System for testing hand, wrist, and forearm strength
First Claim
1. A system for measuring a force applied by the limb of a living being along any of a predetermined plurality of directions of applications of the force, the system comprising:
- first and second support means arranged on opposite sides of the limb;
transducer means for producing a signal responsive to a substantially static force applied thereto;
first and second flexible line means each having a first end disposed in the vicinity of a respectively associated one of the first and second support means, and a second end arranged in the vicinity of said transducer means, said first and second flexible line means being axially substantially inextensible and associated with respective first and second directions of application of the force by the limb of the living being;
coupler means for coupling said second ends of at least said first and second flexible line means to said transducer means such that substantially static tensile forces in said first and second flexible line means are delivered to said transducer means; and
limb coupling means for coupling said first and second flexible line means to the limb, whereby a substantially static tensile force in said coupled one of said first and second flexible line means is delivered to said transducer means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for measuring the forces which are applied by a limb of a living being, particularly the hand, wrist, and forearm of a human being, employs a plurality of cable members for conducting the forces exerted in a variety of directions to a single force transducer. In addition to permitting a significant reduction in cost for the apparatus of the invention, the use of a single transducer ensures that all forces are correlated in magnitude with respect to one another, thereby greatly reducing the problems associated with system calibration. The apparatus aspect of the invention permits readings of plural motions and forces to be taken, which readings can be delivered to a recording device, such as a computer for storage, analysis, and cross-correlation of the resulting data with itself and with extrinsic data. The invention therefore is useful in determining the presence of cumulative trauma disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, and can assist in identifying individuals and groups of individuals, illustratively on the basis of job function, which are at high risk of developing this condition.
25 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for measuring a force applied by the limb of a living being along any of a predetermined plurality of directions of applications of the force, the system comprising:
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first and second support means arranged on opposite sides of the limb; transducer means for producing a signal responsive to a substantially static force applied thereto; first and second flexible line means each having a first end disposed in the vicinity of a respectively associated one of the first and second support means, and a second end arranged in the vicinity of said transducer means, said first and second flexible line means being axially substantially inextensible and associated with respective first and second directions of application of the force by the limb of the living being; coupler means for coupling said second ends of at least said first and second flexible line means to said transducer means such that substantially static tensile forces in said first and second flexible line means are delivered to said transducer means; and limb coupling means for coupling said first and second flexible line means to the limb, whereby a substantially static tensile force in said coupled one of said first and second flexible line means is delivered to said transducer means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of determining forces applied by a limb of a living being, the method comprising the steps of:
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first coupling the limb of the living being to a first flexible line, said first flexible line being substantially inextensible and associated with a first direction of application of a force by the limb of the living being; second coupling the limb of the living being to a second flexible line, said second flexible line being substantially inextensible and associated with a second direction of application of force by the limb of the living being; urging the limb of the living being in a predetermined direction so as to apply a substantially static tensile force onto a selected one of the first and second flexible lines; transmitting the substantially static tensile force via the selected one of the first and second flexible lines to a transducer to which the first and second flexible lines are coupled; and producing a signal responsive to the substantially static tensile force. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for determining the presence of cumulative trauma disorders in a living being, the system comprising:
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a plurality of cord-like means for conducting substantially static tensile forces corresponding to a respectively associated plurality of directions, each of said cord-like means being substantially inextensible and each being associated with a predetermined direction of application of a substantially static tensile force applied by the living being; transducer means for producing a signal responsive to a substantially static force applied thereto by any one of the plurality of cord-like means; coupler means for coupling said plurality of cord-like means to said transducer means such that the substantially static tensile forces conducted by said plurality of cord-like means are delivered to said transducer means; and living being interface means for connecting the living being to at least one of said plurality of cord-like means, whereby a tensile force in said coupled one of said plurality of cord-like means is delivered to said transducer means. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification