HIGH PRECISION SENSING FOR PARAMETER MEASUREMENT OF THE MUSCULAR-SKELETAL SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A force measurement system for the muscular-skeletal system comprising:
- a surface for coupling to the muscular-skeletal system;
a compressible waveguide coupled to the surface;
at least one ultrasonic transducer coupled to the compressible waveguide; and
circuitry to sustain continuous wave propagation in the waveguide during a measurement sequence where an integer number of energy waves is maintained in the waveguide such that a change in length of the waveguide results in a change in transit time, frequency, or phase of the energy waves.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A measurement system for capturing a transit time, phase, or frequency of energy waves propagating through a propagation medium is disclosed. The measurement system comprises a compressible waveguide (403), ultrasonic transducers (405, 406), and circuitry to sustain energy wave propagation in the waveguide (403). The circuitry includes a propagation tuned oscillator (404), a digital counter (409), a pulse generator (410), a phase detector (414), a counter (420), a digital timer (422), and a data register (424). The measurement system employs a continuous mode (CM), pulse mode, or pulse-echo mode of operation to evaluate propagation characteristics of continuous ultrasonic waves in the waveguide by way of closed-loop feedback to determine levels of applied forces on the waveguide.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A force measurement system for the muscular-skeletal system comprising:
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a surface for coupling to the muscular-skeletal system; a compressible waveguide coupled to the surface; at least one ultrasonic transducer coupled to the compressible waveguide; and circuitry to sustain continuous wave propagation in the waveguide during a measurement sequence where an integer number of energy waves is maintained in the waveguide such that a change in length of the waveguide results in a change in transit time, frequency, or phase of the energy waves. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A force measurement system for the muscular-skeletal system comprising:
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a surface for coupling to the muscular-skeletal system; a compressible waveguide coupled to the surface; at least one ultrasonic transducer coupled to the compressible waveguide; and circuitry to sustain pulsed wave propagation in the waveguide during a measurement sequence where an integer number of pulsed energy waves is maintained in the waveguide such that a change in length of the waveguide results in a change in transit time, frequency, or phase of the pulsed energy waves. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A force measurement system for the muscular-skeletal system comprising:
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a surface for coupling to the muscular-skeletal system; a compressible waveguide coupled to the surface; at least one ultrasonic transducer coupled to the compressible waveguide; and circuitry to sustain pulsed wave propagation in the waveguide during a measurement sequence where an integer number of reflected pulsed energy waves is maintained in the waveguide such that a change in length of the waveguide results in a change in transit time, frequency, or phase of the reflected pulsed energy waves. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification