A tactile handle for cane use monitoring

Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2015 Aug:2015:3586-9. doi: 10.1109/EMBC.2015.7319168.

Abstract

Assistive ambulatory devices are used for gait rehabilitation and assistance. In both cases, their benefit is greater when they are used properly. As for canes, embedded sensors can be used for monitoring purposes. In this paper, a custom tactile handle equipping a cane is described. It is composed of cost-effective commercially available pressure sensors. Experimental results involving 10 subjects show that the developed handle can provide information on the cane orientation as well as on the load applied to it during assisted gait. These data can help monitoring the cane usage and misuses detection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Canes*
  • Gait
  • Humans
  • Monitoring, Ambulatory
  • Pressure
  • Self-Help Devices
  • Young Adult