Device, sensor, sensor element and method for measuring the profile of a spinal column and for measuring changes in the profile of the spinal column
First Claim
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1. A device for measuring a profile of a spinal column, comprising:
- one or more sensors each divided into one or more sensor element portions to continuously measure the profile of the spinal column; and
an electronic change measurement evaluator configured to connect to a sensor and to continuously measure changes to the profile of the spinal column during movement along the spinal column in degrees of freedom of deformation of the spinal column,wherein with a plurality of the sensors, said sensors with respective sensor element portions thereof arranged such that the respective sensor element portions of the sensors are in succession of each other at intervals of adjacent vertebrae of the spinal column.
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Abstract
The profile of the spinal column and changes in the profile of the spinal column are continuously measured during movement along the entire spinal column in all degrees of freedom of its deformation.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A device for measuring a profile of a spinal column, comprising:
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one or more sensors each divided into one or more sensor element portions to continuously measure the profile of the spinal column; and an electronic change measurement evaluator configured to connect to a sensor and to continuously measure changes to the profile of the spinal column during movement along the spinal column in degrees of freedom of deformation of the spinal column, wherein with a plurality of the sensors, said sensors with respective sensor element portions thereof arranged such that the respective sensor element portions of the sensors are in succession of each other at intervals of adjacent vertebrae of the spinal column. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A sensor that is part of a device for continuously measuring a profile of a spinal column and changes to the profile during movement along the spinal column in degrees of freedom of deformation of the spinal column, said sensor comprising:
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one or more sensors each divided into one or more sensor element portions to continuously measure the profile of the spinal column; and an electronic change measurement evaluator configured to connect to the sensor and to continuously measure changes to the profile of the spinal column during movement along the spinal column in degrees of freedom of deformation of the spinal column, wherein with a plurality of the sensors, said sensors with respective sensor element portions of thereof arranged such that the respective sensor element portions of the sensors are in succession of each other at intervals of adjacent vertebrae of the spinal column. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A sensor element for use in a sensor that is part of a device for continuously measuring a profile of a spinal column and changes to the profile during movement along the spinal column in degrees of freedom of deformation of the spinal column, comprising:
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at least one optical waveguide to extend over a part of the spinal column to be measured and having at least one bending-sensitive zone formed by partial geometric changes in a core-cladding transition zone and relative to a deformation in a direction of at least one degree of freedom, wherein the optical waveguide has an interior and the partial geometric changes depending on a bending of the optical waveguide includes indentations in the core-cladding transition zone influencing scattering behavior and reflection behavior in the interior of the optical waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of using one or more sensors and an electronic change measurement evaluator configured to connect to the sensors for continuously measuring a profile of a spinal column and changes to the profile of the spinal column during movement along the spinal column in degrees of freedom of deformation of the spinal column, comprising:
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dividing each sensor into one or more sensor element portions to continuously measure the profile of the spinal column, wherein with a plurality of the sensors, said sensor with respective sensor element portions thereof arranged such that the respective sensor element portions of the sensors are in succession of each other at intervals of adjacent vertebrae of the spinal column. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification