volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

Recently, we proposed a wireless ambulatory gait analysis system that provides a high ranging accuracy using ultra-wideband (UWB) transceivers. In this paper, we further investigate the performance of our proposed system including ranging using suboptimal templates, power consumption, and sensor-fusion. We show that the proposed system is capable of providing a 1.1 mm ranging accuracy (1.17 cm for current systems) at a signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) of 20 dB using suboptimal-based receivers in industry accepted body-area-network UWB channels. For the angular-displacement, our system provides an accuracy that is less than 1^o for the knee-flexion angle. This accuracy is superior to the accuracy reported in the literature for current technologies (less than 4^o). Finally, we propose the integration of UWB sensors with force sensors. The system performance and design parameters are investigated using simulations and actual measurements. Ultimately, the proposed system is suitable for taking accurate measurements, and for tele-rehabilitation.

1. Zheng, H., N. D. Black, and N. D. Harris, "Position-sensing technologies for movement analysis in stroke rehabilitation," Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing Journal, Vol. 43, No. 4, 413-420, Aug. 2005.
doi:10.1007/BF02344720

2. Goulermas, J., D. Howard, C. Nester, R. Jones, and L. Ren, "Regression techniques for the prediction of lower limb kinematics," Journal of biomechanical engineering, Vol. 127, No. 6, 1020-1024, Nov. 2005.
doi:10.1115/1.2049328

3. Di Renzo, M., R. Buehrer, and J. Torres, "Pulse shape distortion and ranging accuracy in UWB-based body area networks for full-body motion capture and gait analysis," IEEE Global Telecommunications Conference, GLOBECOM '07, 3775-3780, Nov. 26-30, 2007.

4. Zasowski, T. and A. Wittneben, "Performance of UWB receivers with partial CSI using a simple body area network channel model," IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, Vol. 27, No. 1, 17-26, Jan. 2009.
doi:10.1109/JSAC.2009.090103

5. Yazdandoost , K. Y. and K. S.-Pour, "Channel model for body area network (BAN)," Tech. Rep., Apr. 2009, doc: IEEE P802.15-08-0780-09-0006.

6. Shaban, H., M. Abou El-Nasr, and R. Buehrer, "Toward a highly accurate ambulatory system for clinical gait analysis via UWB radios," IEEE Transactions on Information Technology in Biomedicine, Vol. 14, No. 2, 284-291, Mar. 2010.
doi:10.1109/TITB.2009.2037619

7. Shaban, H., "A novel highly accurate wireless wearable human locomotion tracking and gait analysis system via UWB radios,", Ph.D. Dissertation,Virginia Tech, 2010.
doi:10.1109/TITB.2009.2037619

8. Barker, S., W. Freedman, and H. Hillstorm, "A novel method of producing a repetitive dynamic signal to examine reliability and validity of gait analysis systems," Gait and Postur, Vol. 24, No. 4, 448-452, Dec. 2006.
doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2005.09.008

9. Menz, H., M. Latt, A. Tiedemann, M. Kwan, and S. Lord, "Reliability of the GAITRite walkway system for the quantification of temporo-spatial parameters of gait in young and older people," Gait and Posture, Vol. 20, No. 1, 20-25, Aug. 2004.
doi:10.1016/S0966-6362(03)00068-7

10. Sangyoub , L., "Design and analysis of ultra-wide bandwidth impulse radio receiver,", Ph.D. dissertation, Southern California University, 2002.

11. Dederer, J., B. Schleicher, F. De Andrade Tabarani Santos, A. Trasser, and H. Schumacher, "Fcc compliant 3.1-10.6 GHz UWB pulse radar system using correlation detection," IEEE/MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, 1471-1474, Jun. 2007.
doi:10.1109/MWSYM.2007.380530

12. Reed, J. H., "An Introduction to Ultra Wideband Communication Systems," Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 2005.

13. Ryckaert, J., M. Verhelst, M. Badaroglu, S. D'Amico, V. De Heyn, C. Desset, P. Nuzzo, B. Van Poucke, P. Wambacq, A. Baschirotto, and W. Dehaene, "A CMOS ultra-wideband receiver for low data-rate communication," IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 42, No. 11, 2515-2527, Nov. 2007.
doi:10.1109/JSSC.2007.907195

14. Heydari, P., "A study of low-power ultra wideband radio transceiver architectures," IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference, Vol. 2, 758-763, Mar. 2005.
doi:10.1109/WCNC.2005.1424603

15. Verhelst, M., W. Vereecken, M. Steyaert, and W. Dehaene, "Architectures for low power ultra-wideband radio receivers in the 3.1-5 GHz band for data rates < 10 Mbps," ISLPED '04: Proceedings of the 2004 International Symposium on Low Power Electronics and Design, 280-285, 2004.
doi:10.1145/1013235.1013305

16. Newaskar, P., R. Blazquez, and A. Chandrakasan, "A/D precision requirements for an ultra-wideband radio receiver," IEEE Workshop on Signal Processing Systems, (SIPS '02), 270-275, Oct. 16-18, 2002.

17. Verhelst, M., et al. "Design of an energy-efficient pulsed UWB receiver," Proceedings of AACD Workshop, 2006.

18. Das, A., H. Bhasin, and S. Giduturi, "A 10mW 9.7ENoB 80MPS pipeline ADC in 65nm CMOS process without any special mask requirement and with single 1.3V supply,", 165-168, Sept. 2009.

19. Goldberger, A. L., L. A. N. Amaral, L. Glass, J. M. Hausdorff, P. C. Ivanov, R. G. Mark, J. E. Mietus, G. B. Moody, C.-K. Peng, and H. E. Stanley, "PhysioBank, physiotoolkit, and physioNet: Components of a new research resource for complex physiologic signals," Circulation, Vol. 101, No. 23, e215-e220, Jun. 13, 2000.

20. Vaughan, C., "GaitCD,", CD-ROM, Cape Town, South Africa, 1999.

Dr. Mohamad Abou El-Nasr

Dr. Heba A. Shaban

Dr. R. Michael Buehrer