Method and System for Analyzing Human Gait

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention provides a method and system for analyzing human gait by capturing three-dimensional movement data of the foot over time, identifying stride segments, extracting various stride features, and then automatically clustering these segments based on their characteristics. Each cluster represents a distinct class of stride—such as straight walking, turning, or stair climbing—which can be analyzed separately. This approach allows for robust, objective, and detailed assessment of gait, particularly useful for patients with movement disorders.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Clinical assessment and monitoring of patients with gait or movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease or after a stroke.
• Home-based long-term gait monitoring for elderly individuals or those with chronic mobility issues.
• Rehabilitation monitoring and progress tracking in physical therapy.
• Sports science applications for performance optimization and injury prevention.
• Product development for orthopedic footwear or wearable health devices.
• Clinical trials and research studies on treatments affecting movement or gait.
• Fall risk assessment in geriatric populations.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Provides objective, quantifiable, and detailed analysis of an individual's gait, overcoming the subjectivity and variability of visual assessments.
• Enables detection and categorization of different stride types, allowing finely-grained gait analysis (e.g., separating straight walking from turning or stair climbing).
• Reduces the amount of data required for robust gait analysis by intelligently clustering similar strides, minimizing patient burden.
• Supports both standardized clinical tests and free-living, home-based assessments.
• Enhances monitoring of disease progression and treatment efficacy for movement disorders.
• Facilitates early identification of gait impairments, supporting preventive interventions.
• Compatible with mobile, wearable sensor technology for continuous and unobtrusive monitoring.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for analyzing gait of a subject. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for analyzing gait of a subject, said method comprising: providing data representing the 3D-movement of a foot of said subject over time; identifying within said data first data segments that each represent of at least one stride; determining one or more stride features for each of said first data segments; and defining one or more clusters on the basis of at least one stride feature of said one or more stride features. Each of the defined clusters represents a class of strides, e.g. a class may represent the typical stride of a subject. The present invention also provides for corresponding systems that are configured to perform the methods of the present invention and the use of these systems for analyzing in assessing gait of a subject, preferably a subject suffering from a movement-impairment.