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Floor Monitor for Gait Assessment and Falls Detection

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: National Institutes of Health
Contract: 1R41AG023441-01
Agency Tracking Number: AG023441
Amount: $100,843.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2004
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
EMPIRICAL TECHNOLOGIES CORP. 3050-A BERKMAR DR
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22906
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 MARTIN BARUCH
 (434) 296-7000
 MCBARUCH@ADEPHIA.NET
Business Contact
 DAVID GERDT
Phone: (804) 296-7000
Email: DAVIDETC@FIRSTVA.COM
Research Institution
 UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
 
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
Charlottesville, VA 22904
United States

 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Falls among the elderly, one of the most common reasons requiring medical intervention and a contributing factor in 40% of nursing home admissions, are a major health problem. Several studies have identified quantifiable gait markers that appear to distinguish between elderly "fallers" and non-fallers. These studies have relied on data acquired in gait-laboratories. Extending gait assessment capability, and falls detection, into the home could provide valuable before-the-fact information on gait weakness evolution, which in turn could be used to assess the efficiency of counter measures. Current mobile gait analysis techniques are insufficient because they rely on compliance or are too intrusive.
The development of a new gait assessment and falls monitor is proposed. The device is passive, can transmit acquired data wirelessly, and obtains gait data from sensing floor vibrations, precluding the need to wear a device, walk on special surfaces or be observed by cameras. Its ability to detect different gait modes with high fidelity as well as differentiate between falling objects and simulated falls has been demonstrated. This study's principal aim is to validate the device's performance through a comparison with accepted gait assessment techniques at the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Gait lab at the University of Virginia Health System.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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