Spinal monitor apparatus and method
First Claim
1. Apparatus for the prevention and treatment of posture deficiencies including:
- monitoring means including a molded elastomeric body member having a bonding surface whereby the body member may be adhesively secured along a selected portion of a spine of a user and encapsulating an operating assembly comprising an elongate, resiliently flexible member cantilevered from a relatively rigid mounting portion located toward one end of said body member, said resiliently flexible member having mounted thereon a strain gauge in a region adjacent said mounting portion whereby strain in said resiliently flexible member produces a signal corresponding to curvature of a portion of the spine; and
output means responsive to said signal and adapted to generate an output indicative of said curvature.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring posture deficiencies in the spine and including a flexible body (30) encapsulating a flexible operating arm (31) cantilevered from a base moulding (34). The operating arm (31) is provided with upper (37) and lower (40) strain gauges bonded to the upper and lower faces respectively of the operating arm (31) at the point beyond the stiffening base moulding (34) to ensure that differential strain is experienced on deflection of the operating arm (31). Wire tails (41) are terminated as a PCB assembly (45) mounted to the printed circuit support (35), which assembly comprises a PC board bearing an LSI processor (46), rechargeable battery (47), vibrating motor (50) and inductive coil (51) selected to fulfil the functions of transmitting and receiving element, and inductive power supply for charging the battery (47), under the control of processor (46). The base moulding (34) is intended to be located in the region of L4 and L5, the flexible body (30) and base moulding (34) being secured in place by surgical adhesive.
163 Citations
25 Claims
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1. Apparatus for the prevention and treatment of posture deficiencies including:
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monitoring means including a molded elastomeric body member having a bonding surface whereby the body member may be adhesively secured along a selected portion of a spine of a user and encapsulating an operating assembly comprising an elongate, resiliently flexible member cantilevered from a relatively rigid mounting portion located toward one end of said body member, said resiliently flexible member having mounted thereon a strain gauge in a region adjacent said mounting portion whereby strain in said resiliently flexible member produces a signal corresponding to curvature of a portion of the spine; and
output means responsive to said signal and adapted to generate an output indicative of said curvature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. Apparatus for monitoring the spinal posture of a person, comprising:
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a substantially rigid support;
a resiliently flexible elongate member-having first and second opposed ends, said first end being mounted in cantilever fashion to the support;
at least one strain gauge mounted on the elongate member towards said first end, each strain gauge being responsive to strain in the elongate member to produce a signal indicative of the level of strain; and
a flexible elastomeric body member encapsulating the support, the elongate member and the at least one strain gauge, and defining at least one major surface suitable for contacting a body of a user along a portion of the lumbar spine. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification