Wireless Prototype Based on Pressure and Bending Sensors for Measuring Gate Quality

Sensors

Florent Grenez²  Mar໚ Viqueira Villarejo¹  Bego༚ Garc໚ Zapirain¹ 

[1] DeustoTech-Life Unit, Deusto Institute of Technology, University of Deusto, Avda. de las Universidades,24, Bilbao 48007, Spain; E-Mail:;Computer Science Department, ICAM University, 6 rue Auber-59000 Lille, France; E-Mail:

关键词: gait analysis;    pressure sensors;    bending sensors;    Arduino;    multiple sclerosis;   

DOI  :  10.3390/s130809679

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

This paper presents a technological solution based on sensors controlled remotely in order to monitor, track and evaluate the gait quality in people with or without associated pathology. Special hardware simulating a shoe was developed, which consists of three pressure sensors, two bending sensors, an Arduino mini and a Bluetooth module. The obtained signals are digitally processed, calculating the standard deviation and establishing thresholds obtained empirically. A group of users was chosen with the aim of executing two modalities: natural walking and dragging the left foot. The gait was parameterized with the following variables: as far as pressure sensors are concerned, one pressure sensor under the first metatarsal (right sensor), another one under the fifth metatarsal (left) and a third one under the heel were placed. With respect to bending sensors, one bending sensor was placed for the ankle movement and another one for the foot sole. The obtained results show a rate accuracy oscillating between 85% (right sensor) and 100% (heel and bending sensors). Therefore, the developed prototype is able to differentiate between healthy gait and pathological gait, and it will be used as the base of a more complex and integral technological solution, which is being developed currently.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.