A biofeedback cane system: instrumentation and subject application results

Author

Moran, Patrick T. ; Harris, Gerald F. ; Acharya, Khomeshwari ; Zhu, Hongsheng ; Wertsch, Jacqueline J.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Biomed. Eng., Marquette Univ., Milwaukee, WI, USA

Volume

3

Issue

1

fYear

1995

fDate

3/1/1995 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

132

Lastpage

138

Abstract

A system has been developed to measure axial cane forces while walking. An audio alarm can be programmed to sound within adjustable limits according to the cane load magnitude. Cane load sensors provide input to a portable data acquisition system which is designed to perform analog to digital conversion and store the force data using a precalibrated look-up table. The audio alarm is controlled on the basis of sensor look-up table values with high and low thresholds set as a ratio of subject weight. High-speed CMOS technology and the Motorola 68HC11 microprocessor were used in the design to limit power consumption. Ten normal adult subjects were used to evaluate the system. Measurements were made using the system with and without audio feedback. The system is suggested for further use in the characterization of feedback on cane and lower extremity load metrics

Keywords

biomedical electronics; computerised instrumentation; feedback; force measurement; handicapped aids; sensory aids; Motorola 68HC11 microprocessor; analog to digital conversion; audio alarm; audio feedback; axial cane forces measurement; biofeedback cane system; cane load sensors; feedback characterization; high threshold; high-speed CMOS technology; low threshold; lower extremity load metrics; normal adult subjects; precalibrated look-up table; subject weight; Acoustic sensors; Biological control systems; Biosensors; CMOS technology; Feedback; Force measurement; Instruments; Legged locomotion; Sensor systems; Table lookup;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Rehabilitation Engineering, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1063-6528

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/86.372903

Filename

372903