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US 2023/0068307 A1Published application
Joint Motion Measurement Apparatus and Method of Use
AssigneeThe Curators of the University of Missouri
InventorsTrent M. Guess, James L. Cook, James P. Stannard, Jamie B. Hall
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Abstract
A joint motion measurement apparatus includes securing mechanisms that secure sensors to various body parts such as the leg, including the femur, tibia, malleoli and/or calcaneus. The sensors are configured to measure a position and/or motion of the various parts of the leg relative to one another. The sensor data is usable to determine kinematic and/or muscle properties of the leg including knee laxity, tibiofemoral measurements and/or spastic properties.
Claims20
A joint arthrometer for measuring arthrokinematics comprising:
- a femoral frame attachable to a leg of a test subject about a distal femur of the leg, the distal femur having a medial side, a lateral side, an anterior side, a posterior side, a lateral epicondyle, and a medial epicondyle, the femoral frame comprising a first arm portion, a second arm portion, a connecting portion, a femoral motion sensor, and a femoral securing mechanism, the first arm portion configured to contact the leg about the lateral epicondyle, the second arm portion configured to contact the leg about the medial epicondyle, the connecting portion connecting the first and second arm portions, the femoral motion sensor coupled to the femoral frame and configured to measure motion with six degrees of freedom and output femoral motion data associated with the measured motion;
- and
- a tibial frame attachable to the leg about a tibia of the leg, the tibia having a proximal end and a distal end, the tibial frame attachable to the leg about the tibia closer to the proximal end of the tibia than the distal end of the tibia, the tibial frame comprising a tibial securing mechanism, a rigid frame portion, and a tibial motion sensor, the tibial motion sensor coupled to the rigid frame portion and configured to measure motion with six degrees of freedom and output tibial motion data associated with the measured motion, wherein the femoral motion data and the tibial motion data are usable, in conjunction, to determine arthrokinematics in real-time.
A method for measuring arthrokinematics and muscle properties comprising:
- attaching a femoral frame to a leg of a test subject about a distal femur of the leg, the distal femur having a medial side, a lateral side, an anterior side, a posterior side, a lateral epicondyle, and a medial epicondyle, the femoral frame comprising a first arm portion, a second arm portion, a connecting portion, a femoral motion sensor, and a femoral securing mechanism, the first arm portion contacting the leg about the lateral epicondyle, the second arm portion contacting the leg about the medial epicondyle, the connecting portion connecting the first and second arm portions, the connecting portion positioned above the anterior side of the leg, the femoral motion sensor coupled to the femoral frame and configured to measure motion with six degrees of freedom;
- attaching a tibial frame to the leg about a tibia of the leg, the tibia having a proximal end and a distal end, the tibial frame attached to the leg about the tibia closer to the proximal end of the tibia than the distal end of the tibia, the tibial frame comprising a tibial securing mechanism, a rigid frame portion, and a tibial motion sensor, the tibial motion sensor coupled to the rigid frame portion and configured to measure motion with six degrees of freedom, the tibial securing mechanism attached to the rigid frame portion and positioned about the leg and tibia;
- moving the tibia relative to the femur in at least one cycle of a functional task;
- recording the motion of the femoral motion sensor and recording the motion of the tibial motion sensor through the at least one cycle;
- and
- determining arthrokinematics based on the recorded motion of the femoral and tibial motion sensors.
3 more elements
A method for measuring joint reaction comprising:
- attaching a first sensor to a first portion of a leg of a test subject, the first sensor configured to measure a position of the first portion of the leg;
- attaching a second sensor to a second portion of the leg different from the first portion of the leg, the second sensor configured to measure a position of the second portion of the leg;
- obtaining and storing position data from the first sensor, the position data of the first sensor corresponding to the position of the first portion of the leg;
- obtaining and storing position data from the second sensor, the position data of the second sensor corresponding to the position of the second portion of the leg;
- performing a joint movement and storing at least one of a first sensor output of the first sensor resulting from the joint movement and a second sensor output of the second sensor resulting from the joint movement;
- and
- determining a joint reaction response due to the joint movement, the joint reaction response being based on at least one of the first sensor output and the second sensor output.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.