Wearable IMU Gait Assessment System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring and scoring musculoskeletal health, particularly gait quality and quantity, are inadequate as they fail to capture real-life walking metrics and are impractical for healthcare settings, necessitating a more robust and reliable system for quantitative gait assessment.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising accelerometers, magnetometers, and gyroscopes, integrated with a processor to determine quantitative gait scores from various metrics such as daily step count, step cadence, and walking orientation randomness, providing scores like Simplified Mobility Score, Immediate Mobility Score, Gait Symmetry Index, and Combined Mobility Score.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pressure-sensing mat or walkway is used to measure gait parameters, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation and real-life applicability deteriorate due to constrained walking environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pressure-sensing mat system with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) based system using accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers. This substitution allows gait assessment to occur in natural walking environments without requiring subjects to walk on constrained surfaces, thereby maintaining measurement precision while improving ease of operation and real-life applicability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wearable sensor unit as an intermediary device that attaches to the subject's body (typically the lower back or waist). This intermediary captures gait information directly from the subject's movement without requiring interaction with external measurement infrastructure like pressure mats, enabling natural walking assessment in real-life settings.
2Measurement precision
If marker-based motion capture with biomechanical model is used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex marker-based motion capture system with a self-contained inertial measurement unit. The IMU system uses onboard sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers) and embedded processing to directly compute gait parameters without requiring external cameras, markers, or complex biomechanical modeling, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor unit is designed to be self-sufficient, containing all necessary sensors, processing capability, and algorithms within a single wearable device. It autonomously processes raw sensor data to generate gait metrics and scores without requiring complex external infrastructure or manual marker placement, making the system simpler to operate and deploy.
3Measurement precision
If healthcare staff perform manual monitoring and scoring, then measurement precision is maintained through expert assessment, but productivity and resource efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs gait assessment, calculation of multiple gait metrics, and generation of mobility scores without requiring healthcare staff intervention. The embedded processor continuously analyzes sensor data and computes clinical outcomes, enabling high-throughput monitoring that improves productivity while maintaining assessment accuracy through validated algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous automated feedback on gait quality and mobility status, enabling real-time monitoring and intervention. This automated feedback loop replaces manual assessment cycles, allowing healthcare providers to monitor multiple patients simultaneously and respond more efficiently to gait deterioration or improvement.
4Reliability
If multiple gait metrics are measured and combined, then reliability of quantitative scoring is improved, but device complexity and data processing requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers) into a single integrated inertial measurement unit. This merging allows simultaneous measurement of linear acceleration, angular velocity, and magnetic field orientation, enabling comprehensive gait analysis through multiple metrics while managing device complexity through integrated hardware and coordinated processing.
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 accurate, real-time assessment of walking performance and fall risk, facilitating timely interventions and improving patient outcomes by providing objective, quantitative data on mobility and stability.
Implementation Method 1
an accelerometer configured to output signals indicative of movement of the subject along one or any combination of an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis
Implementation Method 2
a magnetometer configured to output signals indicative of variations in position of the subject in a space defined by the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis
Implementation Method 3
a gyroscope configured to output signals indicative of angular velocity of the subject around one or any combination of the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a system for determining a quantitative gait score, the system comprising an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a gyroscope; and a processor configured to receive output signals from the accelerometer, a magnetometer, a gyroscope and analyse the signals to determine the quantitative gait score for the subject from one or any combination of daily step count; step cadence; step time; step time asymmetry; step length; stride length; step length asymmetry; single support time variability; walking orientation randomness metric (WORM Score); and gait velocity or gait velocity variation. Methods of determining the quantitative gait score are also provided.