Apparatus and method for determining angle of inclination and range of motion of various human joints therefrom
First Claim
1. A human body angle measuring apparatus, comprising:
- a. a support, said support having a preselected zero degree point;
b. a shaft, said shaft rotatably connected to said support and protruding perpendicularly therefrom;
c. a ring magnet connected to said shaft, said ring magnet having an outer cylindrical surface, said ring magnet being parallel to said support;
d. a first Hall effect transducer, said first transducer connected to said support at a first preselected location and protruding perpendicularly therefrom, said first transducer being proximate said outer cylindrical surface of said ring magnet, said first transducer providing a first voltage output signal, said first voltage output signal representing a measurable first transducer magnetic field intensity;
e. a second Hall effect transducer, said second transducer connected to said support at a second preselected location and protruding perpendicularly therefrom, said second transducer being proximate said outer cylindrical surface of said ring magnet, said second transducer providing a second voltage output signal, said second voltage output signal representing a measurable second transducer magnetic field intensity;
f. means for evaluating said first voltage output signal and said second voltage output signal to determine an inclination angle, said inclination angle representing a measure of tilt of said support from said preselected zero degree point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method used to determine angle of inclination and the range of motion of various human joints therefrom, such as, for example, cervical flexion. The apparatus of one preferred embodiment is a computerized arthrometer which is a stand-alone automated apparatus. Output can be provided to a printer for hard copy or to a computer for storage or further manipulation of data. Each sensor or inclinometer used in the preferred embodiment employs a pair of Hall effect transducers spaced about a rotating ring magnet. The voltage output of the transducers can be evaluated to accurately determine the angle of inclination. In another preferred embodiment, instead of the magnet and transducers, the sensors can include circular sensor having six capacitive sectors, each sector changing capacitance as the circular sensor is rotated. The six capacitance values are evaluated to determine the angle of inclination. Another embodiment incorporates the apparatus into readily available "personal computers" ("PCs"). By employing a pair of sensors for selected range of motion tests, measurement accuracy is increased by compensating for the effects of secondary motion, for example, compensating for forward or backward movement of the torso when measuring cervical flexion or cervical extension, respectively.
31 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A human body angle measuring apparatus, comprising:
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a. a support, said support having a preselected zero degree point; b. a shaft, said shaft rotatably connected to said support and protruding perpendicularly therefrom; c. a ring magnet connected to said shaft, said ring magnet having an outer cylindrical surface, said ring magnet being parallel to said support; d. a first Hall effect transducer, said first transducer connected to said support at a first preselected location and protruding perpendicularly therefrom, said first transducer being proximate said outer cylindrical surface of said ring magnet, said first transducer providing a first voltage output signal, said first voltage output signal representing a measurable first transducer magnetic field intensity; e. a second Hall effect transducer, said second transducer connected to said support at a second preselected location and protruding perpendicularly therefrom, said second transducer being proximate said outer cylindrical surface of said ring magnet, said second transducer providing a second voltage output signal, said second voltage output signal representing a measurable second transducer magnetic field intensity; f. means for evaluating said first voltage output signal and said second voltage output signal to determine an inclination angle, said inclination angle representing a measure of tilt of said support from said preselected zero degree point. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A human body range of motion determining apparatus, comprising:
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a. a primary sensor, said primary sensor producing at least one primary output signal, said at least one primary output signal representing an angle of inclination of said primary sensor; b. a secondary sensor, said secondary sensor producing at least one secondary output signal, said at least one secondary output signal representing an angle of inclination of said secondary sensor; and
,c. means for controlling said apparatus, said controlling means communicating with said primary sensor and said secondary sensor, said controlling means including means for initially evaluating said at least one primary output signal to determine a primary calibration angle of inclination and initially evaluating said at least one secondary output signal to determine a secondary calibration angle of inclination, means for evaluating said at least one primary output signal to determine a primary angle of inclination and evaluating said at least one secondary output signal to determine a secondary angle of inclination, means for comparing said primary angle of inclination and said primary calibration angle of inclination to determine a primary range of motion, means for comparing said secondary angle of inclination and said secondary calibration angle of inclination to determine a secondary range of motion, and means for comparing said primary range of motion and said secondary range of motion to determine an actual range of motion. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of determining range of motion comprising the steps of:
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a. placing a helmet having a primary sensor on a head of a person to be tested; b. positioning said person to be tested in a neutral test position; c. selecting a range of motion test to be conducted; d. aligning said primary sensor for said selected test; e. aligning a secondary sensor in a desired body location of said person to be tested; f. calibrating a range of motion apparatus which is in communication with said primary and said secondary sensors; g. having said person to be tested move from said neutral test position to a range of motion measurement position; and
,h. activating said range of motion apparatus to determine an actual range of motion. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification