Visual bio-feedback device for prosthesis gait monitoring for amputees

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Visual bio-feedback is a novel way to provide useful and real-time information to lower-limb (leg) amputees, regarding the gait speed, deviations, and impact forces of their prosthesis. The proposed visual feedback device described in this application, will allow amputees to monitor their gait in real-time, and respond accordingly. This should allow amputees to make corrective adjustments to their gait, ultimately leading to a healthier condition (less injuries, pain, or fatigue) through better gait performance. In addition, the proposed device could be used for training and rehabilitation for recent amputees. Alleles Design Studio is interested in expanding the services offered to their amputee clients. They have noticed a huge gap between current gait data collection and analysis by experts, vs. devices that could allow amputees to self-assess their gait. Although several technologies exist that gather gait information, this information is typically never seen by the end-user, and if it is, the information is not in a digestible form. The UVic team will work with Alleles to explore/develop a new device that gathers gait information, that is then immediately visually translated and interpreted by the user. This would be beneficial for recent amputees going through rehab to understand their gait, to have metrics to discuss with specialists, and to let them make immediate corrections to prevent bad habits from forming. Recent developments in microcontroller technology (low cost, low power, high computation, and small size), low cost inertial sensors, and modern manufacturing techniques, allow for the design of such a small, portable bio-feedback system.