Load sensing platform for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system
First Claim
1. A load sensing platform comprising:
- a load bearing surface;
a sensing assemblage coupled to the load bearing surface; and
at least one spring coupled to the load bearing surface where the at least one spring provides mechanical support for the load bearing surface, where the sensing assemblage measures a parameter applied to the load bearing surface, where the at least one spring prevents cantilevering of the load bearing surface, where the at least one spring is a wave spring, and where the wave spring couples peripherally to the at least one load bearing surface.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A load sensing platform (121) is disclosed for capturing a transit time, phase, or frequency of energy waves propagating through a medium that measures a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system. The load sensing platform (121) comprises a sensing assemblage (1), substrates (702, 704, and 706), springs (315), spring posts (708), and spring retainers (710). The sensing assemblage (1) comprises a stack of a transducer (5), waveguide (3), and transducer (6). A parameter is applied to the contact surfaces (8) of the load sensing platform (121). The sensing assemblage (1) measures changes in dimension due to the parameter. Position of the applied parameter can be measured by using more than one sensing assemblage (1). The springs (315) couple to the substrates (702, 704) providing mechanical support and to prevent cantilevering. The spring posts (708) and spring retainers (710) maintain the springs (315) at predetermined locations in the load sensing platform (121).
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A load sensing platform comprising:
-
a load bearing surface; a sensing assemblage coupled to the load bearing surface; and at least one spring coupled to the load bearing surface where the at least one spring provides mechanical support for the load bearing surface, where the sensing assemblage measures a parameter applied to the load bearing surface, where the at least one spring prevents cantilevering of the load bearing surface, where the at least one spring is a wave spring, and where the wave spring couples peripherally to the at least one load bearing surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A load sensing platform to measure a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system comprising:
-
at least one load bearing surface; at least one spring retainer; at least one spring; and a sensing assemblage to measure a parameter and position applied to the at least one load bearing surface where the sensing assemblage is mechanically coupled to the at least one load bearing surface, where the at least one spring retainer maintains a coupling of the at least one spring to a predetermined position on the at least one load bearing surface, and where the sensing assemblage comprises; a single transducer to transmit and receive energy waves; a waveguide where the single transducer is coupled to the waveguide at a first location; and a reflecting feature at a second location of the waveguide where the single transducer emits an energy wave in the waveguide that is reflected by the reflecting feature to produce a reflected energy wave that is detected by the single transducer. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system:
-
applying the parameter to a load bearing surface where a change in the parameter produces a measurable change in one or more dimensions; measuring the one or more dimensions; converting a measured dimension to the applied parameter; applying a spring force to the load bearing surface to reduce hysteresis and return a load bearing surface to a repeatable dimension under quiescent conditions. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
-
Specification