US 4,586,515 A · Device for measuring the position and/or motion of a body part

Abstract

In the diagnostic evaluation of the measurement of head rotations for the functional examination of the cervical portion of the spine and the upper dorsal column it is to be noted that the head rotates not only with reference to that axial system which corresponds to the measuring system arranged between the holder and the supporting device, but also performs a three-dimensional movement in space. When tilting the head, e.g., the same not only rotates about a horizontal, frontal axis (parallel ear-to-ear) but also moves forward and downward. Even more complex are rotary or lateral tilting movements of the head which, beyond a certain extend of displacement, proceed only with a three-dimensional motion of the head. Yet the rotations of the head in a broader sense, including the ancillary movements referred to, are what permits more accurate conclusions as to the function of the spine. Analogous conditions apply to other sequences of movement with multijointed motion progressions, e.g. of the extremities. It is therefore essential to the invention that not only the rotary movements of the holder are measured by the measuring system arranged between the holder and the supporting device but that also the motion of this measuring system or the holder in space is taken into consideration in the measurement or in the evaluation of the measuring results. This can be done, preferably, by an additional measuring system arranged, say, in the region of the supporting device for detecting the movements of the holder in space and/or mathematically in the evaluation by a data processor.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A method for the diagnosis of nuerological and orthopedic motion disorders of a body part which comprises the steps of:

affixing to said body part a single articulation consisting of three rotary displacement sensors having mutually orthogonal axes and each consisting of two relatively rotatable members defining the respective axis such that a first member of a first of said sensors is rigidly connected to said body part, a second member of said first sensor is rigidly connected to a first member of a second of said sensors, a second member of said second sensor is rigidly connected to a first member of a third of said sensors and a second member of said third sensor is rotatable relative to said first member of said third sensor about an axis of said third sensor;
spacially positioning said second member of said third sensor by fixing it against rotation but enabling linear displacement of said second member of said third sensor while permitting pendular displacement of said axis of said third sensor with respect to a reference point in space about two pendular axes neither of which is parallel to said linear displacement of said second member;
measuring linear displacement of said second member of said third sensor with a fourth motion sensor;
measuring angular displacement of said axis of said third sensor about said reference point with fifth and sixth motion sensors respectively responsive to displacement about said pendular axis;
and
causing said body part to move and detecting outputs of said sensors as an indication of the motion pattern of said body part in space to a diagnose a motion disorder.

3 more elements

An apparatus for the diagnosis of neurological and orthopedic motion disorders of a body part which comprises:

a holder adapted to be affixed to a body part, motion of which is to be monitored for diagnosis of a neurological or orthopedic motion disorder;
a sensing system forming a single three-axis articulation affixed to said holder, said sensing system comprising:
three rotary displacement sensors having mutually orthogonal axes and each consisting of two relatively rotatable members defining the respective axis,
a first member of a first of said sensors being rigidly connected to said holder,
a second member of said first sensor being rigidly connected to a first member of a second of said sensors,
a second member of said second sensor being rigidly connected to a first member of a third of said sensors and a second member of said third sensor being rotatable relative to said first member of said third sensor about an axis of said third sensor;
a longitudinally shiftable support element connected to said second member of said third sensor and restricting angular displacement of said second member of said third sensor while guiding said sensing means linearly with respect to a reference point spaced from said holder;
means for mounting said support element to permit pendular displacement of said support element about two different pendular axes neither of which are parallel to the linear displacement of said element with respect to said reference point;
a fourth sensor responsive to linear displacement of said sensing system in the direction of said linear displacement;
and
fifth and sixth sensors respectively responsive to angular displacement of said element about said pendular axes whereby outputs of said sensors can be monitored to provide an indication of motion disorders of a body part engageable in said holder.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Device for measuring the position and/or motion of a body part

Life of this patent

Device for measuring the position and/or motion of a body part

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9