School of Science and Technology 科技學院
Computing Programmes 電腦學系

Nimble body: A Mobile Application with Wireless Sensor for A Reliable and Fast Measurement of Range of Motion

FUNG Kam Kong, NGAN Chi Yuen, LEE Chi Yui

  
ProgrammeBachelor of Computing with Honours in Internet Technology
SupervisorDr. Andrew Lui
AreasE-Health and Medical Applications
Year of Completion2017
Award ReceivedThird-Class Prize, National Challenge Cup 2017

Objectives

The aim of this project is to develop a mobile application combining with sensor technology to measure the range of motion of physical joints that can be done the user himself without the help of any professionals. The mobile application is designed to achieve a faster way of physical assessment but with reliability comparable to the orthodox procedure done by professionals like doctors. The application should arouse rehabilitant/patient to be concerned more about their physical health, have a faster convalescence and better prevention.

This project has several objectives to achieve, the major part is the collection of a series of ROM measurements, in order to let users assess their joints’ status objectively by analyze the data and compare to the normal standard. Rigorous built-in guidance would ensure the measurement is based on a correct procedure which is equivalent to the professional procedure, for example, correct positioning of the tools, to achieve high accuracy. Finally, the mobile application provides suggestion to users for references and a record for tracking progress.

Video Demonstration

To ensure user is doing a series of correct procedures of ROM measurement, there mainly are three functions in system to keep tracking the sensor is in correct position in each measurement procedure.

The first function is the track of user initial position during ROM measurement. Its user interface is show below:

The degree of result finally would pass to analysis-result function to analysis the joint health of user. the analysis-result would get the normal degree of specific joint movement then compare with current result of degree then calculate the joint health status for example “poor”,” fair”, “good” and “normal”. So, User can easily realize their condition of their joint health. User also can save the record to log book for easily monitor the progress of their joint health.

Conclusion and Future Development

In this project, we identified the need for a self-help human joint ROM measurement, analyzed the operational and technical problems, proposed a methodology with a measuring procedure and a system design of an intelligent mobile application, and finally discussed the results. We can conclude that Nimble Body is a highly promising application. With further work on the system design, this approach has good potential to reduce the health care cost in the future and improve the well-being of public, especially the elderly.

A special feature of our system design is to separate an intelligent ROM sensor from mobile station. This approach can extend the flexibility of use more ROM types of joint measurement. Also, it is featured of self-help. With using the Nimble Body mobile station as a monitor, user can easily to read or listen the instruction and know whether his/her joint position movement is correct. Moreover, the accuracy result in logbook can be a medical reference for clinic to use. No matter user or clinic/hospital, it saves a lot of time and effort.

In the further development of Nimble Body, it will cover more types of ROM of joint measurement with using more than one sensor such as gyroscope. In addition to monitor the joint health, Nimble Body will develop a set of physiotherapy process to enhance the recover progress of joint health in cooperate with wearable sensor.

Jonathan Chiu
Marketing Director
3DP Technology Limited

Jonathan handles all external affairs include business development, patents write up and public relations. He is frequently interviewed by media and is considered a pioneer in 3D printing products.

Krutz Cheuk
Biomedical Engineer
Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital

After graduating from OUHK, Krutz obtained an M.Sc. in Engineering Management from CityU. He is now completing his second master degree, M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering, at CUHK. Krutz has a wide range of working experience. He has been with Siemens, VTech, and PCCW.

Hugo Leung
Software and Hardware Engineer
Innovation Team Company Limited

Hugo Leung Wai-yin, who graduated from his four-year programme in 2015, won the Best Paper Award for his ‘intelligent pill-dispenser’ design at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering’s International Conference on Consumer Electronics – China 2015.

The pill-dispenser alerts patients via sound and LED flashes to pre-set dosage and time intervals. Unlike units currently on the market, Hugo’s design connects to any mobile phone globally. In explaining how it works, he said: ‘There are three layers in the portable pillbox. The lowest level is a controller with various devices which can be connected to mobile phones in remote locations. Patients are alerted by a sound alarm and flashes. Should they fail to follow their prescribed regime, data can be sent via SMS to relatives and friends for follow up.’ The pill-dispenser has four medicine slots, plus a back-up with a LED alert, topped by a 500ml water bottle. It took Hugo three months of research and coding to complete his design, but he feels it was worth all his time and effort.

Hugo’s public examination results were disappointing and he was at a loss about his future before enrolling at the OUHK, which he now realizes was a major turning point in his life. He is grateful for the OUHK’s learning environment, its industry links and the positive guidance and encouragement from his teachers. The University is now exploring the commercial potential of his design with a pharmaceutical company. He hopes that this will benefit the elderly and chronically ill, as well as the society at large.

Soon after completing his studies, Hugo joined an automation technology company as an assistant engineer. He is responsible for the design and development of automation devices. The target is to minimize human labor and increase the quality of products. He is developing products which are used in various sections, including healthcare, manufacturing and consumer electronics.

Course Code Title Credits
  COMP S321F Advanced Database and Data Warehousing 5
  COMP S333F Advanced Programming and AI Algorithms 5
  COMP S351F Software Project Management 5
  COMP S362F Concurrent and Network Programming 5
  COMP S363F Distributed Systems and Parallel Computing 5
  COMP S382F Data Mining and Analytics 5
  COMP S390F Creative Programming for Games 5
  COMP S492F Machine Learning 5
  ELEC S305F Computer Networking 5
  ELEC S348F IOT Security 5
  ELEC S371F Digital Forensics 5
  ELEC S431F Blockchain Technologies 5
  ELEC S425F Computer and Network Security 5
 Course CodeTitleCredits
 ELEC S201FBasic Electronics5
 IT S290FHuman Computer Interaction & User Experience Design5
 STAT S251FStatistical Data Analysis5
 Course CodeTitleCredits
 COMPS333FAdvanced Programming and AI Algorithms5
 COMPS362FConcurrent and Network Programming5
 COMPS363FDistributed Systems and Parallel Computing5
 COMPS380FWeb Applications: Design and Development5
 COMPS381FServer-side Technologies and Cloud Computing5
 COMPS382FData Mining and Analytics5
 COMPS390FCreative Programming for Games5
 COMPS413FApplication Design and Development for Mobile Devices5
 COMPS492FMachine Learning5
 ELECS305FComputer Networking5
 ELECS363FAdvanced Computer Design5
 ELECS425FComputer and Network Security5