Force sensitive resistor (FSR)-based wireless gait analysis device

In this paper we introduce a new gait analysis device - Gait-O-Gram© which consists of a footswitch device, a Bluetooth transmitter and signal processing support software. This easy to use, cheap and light weight wireless gait analysis device takes gait study outside clinical labs into realistic situations. We lay down requirements of such devices, both for hardware and software and discuss the design and architecture of the system. Initial results and validations of the device show that the results are statistically equivalent to Force Platform (Kistler Corp.) system.

[1]  Jeffrey M. Hausdorff,et al.  Footswitch system for measurement of the temporal parameters of gait. , 1995, Journal of biomechanics.

[2]  M.R. Popovic,et al.  A reliable gait phase detection system , 2001, IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering.

[3]  J.M. Choi,et al.  A System for Ubiquitous Health Monitoring in the Bedroom via a Bluetooth Network and Wireless LAN , 2004, The 26th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.

[4]  Aleksandar Milenkovic,et al.  Journal of Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation Open Access a Wireless Body Area Network of Intelligent Motion Sensors for Computer Assisted Physical Rehabilitation , 2005 .

[5]  Joseph A. Paradiso,et al.  Shoe-integrated sensor system for wireless gait analysis and real-time feedback , 2002, Proceedings of the Second Joint 24th Annual Conference and the Annual Fall Meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society] [Engineering in Medicine and Biology.

[6]  M. Ekstrom,et al.  Optimization of wireless Bluetooth/spl trade/ sensor systems , 2004, The 26th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.

[7]  M.M. Skelly,et al.  Real-time gait event detection for paraplegic FES walking , 2001, IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering.

[8]  Richard F. Weir,et al.  Portable devices for the clinical measurement of gait performance and outcomes , 2000, Proceedings of the 22nd Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (Cat. No.00CH37143).

[9]  W.J. Tompkins,et al.  An umbilical data-acquisition system for measuring pressures between the foot and shoe , 1990, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.