Title :
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
fDate :
3/1/1995 12:00:00 AM
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;
Journal_Title :
Rehabilitation Engineering, IEEE Transactions on
