3-dimensional digitizer for skeletal analysis
First Claim
1. A method of performing 3-dimensional skeletal analysis on a patient using an apparatus which includes digitizer means, said digitizer means comprising a plurality of rotatable transducers, a plurality of link members linking said rotatable transducers, and a digitizer tip having a free end, said digitizer means accepting either a scanning digitizer tip or a point digitizer tip, said scanning tip comprising means at the free end thereof for performing scans, said point digitizer tip comprising a point at the free end thereof for performing single point landmark digitizations, said method comprising the steps of:
- (A) placing the patient in a variety of positions relevant to musculoskeletal problems, the position of said patient being changed, as required, between the performance of the steps as recited in paragraph (B) below;
(B) performing a series of scans, with said scanning digitizer tip, by moving said scanning digitizer tip along lines of interest on the surface of said patient'"'"'s body, and performing single point landmark digitizations of musculoskeletal landmarks, with said point digitizer tip, by moving said point of said point digitizer tip to points of interest on the surface of said patient'"'"'s body, to obtain 3-dimensional skeletal data;
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Abstract
A method of performing 3-dimensional skeletal analysis on a patient using an apparatus which includes a digitizer, the digitizer being adapted to accept either a scanning digitizer tip or a point digitizer tip, includes the steps of placing the patient in a variety of positions relevant to musculoskeletal problems and performing a series of rolling scans, with the scanning digitizer tip and single point landmark digitizations of musculoskeletal landmarks, with the point digitizer tip to obtain 3-dimensional skeletal data. The data is analyzed in order to provide clinically relevant 3-dimensional information relating to musculoskeletal quantities and imbalances. An apparatus for carrying out the method includes an upright column support and a retractable column support movable along the support column for supporting the patient. A digitizer measures the position of a point, or a group of points, on the patient'"'"'s body in 3-dimensional space. The digitizer includes a plurality of rotatable transducers and a plurality of link members linking the rotatable transducers. The digitizer is connected at one end to the support column and has a free end. The free end of the digitizer is adapted to accept a digitizer tip. The apparatus also includes a computer and the output of the digitizer is connected to the computer whereby to provide data to the computer for computing the position of the point or group of points on the patient'"'"'s body in 3-dimensional space.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of performing 3-dimensional skeletal analysis on a patient using an apparatus which includes digitizer means, said digitizer means comprising a plurality of rotatable transducers, a plurality of link members linking said rotatable transducers, and a digitizer tip having a free end, said digitizer means accepting either a scanning digitizer tip or a point digitizer tip, said scanning tip comprising means at the free end thereof for performing scans, said point digitizer tip comprising a point at the free end thereof for performing single point landmark digitizations, said method comprising the steps of:
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(A) placing the patient in a variety of positions relevant to musculoskeletal problems, the position of said patient being changed, as required, between the performance of the steps as recited in paragraph (B) below; (B) performing a series of scans, with said scanning digitizer tip, by moving said scanning digitizer tip along lines of interest on the surface of said patient'"'"'s body, and performing single point landmark digitizations of musculoskeletal landmarks, with said point digitizer tip, by moving said point of said point digitizer tip to points of interest on the surface of said patient'"'"'s body, to obtain 3-dimensional skeletal data; - View Dependent Claims (3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12)
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- 2. (C) analyzing said data in order to provide clinically relevant 3-dimensional information relating to musculoskeletal quantitites and imbalances.
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5. placing the patient in said second position and performing said second series of scans using said scanning digitizer tip;
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3. placing said patient in said third position and performing said series of single point landmark digitizations using said point digitizer tip.
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9. performing vertical scans wherein, in said second position, said patient is in an upright position, and wherein said second series of scans comprises:
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a. inside and along the right and left legs; b. outside right and left sides extending from under the earlobe to the lateral malleoli; c. posterior base of the skull down to the lumbosacral joint; d. four inches to the right and left of the last scan (3); e. anterior and posterior of both legs comprised of a line joining the anterior superior pelvic crest to the toes, and the posterior gluteal crease to the base of the heel; 3. performing specific landmark digitizations wherein, in said third position, said patient is in an upright position, and wherein said series of single point landmark digitizations comprises; a. medial and lateral malleoli; b. medial and lateral knee joint line; c. posterior pelvic crest right and left; d. anterior and superior illiac crests, right and left; e. right and left greater trochanter; f. right and left earlobe; g. medial and lateral edge of patella on right and left leg; h. chin center and superior aspect of the bridge of the nose; i. inside and outside edge of the foot/floor contact, right and left; whereby to provide a tabular and graphical output describing plumb line segmental alignment, radii of kyphosis and lordosis and leg length. - View Dependent Claims (14, 16, 17)
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13. placing said patient in said first position and performing said first series of rolling scans on the patient using said scanning digitizer tip;
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2. placing the patient in said second position and performing said second series of rolling scans using said scanning digitizer tip; and 3. placing said patient in said third position and performing said series of single point landmark digitizations using said point digitizer tip.
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15. performing a lower extremity measurement wherein, in said third position, said patient is in the upright position and wherein said series of single point landmark digitizations comprise a number of isolated boney landmarks digitized in order to quantify lower extremity contributions to the conditions;
- said isolated boney landmarks comprising pelvic rotation in two planes, leg length and apparent leg length in the upright position, and digitization of the anterior and posterior superior illiac crests and the malleoli.
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18. performing specfic landmark digitizations wherein, in said third position, said patient is in an upright position, and wherein said series of single point landmark digitizations comprises:
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a. medial and lateral malleoli; b. medial and lateral knee joint line; c. posterior pelvic crest right and left; d. anterior and superior illiac crests, right and left, e. right and left greater trochanter; f. right and left earlobe; g. medial and lateral edge of patella on right and left leg; h. chin center and superior aspect of the bridge of the nose; i. inside and outside edge of the foot/floor contact, right and left; whereby, to provide a tabular and graphical output describing plumb line segmental alignment, radii of kyphosis and lordosis and leg length.
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Specification