Patent ID: 9179864
Filing Date: 2015-11-10
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A fall detecting device configured for detecting a fall of a user, comprising: an accelerometer configured to be coupled to the user's torso and further configured for continuously measuring movement of the user and outputting three signals indicative of the movement of the user in three orthogonal axes, wherein each signal comprises an alternating current (AC) component representing dynamic motion and a direct current (DC) component representing static effects due to gravity; and a processor electrically coupled to the accelerometer and configured for periodically sampling the three measured signals and storing digital data indicative of the three signals in a memory, wherein the memory is electrically coupled to the processor, the processor further configured for periodically determining orientations of the user based upon the DC components of the sampled signals and changes in orientation of the user based upon the DC components of the sampled signals, the processor further configured for periodically calculating activity-induced energy expenditure (AEE) values based upon the AC components of the sampled signals and wherein AEE is a function of the AC components calculated over an integration period, the processor is further configured for determining that the user has fallen when: the processor is further configured to transmit an alert indicating that the fall has occurred to a central monitoring device when the processor determines that the user has fallen, and the central monitoring device is configured to provide the alert to a service provider such that the service provider may take appropriate action.