Apparatus for performing timed up-and-go test
Inventors
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Assignees
Member
University of Nevada, Las VegasThe University of Nevada, Las Vegas is a public research university offering comprehensive undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. The institution is recognized for research initiatives, interdisciplinary curriculum, community partnerships, and diverse student support. UNLV provides resources spanning financial assistance, technology, career development, outreach, and research, advancing individual achievement and community engagement in a multicultural environment.
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas is a public research university offering comprehensive undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. The institution is recognized for research initiatives, interdisciplinary curriculum, community partnerships, and diverse student support. UNLV provides resources spanning financial assistance, technology, career development, outreach, and research, advancing individual achievement and community engagement in a multicultural environment.
Publication Number
US-10335058-B2
Publication Date
2019-07-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
A chair enabling standardized performance testing under Timed Up and Go procedures. The chair has a seat portion, a base portion, a support element, a force sensor, a timer, and a processor. The processor initiates timing of the standardized performance test in response to receiving an output signal corresponding to a force value less than or equal to a minimum threshold force. The processor ceases timing of the standardized performance test in response to receiving an output signal corresponding to a force greater than or equal to a maximum threshold force. The processor determines a time interval of the standardized performance test based upon the output of the timer.
Core Innovation
A chair administers a standardized performance test to a patient and automatically records a time interval using a force sensor, a timer, and a processor. The chair includes a seat portion and a base portion with a support element extending between the base portion and the seat portion, where the position of the seat portion relative to the base portion is selectively adjustable relative to a vertical axis.
The force sensor produces an output signal indicative of the force applied to the force sensor, and the processor receives this force-sensor output signal and controls the timer accordingly. The processor initiates timing in response to a force value less than or equal to a minimum threshold force indicative of a rising of the patient from the seat portion, and ceases timing in response to a force value greater than or equal to a maximum threshold force indicative of a reseating of the patient on the seat portion.
From the timer output, the processor determines the time interval of the standardized performance test based upon the output of the timer. The recorded time interval may be provided or transmitted to a display, including wireless connection or an information port to an external computer, and the force-sensor output may be analyzed to detect false starts.
Claims Coverage
The partial content identifies two independent claims. Each independent claim centers on initiating and ceasing timing of a standardized performance test using force-sensor thresholds, and determining the time interval from the timer output.
A chair for standardized performance testing with force-threshold-controlled timing
A chair includes a seat portion and a base portion with a selectively vertically adjustable seat relative to a vertical axis, a force sensor producing an output indicative of applied force, a timer providing output indicative of a recorded time interval, and a processor in operative electrical communication with the force sensor and timer, where the processor initiates timing in response to a force output less than or equal to a minimum threshold force indicative of rising and ceases timing in response to a force output greater than or equal to a maximum threshold force indicative of reseating, and determines a time interval based upon the output of the timer.
A method administering a standardized performance test using force-threshold timing
A method includes seating the patient on a chair comprising a seat portion, a base portion, a support element with a selectively adjustable seat position relative to a vertical axis, a force sensor producing an output indicative of applied force, a timer providing output indicative of a recorded time interval, and a processor; the method uses the processor to initiate timing by the timer in response to receiving an output signal corresponding to a force value less than or equal to a minimum threshold force indicative of rising, uses the processor to cease timing in response to receiving an output signal corresponding to a force greater than or equal to a maximum threshold force indicative of reseating, and uses the processor to determine a time interval based upon the output of the timer.
Across the independent claims, the inventive concept is the same: using a force sensor and threshold forces to trigger timing start and stop for a standardized performance test, then determining the time interval from the timer output; the chair and method further support selectable seat position adjustment and may provide the recorded time interval to a display.
Stated Advantages
Automatically determines a time interval of the standardized performance test based upon the output of the timer.
Documented Applications
Administering a standardized performance test to a patient using a chair, including Timed Up and Go (TUG) testing.
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