Title: Development of ultrasonic tachography system for gait analysis

Authors: Sananda Paul; Anwesha Banerjee; Rana Ghoshal; D.N. Tibarewala

Addresses: School of Bioscience & Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India ' School of Bioscience & Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India ' School of Bioscience & Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India ' School of Bioscience & Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India

Abstract: Gait analysis is an approach towards analysis of the structure and function of the foot, lower limb and body during walking or running. The aim of gait analysis in rehabilitation centres is much larger than only simply a functional assessment tool as it can help us determine the complex relationships between impairment, functional limitation and disability. The goal of this research is to develop and test an ultrasound-based gait tachography system to enable the doctors and physiotherapists to evaluate lower limb extremity problems. Gait tachography employ Doppler frequency shifting principle to calculate the change in velocity of body's centre of gravity during gait. The ultrasound-based gait tachography includes simple instrumentation, composed of a transmitter and a receiver block. The ultrasonic gait tachograph is cost efficient, comparatively small, lightweight, does not hamper a person's psychology much and is suitable to be used in non-laboratory situation.

Keywords: gait analysis; rehabilitation; ultrasound; centre of gravity; Doppler frequency; ultrasonic tachography; impairment; functional limitation; disability; lower limb extremity problems; gait tachography.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2016.074115

International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 2016 Vol.20 No.1, pp.66 - 95

Received: 19 Feb 2015
Accepted: 29 Jun 2015
Published online: 11 Jan 2016 *

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