Method and apparatus for comparative analysis of videofluoroscopic joint motion

Method for generating successive video images on a monitor of a bone comprising the steps of:

• providing a fluoroscope;
• positioning a bone within the fluoroscope;
• moving the bone;
• generating fluoroscopic images of he moving bone;
• detecting the generated fluoroscopic images of the moving bone;
• converting the detected images of the moving bone into successive video images of the moving bone;
• recording the successive video images of the moving bone;
• displaying the recorded successive video images of the moving bone as the fluoroscopic images are being generated;
• positioning the bone within the fluoroscope in response to images displayed on the monitor;
• moving the fluoroscope to track movement of the bone thereby producing successive video images of the bone as it moves;
• and
• interlacing still images with the recorded successive video images.

Apparatus for analyzing the flexure of a joint between first and second bones resulting from movement of the bones comprising:

• means for immobilizing in at least one plane the first bone whereby only the second bone is substantially moved during flexure of the joint;
• means for creating at least two successive video images of the relative movement of the bones and the corresponding flexing of the joint;
• means for designating a reference point on the first bone on each video image and a monitoring point on the second bone in each video image;
• and
• means for generating a representation corresponding to the pattern of movement of the monitoring point with respect to the reference point whereby only the second bone is substantially moved during flexure of he joint.

Apparatus for analyzing the flexure of a joint between first and second bones resulting from movement of the bones comprising:

• means for generating, from at least two successive video reference images of the movement of the bones and the resulting flexure of the joint, a reference representation corresponding thereto;
• means for generating from at least two successive video present images of the movement of the bones and the resulting flexure of the joint, a present representation corresponding thereto;
• means for comparing the reference representation to the present representation;
• and
• wherein each of said means for generating comprises a fluoroscopic system adapted to produce images of the joint and the bones as the joint is flexed and the bones are correspondingly moved, a video camera adapted to detect the fluoroscopic images and a video recorder adapted to record the detected fluoroscopic images.

A fluoroscopic system comprising:

• means for providing radiation toward a joint between first and second bones to be evaluated;
• means, located adjacent a side of the joint opposite the means for providing, for intensifying the provided radiation and for generating an image of the object therefrom;
• a crisscrossed grid adapted to be located between the means for intensifying and the object adapted to enhance the image of the object generated by the means for intensifying;
• means for recording at least two successive images generated by said intensifying means, said images representing the movement of the bones and the resulting flexure of the joint;
• and
• means for comparing the successive images to a reference representation corresponding to a desired or previous movement of the first bone with respect to the second bone and the resulting flexure of the joint.

Method for analyzing the movement of first and second bones connected by a joint comprising the steps of:

• moving the first bone with respect to the second bone thereby to flex the joint;
• creating at least two successive video images while moving the bones by producing fluoroscopic images of the joint and the bones as the bones are moved resulting in flexure of the joint, by detecting the fluoroscopic images and by recording the detected fluoroscopic images;
• designating a reference point on the first bone in each video image and a monitoring point on the second bone in each video image;
• and
• generating a present representation corresponding to the pattern of movement of the monitoring point with respect to the reference point.

Method for analyzing the movement of first and second bones comprising the steps of:

• moving the bones;
• generating, from at least two successive video reference images of the movement of the bones, a reference representation corresponding to reference images;
• generating, from at least two successive video present images of the movement of the bones, a present representation corresponding to present images;
• comparing the present representation to the reference representation;
• and
• wherein each said generating step comprises using a fluoroscopic system adapted to produce images of the bones as the bones are moved, using a video camera adapted to detect the fluoroscopic images and using a video recorder adapted to record the detected images.

A fluoroscopic method comprising the steps of:

• providing radiation toward first and second bones connected by a joint;
• moving said bones with respect to each other thereby resulting in flexure of the joint;
• intensifying the provided radiation by using an intensifier located adjacent a side of the joint opposite the provided radiation;
• generating an image of the bones from the intensified radiation;
• placing a crisscrossed grid located between the intensifier and the bones adapted to enhance the image of the joint generated by the intensifier;
• recording at least two successive images illustrating movement of the bones and the resulting flexure of the joint;
• and
• determining differences between the successive images as compared to a reference representation corresponding to a reference movement of the first bone with respect to the second bone and the resulting flexure of the joint.