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 RT3
Tri-axial Research Tracker Kit |
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Comparing the Stayhealthy RT3 to the Tritrac-R3D By Colin Hill, Ph.D., Director of Biomedical Information and Brad Carnes, RT3 Product Manager, Stayhealthy, Inc. BACKGROUND The TriTrac-R3D has been used extensively by the medical research community since its introduction in 1992 and has earned a reputation as a valuable and accurate research instrument. However, as a research device, the TriTrac-R3D was not designed with the user in mind and has some inaccuracies that result from the configuration and installation of the accelerometers that are its core technology. Specifically, the TriTrac-R3D is housed in a plastic housing approximately the size of an audio cassette player and is worn on the waist, e.g., on a belt. The size and application of the device is obtrusive and inconvenient to the user and is subject to wear and accidental impacts when worn on the waist. Stayhealthy developed the RT3 as a more researcher and user-friendly device with an improved level of precision and accuracy compared to the TriTrac-R3D. CORE TECHNOLOGY The core application of the technology found in both devices allows: WHY THE RT3 IS MORE CONSISTENT THAN THE TRITRAC–R3D From a core technology standpoint, the fundamental difference between the RT3 and TriTrac-R3D is the use of different accelerometers in the devices. An accelerometer is a small electronic device that measures kinetic energy (motion) and converts that energy into electrical energy, which is translated by the device as acceleration measurement data. The TriTrac-R3D uses three accelerometers to measure acceleration. Known as triaxial measurement, the motion vectors are side-to-side, forward and backward and up and down, also commonly called X, Y and Z-axis measurements. The final orientation of these accelerometers with relation to the X, Y, and Z-axis depends on the placement of the accelerometer in the TriTrac-R3D and the geometry of the TriTrac-R3D housing. The TriTrac-R3D accelerometers are assembled into the devices by hand and soldered in place. This procedure is repeated three times in every TriTrac-R3D. The inaccuracies caused by the construction of the device have been thoroughly documented and are evident when attempting to get a consistent measurement during bench testing. (See table at the end of this section.) In contrast, the RT3 uses an integrated triaxial accelerometer that integrates measurement of the three vectors into a single chip. This feature, combined with a strict manufacturing process, mandates that the devices conform to a tighter performance envelope. At Stayhealthy, the individual axis of every accelerometer is tested, allowing the company to select accelerometers for the RT3 that demonstrate the most ideal response characteristics for use in the device. Stayhealthy has access to a substantial quantity of integrated triaxial accelerometers, which in turn allows selection criteria to be stringent and highly discriminating. COMPARISON RESEARCH RESULTS BACKGROUND Data was collected by shaking all of the units simultaneously using the same fixture. All units were shaken for 40 minutes, with the central 30 minutes of data analyzed. Values for X, Y, Z, and VM (vector magnitude) are listed in Activity Counts / minute. Standard deviation (St Dev) is listed below each table. This activity made a general comparison of RT3 to TriTrac-R3D hardware. The five TriTac-R3Ds used were acquired from Reining International. The five RT3s were selected from a random ten-unit sample taken from Stayhealthy’s current pre-production inventory. The focus of the study was primarily on level of consistency in the readings from the units making the VM the primary value of importance when measuring motion. Although the RT3 reported an average value higher than that of the TriTrac-R3D, which can be easily adjusted prior to the launch of the product, it is apparent from the results that the RT3 showed better consistency than the TriTrac-R3D.
Stayhealthy will also begin obtaining third party correlation studies of the RT3 and its effectiveness following final development of the devices. FUTURE VALIDATION STUDIES In addition to in-house validation studies, several research universities have agreed to buy RT3 units and support independent validation assessments. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION If you or your colleagues would be interested in participating in such a study with relation to a specific group of people, please contact Colin Hill, Ph.D. or Lisa House at Stayhealthy by phone at 626-256-6152, by facsimile at 626-599-1776 or email at chill@stayhealthy.com or lh@stayhealthy.com. |
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