STTR Phase I: Transfer Training Device to Reduce Falls and Increase Mobility in Older Adults

这个小型企业技术转移(STTR)第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是一种具有主动矫正反馈和训练方案的新型步行器，使患者能够可靠和重复地从坐姿转换到站姿。老年人跌倒是受伤的主要原因，导致300万人去急诊室就诊，80万人住院。这些事故每年造成的直接医疗成本高达500亿美元。该项目旨在开发一种新的设备，直接改善坐-立(STS)转移阶段，该阶段占老年人和/或认知障碍成年人跌倒的41%。由于治疗师的技术、交流、环境或患者的认知能力的不同，目前使用助行器的人中有一半以上没有接受适当的辅助设备使用培训。这个小企业技术转移(STTR)第一阶段项目旨在开发一种设备，以确保使用前轮助行器的患者从坐到站的姿势更安全、更一致。目前的坐立训练完全依赖语言治疗师的指导或示范，往往导致训练缺乏连贯性。建议的设备集成了生物力学测量、训练有素的治疗师观察以及患者的听觉和视觉反馈，并结合教育和培训方案，以半自主的方式确保适当的患者生物力学。将开发一个原型系统，并在患者概念验证研究中进行验证，展示一致和可靠的姿势变化，以显著降低跌倒和受伤的风险，同时减少对患者和照顾者的情感和身体要求。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is a novel walker with active corrective feedback and training protocols enabling patients the ability to reliably and repeatedly transition from a seated position to a standing posture. Falls among elderly adults are the leading cause of injury resulting in 3 million emergency room visits and 800,000 hospitalizations. These accidents account for $50 billion in direct medical costs each year. This project aims to develop a novel device which directly improves the sit-to-stand (STS) transfer phase which accounts for 41% of falls in elderly and/or cognitively impaired adults. Over half of individuals using walkers currently do not receive the proper assistive-device utilization training due to varying therapist techniques, communication, environment, or the patient's cognitive abilities.This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project aims to develop a device for ensuring a safer and more consistent transition from a sit-to-stand posture in patients using front-wheel walkers. Current sit-to-stand training relies solely upon verbal therapist instruction or demonstration and often results in lack of consistency in delivery. The proposed device integrates biomechanical measurements, trained therapist observations, and patient auditory and visual feedback, in conjunction with an educational and training protocol, to ensure proper patient biomechanics, in a semi-autonomous manner. A prototype system will be developed and validated in a patient proof of concept study demonstrating consistent and reliable posture changes in order to significantly reduce the risks for falls and injuries, while reducing emotional and physical demands on patients and caregivers.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.