Visual bio-feedback device for prosthesis gait monitoring for amputees

视觉生物反馈是一种为下肢截肢者提供有用和实时信息的新方法， 关于步态速度，偏差，和假肢的冲击力。建议的视觉反馈 在本申请中描述的装置将允许截肢者实时监测他们的步态，并响应 相应地这应该允许截肢者对他们的步态进行纠正性调整，最终导致一个 更健康的状态（更少的伤害，疼痛或疲劳）通过更好的步态表现。此外，拟议的 该设备可用于近期截肢者的训练和康复。设计工作室有兴趣 扩大为截肢者提供的服务。他们注意到目前的步态数据 由专家收集和分析，而不是让截肢者自我评估步态的设备。虽然 存在几种收集步态信息的技术，这种信息通常不会被终端用户看到， 如果是的话，信息就不是以可消化的形式存在的。UVic团队将与Alleles合作， 探索/开发一种收集步态信息的新设备，然后立即进行视觉翻译， 由用户解释。这将有利于最近的截肢者通过康复，以了解他们的 步态，有指标与专家讨论，并让他们立即纠正，以防止不良 习惯的形成。微控制器技术的最新发展（低成本、低功耗、高性能） 计算，和小尺寸），低成本惯性传感器，和现代制造技术，允许 设计了这样一个小型便携的生物反馈系统。

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.