Method for determining the risk of developing a skeletal condition

• US 7,291,118 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Solutions Biologic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Biotonix Inc.
• Inventors: Guimond, Sylvain, McFarland, David H., McCulloch, Tracey A., Woo, Timothy K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor; Charles
• Application Number:
  US10/234,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20040049103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,888 Days
• Field of Search: 600/587, 600/594, 600/595, 482/8, 482/9, 128/920, 128/923
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4561 Evaluating static posture, e.g. undesirable back curvature A61B5/1116 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for calculating postural deviation values indicative of a skeletal condition risk in a patient including the steps of obtaining position data identifying a position in space of body landmarks of an upper body of a patient while standing relaxed and in normal posture; obtaining weight data of the patient; calculating vertical and horizontal plumb line using the position data; and calculating angle deviation values of body parts of the patient being indicative of a skeletal condition risk with respect to the plumb line position value using the position data.

Claims

1. A method for determining a risk value of developing a skeletal condition in a patient, the method comprising steps of:

a) taking at least one picture of said patient and obtaining position data from said picture identifying a position in space of body landmarks of the upper body of a patient while standing relaxed and in normal posture;

b) establishing a relationship between risk of developing a skeletal condition and a plurality of factors including posture;

c) calculating at least two of head angle, thoracic curve, lumbar curve and pelvis tilt angle deviation values of said patient using the position data; and

d) calculating said risk of developing a skeletal condition using said angle deviation values and said relationship.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said skeletal condition is fracture.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said fracture is selected from the group consisting of neck fracture and hip fracture.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said relationship is ((Age factor×

0.15)+(Postural factor×

0.50)+(Height Change factor×

0.15))×

BMI factor.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said postural factor is calculated in a manner in which head angle contributes for about 25% of the postural factor, kyphosis contributes for about 50% of the postural factor, lordosis contributes for about 13% of the postural factor and pelvic angle contributes for about 12% of the postural factor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said body landmarks are tragus, acromion, C7 vertebrae, T5 vertebrae, anterior-superior iliac spine and posterior-superior iliac spine.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a flat marker is placed on the tragus and spherical markers are placed on the acromion, C7 vertebrae, T5 vertebrae, anterior-superior iliac spine and posterior-superior iliac spine.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one picture is a lateral view of said patient.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said angle deviations calculated are head angle, thoracic curve or kyphosis, lumbar curve or lordosis, and pelvis tilt.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said angle deviation values are referenced with respect to average values.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said skeletal condition is osteoporosis.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein step (de) includes calculating a postural factor in which head angle contributes for about 25% of the postural factor, kyphosis contributes for about 50% of the postural factor, lordosis contributes for about 13% of the postural factor and pelvic angle contributes for about 12% of the postural factor.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising calculating a body mass index (BMI) for the patient, and determining lordosis angle to be pelvic angle plus about 22 degrees when BMI is greater than about 25kg per m².

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said skeletal condition is osteoporosis.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said relationship is ((Age factor×

0.35)+(Postural factor×

0.30)+(Height Change factor×

0.15))×

BMl factor.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said postural factor Is calculated in a manner in which head angle contributes for about 25% of the postural factor, kyphosis contributes for about 50% of the postural factor, lordosis contributes for about 13% of the postural factor and pelvic angle contributes for about 12% of the postural factor.

17. A method of selecting exercises for reducing risk to develop a skeletal condition in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining angle deviations of body part of a patient indicative of a risk to develop a skeletal condition, said angle deviations comprising at least two from the group consisting of head angle, thoracic curve, lumbar curve and pelvis tilt;

b) correlating angle deviations with exercises for strengthening or stretching specific muscles or muscle groups;

c) compiling an exercise program based on the exercises provided in step b).

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of compiling comprises manually selecting exercises from a list of exercises.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said skeletal condition is selected from the group consisting of osteoporosis and fracture.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said fracture is selected from the group consisting of neck fracture and hip fracture.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein said angle deviations comprise head angle, thoracic curve, lumbar curve and pelvis tilt.

22. An apparatus for estimating skeletal condition risk in a patient comprising:

a) a position data acquisition device for identifying a position in space of body landmarks of an upper body of the patient while standing relaxed and in normal posture;

b) an angle of deviation calculator for determining angle deviation values of body parts being indicative of a skeletal condition risk using the position data, said angle deviations comprising at least two from the group consisting of head angle, thoracic curve, lumbar curve and pelvis tilt; and

c) a calculator adapted to calculate a value for said risk using a relationship between said risk and a plurality of factors including said angle deviation values.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said skeletal condition is selected from the group consisting of osteoporosis arid fracture.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said fracture is selected from the group consisting of neck fracture and hip fracture.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said angle deviation value is with respect to average or normal value.

26. An apparatus for selecting exercises for reducing risk to develop a skeletal condition in a patient comprising:

a) an angle of deviation device for obtaining angle deviations of an upper body part of a patient being indicative of a risk to develop a skeletal condition, said angle deviations comprising at least two from the group consisting of head angle, thoracic curve, lumbar curve and pelvis tilt;

b) a correlator for correlating angle deviations with exercises for strengthening or stretching muscles or muscle groups;

c) a compiler for compiling an exercise program based on the exercises provided in step b).