US 5,471,996 AGranted

Apparatus and method for measuring abduction strength of a patient's thumb

AssigneeThe Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority

InventorsJames R. Boatright, Richard D. Peindl

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for measuring abduction strength of a patient's thumb. The apparatus includes a frame for receiving the patient's hand thereupon in a longitudinal direction, enabling the thumb of the patient to move freely upwardly and downwardly about the joint at the base of the thumb. A thumb engaging means is pivotally mounted to the frame for engaging the patient's thumb assuring the upward and downward movement thereof. The thumb engaging means is pivotal about a transverse axis. A force transducer means is mounted to the thumb engaging means for detecting the force transmitted between the thumb engaging means and the patient's thumb. The force transducer means produces an output representative of the detected force. A display means is provided for displaying the received output.

Claims33

Dependent claims

An apparatus for measuring abduction strength of a patient's thumb, said apparatus comprising:

a frame having a generally planar base surface defining a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, said planar base surface defining a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, said planar base surface being sized to support the hand of the patient thereupon in the longitudinal direction enabling the thumb of the patient to freely pivot upwardly and downwardly about the joint at the base of the patient's thumb;
thumb engaging means pivotally mounted to said frame for engaging the patient's thumb during upward and downward movement thereof, said thumb engaging means being pivotable only about a transverse axis generally parallel to said planar base surface and adapted to pass through the joint at the base of the patient's thumb;
force transducer means mounted to said thumb engaging means for detecting a force transmitted between said thumb engaging means and the thumb of the patient, said force transducer means producing an output representative of the detected force;
and
display means for displaying said output.

2 more elements

An apparatus for measuring abduction resistance of a patient's thumb, said apparatus comprising:

a frame having a generally planar base surface defining a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, said base being sized to support the hand of a patient thereupon, enabling the thumb to pivot freely upwardly and downwardly about the joint at the base of the patient's thumb;
first restraining means attached to said frame for restraining all fingers of the patient's hand in a desired position;
second restraining means attached to said frame for restraining the wrist and forearm of the patient's hand longitudinally inserted within said frame;
thumb engaging means pivotally mounted to said frame for engaging the patient's thumb during upward and downward movement thereof, said thumb engaging means being pivotable about a transverse axis generally parallel to said planar base surface and adapted to pass through the joint at the base of the patient's thumb;
force transducer means mounted to said thumb engaging means for detecting a force transmitted between said thumb engaging means and the thumb and for producing an output representative of the detected force;
and
display means for displaying said output.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.