Physical Performance Meters for Rapid Frailty Screening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for assessing frailty, such as comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), require professionally trained manpower and are time-consuming, making them impractical for widespread use outside specialized geriatric centers, and there is a need for a rapid and objective frailty screening method for older patients undergoing medical treatments.
Innovation Solution
A frailty diagnosis apparatus and method using a physical performance meter comprising a gait speed meter, body balance meter, and muscle strength meter to measure gait speed, body balance maintenance time, and muscle exercise time, with a processor determining a frailty index based on these parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If comprehensive geriatric assessment is used to assess frailty, then assessment accuracy is improved, but assessment time and manpower requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and focuses only on the most critical physical performance parameters (gait speed, body balance, muscle strength) from the comprehensive geriatric assessment, eliminating the need to assess all other domains (nutrition, cognition, social support) while maintaining sufficient accuracy for frailty prediction
Solution Approach 2:
The assessment is segmented into three independent physical performance modules that can be measured separately and quickly, allowing the system to maintain precision while reducing overall assessment time by focusing only on physically relevant parameters
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive geriatric assessment is used to assess frailty, then assessment accuracy is improved, but required professionally trained manpower increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the physical performance assessment component from the comprehensive geriatric assessment, removing the need for professionals to assess nutrition, cognition, and social domains, thereby reducing manpower requirements while maintaining assessment validity for frailty prediction
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service or minimal professional involvement by using automated or semi-automated measurement devices for physical performance parameters, reducing dependence on professionally trained manpower while maintaining assessment accuracy
3Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive geriatric assessment is used to assess frailty, then assessment comprehensiveness is improved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the most operationally feasible and clinically relevant physical performance parameters, creating a simplified screening tool that is easy to administer while maintaining sufficient comprehensiveness for frailty detection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by measuring only the essential physical performance parameters rather than all aspects of geriatric assessment, making the system easier to operate while providing adequate information for frailty assessment
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a frailty diagnosis apparatus. The frailty diagnosis apparatus includes a physical performance meter and a processor for determining a frailty index of a target person based on physical performance of the target person obtained by the physical performance meter. The physical performance meter includes at least one among a gait speed meter for measuring a gait speed of the target person, a body balance meter for measuring a body balance maintenance time of the target person, and a muscle strength meter for measuring a muscle exercise time.