Force monitoring apparatus for back muscles
First Claim
1. A muscle function analysis system comprising:
- base means;
restraint means supported by said base means and shaped and arranged for receiving and immobilizing one portion of a person'"'"'s body, said one portion retaining a muscle group concurrently activatable to produce a body function;
electrode means adapted for coupling to said muscle group for receiving myoelectric signals generated by muscle activity therein;
processing means coupled to said electrode means for processing said myoelectric signals;
constraint means supported by said base means and adapted for resisting body movement in response to muscle activity in said muscle group, said constraint means adapted for dividing the force generated by said muscle activity into a plurality of components, each corresponding to the relative force contributions of different muscles in said muscle group;
a plurality of sensors coupled to said constraint means and capable of independent actuation for providing said processing means with a plurality of outputs each dependent on the value of a different one of said components; and
indicator means coupled to said processing means and controlled thereby for providing the person with information determined by a comparison of said outputs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A muscle function analysis system including a base; a restraint device supported by the base and shaped and arranged to receive and immobilize one portion of a person'"'"'s body, the one portion retaining a muscle group concurrently activatable to produce a body function; an electrode array adapted for coupling to the muscle group so as to receive myoelectric signals generated by muscle activity therein; and a processing system coupled to the electrode array and adapted to process the myoelectric signals. Also included in the system is a constraint supported by the base and adapted to resist body movement in response to muscle activity in the muscle group, the constraint adapted to divide the force generated by the muscle activity into a plurality of components; sensing means coupled to the constraint and adapted to provide the processing system with a plurality of outputs each dependent on the value of a different one of the components; and an indicator coupled to the processing system and controlled thereby to provide the person with information determined by a comparison of the outputs. Providing indications of plural components of applied force components facilitates balancing of the applied force in a predetermined manner.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A muscle function analysis system comprising:
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base means; restraint means supported by said base means and shaped and arranged for receiving and immobilizing one portion of a person'"'"'s body, said one portion retaining a muscle group concurrently activatable to produce a body function; electrode means adapted for coupling to said muscle group for receiving myoelectric signals generated by muscle activity therein; processing means coupled to said electrode means for processing said myoelectric signals; constraint means supported by said base means and adapted for resisting body movement in response to muscle activity in said muscle group, said constraint means adapted for dividing the force generated by said muscle activity into a plurality of components, each corresponding to the relative force contributions of different muscles in said muscle group; a plurality of sensors coupled to said constraint means and capable of independent actuation for providing said processing means with a plurality of outputs each dependent on the value of a different one of said components; and indicator means coupled to said processing means and controlled thereby for providing the person with information determined by a comparison of said outputs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification