Statokinesigram Segmentation for Balance Quantification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for quantifying balance lack reliability, objectivity, and cost-effectiveness, failing to provide a simple and intuitive way to assess balance, particularly for identifying weak signals in statokinesigrams, which are crucial for predicting falls, especially in elderly populations.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that segment statokinesigrams into shorter portions, extract trajectory parameters, and use quantifiers to determine a representative balance value, allowing for improved reliability and identification of balance deficits through a scoring algorithm, enabling users to monitor balance evolution without requiring specialized intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If visual monitoring methods are used to assess balance, then the method is simple and inexpensive, but the assessment lacks objectivity and quantitative precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/visual monitoring system with an electronic data processing system that automatically analyzes statokinesigram data. The force platform captures center of pressure displacement, and a computer algorithm objectively quantifies balance parameters, eliminating subjectivity while maintaining cost-effectiveness through automated processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-assessment of balance by providing automated quantitative analysis without requiring specialist intervention. The computer algorithm independently processes the statokinesigram data and generates objective balance metrics, allowing users to monitor their own balance evolution.
2Loss of information
If complete statokinesigrams are analyzed, then comprehensive balance information is obtained, but transient imbalances and weak signals are masked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the complete statokinesigram into multiple sequential segments or windows. Each segment is analyzed independently to extract local balance characteristics. This segmentation allows transient imbalances and weak signals to be detected in specific time periods without being masked by the overall average of the complete recording.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the time-domain statokinesigram data into the frequency domain using spectral analysis techniques. This dimensional transformation reveals frequency-specific characteristics of balance control, allowing detection of subtle oscillatory patterns and transient imbalances that are not apparent in the time domain.
3Measurement precision
If complex analytical methods are used to process statokinesigrams, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual analytical methods with automated computer-based data processing algorithms. The computer efficiently performs spectral analysis, segment analysis, and parameter extraction, achieving high measurement precision without requiring complex physical apparatus or specialist manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses digital copying and processing of statokinesigram data through software algorithms. Instead of requiring complex physical measurement devices, the system captures force platform data and uses computational models to extract balance parameters, simplifying the physical system while maintaining analytical rigor.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for quantifying the balance of an individual in order to obtain a value that represents the balance of said individual, said method being implemented by a device comprising at least one data processing module, a storage means and a classification module, said method particularly comprising the following steps: time-dependent segmentation of the at least one statokinesigram of an individual in such a way as to generate a plurality of statokinesigram portions; extraction, from the statokinesigram portions, of the values of at least one trajectory parameter; determination of the value of at least two quantifiers, from the trajectory parameters extracted in the extraction step, for each of the statokinesigram portions generated in the segmentation step; and determination of said value representing the balance of the individual on the basis of the values of the quantifiers of each of the statokinesigram portions.