METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REAL TIME INTERACTIVE DYNAMIC ALIGNMENT OF PROSTHETICS

• US 20100131113A1
• Filed: 05/05/2008
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motek BV
• Original Assignee: Motek BV
• Inventors: Even-Zohar, Oshri
• Granted Patent: US 8,452,458 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/279
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/60 Artificial legs or feet or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/70 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/76 Means for assembling, fitting or testing prostheses, e.g. for measuring or balancing, e.g. alignment means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/705 Electromagnetic data transfer for implantable prostheses A61F2250/0002
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7695 Means for testing non-implantable prostheses for testing implantable prostheses A61F2240/008; for implanting artificial joints A61F2/468

Abstract

An objective method and system for dynamic analysis of prosthesis-bound subjects for determining optimal prosthesis alignment adjustments consists of a motion detection system, motion database, blending engine and algorithms, and a graphical user interface with suitable program controls whereby manual, semi-automatic, or fully automated analysis of a prosthesis-equipped subject'"'"'s motion performance can be done in real time to determine objectively the optimal adjustments for the subject'"'"'s prosthesis in a precise clinical protocol context.

Claims

1. A computer-based system for dynamic alignment of prosthetic limbs for a subject configured therewith, comprising:

means for obtaining motion data of a prosthesis-equipped subject in motion;

a motion database comprising multiple motions with known prosthetic alignment errors;

a motion blending engine configured for blending said motion data with selected said motions with known prosthetic alignment errors from the motion database into blended data and a computer configured for receiving the blended data from the blending engine, said computer being configured to calculate a prosthesis alignment error correction for the prosthesis-equipped subject from the blended data.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a graphic user interface in communication with the computer for visually displaying the calculated prosthesis alignment error correction.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a prosthesis alignment adjustment mechanism in communication with the computer for receiving and responding to the calculated prosthesis alignment error correction.

4. The system of claim 1, said means for obtaining motion data comprising a motion detection system for monitoring motion of said subject, said motion detection system linked for communicating the motion data in real time to said motion database and hence to said blending engine.

5. The system of claim 4, said motion detection system comprising at least one motion sensor external to the prosthesis.

6. The system of claim 4, said motion detection system comprising at least one motion sensor integrated with the prosthesis.

7. The system according to claim 4, said motion detection system comprising an instrumented treadmill.

8. The system according to claim 3, said motion database, blending engine, computer, and prosthesis alignment adjustment mechanism being integrated with the prosthesis.

9. The system according to claim 1, the computer being linked with the motion database whereby the motion data and the calculated prosthesis alignment error for the subject may be recorded therein as a said motion with known prosthetic alignment error.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a computer program comprising a Virtual Character module, a Motion Designer module, a Video Control module, and a Motion Database module.

11. A method for computing a prosthetic alignment error correction in real time for a prosthesis-equipped subject, said method comprising:

collecting motion data from a prosthesis-equipped subject in motion;

comparing in real time the motion data with records of motions with known prosthetic alignment errors to determine matching records;

blending said motion data with said matching records into blended data computing in real time from said blended data a computed prosthesis alignment error correction.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

outputting said computed prosthesis alignment error correction to a graphic user interface.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

outputting said computed prosthesis alignment error correction to an alignment adjustment mechanism in said prosthesis.

14. The method according to claim 11, said collecting motion data comprising using a camera-based motion detection system to monitor the subject in motion.

15. The method according to claim 11, said collecting motion data comprising using sensors integrated with the prosthesis, said sensors outputting the motion data of the subject in motion to a motion database and hence to a blending engine.

16. The method according to claim 11, said method comprising using a motion detection system for the collecting, linked to a motion database for the comparing, linked to a motion blending engine for the blending, linked to a computer for the computing, wherein the method is conducted in real time.

17. The method according to claim 12, said collecting motion data comprising using an instrumented treadmill upon which the subject moves, linked to a motion database.

18. A computer system for dynamic alignment of prosthetic limbs for a prosthesis-equipped subject, comprising:

a motion detection system for monitoring a prosthesis-equipped subject in motion, the output of which is real time motion data a motion database configured for comparing subject'"'"'s motion data to a database of motions with known prosthetic alignment errors and selecting motions based on matching prosthetic alignment errors;

a motion blending engine configured for blending said motion data with the selected motions in real time into blended data and a computer receiving the blended data from the blending engine, said computer being configured to calculate in real time a dynamic prosthesis alignment error for the prosthesis-equipped subject from the blended data and to visually display in real time the dynamic prosthesis alignment error on a graphic user interface.

19. A method for determining alignment adjustments for the prosthesis of a prosthesis-equipped subject, said method comprising:

collecting motion data from a prosthesis-equipped subject in motion;

comparing the subject'"'"'s motion data to a database of records of motion with known prosthetic alignment errors to identify related records;

blending the subject'"'"'s motion data with the related records to create blended data computing from the blended data the prosthetic alignment errors of the subject in motion; and

utilizing the computed prosthetic alignment errors of the subject in motion for determining corrective adjustments to the prosthesis.

20. The method of claim 19, said method being conducted with a computer-based system in real time, the corrective adjustments being outputted to a GUI.