Postural Stability Assessment Using Sway and Joint Vibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing postural stability assessment systems require manual intervention, trained personnel for operation, and medically qualified personnel for interpretation, and operate in a static manner, lacking automation and comprehensive quantification of stability.

Innovation Solution

A postural stability assessment system that autonomously monitors user actions, determines Single Limb Stance duration, body joint vibration, and body sway area, generating a postural stability index score through fuzzy logic, and provides automated stability assessment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual intervention and trained personnel are used for operation and interpretation, then assessment accuracy is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassessment accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-assessment by automatically collecting sensor data, processing it through algorithms, and generating stability reports without requiring manual intervention or interpretation by medical personnel. The computer executes the assessment method autonomously, making the system self-sufficient in its core function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical assessment processes with automated computational processing. Sensors and computer algorithms substitute for human operators, transforming physical measurement into automated data processing and analysis, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If manual intervention is required at different stages, then assessment thoroughness is improved, but ease of operation and productivity worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassessment thoroughnessVSAvoidassessment efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains continuous automated operation throughout the assessment process. Sensors continuously collect data, the computer continuously processes information, and the system continuously generates results without interruption or manual intervention, ensuring both thoroughness and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The assessment system performs all stages autonomously - data collection, processing, analysis, and reporting - without requiring human intervention at any stage, thereby maintaining thoroughness while maximizing productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If medically qualified personnel are required for interpretation, then result accuracy is improved, but ease of operation and accessibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresult accuracyVSAvoiduser accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The computer autonomously interprets sensor data and generates stability assessments without requiring medical personnel. The system self-performs the interpretation function, making results accessible to anyone who can operate the basic interface while maintaining accuracy through automated algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the need for medically qualified personnel with automated computer algorithms that process and interpret assessment data, thereby maintaining result accuracy while dramatically improving ease of operation and accessibility to the general public.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If comprehensive parameters are measured, then assessment quality is improved, but device complexity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassessment qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The computer serves multiple functions simultaneously - collecting data from various sensors, processing information, running assessment algorithms, and generating reports. This multi-functionality allows comprehensive parameter measurement without proportionally increasing device complexity, as a single computational platform handles all tasks.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically manages the complexity of measuring and processing multiple parameters through self-contained computational algorithms, eliminating the need for additional manual procedures or complex mechanical systems for each measurement parameter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3424411B1Method and system for postural stability assessment
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES LTD
  • EP3424411B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3424411B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3424411B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

System and method for postural stability assessment of a user are disclosed. In an embodiment, the system, by monitoring specific actions (which are part of certain tests done for the postural stability assessment) being performed by a user, collects inputs which are then processed to determine SLS duration, the body joint vibration, and the body sway area of the user, while performing the tests. By processing the SLS duration, the body joint vibration, and the body sway area together, a postural stability index score for the user is determined, and based on this score, postural stability assessment for the user is performed.