Instrumented accelerometers for patient monitoring

• US 20010020143A1
• Filed: 04/10/2001
• Published: 09/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IZEX Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IZEX Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Stark, John G., Oyen, Duane P.
• Application Number:
  US09/829,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20010020143A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/13
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0188 having pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/012 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/02 Orthopaedic corsets arm-rests for use as writing aids B43L15/00

Abstract

Exercise orthoses are described that include a frame, a fluid bladder held by the frame, a pressure sensor attached to the fluid bladder and a microprocessor receiving the pressure measurements. The microprocessor monitors variations in pressure and determines differences between the measured pressures and predetermined target values. The frame can be designed to support a hinge joint or at least one vertebra. Furthermore, corrective back orthoses are described that include a frame, force applicators connected to the frame to apply force to the patient'"'"'s spine, a sensor that measures forces associated with the force Applicators and a control unit that monitors forces measured by the sensor. The corrective back orthosis can include fluid bladders as force applicators. The control unit can include a microprocessor.

Claims

1. An orthopedic device comprising:

(a) a frame that can restrain a first flexibly connected body portion of an individual relative to a second flexibly connected body portion;

(b) a bladder held by said frame, where said bladder contacts at least one of said flexibly connected body portions when said frame is restraining said flexibly connected body portions;

(c) a pressure sensor attached to said bladder such that pressure within said bladder is measured; and

(d) a microprocessor receiving said pressure measurements, where said microprocessor monitors variations in pressure.

2. The orthopedic restraining device of

claim 1

, wherein said frame comprises a hinge.

3. The orthopedic restraining device of

claim 1

, wherein said bladder is positionable relative to said frame to adjust the rest pressure within said bladder.

4. The orthopedic restraining device of

claim 1

, wherein said first flexibly connected body portion of said individual and said second flexibly connected body portion are connected by a hinge joint or ball and socket joint.

5. The orthopedic restraining device of

claim 1

, wherein said first flexibly connected body portion of said individual and said second flexibly connected body portion are connected by at least one vertebra.

6. The orthopedic restraining device of

claim 1

, wherein said bladder holds air.

7. The orthopedic restraining device of

claim 1

, further comprising an accelerometer to measure acceleration associated with said flexibly connected body portions.

8. A corrective back orthosis comprising:

(a) a frame that fits around at least a portion of a patient'"'"'s torso to surround a portion of said patient'"'"'s spine;

(b) a bladder supported by said frame, where said bladder is positioned to provide corrective forces to said spine of said patient; and

(c) a pressure sensor attached to said bladder such that pressure within said bladder is measured.

9. The corrective back orthosis of

claim 8

, further comprising a microprocessor that monitors pressures measured by said sensor.

10. The corrective back orthosis of

claim 9

, further comprising a graphic display interfaced to said microprocessor, where said graphic display depicts the forces along spinal orientations of said patient.

11. The corrective back orthosis of

claim 8

, further comprising a valve providing for the release of fluid from said bladder.

12. The corrective back orthosis of

claim 8

, wherein said corrective back orthotic comprises a plurality of bladders.

13. A corrective back orthosis comprising:

(a) a frame that fits around at least a portion of a patient'"'"'s torso to surround a portion of said patient'"'"'s spine;

(b) a force applicator connected to said frame to apply force to said patient'"'"'s spine;

(c) a sensor that measures forces associated with said force applicators; and

(d) a control unit connected to said force sensor for displaying values related to said measured forces.

14. The corrective back orthosis of

claim 13

, wherein said control unit comprises a microprocessor that monitors forces measured by said sensor.

15. The corrective back orthosis of

claim 14

, further comprising a graphic display interfaced to said microprocessor, where said graphic display depicts forces along spinal orientations of said patient.

16. A method of correcting spinal misalignment of a patient comprising the step of applying appropriate corrective forces to said spine using a back orthosis comprising a bladder and a pressure sensor positioned to measure pressure associated with said bladder, where said bladder is positioned to provide a contribution to said corrective forces and is adjusted to a desired inflation.

17. The method of

claim 16

, wherein said appropriate corrective forces are oriented along a plurality of vectors.

18. The method of

claim 16

, wherein said back orthosis further comprises a microprocessor, which monitors pressures measured by said sensor and determines variation in said measured pressure and predetermined desired values.

19. The method of

claim 18

, wherein said microprocessor is interfaced to a graphic display to provide a graphic analysis of spinal position and of the vectors of corrective forces used to correct said position.

20. A method of correcting spinal misalignment comprising the step of applying appropriate corrective forces to said spine using a back orthosis comprising:

a) force applicators connected to a frame that fits around at least a portion of a patient'"'"'s torso to surround a portion of said patient'"'"'s spine, b) a sensor that measures forces associated with said force applicators and c) a control unit that displays values related to said measured forces.