Dynamic joint motion analysis technique
First Claim
1. A system for the electrogoniometric study of the knee comprising:
- a three plane goniometer assembly;
means for mounting said three plane goniometer assembly adjacent the outside of the knee, said mounting means including means for mounting the upper portion of said assembly from the thigh;
said goniometer assembly including a rod of noncircular cross section for rotational actuation by type lower leg;
means, including a fitting having an opening for slidably receiving said rod, for securing to the lower leg; and
means for mechanically reversing the orientation of said mounting means relative to the goniometer assembly by 180 degrees, whereby the identical unit may be used first mounted on the outside of one leg and then mounted on the outside of the other leg.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A three-plane goniometer or angle measuring apparatus includes three small potentiometers which are closely spaced together to measure rotation of the knee about three different axes. The unit is primarily mounted on a cuff on the outside of the thigh. The mounting assembly for the three plane goniometer includes a curved yoke where the ends of the yoke curve from the front to the rear, with the goniometer unit being held between the ends of the rearwardly extending arms of the yoke, so that accurate measurement may be maintained in all three planes even while the knee is bent to its extreme flexed position. Extending downwardly from the goniometer is a square rod which slidably engages a square hole in a nylon ball mounted in a two-axis gimbal, which is secured to a cuff strapped to the calf of the leg. Injuries may be diagnosed or characterized by comparing the pattern for one leg before injury with the pattern for that leg after injury or by comparing the pattern for one (healthy) leg with that for the other (injured) leg. The goniometer is mounted so that it may be readily reversed and used for both the right and left legs. Associated processing circuitry includes corresponding reversing circuits for conforming the plots for the right and left leg, and also includes special face marking circuitry. Comparative tests may be made for different types of footwear and athletic playing surfaces, and the torque which is produced may be compared to determine the preferred foot gear or playing surface.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for the electrogoniometric study of the knee comprising:
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a three plane goniometer assembly; means for mounting said three plane goniometer assembly adjacent the outside of the knee, said mounting means including means for mounting the upper portion of said assembly from the thigh; said goniometer assembly including a rod of noncircular cross section for rotational actuation by type lower leg; means, including a fitting having an opening for slidably receiving said rod, for securing to the lower leg; and means for mechanically reversing the orientation of said mounting means relative to the goniometer assembly by 180 degrees, whereby the identical unit may be used first mounted on the outside of one leg and then mounted on the outside of the other leg. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for the electrogoniometric study of the knee comprising:
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a three plane goniometer assembly; means for fixedly mounting said three plane goniometer assembly adjacent the outside of the knee, said mounting means including a relatively flat mounting plate and means for securing said mounting plate to the outside of the thigh; said goniometer assembly including means secured to the lower leg for determining internal/external rotation of the lower leg relative to the upper leg; and means for reversing the orientation of said mounting means relative to the goniometer by 180 degrees, whereby the identical unit may be used first mounted on the outside of one leg and then mounted on the outside of the other leg. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A system for the electrogoniometric study of a joint between a first and second member of the anatomy comprising:
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a three plane goniometer assembly; means for mounting said three plane goniometer assembly from said first member adjacent the outside of the joint; said goniometer assembly including means secured to said second member for actuating said goniometer in accordance with the motion of said second member relative to said first member; and means for mechanically reversing the orientation of said mounting means relative to the goniometer assembly by 180 degrees, whereby identical assembly may be used first mounted adjacent one joint and then mounted adjacent another similar joint. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification