Key device to measure pronation and supination of the forearm

• US 20060052726A1
• Filed: 09/08/2004
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Original Assignee: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Inventors: Weisz, Donald J., Gracies, Jean-Michel
• Application Number:
  US10/937,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20060052726A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1071 measuring angles, e.g. using goniometers A61B5/1123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1101 Detecting tremor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1104 induced by stimuli or drugs; A61B5/1102 takes precedence; investigating medicinal preparations G01N33/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1124 Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4082 Diagnosing or monitoring movement diseases, e.g. Parkinson, Huntington or Tourette
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6825 Hand
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/702 Posture restraints

Abstract

There is disclosed herein a method for quantifying a user'"'"'s motor skills. The method comprises the steps of voluntarily moving a motion sensing member for at least a part of one cycle, the cycle comprising movement in a first direction and a return direction, measuring at least one of regularity of the movement of the member and mean angular velocity of the member. The method may be performed simultaneously with two members. Further, the members may be actuated by various body parts including a finger, a hand, or a shoulder. The data generated by the movement of the motion sensor may be stored as modulated carrier frequency in order to perform the method in locations remote from laboratories or computing facilities.

Claims

1. A method for quantifying a user'"'"'s motor skills, comprising the steps of:

voluntarily moving a motion sensing member for at least a part of one cycle, the cycle comprising movement in a first direction and a return direction;

measuring at least one of regularity of the movement of the member and

mean angular velocity of the member.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein data generated by the motion sensing member is saved as a modulated carrier frequency.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring step comprises calculating the mean angular velocity for one cycle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring step comprises calculating the mean angular velocity during movement in the first direction.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring step comprises calculating the mean angular velocity during movement in the return direction.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring step comprises calculating the regularity for one cycle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring step comprises calculating the regularity during movement in the first direction.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring step comprises calculating the regularity during movement in the return direction.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring step comprises calculating the mean angular velocity for movements between 30 and 60 degrees.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring step comprises calculating the mean angular velocity for movements between 110 and 150 degrees.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring step comprises calculating the regularity for movements between 30 and 60 degrees.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring step comprises calculating the regularity for movements between 110 and 150 degrees.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion sensing member is constructed to be actuated about an axis along the length of the arm.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion sensing member is constructed to be actuated by pivoting an arm at a shoulder.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion sensing member is constructed to be actuated by pivoting an index finger through the center of the finger.

16. A method for quantifying a user'"'"'s motor skills, comprising the steps of:

moving two members bimanually in a first direction and in a return direction;

measuring at least one of regularity and mean angular velocity of each member for at least part of one cycle.

17. A method for diagnosing and detecting neurological disorders effecting motor skills, comprising the steps of:

detecting the voluntary movement of a portion of the body through at least a portion of a cycle comprising consecutive movements in opposite directions, and

measuring one of the regularity of the movement and the mean angular velocity of the movement.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the disorder is Parkinson'"'"'s Disease.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the portion of the body is a forearm.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the portion of the body is a finger.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the portion of the body is an arm.