Instrumented sleeve

• US 9,949,685 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2014
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Howmedica Osteonics Corp. (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Howmedica Osteonics Corp. (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Dunbar, Michael James
• Primary Examiner(s): Stout, Michael C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kolderman, Nicholas E
• Application Number:
  US14/163,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20140213929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 600557
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4827 assessing touch sensitivity, e.g. for evaluation of pain threshold
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6812 Orthopaedic devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6828 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/744 Displaying an avatar, e.g. an animated cartoon character

Abstract

A sleeve is provided for determining the location and severity of joint pain in a patient. The sleeve includes sensors in communication with a display device that allow for areas of pain to be quickly and accurately determined. Methods of utilizing the sleeve are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

placing a sleeve over a portion of a body comprising a joint, the sleeve including fabric interwoven with EMG sensors for detecting a location of a touch and a navigation sensor for recording spatial movement, the EMG sensors and the navigation sensor being in communication with a display device;

moving the portion of the body;

tracking the spatial movement of the navigation sensor;

touching a portion of the sleeve corresponding to an area of pain in the portion of the body induced by the movement of the portion of the body; and

displaying on the display device information associated with the movement of the navigation sensor and information pinpointing the area of touch corresponding to the area of pain.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying step includes displaying the area of pain on a visual representation of the portion of the body.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the touching step is performed with a finger.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the touching step is performed with a stylus.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of calibrating the sleeve to the portion of the body.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the calibrating step includes registering cardinal points by touching the sleeve.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the portion of the body is a knee joint.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the cardinal points are selected from the group consisting of the patella, medial and/or lateral epicondyle, tibial tubrical and joint line.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the area of pain is shown on an avatar corresponding to the portion of the body on a display.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of determining the pressure of the touch, the greater the pressure corresponding to greater pain.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising a step of displaying the pressure information.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor wirelessly communicates with the display device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor and the display device are in communication with a computer.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the touching step includes touching a first portion of the sleeve corresponding to a first area of pain and touching a second portion of the sleeve corresponding to a second area of pain.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the displaying step includes displaying information pinpointing the first and second areas of pain on the display device.