Thursday, July 21, 2005

Ankle Brace to Prevent Falls

Filed under: Geriatrics

"Hot on the heels" of this balancing device, CNN reports on a group of Stanford entrepreneurs who are working on the problem of falls in the elderly:

The "smart" brace is fitted with a tiny chip, which continuously monitors the position of the ankle.

If the chip detects a roll that is greater than normal, it begins to vibrate.

The vibrations send a signal to the brain that the person needs to change the position of their foot or shift their balance in order to avoid a fall.

By the time the device detects an ankle roll, we worry it could already be too late to correct. That's why we're more enthusiastic about monitoring movement above the waist. Either way, we're still waiting for these devices to appear in dance clubs.

More at Stanford's Biodesign Innovation Program...

(hat tip: Engadget)

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