Gait pattern analysis for predicting falls

Abstract

A method for acquiring gait parameters of an individual is disclosed. The method includes capturing calibration images from foot marker placed on feet or shoes of an individual while an individual is standing still, the calibration images are obtained from a camera worn by the individual, capturing subsequent time-varying images from the foot markers while the individual is walking, and comparing the calibration images to the subsequent time-varying images by a processing unit that is coupled to the camera to determine changes between the initial relative image size of the foot markers and the time-varying images of the foot markers as a function of time to analyze gait of the individual.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for determining an individual's risk of falling, comprising:
 gathering real-time gait parameter data from an individual;   comparing the gait parameter data to a library of known values; and   generating a gait variance to thereby identify an individual's risk of falling.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , the gait parameter data comprises step length, step width, step time, and gait speed. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising predicting an individual's risk of falling using an individual's personal parameters including age, weight, height, and health information. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , the prediction of the individual's risk of falling is communicated to the individual using a processing unit. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , the processing unit is a smart cellular phone. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , the real-time gait parameter data is determined from time-varying images of the individual's feet received from a camera worn by the individual as the individual is walking 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , the camera is an integral part of the processing unit. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , the camera is physically coupled to the processing unit. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , the camera is electronically coupled to the processing unit. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , the coupling is by a wireless channel.