Method and apparatus for positioning a forearm for imaging and analysis

• US 20060019800A1
• Filed: 08/25/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fredrick M. Schultz, Lawrence J. Berglund, Richard A. Berger
• Original Assignee: Fredrick M. Schultz, Lawrence J. Berglund, Richard A. Berger
• Inventors: Schultz, Fredrick M., Berger, Richard A., Berglund, Lawrence J.
• Application Number:
  US11/211,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20060019800A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0421 with immobilising means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2001/0203 Rotation of a body part around its longitudinal axis

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for repeatably positioning a forearm at a plurality of angular positions for medical analysis. A forearm of a patient is positioned in a support channel within reach of a rotatable handle. The handle can be locked in a number of angular positions, providing a counteractive force as the handle is rotated. The patient rotates and applies a torque force to the handle at selected rotational angles. The forearm and wrist can be scanned in these locked position, and applied torque can be measured to evaluate joint stability.

Claims

1. A method for repeatably positioning and stressing a forearm of a subject for scanning, imaging, or other examination, the method comprising:

restraining the forearm of the subject in a stationary position;

disposing a rotatable member within the reach of the hand of the subject;

selectively prompting the subject to move the rotatable member between a rest position and at least one rotation angle; and

scanning the forearm in the rest position and the rotation angle.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of scanning the forearm at the sixty degree pronation and at the sixty degree supination positions.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a counteractive force opposing the rotation of the rotatable member; and

prompting the subject to rotate the rotatable member against the counteractive force to provide a torque force; and

scanning the forearm of the subject as the torque is applied.

4. The method as defined in claim 3, further comprising the step of measuring the applied torque.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

restraining a second forearm of the subject in a second stationary position, the second stationary position being in a plane substantially parallel to the stationary position;

disposing a second rotatable member within the reach of the hand of the subject;

prompting the subject to simultaneously move each of the rotatable members to the same rotation angle; and

aligning the forearm and the second forearm to be in substantially identical positions;

scanning each of the forearm and the second forearm in each of the rest and the rotation angle positions.