Fall detector and alert system

Abstract

A fall detection and alert system and associated methods are described. The system includes a right footwear item and a left footwear item, each of which includes foot pressure sensors, communications circuitry configured to transmit foot pressure signals from the pressure sensors to a mobile device, such as a smartphone, and a power source. The system also includes an application for the mobile device that causes the mobile device to receive transmitted foot pressure signals from the communications circuitry of the footwear, analyze the foot pressure signals to determine whether a wearer of the footwear items has fallen, display a warning if it is determined that the wearer of the footwear items has fallen, along with an option to cancel the warning, and send a signal to a caregiver if the warning has not been canceled within a predetermined period of time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fall detection system comprising:
 a right footwear item and a left footwear item, each of the right and left footwear items including:
 at least two foot pressure sensors; 
 communications circuitry configured to transmit foot pressure signals from the at least two pressure sensors to a mobile device; and 
 a power source connected to the communications circuitry, the power source providing power to the communications circuitry; and 
   a mobile device executing an application that causes the mobile device to:
 receive transmitted foot pressure signals from the communications circuitry of the footwear; 
 analyze the foot pressure signals to determine whether a wearer of the footwear items has fallen; 
 display a warning if it is determined that the wearer of the footwear items has fallen, along with an option to cancel the warning; and 
 send a signal to a caregiver if the warning has not been canceled within a predetermined period of time. 
   
     
     
         2 . The fall detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the application causes the mobile device to analyze the foot pressure signals by determining that the wearer of the footwear items has fallen if the foot pressure signals from both the right footwear item and the left footwear item indicate a drop to zero or nearly zero pressure. 
     
     
         3 . The fall detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the application further causes the mobile device to determine and store a normal foot pressure pattern for the wearer of the footwear items, based on the foot pressure signals received from the footwear items. 
     
     
         4 . The fall detection system of  claim 3 , wherein the application further causes the mobile device to display a warning if there is a sudden deviation from the normal foot pressure pattern for the wearer of the footwear items, along with an option to cancel the warning. 
     
     
         5 . The fall detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two foot pressure sensors comprise a front foot pressure sensor, configured to be located approximately beneath a ball of a wearer's foot, and a rear foot pressure sensor, configured to be located approximately beneath a heel of the wearer's foot. 
     
     
         6 . The fall detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the right footwear item and the left footwear item comprise insoles. 
     
     
         7 . The fall detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the right footwear item and the left footwear item comprise a shoe, a sock, a slipper, or a boot. 
     
     
         8 . The fall detection system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the right footwear item and the left footwear item is built into or attached to a prosthetic device or walking assistance device. 
     
     
         9 . The fall detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two pressure sensors, the communication circuitry, and the power source are contained within a flexible enclosure that is impervious to liquids. 
     
     
         10 . The fall detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable power source. 
     
     
         11 . The fall detection system of  claim 10 , wherein each of the right footwear item and the left footwear item further comprises an induction charger for recharging the rechargeable power source. 
     
     
         12 . The fall detection system of  claim 10 , wherein each of the right footwear item and the left footwear item further comprises a plurality of piezo elements that generate power for recharging the rechargeable power source. 
     
     
         13 . The fall detection system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least two foot pressure sensors comprise piezo elements that sense foot pressure and that generate power for recharging the rechargeable power source. 
     
     
         14 . The fall detection system of  claim 10 , wherein each of the right footwear item and the left footwear item comprises a kinetic generator that generates power for recharging the rechargeable power source. 
     
     
         15 . The fall detection system of  claim 14 , wherein the kinetic generator comprises a swing pendulum having a magnetic portion, and a coil, the swing pendulum configured such that when the wearer of the footwear is walking, the magnetic portion of the swing pendulum sweeps across the coil to generate power. 
     
     
         16 . The fall detection system of  claim 15 , wherein the kinetic generator further comprises two stops disposed so that the swing pendulum strikes one of the stops at each end of its swinging motion, and wherein at least one of the stops comprises a piezo element that generates power for recharging the rechargeable power source. 
     
     
         17 . The fall detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device comprises a smartphone. 
     
     
         18 . A method of detecting a fall, the method comprising:
 receiving transmitted foot pressure signals from at least two pressure sensors disposed in each of a right footwear item and a left footwear item;   determining that the wearer of the footwear items has fallen if the foot pressure signals from both the right footwear item and the left footwear item indicate a drop to zero or nearly zero pressure;   displaying a warning if it is determined that the wearer of the footwear items has fallen, along with an option to cancel the warning; and   sending a signal to a caregiver if the warning has not been canceled within a predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 storing a normal foot pressure pattern for the wearer of the footwear items, based on the foot pressure signals received from the footwear items; and 
 displaying a warning if there is a sudden deviation from the normal foot pressure pattern for the wearer of the footwear items, along with an option to cancel the warning. 
 
     
     
         20 . A fall-detection footwear item comprising:
 at least two foot pressure sensors;   communications circuitry configured to transmit foot pressure signals from the at least two pressure sensors to a mobile device; and   a rechargeable power source connected to the communications circuitry, the power source providing power to the communications circuitry;   wherein the at least two pressure sensors, the communication circuitry, and the rechargeable power source are contained within a flexible enclosure that is impervious to liquids.