Measurement apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for assessing a user'"'"'s strength, said apparatus comprising:
- a deformable reservoir for venting by the user by deformation thereof during a testing sequence of reported ventings;
a constant volume chamber in fluid communication with said deformable reservoir to receive fluid vented from said deformable reservoir, measuring means operatively coupled to said constant volume chamber for measuring fluid parameters indicative of at least one of strength, work, work rate and speed of muscle contraction of the user associated with evacuation of said reservoir into said constant volume chamber during the testing sequence, and display means operatively connected to said measuring means for displaying said indicative parameters;
wherein said measuring means includes means for measuring the pressure in said constant volume chamber.
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Abstract
An apparatus for assessing the strength of a user is disclosed which includes
pneumatic reservoir means adapted to be repeatedly vented by the user, and
measuring means for measuring parameters indicative of strength, work, work rate and speed of muscle contraction of the user in evacuating the reservoir means.
20 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An apparatus for assessing a user'"'"'s strength, said apparatus comprising:
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a deformable reservoir for venting by the user by deformation thereof during a testing sequence of reported ventings;
a constant volume chamber in fluid communication with said deformable reservoir to receive fluid vented from said deformable reservoir, measuring means operatively coupled to said constant volume chamber for measuring fluid parameters indicative of at least one of strength, work, work rate and speed of muscle contraction of the user associated with evacuation of said reservoir into said constant volume chamber during the testing sequence, and display means operatively connected to said measuring means for displaying said indicative parameters;
wherein said measuring means includes means for measuring the pressure in said constant volume chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
means for measuring the pressure at which said constant volume chamber operates; and
means for controlling the constant pressure within said constant volume chamber or means for varying the setting of said variable bleed valve.
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11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said apparatus further comprising means for generating pressure to selectively control the initial pressure in said constant volume chamber.
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12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said apparatus comprising non-return valves located at the inlet and outlet of said pneumatic reservoir, said non-return valves respectively preventing reflux of a gas from the pneumatic reservoir when operated by a user and preventing reflux of gas from the constant volume chamber to the reservoir after operation of the reservoir by the user.
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13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said apparatus comprising means for indicating time intervals to a user.
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14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said time intervals are timings of muscle contraction.
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15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said apparatus further comprising
computational means for conducting a test sequence independent of an analyst to thereby obtain a demonstrably objective and unbiased result; -
wherein the fluid in the reservoir is a liquid and not a gas;
wherein the graphical presentation obtained by the computational means is of contraction time, recovery time, cycle frequency and one of pump volume and volume equivalent pressure plotted against load;
wherein the graphical presentation derived by the computational means is in respect of work performed, power achieved and volumetric shortening velocity plotted against load;
wherein the graphical presentation of the specific parameters calculated or derived by the computational means, is presented either as an average for each complete pump cycle, or as interval measures within a cycle for brief aliquots of time;
and wherein the apparatus is incorporated in hydraulically operated exercise apparatus and sports training equipment either initially upon manufacture or by retrofitting to existing apparatus and equipment, with either gas or liquid fluid in the reservoir, whereby the parameters of work performed and power generated can be calculated and displayed for each action cycle.
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16. An apparatus for assessing a user'"'"'s strength, said apparatus comprising:
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a deformable reservoir for venting by the user by deformation thereof during a testing sequence of repeated ventings;
a constant pressure valve operable at a predetermined pressure and connected to said deformable reservoir to thereby define the pressure to be exceeded before said reservoir can be vented;
measuring means operatively connected to said constant pressure valve for measuring parameters indicative of at least one of strength, work, work rare and speed of muscle contraction of the user associated with evacuation of said reservoir during the testing sequence, and display means operatively connected to said measuring means for displaying said indicative parameters;
wherein said measuring means includes means for measuring the volume expelled from said constant pressure valve. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26)
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23. An apparatus as claimed 22, wherein said measuring means comprises means calculating parameters indicative of strength, work, work rate and speed of muscle contraction of the user.
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27. A method of assessing and treating muscle weakness, comprising:
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causing a patient to repeatedly vent fluid from a deformable reservoir during a testing sequence of repeated ventings;
selectively maintaining at least some of the vented fluid at substantially constant conditions as the patient repeatedly vents the fluid from the deformable reservoir;
allowing at least some of the vented fluid to escape the substantially constant conditions; and
measuring parameters of the vented fluid allowed to escape the substantially constant conditions, said parameters being indicative of at least one muscle performance parameter selected from the group consisting of strength, work, work rate and speed of muscle contraction. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification