Automatic wearable fall detectors

From Capsil Wiki

Automatic wearable fall detectors which do not require human intervention are available in the wearable formats. Most of the automatic fall detectors are designed to detect impact on the floor usually indicated by a sudden downward acceleration towards the floor followed by a horizontal body Accelerometers are typically used to detect an impact in combination with tilt sensors and/or gyroscopes to determine the orientation of the faller after the impact and tilt transitions during the event of fall. The selectivity of the devices are improved by the application of various falls algorithms There are many designs available under this category depending on the locations for wearing the fall detector. The common locations for wearing fall detectors include chest (neck pendant), hips or waist (belt or pocket), wrist or forearm (bracelet or watchstrap), knee or thigh (strap or stocking).

The chest wearable fall detector currently being developed at Seoul National University aims to accomplish real-time ambulatory monitoring of falls in fall prone populations, including older adults. Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology developed Speedy, a first prototype of a fall detector integrated into a wrist watch. Conspicuous wearable fall detectors, may be perceived by the users as a stigma labeling them as fallers among their peers.

Characteristics

Worn devices generally have the advantage of being small, light-weight, easy to- use, relatively low cost, and of being available on a “plug and play” basis for anyone who has a community alarm telephone. However, they can only perform their function correctly and reliably if they are worn correctly at all times when the subject is up and about.

Commerical Solutions

• Task
• West Communication Ltd
• Tunstall

References

1. M N Nyan, Francis E. H. TAY; M.Manimaran and K. H. W. Seah, Garment-based detection of falls and activities of daily living using 3-axis MEMS accelerometer, Journal of Physics: Conference Series 34 (2006) 1059–1067
2. Michael R. Narayanan, Steven R. Lord, Marc M. Budge, Branko G. Celler, Nigel H. Lovel,l Falls Management: Detection and Prevention, using a Waist mounted Triaxial Accelerometer, 2007,Proceedings of the 29th Annual International Conference of the IEEE EMBS Cité Internationale, Lyon, France, August 23-26, 2007
3. G. Daniele, "Investigation of fall-risk using a wearable device with accelerometers and rate gyroscopes," Physiological Measurement, vol. 27, pp. 1081, 2006.
4. R. E. Mayagoitia, J. C. Lotters, P. H. Veltink, and H. Hermens, "Standing balance evaluation using a triaxial accelerometer," Gait and Posture, vol. 16, pp. 55-59, 2002.
5. H. B. Menz, S. R. Lord, and R. C. Fitzpatrick, "Acceleration Patterns of the Head and Pelvis When Walking Are Associated With Risk of Falling in Community-Dwelling Older People," J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci, vol.58, pp. M446-452, 2003.