A Short Instrumented Test of Mobility for Neurological Disorders

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant APDM is a young company focused on developing and commercializing professional systems using wearable inertial sensors for monitoring of human movement and movement disorders In Phase I we developed the novel Instrumented Stand and Walk test ISAW using APDMandapos s proprietary Opal movement monitors and Mobility Lab system We validated the ISAW by demonstrating that the ISAW measures were sensitive to severity of Parkinsonandapos s disease PD and levodopa treatment The ISAW allows clinicians and nonexperts to quickly obtain objective measures of standing balance step initiation gait and turning The ultimate goal for the product is to provide a quick portable clinical system to quickly and automatically obtain objective measures of balance and gait disorders to predict fall risk using body worn sensors This Phase II STTR proposal will expand the use of the ISAW from PD to elderly fallers We will partner with the largest longitudinal study of falls in elderl men the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study MrOS to characterize balance and gait in community dwelling older men and with the Oregon Center of Aging and Technology ORCATECH in community dwelling older women This proposal will not only demonstrate the feasibility and usefulness of the ISAW to quickly quantify balance and gait for multicenter clinical trials it will also develop a unique Fall Risk Report and provide the ISAW with normative values for the elderly This year study will have both a Clinical Research and a Technology Development Aim to prepare the ISAW to expand market penetration from research to clinical practice as an objective biomarker for fall risk and mobility disability The impact of the ISAW wil be on clinicians interested in measuring fall risk in the elderly including primary care physician neurologists geriatricians rehabilitation professionals assisted living facilities hospitals an athletic trainers The Specific Aims are Aim I Clinical Research Develop a fall risk evaluation system for clinicians from the ISAW test Milestone Develop a Fall Risk Report and Milestone Develop reference values for integrity of balance and gait across older ages Aim II Technology Development Prepare the ISAW to be practical and attractive for clinical practice as well as clinical trials Milestone Mobility Exchange Prepare data repository for multi site clinical data collection from the ISAW test Milestone Mobility Clinic Simplify user interface and reporting for clinicians and Milestone FDA Put quality systems and regulatory compliance in place so ISAW can be marketed for clinical practice This Phase II proposal will transform APDMandapos s ISAW protocol into the first technological system for clinicians Mobility Clinic and clinical researchers Mobility Lab to provide a validated objective fall risk evaluation as well as comprehensive balance and gait disorder assessment PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE The Instrumented Stand and Walk test ISAW uses body worn inertial sensors to provide a quick portable clinical system too quickly and automatically measure balance and gait disorders to predict fall risk This Phase II STTR will characterize balance and gait with the ISAW in community dwelling men and women We will show the usefulness of the ISAW for multicenter clinical trials develop a unique Fall Risk Report collect normative balance and gait values and develop the technology so it is practical and attractive for clinical practice related to fall prevention