MobileGyro: Android application for bluetooth gyroscope tracking with potential for impact in rehabilitative processes

Abstract

According to the CDC, 795,000 Americans are diagnosed with a stroke each year. Out of the all of the technology used to track the gait of a stroke patient, the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) is growing in recognition and use. These are often used as wearable sensors for rehabilitation, with their small size and cost effectiveness. The purpose of this research is to detail the innovation of an android application with the ability to receive IMU data and present it through medically significant visual displays. The data from a device is received via bluetooth, and is transmitted in terms of angles roll (x axis), pitch (y axis) and yaw (z axis). The application displays this data to allow the user to track the position of the IMU in live time. The medical professional has the ability to input a desired set of angles, and track the proximity of a connected device to the target position. The data is presented visually through the coronal, transverse & sagittal plane. When roll and pitch angles from the app were compared to angular values measured on a protractor, the average difference was +/- 0.366° and +/- 0.436°, in roll and pitch respectively. Along with the average accuracy being less than a 0.5° difference, the application has the ability to connect and track 3 IMU devices simultaneously. The data can be stored and exported. The greatest limitation is angular presentation latency. This creation has the potential to catalyze creation of an app that can track a high number of devices simultaneously, with high accuracy and low signal latency. The ability to track and position wearable IMU sensors using a smartphone or tablet offers an exciting future in rehabilitation, especially for recovering stroke patients.