Fall detection and gait analysis in a smart-home environment

In this paper, the development of a prototypal wearable sensor, suitable for home monitoring purposes, is described. The sensor analyzes the data stream coming from a MEMS tri-axial accelerometer to infer fall occurrences and to evaluate the gait quality. Data processing is carried out locally, to limit energy-demanding radio transmission. Smart algorithms have been implemented to extract, from a single MEMS, information concerning both the acceleration and orientation of the worn device. By combining such data, reliable detection can be obtained, avoiding false alarms. Evolution toward more compact and energy-efficient devices is foresee, by implementing monolithic motion detection chips.

[1]  L. Rubenstein.  Falls in older people: epidemiology, risk factors and strategies for prevention. , 2006, Age and ageing.

[2]  Hong Sun,et al.  A Design Tool to Reason about Ambient Assisted Living Systems , 2006, Sixth International Conference on Intelligent Systems Design and Applications.

[3]  Thomas Maier,et al.  Embedded Electrocardiographic Amplifier without Reference Electrode , 2006, 2006 International Workshop on Intelligent Solutions in Embedded Systems.

[4]  L. Fanucci,et al.  Platform based design of technical aids for independent living , 2004, 2004 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology, 2004. IEEE ICIT '04..

[5]  Daniel P. Siewiorek,et al.  Activity recognition and monitoring using multiple sensors on different body positions , 2006, International Workshop on Wearable and Implantable Body Sensor Networks (BSN'06).

[6]  M. Tinetti,et al.  Risk factors for falls among elderly persons living in the community. , 1988, The New England journal of medicine.

[7]  R. Bajcsy,et al.  Wearable Sensors for Reliable Fall Detection , 2005, 2005 IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology 27th Annual Conference.

[8]  Alan K. Bourke,et al.  An optimum accelerometer configuration and simple algorithm for accurately detecting falls , 2006 .

[9]  José Higino Gomes Correia,et al.  Wearable Sensor Network for Body Kinematics Monitoring , 2006, 2006 10th IEEE International Symposium on Wearable Computers.

[10]  P. Ciampolini,et al.  An Assistive Home Automation and Monitoring System , 2008, 2008 Digest of Technical Papers - International Conference on Consumer Electronics.

[11]  Bastiaan R. Bloem,et al.  Quantification of trunk rotations during turning and walking in Parkinson’s disease , 2007, Clinical Neurophysiology.

[12]  J. Allum,et al.  Trunk sway measurements during stance and gait tasks in Parkinson's disease. , 2005, Gait & posture.

[13]  Nitish V. Thakor,et al.  Ground-Free ECG Recording with Two Electrodes , 1980, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.