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Method and apparatus for quantitative evaluation of back health

  • US 4,858,126 A
  • Filed: 02/26/1987
  • Issued: 08/15/1989
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1987
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of establishing a quantitative index representative of the extent of back injury in a human patient comprising:

  • (a) positioning the patient in a first position, said first position including said patient lying supine on a rigid surface with both legs held as close as possible to the chest;

    (b) measuring the angle through which the right femur of the patient passes as the patient slowly moves from said first position to a second position, said second position including the right leg of said patient being extended by said patient as far as possible along said rigid surface while said patient attempts to maintain the remainder of the body substantially as in said first position;

    (c) measuring the angle through which the left femur of the patient passes as the patient slowly moves from said first position to a third position, said third position including the left leg of said patient being extended by said patient as far as possible along said rigid surface while said patient attempts to maintain the remainder of the body substantially as in said first position;

    (d) positioning the patient in a fourth position on a rigid surface, said fourth position including said patient lying supine with knees bent and the heels at a distance of about 1 foot from the buttocks;

    (e) measuring the angle through which the mid axilla passes as the patient moves from said fourth position to a fifth position, said fifth position including said patient holding the head and shoulder blades as high as possible off the rigid surface while maintaining the remainder of the body substantially in said fourth position;

    (f) measuring the angle through which the left femur passes as the patient moves from said fourth position to a sixth position, said sixth position including the right leg being crossed over the left leg and the left knee being held by the patient as close as possible to the rigid surface and to the right of the patient;

    (g) measuring the angle through which the right femur passes as the patient moves from said fourth position to a seventh position, said seventh position including the left leg being crossed over the right leg and the right knee of the patient being held as close as possible to the rigid surface and to the left of the patient;

    (h) positioning the patient in an eighth position, said eighth position including said patient sitting with legs extended and together, the soles of the feet being substantially vertical;

    (i) measuring the horizontal distance between the fingertips of the patient and the point along the legs about eight inches in front of the toes of the patient after the patient moves from the eighth position to a ninth position, the ninth position including the patient being bent at the waist as far forward as possible and with arms at maximum extension;

    (j) positioning the patient in a tenth position, said tenth position including said patient lying prone on a rigid surface with chin lifted by the patient as far as possible off the rigid surface;

    (k) measuring the vertical distance between the bottom of the chin and the rigid surface with the patient in said tenth position;

    (l) providing an expected range of values for each of said measurements; and

    (m) comparing each of said actual measurements to said expected range to generate an overall index value representative of the extent of back injury of the patient.

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