Method for measuring and indicating the extent to which an individual is limited in daily life activities

• US 6,165,143 A
• Filed: 03/17/1999
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: R. C. Van Lummel
• Original Assignee: R. C. Van Lummel
• Inventors: van Lummel, R. C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARMOR II, CHARLES ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/270,719
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 600/587, 600/595
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence

Abstract

A method for measuring and numerically indicating the extent to which an individual is limited in daily life activities, comprising measuring, with the aid of at least one sensor to be fastened to the body of the individual to be examined, postures, movements and/or motional changes of the body and/or parts of the body of the individual in a selected number of motor activities to be performed by the individual, wherein the measuring data of the sensor are inputted into a computing device and are subsequently compared to corresponding reference data inputted into the computing device, coming from one or more standard groups, in order to determine per measurement or series of measurements a percentage indicating the extent to which the individual is limited as regards the activity in question.

Claims

1. A method for measuring and indicating, in the form of an indication on a predetermined scale of comparison, the extent to which an individual is limited in daily life activities, comprising:

measuring, with the aid of at least one sensor to be fastened to the body of the individual to be examined, postures, movements or motional changes of the body or parts of the body of the individual in a selected number of motor activities to be performed by the individual;

wherein the measuring data of the at least one sensor are inputted into a suitably programmed computing device, where those data, as far as necessary, are converted into data concerning position or movement or motional change of the body or parts of the body, and are subsequently compared to corresponding reference data inputted into the computing device, coming from one or more standard persons or standard groups, in order to determine per measurement or series of measurements a percentage or ratio indicating the extent to which the individual is limited as regards the activity in question.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein for a number of physical activities of the kind that are performed daily, and divided over a number of main functions,

determining ratios for a number of movement characteristics per activity and then averaged at least per activity, in order to determine a percentage or ratio for each of those activities;

followed by determining from the ratios of activities belonging to one main function a ratio for that main function; and

determining from the ratios for each of the number of main functions one total percentage or total ratio which is representative of the total limitation in daily life activities, the total function, of the individual in question.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the measuring steps are performed on activities selected from at least each of the groups of locomotion, rise and descend, transfer, lifting and moving loads.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the measuring steps are performed on activities at least comprising walking, climbing stairs, descending stairs, sitting down in a chair, getting up from a chair, lying down on a bed, getting up from a bed, lifting an object and carrying an object.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein the measuring steps are performed with at least two sensors to be fastened to the body of the individual to be examined.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the measuring steps are performed,

using a sensor fitted in a strap or other element to be fastened around the waist of the individual to be examined;

and

using a sensor fitted in a strap or other element to be fastened to a lower or upper leg of the individual to be examined.

7. A method according to claim 2, wherein the measuring steps are performed with at least two sensors to be fastened to the body of the individual to be examined.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the measuring steps are performed,

using a sensor fitted in a strap or other element to be fastened around the waist of die individual to be examined, and

using a sensor fitted in a strap or other element to be fastened to a lower or upper leg of the individual to be examined.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the measuring steps are performed on activities selected from at least each of the groups of locomotion, rise and descend, transfer, lifting and moving loads.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the measuring steps are performed with at least two sensors to be fastened to the body of the individual to be examined.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the measuring steps are performed,

using a sensor fitted in a strap or other element to be fastened around the waist of the individual to be examined;

and

using a sensor fitted in a strap or other element to be fastened to a lower or upper leg of the individual to be examined.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the measuring steps are performed on activities at least comprising walking, climbing stairs, descending stairs, sitting down in a chair, getting up from a chair, lying down on a bed, getting up from a bed, lifting an object and carrying an object.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the measuring steps are performed with at least two sensors to be fastened to the body of the individual to be examined.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the measuring steps are performed,

using a sensor fitted in a tap or other element to be fastened around the waist of the individual to be examined;

and

using a sensor fitted in a strap or other element to be fastened to a lower or upper leg of the individual to be examined.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the measuring steps are performed with at least two sensors to be fastened to the body of the individual to be examined.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the measuring steps are performed,

using a sensor which is fitted in a strap to be fastened around the waist of the individual to be examined;

and

using a sensor fitted in a strap or other element to be fastened to a lower or upper leg of the individual to be examined.