GaitQ, a UK-based company, is preparing to launch the gaitQ Tempo, a wearable device that aims to help people with Parkinson's disease to maintain a more stable and fluid gait. The device uses two leg-worn devices and a handheld controller, employing vibrational cues to provide walk cueing for users. The nRF5340 SoC from Nordic Semiconductor provides the device with its Bluetooth® LE capabilities and 2.4 GHz multiprotocol radio for wireless connectivity between the components.
The gaitQ Tempo collects gait data using its six-axis Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), which is then transmitted to the Cloud via a USB link while the device is charging. This data can be used to monitor the progression of Parkinson's disease, and future products from gaitQ could provide more personalized service. The device's flexible dual Arm® Cortex®-M33 processors, which are also provided by the nRF5340 SoC, allow for added functionality such as adaptive and personalized smart cueing based on the user's real-time movement data.
According to Philippa Tsirgiotis, Product Engineer at gaitQ, Parkinson's disease is the world's fastest-growing progressive neurological disorder, causing increased fall risk, loss of confidence, and reduced activity levels. The gaitQ Tempo aims to address these issues and improve users' quality of life by providing a stable and fluid gait. Thanks to its long battery life and use of Nordic Semiconductor's nRF5340 SoC, gaitQ believes that the device is poised to help many people with Parkinson's disease.
