Assessment Apparatus and Method
First Claim
1. An apparatus for assessing and/or exercising cranio-cervical musculature in a subject, the apparatus comprising:
- a force receiving member having a subject input region adapted to receive force input from the head of the subject;
an axis of rotation of the force receiving member spaced from the subject input region and substantially aligned with the C0/1 joint of the subject; and
torque assessment means for determining or assessing torque produced at the axis of rotation of the force receiving member.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are described for assessing function of the cranio-cervical muscles. The method includes assessment of torque produced during flexion/extension, axial rotation, lateral rotation or combination thereof. The apparatus (110) has a lever arm (130) mounted to a support frame (120), wherein the length of the arm and its angle of extension may be varied. Torque is assessed at an anatomical axis of rotation in a subject. The apparatus axis of rotation may be adjustable. A preferred embodiment has a pivoted support frame for positioning over a subject'"'"'s head, wherein the support frame (120) may form a lever arm for rotation. The apparatus may be removably mountable to an upright such as a door jamb.
6 Citations
140 Claims
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1. An apparatus for assessing and/or exercising cranio-cervical musculature in a subject, the apparatus comprising:
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a force receiving member having a subject input region adapted to receive force input from the head of the subject;
an axis of rotation of the force receiving member spaced from the subject input region and substantially aligned with the C0/1 joint of the subject; and
torque assessment means for determining or assessing torque produced at the axis of rotation of the force receiving member. - View Dependent Claims (112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130)
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2-111. -111. (canceled)
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131. A dynamometer for assessing muscular generation of torque by C-C muscles of a subject, the dynamometer comprising:
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one or more lever arms rotatably mounted to a support frame and having a subject contact region;
torque measuring or assessing means for measuring or assessing torque produced by the subject; and
locking means for locking the lever arm in position relative to an axis of rotation of the lever arm substantially in alignment with the C0/1 joint of the subject;
wherein the length of the lever arm and its angle are variable. - View Dependent Claims (132, 133, 134, 135, 136)
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137. A method of assessing and/or exercising C-C musculature, the method comprising:
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conducting a repeated performance of C-C muscle activity including flexion/extension about the C0/1 joint, and optionally axial rotation and lateral flexion; and
monitoring performance of the muscle groups during the C-C muscle activity. - View Dependent Claims (138)
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139. An apparatus for improving and/or assessing performance of cranio-cervical muscles, the apparatus comprising:
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an adjustable clamp for fixing the apparatus to a support structure;
a shaft supporting the clamp;
a support frame member adapted for location over a subject'"'"'s head, the support frame member rotatably fixed to the shaft and adapted to act as a lever arm for axial rotation;
brake means for locking and releasing the support frame member to rotate;
ear pads rotatably fixed to the support frame member and adapted to locate on or over a subject'"'"'s ears, a space between the ear pads being adjustable; and
a lever arm extending from the support frame and adapted to engage a subject for flexion extension assessment;
wherein the lever arm is adjustable in both length and a direction of extension from the support frame member and wherein the ear pieces are positioned to substantially align an axis of rotation of the lever arm and approximate anatomical axis of rotation of the subject during flexion/extension. - View Dependent Claims (140)
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Specification