Apparatus and methods are provided for determining, recommending, and applying a calibration parameter to collected activity data. In one embodiment, calibration parameter is estimated based on physical aspects of the user and automatically applied to collected data. In another embodiment, the calibration parameter is determined based on secondary data which is more precise than the data which is collected. The calibration factor based on the more precise data may comprise a recommended calibration factor, yet the user may be enabled to select any calibration factor he/she prefers via an interactive display. In one specific variant, the activity comprises a walk or run activity of the user, and the calibration parameter comprises the user's specific stride length. In another variant, the user selects a calibration factor by reviewing a list of previous activity against that same activity after calibration given a particular calibration factor is applied.

An information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire information based on a sensor attached to a foot of a user, a determination unit configured to make a decision about an abnormality in walking of the user based on an acceleration of the user in a walking direction, acquired by the acquisition unit, and an output unit configured to output information based on a result of the decision made by the determination unit.

Adaptive imaging methods and systems for generating enhanced low light video of an object for medical visualization are disclosed and include acquiring, with an image acquisition assembly, a sequence of reference frames and/or a sequence of low light video frames depicting the object, assessing relative movement between the image acquisition assembly and the object based on at least a portion of the acquired sequence of reference video frames or the acquired sequence of low light video frames, adjusting a level of image processing of the low light video frames based at least in part on the relative movement between the image acquisition assembly and the object, and generating a characteristic low light video output from a quantity of the low light video frames, wherein the quantity of the low light video frames is based on the adjusted level of image processing of the low light video frames.

The sensor information acquisition unit acquires an angular velocity around an axis of a shaft portion of an exercise instrument from a sensor unit. An exercise analysis unit detects a timing of an impact of the exercise instrument. A calculation unit calculates a distance between a standard position set on a hitting surface of the exercise instrument and a position of the hitting based on the angular velocity at the time of an impact.

Systems and methods for tracking unintentional muscle movements of a user and stabilizing a handheld tool while it is being used by the user are described. The method may include detecting motion of a handle of the handheld tool manipulated by a user while the user is performing a task with a user-assistive device attached to an attachment arm of the handheld tool. Furthermore, the method may include storing the detected motion in a memory of the handheld tool as motion data. The method may also include controlling, based on the motion data, a motion-generating mechanism of the handheld tool that moves the attachment arm relative to the handle in a single degree of freedom in a direction of the detected motion of the handle.

A knee examination method includes the steps of situating a patient on a patient support adjacent a robotic knee testing apparatus, setting up the robotic knee testing apparatus, further setting up the leg of the patient relative to the robotic knee testing apparatus, and, after the steps of setting up and further setting up, examining knee laxity of a knee of the patient. The step of examining includes operating the robotic knee testing apparatus to manipulate the tibia positioning assembly.

A method comprises obtaining rotational data and translational data for a joint. The rotational and translational data is indicative of rotational and translational movement of the joint during rotational and translational joint testing, respectively. The rotational and translational joint testing is implemented by a robotic testing apparatus. Respective zero torque points are determined for the rotational and translational movement based on the rotational data and the translational data. The respective zero torque points are combined for the rotational and translational movement to determine an equilibrium position for the joint. A biomechanical characteristic of the joint is ascertained based on an analysis of the equilibrium position.

A method includes obtaining load-deformation data for a joint, the load-deformation data being gathered via joint testing implemented by robotic test equipment, the robotic test equipment being configured for movement of the joint and comprising sensors to gather the load-deformation data during the movement. A load-deformation curve function for the load-deformation data is generated, the load-deformation curve function defining a curve fitted to the load-deformation data. A feature of the curve defined by the load-deformation curve function is quantified. A biomechanical characteristic of the joint is identified based on the quantified feature of the curve defined by the load-deformation curve function.

A method includes obtaining rotational data and translational data for a joint, the rotational and translational data being indicative of rotational and translational movement of the joint during rotational and translational joint testing, respectively, the rotational and translational joint testing being implemented by a robotic testing apparatus applied to the joint. A quantity indicative of joint play of the joint is computed. The quantity is computed via a function of the rotational data and the translational data. The method includes determining whether the computed quantity exceeds a joint play threshold and, if the computed quantity exceeds the joint play threshold, comparing the rotational data and the translational data with preset rotational data and preset translational data for the rotational and translation joint testing, respectively.

A knee examination method includes situating a patient on a patient support adjacent a robotic knee testing apparatus, the apparatus having a motion tracking system. The robotic knee testing apparatus is set up including defining a world coordinate system based on a fixed location of a transmitter of the motion tracking system. The patient is set up including determining one or more local coordinate systems each based on setting up the patient and on one or more robot based points. The robotic knee testing apparatus is operable to manipulate a leg of the patient.