Posture Detection for Automated Abdominal Binder

The automated inflatable abdominal binder is an investigational device for the treatment of orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure on standing) in autonomic failure patients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of the binder in detecting body posture during different types of human motion patterns and activities of daily living, and to develop new (and better) ways to detect upright posture. In particular, the investigators want to determine if activities of daily living, normally encountered by patients (lying down, sitting, standing, walking, and climbing up and down steps), interfere with the detection of upright posture used to trigger the device. Studies will be conducted in healthy subjects because the main purpose of this study is to evaluate posture detection rather than treating orthostatic hypotension.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Hypotension, Orthostatic
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Automated abdominal binder

Detailed Description

The Primary Objective of this study is to develop and validate the algorithm needed to detect upright posture with a waist 3-axis accelerometer. A Secondary Objective is to determine the performance reliability of posture detection of the thigh and waist accelerometers when exposed to activities of daily living (standing, walking, climbing stairs). We will test the primary and secondary objectives in normal subjects using a single study design. Studies for both objectives will be conducted simultaneously on each subject on a single study day. Normal subjects will wear a device with the waist accelerometer incorporated within the controller box.

Subjects will be instrumented with the abdominal belt and controller box containing the waist accelerometer sensor. The external accelerometer sensor will be fixed with a Velcro around the thigh. In addition, subjects will wear two commercially available accelerometer sensors: 1) the ActivPal on the thigh of the other leg, and 2) an external accelerometer attached to the back of the belt at the level of the waist. The ActivPal can detect the upright posture but cannot distinguish between supine and sitting. The sensor placed on the back will be less affected by belly size in case of obese subjects. Both sensors will be used as a reference and for comparison. We will record all accelerometer signals during different body positions and activities. The activities will include lying down, sitting, getting up and standing still, walking, and climbing up and down steps for about one minute each for a total of 15-20 minutes per group of activities. Participants will perform 3 groups of activities. The order of activities within each group will be randomized. We might also ask you to perform ~3 small jumps to synchronize the sensors at the beginning, middle and the end of each set of activities.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 21

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Tennessee
    • Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37232
      • Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 21 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy volunteers

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Body mass index <30 Kg/m2.
• Able and willing to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy.
• Any major medical problems or systemic illnesses known to produce orthostatic intolerance.
• Other factors which in the investigator's opinion would prevent the subject from completing the protocol including clinically significant abnormalities in clinical, mental or laboratory testing during the screening

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
automated abdominal binder; automated abdominal binder with waist and thigh accelerometers, and ActivPAL	Device: Automated abdominal binder; Inflatable abdominal binder

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Percentage of times the thigh and waist accelerometer sensors correctly detect upright posture.	during 5-10 minutes performing each activity (lying down, sitting, standing, climbing steps, walking)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Vanderbilt University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: September 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 1, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): January 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 22, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 30, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): October 31, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): January 18, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 16, 2017
• Last Verified: January 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: healthy subjects; posture detection
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases; Primary Dysautonomias; Orthostatic Intolerance; Hypotension; Hypotension, Orthostatic
• Other Study ID Numbers: 140749