KR20200088208A - Apparatus and method for tug test - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a time up and go (TUG) test device and a method thereof. The TUG test device comprises: a chair including a first sensor for detecting left and right balance of a test subject seated for a TUG test; and a footrest including a second sensor connected to the chair to detect contact with feet of the test subject seated on the chair. Behavior of the test subject is analyzed based on first left and right balance of the test subject before a start of the TUG test detected by the first sensor and second left and right balance when the test subject stands up from the chair after the start of the TUG test.

Description

TUG inspection device and method{APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TUG TEST}

The description below relates to a TUG inspection device and method.

In the related art, there is a limitation that it is difficult to trust the accuracy according to the examiner, since it is necessary to manually perform TUG (Time Up and Go) measurement for dynamically diagnosing and evaluating the cause of falls in the elderly. In addition, since the TUG test only measures how many seconds it takes to perform the entire operation, there is a limitation that it is somewhat insufficient to evaluate the fall risk of the elderly.

A TUG test apparatus for performing a Time Up and Go (TUG) test of a test subject according to an embodiment includes a chair including a first sensor that senses left and right balance of the testee seated for the TUG test; And a scaffold that is connected to the chair and includes a second sensor that detects whether the subject's foot is seated on the chair, and the first left and right balance of the subject before the TUG test detected by the first sensor is detected. And the behavior of the examinee is analyzed based on the second left and right balance when the examinee rises from the chair after the TUG examination starts.

In the TUG inspection apparatus according to an embodiment, a weight shift phenomenon when the examinee stands up may be analyzed based on a difference between the first left and right balance and the second left and right balance.

In the TUG inspection apparatus according to an embodiment, the sitting position of the examinee may be analyzed based on the first left and right balance.

In the TUG inspection apparatus according to an embodiment, the stand-up operation of the examinee is based on a time difference from the time when the left and right balances are not detected by the first sensor to the time when one foot of the examinee is detected by the second sensor. This can be analyzed.

In the TUG inspection apparatus according to an embodiment, after the second sensor detects that the subject's foot has fallen from the second sensor, the time difference from the time when the contact of the subject's foot is detected again to the time when the contact change of the subject's foot was last detected Based on this, the in-place turn motion of the examinee may be analyzed.

In the TUG inspection apparatus according to an embodiment, the time difference from the time when the change in the contact of the subject's foot was last detected by the second sensor to the time when the body contact of the subject was detected by the third sensor included in the backrest of the chair Based on this, the subject's sitting motion may be analyzed.

In the TUG test apparatus according to an embodiment, the subject of the test subject is based on a time difference from the time at which the contact change of the subject's foot was last detected by the second sensor to the time when the subject's physical contact was detected by the first sensor The sitting motion can be analyzed.

In the TUG inspection apparatus according to an embodiment, the first sensor may include load cells disposed on the left and right sides of the seat of the chair, respectively.

In the TUG test apparatus according to an embodiment, the left-right balance of the test subject may indicate whether the center of gravity of the subject's body is in one of left and right.

In the TUG inspection apparatus according to an embodiment, the second sensor may include a load cell or a piezoelectric sensor disposed on the left and right sides of the scaffold, respectively.

In the TUG inspection apparatus according to an embodiment, the subject standing up from the chair walks to a predetermined return point, walking in a semi-circle at the return point, walking from the return point to the chair, and the subject reaches the chair At least one of the operations of turning in place to sit on the chair may be analyzed based on an image of the subject.

The TUG test method according to an embodiment includes the first left and right balance of the test subject before the TUG test through the first sensor included in the chair seated by the testee for TUG test, and the test subject in the chair after the TUG test starts Detecting a second left and right balance when standing up; And analyzing the behavior of the examinee based on the first left and right balance and the second left and right balance.

In the TUG test method according to an embodiment, the step of analyzing the behavior of the testee may analyze the weight loss phenomenon when the testee stands up based on the difference between the first left and right balance and the second left and right balance.

In the TUG test method according to an embodiment, the step of analyzing the behavior of the test subject may analyze the sitting position of the test subject based on the first left and right balance.

According to an embodiment, the TUG inspection device may automatically perform and measure dynamic TUG inspection for balance. In addition, by measuring the time for each operation as well as the total time for all operations to be completed through the TUG inspection device, it is possible to effectively check which operation is difficult for the corresponding examinee, and furthermore, load cells disposed on the left and right of the chair seat It is also possible to check whether there is a problem with the left and right utilization of the subject's body. In other words, it is possible to analyze the behavior of the test subject by dividing the six sections through the TUG test apparatus, and it is also possible to measure the one-way center of gravity of the test subject when standing up.

According to one embodiment, the test subject works by using the first left and right balance of the test subject before the start of the TUG test and the second left and right balance when the test subject rises from the chair after the start of the TUG test through the load cells arranged on the left and right of the chair seat. The weight loss phenomenon when standing up can be effectively analyzed.

1 and 2 are views for explaining a TUG inspection apparatus according to an embodiment.
3 is a view showing a chair and a footrest according to an embodiment.
4 is a view for explaining a TUG test according to an embodiment.
5 is a view showing an example of a chair according to an embodiment.
6 is a diagram illustrating a TUG inspection method according to an embodiment.

Certain structural or functional descriptions of the embodiments are disclosed for illustrative purposes only, and may be implemented in various forms. Accordingly, the embodiments are not limited to a specific disclosure form, and the scope of the present specification includes modifications, equivalents, or substitutes included in the technical spirit.

The terms first or second may be used to describe various components, but these terms should be interpreted only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from other components. For example, the first component may be referred to as the second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as the first component.

When a component is said to be "connected" to another component, it should be understood that other components may be present, either directly connected to or connected to the other component.

Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, terms such as “include” or “have” are intended to designate the existence of a described feature, number, step, action, component, part, or combination thereof, one or more other features or numbers, It should be understood that the presence or addition possibilities of steps, actions, components, parts or combinations thereof are not excluded in advance.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person skilled in the art. Terms such as those defined in a commonly used dictionary should be interpreted as having meanings consistent with meanings in the context of related technologies, and should not be interpreted as ideal or excessively formal meanings unless explicitly defined herein. Does not.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The specific structural or functional descriptions below are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments to what is described in the text. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations from these descriptions. In addition, the same reference numerals shown in each drawing denote the same members, and well-known functions and structures will be omitted.

1 and 2 are views for explaining a TUG inspection apparatus according to an embodiment.

The TUG test is a commonly used evaluation test to grasp the risk of dynamic falls in the elderly. It is the simplest and most correlated test for fall. For example, the examinee sits in the chair and prepares for the test, and the time from the start signal to rise from the chair, turn the return point 3 m ahead and sit back in the chair at the starting point can be measured. If the measured time exceeds 12 seconds, it can be diagnosed as having a high risk of falling. Such a TUG inspection can be automatically performed through the TUG inspection device described below. Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described in detail.

1, the TUG inspection apparatus according to an embodiment includes a chair 110, a footrest 120, a guide rail 130, a return point 140, and additionally includes a chair 150 for the examiner It might be. The TUG inspection device can perform six detailed motion analysis and center of gravity analysis when standing and sitting. Here, the six detailed actions are 1) a standing motion on the seated chair 110, 2) a standing motion after walking up to the return point 140, 3) a walking motion drawing a semicircle at the return point 140, 4) a return point 140 ) From walking to the chair 110, 5) after reaching the chair 110, turning it into place on the footrest 120, and 6) sitting back on the chair 110.

The chair 110 includes a first sensor that senses the left and right balance of the examinee who is seated for TUG inspection. The first sensor may include load cells disposed on the left and right of the seat of the chair 110, respectively. Details will be described later with reference to FIG. 3.

The footrest 120 includes a second sensor that is connected to the chair 110 and detects whether or not the subject's foot is seated on the chair 110. The second sensor may be a load cell or a piezoelectric sensor disposed on the left and right sides of the footrest 120, respectively. Details will be described later with reference to FIG. 3.

The guide rail 130 may serve as a guide when the examinee walks between the chair 110 and the return point 140. For example, the guide rail 130 may include an image sensor, a depth sensor, and the like to photograph the gait of an examinee.

The return point 140 may be a center where the examinee walking from the chair 110 turns half a turn. For example, the return point 140 may also include an image sensor, a depth sensor, etc., to photograph the semi-circle walking motion of the examinee.

The chair 150 for an examiner may be omitted according to an embodiment, and an examiner who supervises the TUG examination may be a chair that can be seated.

As such, the TUG inspection device can automatically perform and measure dynamic TUG inspection for balance. In addition, by measuring the time for each operation as well as the total time for all operations to be completed through the TUG inspection device, it is possible to effectively check which operation is difficult for the examinee, and furthermore, the first disposed on the chair 110 The sensor can also check whether there is a problem with the left and right utilization of the subject's body. In other words, it is possible to analyze the behavior of the test subject by dividing the six sections through the TUG test apparatus, and it is also possible to measure the one-way center of gravity of the test subject when standing up.

In addition, load cells may be disposed on the left and right sides of the seat of the chair 110 so that the examinee can closely examine the standing motion of the chair 110 and the sitting motion of the chair 110. In addition, walking from the chair 110 to the return point 140 or walking from the return point 140 to the chair 110, walking from the return point 140, a semi-circle walking action, returning to the chair 110 to sit back to sit The image captured by the camera may be used for analysis.

Referring to FIG. 2, an example for describing a TUG inspection process according to an embodiment is illustrated. The examinee 210 sits on the chair 230 before the TUG test starts, and the sitting posture of the examinee 210 may be analyzed through load cells disposed on the left and right sides of the chair 230 respectively. For example, the examinee 210 may sit on the chair 230 with the center of gravity in the center without biasing in either of the left and right directions. Alternatively, the examinee 210 may sit on the chair 230 with the center of gravity biased in either of the left and right directions.

An indication 250 that a TUG check may start may be displayed. For example, the'Start' button displayed on the tablet PC may be pressed to start the TUG test. When the'Start' button is pressed, '3', '2', '1', and'start' are sequentially displayed on the screen. In the first 3 seconds, the seated posture of the examinee 210 may be checked as to which side is inclined.

When the TUG test start instruction 250 is displayed, the examinee 220 may stand up from the chair 230. Even when the subject 220 rises from the chair 230, the left and right balance of the subject 220 is measured through the load cells of the chair 230, and based on the difference between the left and right balance when sitting and the left and right balance when standing. The weight loss phenomenon when the examinee 220 stands up may be analyzed. For convenience of explanation, the left and right balance measured by the load cell may be referred to as a first left and right balance when sitting, and a second left and right balance when standing.

For example, if there is no difference between the first left and right balance and the second left and right balance, for example, if the first left and right balance is biased by a certain value to the left, and the second left and right balance is also biased by a specific value to the left, the subject 220 It can be seen that) performs the action of standing in the center. Alternatively, if there is a difference between the first left and right balance and the second left and right balance, for example, if the first left and right balance is biased by a certain value to the left, and the second left and right balance is centered without any bias, the examinee 220 It can be seen that the right foot was stronger than the left foot, so that the weight was shifted to the right. It may be an analysis technique based on the behavior of trying to stand up using the stronger leg of both feet.

The test subject 220 who stands up performs a straight walk about 3m toward the return point, and at this time, it can be seen that the test subject 220 has started the straight walk through the second sensor provided on the scaffold 240. In addition, when the subject 220 turns around the return point and reaches the chair 230, it stands on the footrest 240, thereby ending the straight walk through which the subject 220 returns through the second sensor and sitting on the chair 230. It can be seen that the turn operation has started. When the in-situ turn operation ends, there is no change in the sensed value of the second sensor, so it is possible to specify the in-situ turn operation point in time, and it can be seen that the sit-up operation has started from then on. In addition, when the physical contact of the examinee 210 is sensed by the first sensor provided in the chair 230, the end of the sitting operation and the end of the TUG test may be detected. Depending on the embodiment, the end of the sitting operation may also be identified through a separate sensor provided on the back of the chair 230.

3 is a view showing a chair and a footrest according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, the chair 310 according to an embodiment may include two load cells 311 and 312 disposed on the left and right sides of the seat, respectively. Through the two load cells 311 and 312, the center of gravity of the subject in the sitting and standing state may be analyzed. The scaffold 320 may include two load cells or piezoelectric sensors 321 and 322 disposed on the left and right sides, respectively. It may be determined whether the foot of the subject is in contact with the footrest 320 through the two load cells or the piezoelectric sensors 321 and 322.

In one embodiment, the chair 310 and the footrest 320 may have a structure that can be folded when not in use. Since the chair 310 and the footrest 320 have a structure overlapping each other, when the TUG test is not performed, the storage volume can be minimized and portability can be improved.

4 is a view for explaining a TUG test according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, various steps included in the TUG test according to an embodiment are illustrated.

According to one embodiment, the start button may be pressed on the tablet PC before starting the TUG test. When the start button is pressed, '3', '2', '1', and'start' are sequentially displayed on the screen of the tablet PC, while the center of gravity of the testee can be measured. Here, the tablet PC is an example for convenience of description, and may be implemented as various types of products such as a personal computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a smart phone, a television, a smart home appliance, an intelligent car, a kiosk, and a wearable device. .

When'start' is displayed, the examinee can start standing up from the chair. The center of gravity of the subject can be measured through the load cell provided in the chair while the subject is standing on the chair. The stand-up motion of the test subject may be analyzed based on a time difference from the time when the center of gravity of the test subject is not sensed in the load cell to the time when the test subject releases the foot from the scaffold for the linear walking motion.

Then, based on the time difference from the time when the test subject releases the foot from the footrest for the straight walking motion to the time when the test subject reaches the return point, the motion of the test subject standing up in the chair to the predetermined return point may be analyzed. Then, based on the time difference from the start of the return point to the end of the return point by turning the return point half a turn, the motion of walking in a semicircle at the return point of the testee may be analyzed. Then, the second linear walking motion of the test subject may be analyzed based on a time difference from the end of the return point to the time when the chair is reached (or the second sensor provided on the scaffold is detected when the subject's foot contact is detected again). An image of the subject may be used for the analysis of the motion. In other words, one or more cameras for photographing an examinee may be disposed, and by analyzing an image captured by the camera, a start point and an end point of each step may be identified, and operation analysis for each step may be performed.

In addition, the in-place turn motion of the examinee may be analyzed based on a time difference from the time when the contact of the examinee's foot is sensed again by the second sensor provided on the scaffold to the time when the weight of the examinee who climbs the scaffold is highest. This is to use that the measured weight of the test subject is the largest when the in-place turn operation is completed. Alternatively, an in-place turn motion of the examinee may be analyzed based on a time difference from a point in time when the contact of the subject's foot is sensed again in the second sensor to a point in time when a change in the contact of the examinee's foot is finally sensed in the second sensor. This means that the subject must continuously move both feet during the in-place turn operation, but when the in-place turn operation is completed, it is no longer necessary to move both feet.

Then, from the time when the subject's weight on the scaffold is highest (or when the change in the contact of the subject's foot was last detected by the second sensor), the subject's body contact is detected by the third sensor included in the back of the chair. Based on the time difference to the point in time, the subject's sitting motion may be analyzed. Alternatively, when the third sensor is not separately provided, the time difference from the first sensor to the time when the subject's physical contact is detected may be used to analyze the subject's sitting motion.

When the completion of the sitting motion is detected, the TUG test is automatically completed, and the behavior of the testee can be analyzed. The smaller the time difference calculated at each step, the more quickly the testee acted agile, and it can be determined that the testee has no difficulty in performing the operation according to the step.

5 is a view showing an example of a chair according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, an example of a chair 510 proposed according to an embodiment is illustrated. For the chair 510, the above description may be applied as it is, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

6 is a diagram illustrating a TUG inspection method according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, a TUG inspection method performed by one or more processors provided in a TUG inspection apparatus according to an embodiment is illustrated.

In step 610, the TUG test device is the first left and right balance of the test subject before the start of the TUG test through the first sensor included in the chair seated by the test subject for the TUG test, and when the test subject rises from the chair after the start of the TUG test. The second left and right balance is sensed.

In step 620, the TUG inspection device analyzes the behavior of the subject based on the first left and right balance and the second left and right balance. The TUG inspection apparatus may analyze the weight loss phenomenon when the examinee stands up based on the difference between the first left and right balance and the second left and right balance. The TUG inspection apparatus may analyze the sitting position of the test subject based on the first left and right balance.

Since the above-described matters are applied to each of the steps shown in FIG. 6 through FIGS. 1 to 5 as they are, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

The embodiments described above may be implemented with hardware components, software components, and/or combinations of hardware components and software components. For example, the devices, methods, and components described in the embodiments include, for example, processors, controllers, arithmetic logic units (ALUs), digital signal processors (micro signal processors), microcomputers, and field programmable gates (FPGAs). It can be implemented using one or more general purpose computers or special purpose computers, such as arrays, programmable logic units (PLUs), microprocessors, or any other device capable of executing and responding to instructions. The processing device may run an operating system (OS) and one or more software applications running on the operating system. In addition, the processing device may access, store, manipulate, process, and generate data in response to the execution of the software. For convenience of understanding, a processing device may be described as one being used, but a person having ordinary skill in the art, the processing device may include a plurality of processing elements and/or a plurality of types of processing elements. It can be seen that may include. For example, the processing device may include a plurality of processors or a processor and a controller. In addition, other processing configurations, such as parallel processors, are possible.

The software may include a computer program, code, instruction, or a combination of one or more of these, and configure the processing device to operate as desired, or process independently or collectively You can command the device. Software and/or data may be interpreted by a processing device or to provide instructions or data to a processing device, of any type of machine, component, physical device, virtual equipment, computer storage medium or device. , Or may be permanently or temporarily embodied in the transmitted signal wave. The software may be distributed on networked computer systems, and stored or executed in a distributed manner. Software and data may be stored in one or more computer-readable recording media.

The method according to the embodiment may be implemented in the form of program instructions that can be executed through various computer means and recorded on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, or the like alone or in combination. The program instructions recorded on the medium may be specially designed and constructed for the embodiments or may be known and usable by those skilled in computer software. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes, optical media such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, and magnetic media such as floptical disks. -Hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions such as magneto-optical media, and ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter, etc., as well as machine language codes produced by a compiler. The hardware device described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the embodiments, and vice versa.

The components described in the embodiments may be one or more programmable logic devices (Programmable Logic Devices) such as one or more Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), Processors, Controllers, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), and Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). Logic Element), other electronic devices, and hardware components including one or more of combinations thereof. At least some of the functions or processes described in the embodiments may be implemented by software, and the software may be recorded in a recording medium. The components, functions and processes described in the embodiments may be implemented by a combination of hardware and software.

As described above, although the embodiments have been described by the limited drawings, those skilled in the art can apply various technical modifications and variations based on the above. For example, the described techniques are performed in a different order than the described method, and/or the components of the described system, structure, device, circuit, etc. are combined or combined in a different form from the described method, or other components Alternatively, even if replaced or substituted by equivalents, appropriate results can be achieved.

Claims (14)

In the TUG inspection device for performing the TUG test of the subject,
A chair including a first sensor that senses left and right balance of the testee seated for the TUG test; And
A scaffold that is connected to the chair and includes a second sensor that detects whether the subject's foot is in contact with the chair.
Including,
The behavior of the subject is analyzed based on the first left and right balance of the test subject before the TUG test detected by the first sensor and the second left and right balance when the test subject rises from the chair after the TUG test starts ,
TUG inspection device.
According to claim 1,
Based on the difference between the first left and right balance and the second left and right balance, the weight shift phenomenon when the examinee rises is analyzed,
TUG inspection device.
According to claim 1,
The sitting position of the test subject is analyzed based on the first left and right balance,
TUG inspection device.
According to claim 1,
The stand-up motion of the subject is analyzed based on a time difference from the time when the left and right balances are not detected in the first sensor to the time when one foot of the subject is detected from the second sensor,
TUG inspection device.
According to claim 1,
After the second sensor detects that the subject's foot has fallen, the in-place turn operation of the subject is based on a time difference from the time when the contact of the subject's foot is detected again to the time when the contact change of the subject's foot was last detected. Analyzed,
TUG inspection device.
The method of claim 5,
The subject's sitting motion is based on a time difference from the time at which the change in the contact of the subject's foot was last sensed in the second sensor to the time at which the body contact of the subject was detected in the third sensor included in the back of the chair. Analyzed,
TUG inspection device.
The method of claim 5,
The sitting motion of the examinee is analyzed based on a time difference from the time at which the change in contact of the subject's foot was last sensed at the second sensor to the time at which the body contact of the examinee was detected at the first sensor,
TUG inspection device.
According to claim 1,
The first sensor includes a load cell disposed on the left and right sides of the seat of the chair,
TUG inspection device.
According to claim 1,
The left and right balance of the test subject indicates whether the center of gravity of the test subject's body is in one of the left and right positions,
TUG inspection device.
According to claim 1,
The second sensor includes a load cell or a piezoelectric sensor disposed on the left and right sides of the scaffold,
TUG inspection device.
According to claim 1,
The motion of the examinee standing up from the chair, walking to a predetermined return point, a motion of walking in a semi-circle at the return point, a motion of walking from the return point to the chair, and the motion of the examinee who has reached the chair in order to sit in the chair At least one of
Analyzed based on the image of the subject,
TUG inspection device.
For the TUG test, the first left and right balance of the test subject before the start of the TUG test and the second left and right balance when the test subject rises from the chair after the TUG test is started through the first sensor included in the chair seated by the testee. Sensing; And
Analyzing the behavior of the subject based on the first left and right balance and the second left and right balance
Containing
How to check TUG.
The method of claim 12,
The step of analyzing the behavior of the subject is
Based on the difference between the first left and right balance and the second left and right balance to analyze the weight loss phenomenon when the subject rises,
How to check TUG.
The method of claim 13,
The step of analyzing the behavior of the subject is
Analyzing the sitting position of the subject based on the first left and right balance,
How to check TUG.

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