Method and apparatus for assessing proprioceptive function

A method for assessing proprioception in a subject, comprising:

• coupling a first limb of a pair of limbs of the subject to a first articulating member, the first articulating member moveable in two or more degrees of freedom in 2- or 3-dimensional space and adapted for maintaining the limb in a desired geometry and/or at a desired location and/or for moving the limb through a desired motion in 2- or 3-dimensional space;
• coupling a second limb of said pair of limbs of the subject to a second articulating member, the second articulating member adapted for being moved by the second limb in two or more degrees of freedom in 2- or 3-dimensional space;
• obtaining an angular geometry data and or location data and/or motion data of the first limb or portion thereof and/or of the second limb or portion thereof in 2- or 3-dimensional space, while preventing the subject from seeing the first limb or portion thereof and/or the second limb or portion thereof, the subject performing a matching task;
• and
• comparing said data of the first limb with said data of the second limb;
• wherein the comparison provides information about brain injury and/or a neurological disorder in the subject.

A method for assessing proprioception in a subject, comprising:

• coupling a first limb of a pair of limbs of the subject to a first articulating member, the first articulating member moveable in two or more degrees of freedom in 2- or 3-dimensional space and adapted for maintaining the limb in a desired geometry and/or at a desired location and/or for moving the limb through a desired motion in 2- or 3-dimensional space;
• coupling a second limb of said pair of limbs of the subject to a second articulating member, the second articulating member adapted for being moved by the second limb in two or more degrees of freedom in 2- or 3-dimensional space;
• obtaining angular geometry data and/or location data and/or motion data of the first limb or portion thereof and/or of the second limb or portion thereof in 2- or 3-dimensional space, while preventing the subject from seeing the first limb or portion thereof and/or the second limb or portion thereof, the subject performing a matching task;
• and
• comparing said data of the first limb with said data of the second limb;
• wherein the comparison provides information about a neural and/or muscular problem associated with impaired movement of a limb of the subject.

A method for assessing proprioception in a subject, comprising:

• coupling a first limb of a pair of limbs of the subject to a first articulating member, the first articulating member movable in two or more degrees of freedom in 2- or 3-dimensional space and adapted for maintaining the first limb in a desired geometry and/or at a desired location in 2- or 3- dimensional space, and/or for moving the first limb through a desired motion in 2- or 3-dimensional space;
• coupling a second limb of said pair of limbs of the subject to a second articulating member, the second articulating member adapted for being moved by the second limb in two or more degrees of freedom in 2- or 3-dimensional space;
• obtaining an angular geometry data and or location data and/or motion data of the first limb or portion thereof and/or the second limb or portion thereof in 2- or 3-dimensional space, while preventing the subject from seeing the first limb or portion thereof and/or the second limb or portion thereof, the subject performing a matching task;
• monitoring the subject's gaze direction as the subject is looking toward the perceived location of the first limb or portion thereof and/or the second limb or portion thereof;
• and
• relating the subject's gaze direction to the angular geometry and/or location and/or motion of the first limb or portion thereof and/or the second limb or portion thereof in 2- or 3-dimensional space;
• wherein relating the subject's gaze direction to the angular geometry and/or location and/or motion of the first limb or portion thereof and/or the second limb or portion thereof in 2- or 3-dimensional space provides information about brain injury and/or a neurological disorder in the subject.

A method for assessing proprioception in a subject, comprising:

• coupling a first limb of a pair of limbs of the subject to a first articulating member, the first articulating member movable in two or more degrees of freedom in 2- or 3-dimensional space and adapted for maintaining the first limb in a desired geometry and/or at a desired location in 2- or 3- dimensional space, and/or for moving the first limb through a desired motion in 2- or 3-dimensional space;
• coupling a second limb of said pair of limbs of the subject to a second articulating member, the second articulating member adapted for being moved by the second limb in two or more degrees of freedom in 2- or 3-dimensional space;
• obtaining an angular geometry data and/or location data and/or motion data of the first limb or portion thereof and/or the second limb or portion thereof in 2- or 3-dimensional space, while preventing the subject from seeing the first limb or portion thereof and/or the second limb or portion thereof, the subject performing a matching task;
• monitoring the subject's gaze direction as the subject is looking toward the perceived location of the first limb or portion thereof and/or the second limb or portion thereof;
• and
• relating the subject's gaze direction to the angular geometry and/or location and/or motion of the first limb or portion thereof and/or the second limb or portion thereof in 2- or 3-dimensional space;
• wherein relating the subject's gaze direction to the angular geometry and/or location and/or motion of the first limb or portion thereof and/or the second limb or portion thereof in 2- or 3-dimensional space provides information about a neural and/or muscular problem associated with impaired movement of a limb of the subject.

A method for assessing proprioception in a subject, comprising:

• coupling a first limb of a pair of limbs of the subject to a first articulating member, the first articulating member moveable in two or more degrees of freedom in 2- or 3-dimensional space and adapted for maintaining the limb in a desired geometry and/or at a desired location and/or for moving the limb through a desired motion in 2- or 3-dimensional space;
• coupling a second limb of said pair of limbs of the subject to a second articulating member, the second articulating member adapted for being moved by the second limb in two or more degrees of freedom in 2- or 3-dimensional space;
• obtaining angular geometry data and/or location data and/or motion data of the first limb or portion thereof and/or of the second limb or portion thereof in 2- or 3-dimensional space, while preventing the subject from seeing the first limb or portion thereof and/or the second limb or portion thereof without covering the subject's eyes, the subject performing a matching task;
• and
• comparing said data of the first limb with said data of the second limb;
• wherein the comparison provides information about proprioception relating to the subject's limbs.

A method for assessing proprioception in a subject, comprising:

• coupling a first limb of a pair of limbs of the subject to a first articulating member, the first articulating member movable in two or more degrees of freedom in 2- or 3-dimensional space and adapted for maintaining the first limb in a desired geometry and/or at a desired location in 2- or 3- dimensional space, and/or for moving the first limb through a desired motion in 2- or 3-dimensional space;
• coupling a second limb of said pair of limbs of the subject to a second articulating member, the second articulating member adapted for being moved by the second limb in two or more degrees of freedom in 2- or 3-dimensional space;
• obtaining angular geometry data and/or location data and/or motion data of the first limb or portion thereof and/or the second limb or portion thereof in 2- or 3-dimensional space, while preventing the subject from seeing the first limb or portion thereof and/or the second limb or portion thereof without covering the subject's eyes, the subject performing a matching task;
• monitoring the subject's gaze direction as the subject is looking toward the perceived location of the first limb or portion thereof and/or the second limb or portion thereof;
• and
• relating the subject's gaze direction to the angular geometry and/or location and/or motion of the first limb or portion thereof and/or the second limb or portion thereof in 2- or 3-dimensional space;
• wherein relating the subject's gaze direction to the angular geometry and/or location and/or motion of the first limb or portion thereof and/or the second limb or portion thereof in 2- or 3-dimensional space provides information about proprioception associated with the subject's limbs.