Segmented Measurement Assemblies for Leg Movement Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional measurement and testing systems with large measurement surface areas cannot separately analyze the movement of individual legs of a subject, and lack a data acquisition and processing device capable of determining the movement generated by each leg separately.

Innovation Solution

A measurement and testing system comprising a plurality of measurement assemblies with data acquisition and processing devices that sense measured quantities, convert signals into output data, and compute load centers of pressure to differentiate between the load applied by each leg, using cluster computational methods and motion capture systems to accurately determine leg movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a large measurement surface area is used, then the system can capture full body movement, but it cannot separately analyze the movement of individual legs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement surface areaVSAvoidleg movement analysis precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement system divides the large measurement surface into multiple measurement assemblies, each equipped with independent measurement devices. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously capture overall body movement on the large surface while separately analyzing individual leg movements through dedicated sensors and processing for each measurement assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If conventional measurement devices are used, then the system structure is simple, but it lacks the capability to determine movement generated by each leg separately

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem structure complexityVSAvoidindividual leg movement information

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a specialized data acquisition and processing device that acts as an intermediary between the measurement assemblies and the analysis system. This device is specially programmed to receive signals from multiple measurement assemblies, process the data to determine which leg generated each movement, and output separate leg movement information, thereby preventing loss of individual leg movement data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If a single measurement assembly is used, then the device complexity is low, but it cannot create virtual measurement assemblies from subsets of measurement assemblies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement assembly quantityVSAvoidvirtual measurement assembly creation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The data acquisition and processing device is designed with universal functionality to perform multiple tasks: it can process data from individual measurement assemblies, combine subsets of measurement assemblies to create virtual measurement assemblies, and adapt to different measurement configurations. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain low physical complexity while achieving high versatility in analysis capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 separate analysis of leg movement and load distribution, providing precise data on gait cycles and incremental changes, enhancing the accuracy of measurements in biomedical applications.

Implementation Method 1

at least one measurement device, the at least one measurement device configured to sense one or more measured quantities and output one or more signals that are representative of the one or more measured quantities

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForce sensing: Force

Implementation Method 2

compute load centers of pressure to differentiate between the load applied by each leg, using cluster computational methods

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCenter of pressure computation:

Data Source

PatentUS9200897B1Measurement and testing system

Publication Date: 2015.12.01 BERTEC CORP

AI summary

A measurement and testing system comprising a plurality of measurement assemblies and a data acquisition and processing device is disclosed. Each of the plurality of measurement assemblies includes a measurement surface for receiving at least one portion of a body of a subject; and at least one measurement device configured to sense one or more measured quantities and output one or more signals that are representative of the one or more measured quantities. In one embodiment, the data acquisition and processing device is configured to determine whether a load is being applied to a particular one of the plurality of measurement assemblies by a first or second body portion of the subject. In another embodiment, the data acquisition and processing device is configured to construct a first virtual measurement assembly from a first subset of measurement assemblies and a second virtual measurement assembly from a second subset of measurement assemblies.