Electronic apparatus for measuring the patellar reflex and other reflexes

Abstract

The invention belongs to the field of electronic instruments for measuring physiological parameters and medical diagnosis. The patellar reflex is a fundamental part of neurological examination when analysing damage to peripheral neurological structures with central medullary integration. At present, this reflex is visually assessed by the practitioner. In addition, it would be of interest to the practitioner to obtain information relating to latency and whether the reflex is polykinetic, parameters which are difficult to assess visually. The instruments of the current state of the art are disruptive to the patient, are complicated to position and/or they provide unprocessed information. The invention enables the reflex to be objectively measured, is minimally disruptive to the patient and calculates the relevant parameters immediately and automatically. It incorporates sensors, electronics, numerical signal processing for the extraction of parameters and elements for delivering the information. The invention is supplemented with the transmission of data to the neurologist via the Internet.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.