AIRBAG PROTECTIVE GARMENTS FOR FALLS INTERVENTION

提出了一项第一阶段计划，以确定技术 开发一种防护服系统的可行性 可以通过以下方式为老年人提供新的保护措施 感觉到有足够的时间进行通胀战略布局 安全气囊和缓冲身体免受伤害的冲击。基于 安全气囊的初步测试和重要经验 技术，相信这样的系统可以 令人满意的设计和开发，并将补充其他 这些努力已经在进行中。在拟议的努力期间， 感知和影响问题将通过以下方式更好地定义 实验测试。跌倒感知的战略子系统， 阀门和加压、安全气囊的尺寸和位置，以及 仪表化拟人化假人。如果成功，该系统 可以潜在地减少髋关节骨折和其他疾病的数量 跌倒造成的伤害，尤其是老年人。它 也可应用于康复和手术后 患者以及对跌倒敏感的特定职业和 运动区。对于老龄化的人口，该系统可能会 降低因此类伤害造成的医疗成本，鼓励患者 运动和锻炼，提高他们的独立性 和自信。

A Phase I program is proposed to determine the technical feasibility for development of a protective garment system that could provide a new measure of protection for the elderly by sensing a fall in sufficient time to inflate strategically-placed airbags and cushion the body against injurious impact. Based upon preliminary testing and significant experience in airbag technologies, it is believed that such a system can be satisfactorily designed and developed, and would complement other efforts already underway. During the proposed effort, both the sensing and impact problems will be better defined through experimental testing. Strategic subsystems for falls sensing, valving and pressurization, airbag sizing and location, and an instrumented anthropomorphic dummy. If successful, this system could potentially reduce the number of broken hips and other injuries resulting from falls, particularly for the elderly. It may also have application to rehabilitative and post-operative patients as well as specific falls-sensitive occupational and sports areas. For aging populations, the system could potentially reduce medical costs due to such injury, encourage patient locomotion and exercise, and improve their sense of independence and confidence.