Cane Alert Abbey Olenick and Madi Ridella Lawrence Technological University Advisor: Dr. Lancina
Background Information Elderly make up 14.5% of the total US population1 Major cause of injury is falling1 80% of falls occur in the home2 Elder = 65 years and over Problem discovery: Judy Kopa-Adult Day Care Center Grandma
The Problem 2.8 million injuries treated annually Falls results in: 2.8 million injuries treated annually 800,000 hospitalizations 27,000 deaths Total Costs: $31 billion3
Treatment Options Walkers Canes LifeAlert and similar systems Current treatments for decreased fall risk: Walkers Canes LifeAlert and similar systems 6.5 million Americans use a cane or walker4 Treatments don’t encourage proper usage or compliance
Market Analysis Market Value exceeds 4.2 billion 5 Expected to grow to 8 billion by 2020 6 Stakeholder Value Proposition Patient Improve outcomes, lower stress, cost effective Family Provides ease of mind for the safety of the patient Caregivers Familiar technology, improve outcomes, higher efficiency Retirement Homes Game-changing technology Insurance Saves money
Need Statement There is a need to improve compliance for assistive walking devices to reduce the risk of falls.
Current Products Fujitsu Demoed Smart Cane: will immediately know when and where fall has occurred, alerts EMT 9 Portable Fall Alert: Alarm sounds when device is tips past 30°, panic alert system 7 Secure Walking Cane: LED Flashlight, Panic Alarm and Alert Light 8 Ultracane: Detects objects within 2-4 meters using ultrasound 10
Portable Fall Alert for Cane Pugh Comparison Chart Key Attributes Secure Walking Cane Portable Fall Alert for Cane UltraCane Fujitsu demoed Cane Alert Low Cost + - Simplicity Fall Prevention Accessory Compliance Total +1 +3 -1 +5
Design Concept Bluetooth sensors embedded in both cane attachment and bracelet Automatically pair Bracelet beeps and light flickers when the connection is lost, i.e. when they are too far apart (~30 feet) Bracelet is made to fit all writst sizes ~6-8in Cane sizes range from 5/8in to an in
Subcomponent LED light Bluetooth sensor Speaker Arduino Board Cane clip Arduino Board Bluetooth sensor
Expectation of Design Estimated deliverables: Workable Prototype Sensor Testing Comprehensive Data Outcomes: Encourages compliance Decrease risk of falls
Regulations Class I Device AAMI TIR59: Integrating human factors into design controls 11 ISO 10993-1: Biological evaluation of medical devices 12 ISO/IEC 27033-6:2016(en): Standard for exchanging data over short distances 13 Human factors: User interface is important because it could result in a great or poor outcome Light and sound sensor to accommodate for hard of hearing and visually impaired users http://my.aami.org/aamiresources/previewfiles/1707_TIR59Preview.pdf Wearable tech:
Methods Objective Method Equipment Battery life Running code constantly until battery failure Arduino Uno + software Battery Range of Bluetooth Line of site Obstruction Walking test Bluetooth sensors Accuracy of light + speaker sensors Beta Test Sensors Fitting of cane clip Trial and error Cane Clip Cane Comfort of bracelet Customer feedback Bracelet Wrist
Approximate Cost (US $) Budget Item Approximate Cost (US $) Arduino Uno (2) 44 HC-05 Bluetooth Module (2) 20 Male-female jumper wires (10) 4 Batteries + arduino attachables (2) 15 Arduino LED pin 2 Arduino speaker Velcro Bracelet 5 Cane Clip (plastic) Total 97
Timeline
References "Administration on Aging (AoA)." AoA. Administration for Community Living , Web. 02 Mar. 2017. Stein, Loren. “Medical Alert Systems and Personal Emergency Responders.” AARP, 11 Nov. 2010. "Falls Prevention Facts." NCOA. , 15 Feb. 2017. Web. 02 Mar. 2017. “How many people use assistive devices?” Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Personal Mobility Devices Market Analysis By Product (Wheelchairs, Scooters, Walking Aids, Canes, Crutches, Walkers, Premium Rollators, Low Cost Rollators) And Segment Forecasts To 2020.” Personal Mobility Devices Market Size & Share | Industry Report, 2020. “Global Personal Mobility Devices Market By Product (Wheelchairs, Scooters, Walking Aids, Canes, Crutches, Walkers, Premium Rollators, Low Cost Rollators) Is Expected To Reach USD 8.0 Billion By 2020.” Market Research Reports & Consulting. “Assistive Technology Services.” Portable Fall Alert for Cane, Walker or Wheelchair. https://www.amazon.com/Secure-Multi-Function-Walking-Flashlight-Panic/dp/B00NG1GWQQ/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1512533663&sr=8-1&keywords=secure+walking+cane Worthington, David. “Lifesaving 'smart cane' designed for seniors.” ZDNet, ZDNet, 5 Feb. 2015. About the UltraCane, www.ultracane.com/about_the_ultracane. “Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation.” Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, www.aami.org/. “We're ISO: we develop and publish International Standards.” Standards, 29 Aug. 2017, www.iso.org/standards.html. ISO - International Organization for Standardization, www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso-iec:27033:-6:ed-1:v1:en.
Questions