The National Institute of Health has awarded a follow-on grant to AFrame Digital for continuing research in fall reduction.
AFrame Digital aims at communicating in real-time a user’s location and movement data to cloud-based signaling and controlling devices by using a wireless care monitor platform that looks like a wrist watch.
The leading reason for injury-based visits to emergency rooms in the USA has been attributed to falls. Accidental deaths of people aged 65 and above have also been attributed to falls. Since a person’s gait changes gradually over time, the research will enable the non-intrusive AFrame digital monitoring technology to detect minute changes, thus alerting caregivers and medical personnel before a fall occurs.
Further study on gait detection will be supported by Dr John Lach, an associate professor at the University of Virginia and the Vinson Hall Retirement Community located in McLean, Virginia. The senior research scientist of AFrame Digital, Dr Amy Papadopoulos stated that constant real-time monitoring of gait for risk assessment of fall needs to include all daily living activities. The study would differentiate between the patient’s daily activities and the walking. After isolating periods of walking activity, the study of abnormal gait can be pursued.
AFrame Digital will be working in tandem with Vinson Hall and for the further study, 30 resident volunteers aged 65 and above will be monitored in their everyday living environment. The Chief Executive Officer of Vinson Hall Retirement Community, RADM Kathleen L Martin stated that the community strongly supports the research for fall reduction. Additionally, the use of body sensor networks developed by researchers at the University of Virginia will be used to gather information from the legs and the chest.
In 2010, the AFrame Digital MobileCare Monitor System was deployed at the retirement community to serve seniors in need of monitoring services in order to lead an independent and active lifestyle.
Source: http://www.aframedigital.com