing. The mobile wireless communications device may further include a non-visual indicator carried by the housing, and an orientation sensor carried by the housing. A controller may be carried by the housing, and coupled to the wireless transceiver and the display to perform at least one mobile wireless communications function. The controller may also be switchable to a stabilization mode to activate the non-visual indicator based upon the orientation sensor sensing relative angular movement beyond a threshold.