Our research is your technology!

Our products, QTUG™ (Quantitative Timed Up and Go) and Kinesis Gait™, falls risk and gait assessment technologies have been developed through nine years of research and extensively clinically validated through publication in top-tier international scientific journals.

Kinesis products have been shown to be Valid, Reliable and Accurate in measuring Gait and Mobility, while as well as assessing Falls in older adults.

The technology is based on nine years of peer reviewed research. Our technology uses advanced wearable sensors suitable for objective assessment of gait and mobility, measurement of response to rehabilitation and treatment and well as screening for falls risk, mobility impairment and frailty.

Kinesis Health Technologies Ltd are a spin-out from University College Dublin and the TRIL centre, a large ageing research project funded by Intel, GE Healthcare and the Irish government.

1. What are QTUG™ usage and best practices?

   Keep in mind the following usage while performing the test.

   1. 3 metre distance must be accurately measured to ensure correct operation of the device.
   2. The recommended instructions to give the patient prior to performing the test should be as follows: ‘Complete the TUG test as fast as safely possible’.
   3. We do not recommend using mobility aids during the test. This can cause estimates of falls risk and frailty to be underestimated
   4. Height and weight should be measured before each test.
   5. Underfoot conditions should be controlled (e.g. no loose carpeting).
   6. Sensible footwear (e.g. no high-heels) should be worn during the test.
   7. Make sure date and time on the tablet are set correctly – to ensure patient age is calculated correctly.

2. How can I switch off the sensor?

   1. Place both sensors in the sensor dock. Press and hold down the RESET button for 10 seconds until the two power LEDs at the front turn off.
   2. Keep the RESET button pressed while removing both sensors from the sensor dock.

3. Why does the sensor not connect to the tablet?

   To determine why the sensor does not connect to the tablet, you should do the following:

   1. Switch on the sensor (using the sensor dock or a paper clip) as it might be turned off.
   2. Check if the sensor battery is fully charged as it may be flat. A fully discharged sensor can take up to 6 hours to recharge directly from an electrical wall socket. The sensor battery should last approximately 5 hours under normal operating conditions.

4. Why do QTUG™ tests keeps failing?

   To identify why the test keeps failing, you should do the following:

   1. Ensure that both sensors are fully charged then reset both sensors by placing in the charging dock and pressing RESET.
   2. Ensure that the LEFT and RIGHT sensors are firmly and securely fastened to the patient’s shin. Loosely fitted sensors may result in an invalid test or adversely affect algorithm operation.
   3. Ensure that both sensors are oriented correctly with the socket facing down and the logo facing out, the RIGHT sensor on the right leg and the LEFT sensor on the left leg. Failure to use the correct orientation will result in an incorrect calculation of mobility parameters and falls risk.

5. What should I do if the sensors are dropping connection or repeatedly asking to be charged?

   If you are getting strange behaviour from QTUG™, you should do the following steps:

   1. Put both sensors into the sensor dock. Ensure the sensors are fully inserted into the charging dock and inserted in the right way.
   2. Press the RESET button on the sensor dock.
   3. Turn the tablet off and then turn it back on.

6. Why does the tablet not turn on?

   Check if the tablet battery is fully charged by plugging into a wall socket.

7. What should I do if the sensor signals are not appearing on the tablet?

   If you are getting strange behaviour from QTUG™, you should do the following steps:

   1. Put both sensors into the sensor dock. Ensure the sensors are fully inserted into the charging dock and inserted in the right way.
   2. Press the RESET button on the sensor dock.
   3. Turn the tablet off and then turn it back on.
   4. If behaviour persists, fully charge sensors (6 hours charging time).

8. What should I do if I keep receiving the message ‘Cannot find Left sensor’ or ‘Cannot find Right sensor’?

   The messages, ‘Cannot find Left sensor’ and ‘Cannot find Right sensor’ usually arise when one of the sensors (LEFT sensor or RIGHT sensor) is switched off, or the battery of a given sensor is flat.

9. What should I do if I receive the message ‘Too many or not enough sensors connected’

   The message, ‘Too many or not enough sensors connected’ usually arises when one or both of the sensors (LEFT sensor or RIGHT sensor) are not paired to the tablet.

   1. Check QTUG™ sensor ID for the available sensors (4 digit number on back of sensor casing).
   2. Go the Bluetooth menu in settings (hold Bluetooth symbol on drag down menu)).
   3. Select QTUG™ sensor from list of available Bluetooth devices.
   4. Left sensor identified as KI-SENSOR-L-xxxx. Similarly right sensor identified as KI-SENSOR-R-xxxx.
   5. Enter pairing code: 1,2,3,4.
   6. Sensor should now be paired. Repeat steps above to pair an additional QTUG™ sensor.

10. How do I pair a sensor to the tablet?

    If sensors from multiple QTUG™ kits have been swapped and need to be paired again, follow the instructions below (also on page 16 of QTUG™ user guide)

    1. Go the Bluetooth menu in settings (hold Bluetooth symbol on drag down menu)).
    2. Select QTUG™ sensor from list of available Bluetooth devices.
    3. Left sensor identified as KI-SENSOR-L-xxxx. Similarly right sensor identified as KI-SENSOR-R-xxxx.
    4. Enter pairing code: 1,2,3,4.
    5. Sensor should now be paired. Repeat steps above to pair an additional QTUG™ sensor.

11. How do I automatically back-up QTUG data?

    QTUG sensor data are anonymised and can be back-up automatically via Wi-Fi. More information can found in the QTUG™ user guide

    1. Ensure you have ticked ‘Enable Remote back-up’ under Settings menu.
    2. Provide your tablet Wi-Fi MAC address to us (Go to ‘About Device’ under Settings and press ‘Status’, record MAC address and send via Support (below).
    3. Once we have received your MAC address we can register your system, and back-up will be automatic.

12. Can I use QTUG™ tablet and sensors for the Kinesis Gait product?

    Yes. Both Kinesis Gait™ and QTUG™ products can use the same sensors and tablet device.

13. How long does a QTUG™ assessment take?

    Assessment of mobility and falls risk and frailty using QTUG™ should take no longer than 10 minutes.

14. Can a patient perform the test with a mobility aid/assistance?

    Yes they can. However, we recommend that patients don’t use a mobility aid when doing the test as QTUG™ is more accurate when used without a mobility aid. QTUG™ will still work with a mobility aid but may underestimate falls risk and mobility impairment.

15. What does the QTUG™ Falls Risk Estimate (FRE) mean?

    The Falls risk estimate produced by QTUG™ is a statistical estimate of the patients’ current risk of having a fall and is based on a model of community dwelling older adults.

16. What does the QTUG™ Frailty Estimate mean?

    The Frailty estimate produced by QTUG™ is a statistical estimate of the patients’ current level of Frailty based on Fried’s frailty phenotype derived from a statistical model of community dwelling older adults.

17. What does the QTUG™ comparison to reference data mean?

    The QTUG™ comparison to reference data is a statistical comparison the patients’ mobility against average values for their age-group and gender based on a large reference population containing a variety of patients.

18. What other conditions can QTUG™ screening be applied to?

    QTUG™ can be used to assess gait and mobility in patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s and other patients with gait disorders.

19. Can QTUG™ be used in the home?

    QTUG™ can be used to assess patients in the home under supervised conditions. Take care to ensure the 3m walking distance is accurately measured and that the underfoot conditions are suitable for the test (e.g. free of clutter, no loose carpeting, at least 3.5 metres of uninterupted linear space).

20. How do I know what software version I am using?

    To identify the QTUG™ or Kinesis Gait version on your device, you should do the following:

    1. Turn on the tablet and tap the QTUG™ icon to launch the QTUG™ application.
    2. Tap the QTUG™ logo near the top-left corner on the action bar of the application.
    3. The software version will be displayed at the bottom.