Instrumented orthopedic restraining device and method of use

A personal orthopedic restraining device for use to restrain flexibly connected body portions of an individual, the personal orthopedic restraining device comprising:

• (a) restraining means for restraining movement of a first flexibly connected body portion of an individual relative to a second flexibly connected body portion of an individual;
• (b) stress sensing means, operatively attached to the restraining means, for providing an output signal representative of a sensed stress in the restraining means;
• (c) memory storage device;
• (d) output port means for communicating a routine result from the memory storage device to a remote device external to the personal orthopedic restraining device;
• and
• (e) control means, operatively coupled to the stress sensing means, the memory storage device, and the output port means, for processing the stress sensing means output signal according to a previously programmed routine to obtain a routine result and to communicate the routine result to the remote device, the control means storing the routine result in the memory storage device such that the routine result can be used by the personal orthopedic restraining device to monitor forces between flexibly connected body portions of an individual.

A method of using a personal orthopedic restraining device which restrains flexibly connected body portions of an individual, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an orthopedic restraining device, the orthopedic restraining device including:
• restraining means for restraining movement of a first flexibly connected body portion of an individual relative to a second flexibly connected body portion of an individual, stress sensing means, operatively attached to the restraining means, for providing an output signal representative of a sensed stress in the restraining means, memory storage device, output port means for communicating a routine result from the memory storage device to a remote device external to the personal orthopedic restraining device, and control means, operatively coupled to the stress sensing means, the memory storage device, and the output port means, for processing the stress sensing means output signal according to a previously programmed routine to obtain a routine result, the control means storing the routine result in the memory storage device;
• and
• (b) communicating the routine result from the memory storage device to the remote device via the output port such that analysis of the routine result can be conducted at a later time.