Comprehensive neuromuscular profiler

• US 20060058699A1
• Filed: 07/09/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Med-Tek LLC
• Original Assignee: Integrated Medical Technologies Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Cyphery, Charles Dean, Butler, Lance H, Vitiello, Marco N
• Granted Patent: US 8,323,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/546
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/40 Animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1127 using markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/224 Measuring muscular strength
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/225 of the fingers, e.g. by monitoring hand-grip force
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence

Abstract

A Comprehensive Neuromuscular Profiler (CNMP) allows the observation of human and equine muscle functionality and characteristics. The CNMP consists of an integrated system which combines EMG technology, electromagnetic range-of-motion (ROM) technology, and functional capacity sensors. Output signals from the devices are digitized and stored in computer memory. The data may be transmitted to a server computer for further analysis. The server computer examines the data to determine patterns and consults an expert database to determine a diagnosis based on the patterns and combinations of patterns detected.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating neuromuscular profile data for a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a. means for generating EMG data for a patient;

b. means for generating ROM data for a patient, said means for generating ROM data utilizing a remote sensing technology;

c. a computer having a computer memory, said computer being operatively connected to said means for generating said EMG data and said ROM data, said computer being adapted to receive said EMG data and said ROM data and to store said EMG data and said ROM data in said computer memory.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said remote sensing technology comprises pulsed DC electromagnetic field technology, AC electromagnetic field technology or optical technology.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said remote sensing technology comprises a pulsed DC electromagnetic field technology.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said pulsed DC electromagnetic field technology comprises a ROM transmitter and a ROM sensor, said ROM transmitter adapted to be placed in a predetermined relationship with a body of the patient and further adapted to generate an electromagnetic field, said ROM sensor adapted to be attached to said body of the patient, said ROM sensor being adapted to generate a ROM signal in response to a location of said ROM sensor within said electromagnetic field.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

means for generating isometric function data for the patient, said computer being operatively connected to said means for generating said isometric function data, said computer being adapted to receive said isometric function data and to store said isometric function data in said computer memory.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

means for generating grip strength data for the patient, said computer being operatively connected to said means for generating grip data, said computer being adapted to receive said grip data and to store said grip data in said computer memory;

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

means for generating finger pinch data for the patient, said computer being operatively connected to said means for generating said finger pinch data, said computer being adapted to receive said finger pinch data and to store said finger pinch data in said computer memory.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

means for generating video information, said computer being operatively connected to said means for generating said video information, said computer being adapted to receive said video information and to store said video information in said computer memory.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a protocol, said computer having a memory, said protocol being resident in said memory of said computer;

said protocol comprising an instruction for a task to be performed by the patient, said protocol further comprising a specification for protocol data to be collected during performance of said task by the patient, said computer being adapted to collect and to record said protocol data to said computer memory.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said protocol data comprises one or more of said EMG data, said ROM data, said isometric function data, said grip data, said pinch data or said video information.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said computer is adapted to provide to a user said instruction for said task to be performed by the patient.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a. a server computer;

b. a computer network, said computer being a first client computer, said server computer and said first client computer being adapted to communicate one with the other over said computer network, said first client computer being adapted to transmit said protocol data to said server computer over said computer network.

13. An apparatus for generating neuromuscular profile data for a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a. a signal conditioning and conversion circuit board;

b. an EMG sensor adapted to be attached to the patient at a predetermined EMG sensor location, said EMG sensor being adapted to generate an EMG signal;

said EMG sensor being electrically connected to said signal conditioning and conversion circuit board, said signal conditioning and conversion circuit board being adapted to receive said EMG signal and to convert said EMG signal into EMG data;

c. a ROM transmitter adapted to be placed in a predetermined transmitter location with respect to the patient and to generate an electromagnetic field;

d. a ROM sensor adapted to be attached to a body of the patient at a predetermined ROM sensor location and to interact with said electromagnetic field to generate a ROM signal;

e. a ROM signal processor electrically connected to said ROM sensor, said ROM signal processor being adapted to receive said ROM signal and to convert said ROM signal to ROM data;

f. a computer having a computer memory, said computer being electrically connected to said signal conditioning and conversion circuit board and to said ROM signal processor, said computer being adapted to receive said EMG data and said ROM data and to store said EMG data and said ROM data in said computer memory.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising said computer being a first client computer, said first client computer being adapted to transmit said EMG data and said ROM data to a server computer over a computer network.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

an isometric function sensor adapted to generate an isometric function signal in response to a force applied by the patient;

said isometric function sensor being electrically connected to said signal conditioning and conversion circuit board, said signal conditioning and conversion circuit board being adapted to convert said isometric function signal into isometric function data, said computer being adapted to receive said isometric function data and to store said isometric function data in said computer memory.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a grip strength sensor adapted to generate a grip signal in response to a grip of the patient;

said grip strength sensor being electrically connected to said signal conditioning and conversion circuit board, said signal conditioning and conversion circuit board being adapted to convert said grip strength signal into grip data, said computer being adapted to receive said grip data and to store said grip data in said computer memory.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a finger pinch strength sensor, said finger pinch strength sensor generating a pinch strength signal in response to a finger pinch of the patient;

said pinch strength sensor being electrically connected to said signal conditioning and conversion circuit board, said circuit board converting said finger pinch strength signal into pinch data, said computer being adapted to receive said pinch data and to store said pinch data in said computer memory.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a video camera adapted to generate video information of the patient, said video camera being electrically connected to said computer, said computer being adapted to receive said video information from said signal conditioning and conversion circuit board and to store said video information in said computer memory.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a protocol, said protocol being resident in said computer memory of said computer;

said protocol comprising an instruction for a task to be performed by the patient, said protocol further comprising a specification for protocol data to be collected during performance of said task by the patient, said computer being adapted to administer said protocol and to collect said protocol data.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said protocol data comprises one or more of said EMG data, said ROM data, an isometric function data, a grip data, a pinch data or a video information.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said computer is adapted to provide to a user said instruction for said task to be performed by the patient.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said computer is a first client computer, said first client computer is adapted to transmit said protocol data to a server computer over a computer network.

23. A method for collecting neuromuscular data for a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

a. generating EMG data for the patient;

b. generating ROM data for the patient, said ROM data being generated using a remote sensing technology;

c. storing said EMG data and said ROM data in a computer memory.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

a. comparing said EMG data and said ROM data in combination to an expert database, said expert database associating a profile with said combination of said EMG data and said ROM data;

b. assigning to the patient said profile;

c. communicating to a user said assigned profile.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein said remote sensing technology is selected from the group consisting of pulsed DC electromagnetic field technology, AC electromagnetic field technology and optical technology

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said remote sensing technology comprises pulsed DC electromagnetic field technology.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

a. generating functional capacity data for the patient;

b. recording said functional capacity data in said computer memory.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said functional capacity data comprises pinch data, grip data and isometric function data.