Glenn S Wasson

US Patent:

20070233403, Oct 4, 2007

Filed:

Jan 5, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/650361

Inventors:

Majd Alwan - Charlottesville VA, US
Glenn Wasson - Crozet VA, US
Pradip Sheth - Charlottesville VA, US
Alexandre Ledoux - Charlottesville VA, US
Cunjun Huang - Sunnyvale CA, US

International Classification:

G01C 22/00

US Classification:

702033000

Abstract:

Various implementations are disclosed for an instrumented mobility assistance device, such as an instrumented walker. The device includes an attached sensor that is operable to convert an operational action of a user of the mobility assistance device into a sensor signal. A use analyzer is operable to relate the sensor signal to a contact attribute associated with a contact of the user of the mobility assistance device with an underlying surface. The use analyzer is further operable to determine a gait characteristic of the user, based on the contact attribute. The sensor may include a force or moment sensor. The contact attribute may include a foot-initial contact, or a foot-off contact. In this way, gait characteristics of the user may be determined during normal operation of the instrumented device. Also, the sensor may be used to determine a stability measure associated with the device.