ISRAEL: Walk this way for cheap gait analysis, say Israeli researchers

Record ID: 397852

  • Title: ISRAEL: Walk this way for cheap gait analysis, say Israeli researchers
  • Date: 28th July 2013
  • Summary: VARIOUS LOCATIONS (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE WALKING
  • Embargoed: 12th August 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Health,Science
  • Reuters ID: LVABBR95WGJCLQOFC8J4R5B4RWQX
  • Story Text: A simple sensor-based device offering affordable gait analysis to help doctors treat patients and diagnose future neurological and other medical conditions has been invented by Israeli researchers.
    The Sensogo device consists of matchbox-sized sensors that measure 3-D acceleration, 3-D rotational velocity, and absolute direction of movement. A sensor is strapped to each of the patient's legs, measuring data as they make their way through the day. The information is stored inside the device and, when the product comes into range of a wifi server, the data is uploaded to the Sensogo Analysis Server.
    Sensogo CEO Tal Anker said built-in gyros and magnetometers inside the sensors automatically focus on data taken while the patient walks in a straight line.
    "We extract walking straight data, walking straight kinematic data, out of free walking because gait analysis is done when the patient is walking straight, so we need to extract the data out of the overall free walking data and then we use a proprietary algorithm to detect the gait cycle events, like the heel strike and the toe-off event, which are, the toe-off event is very hard to detect, whereas several algorithms that we are finalising now to detect accurately the toe-off event, and that's part of what makes Sensogo system so special," Anker said.
    Software engineer Avishai Meron says the data is analysed automatically within minutes and the server produces a report based on important gait parameters, which is sent to a doctor.
    "The idea is to collect raw kinematic data, which is later being sent to a local Sensogo box, and that box uploads the data to a web server over the cloud and it uses Sensogo proprietary algorithms to analyse the data and give just an easy to read report, so that the doctor at the clinic or at the rehab centre can read it and just give his diagnosis," Meron said.
    A normal gait requires the left and right feet each to be on the ground 40 percent of the time, while during the remaining 20 percent of time, both feet are on the ground. Even a one percent deviation is considered abnormal, but it's not always easy to understand what accounts for the problem.
    Elderly patients are the group most tested, but most gait analysis systems involve using X-rays and video cameras and by observing the patient in action, but that method doesn't provide the most accurate results, according to Sensogo. It also requires several examinations and X-ray sessions - all of which take time and cost money. Software for gait analysis software can cost up to $100,000 USD and gait mats a further $30,000 dollars, while testing takes at least three hours.
    According to Anker, "current gait analysis systems are very expensive and the check-up can take up to several hours and requires several staff persons and the patient walks in a non-natural environment, leading to non natural walking patterns because he walks on a wide mat and has video camera equipment etc., so our system, as was said previously, has sensors which strap on the ankles and you walk freely down the hall or outside of the clinic and the data is collected by the sensors and then it is wirelessly offloaded into the Sensogo box and then over the cloud to the analysis server. Everything can be done while the patient is waiting to see the doctor in the waiting room."
    A person's walk can tell doctors much about the state of their health. Many orthopaedic and sports-related disorders, and even neurological conditions such as diabetic neuropathy, are manifested by changes in gait patterns: by analysing a patient's gait, doctors can determine the most effective course of treatment.
    "There's a potential in neurology, in detection of neurology disorders, prediction of risk in falling of the elderly population. Also arthritis," said Anker.
    "A bunch of research papers showing the correlation between gait problems and values and the functional status of the patient meaning doctor can have a treatment, the patient goes for a treatment, and then after a month you do another check-up and you see the treatment works. If the gait problem's improved, if the gait problems haven't improved they can switch the treatment . If they improve they can go on with the same one until you exhaust it, until you get the most out of that specific treatment. Also dementia can be detected early."
    Successful trials on patients have been conducted at the Barzilai Medical Centre in the city of Ashkelon, overseen by Barzilai physician, Dr Omeri Lubovski, who says Sensogo shows great promise.
    "We hope using the Sensogo will enable us physicians to gather much more information about our patients in their native environment. This will enable us to know much more about their walking abilities and walking parameters in their natural environment," said Lubovski.
    The device does not yet have FDA approval, but Anker believes Sensogo could be on the market by mid 2014. Anker says that even doctors with small practices will be able to use gait analysis at a reasonable price and he hopes it could become a part of doctors' surgeries across the world.
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