Range of motion measuring and displaying device

• US 4,665,928 A
• Filed: 06/24/1985
• Issued: 05/19/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Orthotronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Orthotronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Linial, Andrew V., Hoyt, John M., Luban, Dennis D., Cullers, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Application Number:
  US06/748,230
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 128/782, 33/1 PT, 33/174 B, 272/DIG. 5, 272/DIG. 6, 73/379, 73/380, 73/381
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 having computer circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/909 Mechanical indicator

Abstract

An improved range of motion measuring and displaying device is disclosed herein which includes a modular housing containing a micro-computer and associated circuitry as well as input controls, display and printout facilities, input and output cord connections and a software receiving area which is provided so as to detachably connect to the modular housing diverse programs enabling diverse modes of operation of the invention. One of the cord connections is provided for attachment thereto of the cord of an electronic goniometer which has been designed specifically to interface with the modular housing. The electronic goniometer is of the variable resistance type and outputs voltages interpretable by the micro-computer which voltages are indicative of a rotation of the electronic goniometer with respect to an original vertical position. In one embodiment of the present invention, the modular housing has cord connections for a plurality of such electronic goniometers which may be used simultaneously in the operation of the present invention so as to determine the range of motion of a plurality of joints with respect to one another, such as separate vertabral joints of the spinal column. The present invention is usable to measure the range of motion of the various joints of the human body in any desired sequence and includes a separate mode enabling the performance of sets and repetitions of various exercises with the various body joints with the micro-computer monitoring such exercises.

Claims

1. A device for measuring and displaying the range of motion of any of the joints of the body during the examination thereof comprising:

(a) sensor means attachable to any of said joints for sensing said range of motion and responsive thereto producing a signal indicative of said range of motion;

(b) control means electrically connected to said sensor means for receiving said signal and, therefrom, calculating said range of motion;

(c) display means controlled by said control means for displaying said range of motion as calculated by said control means;

(d) said sensor means including calibration means for calibrating said sensor means prior to measuring said range of motion; and

(e) said control means including mode switching means switchable between a first mode enabling said device to measure and display the range of motion of one or more joints in a predetermined fashion and a second mode enabling said device to monitor the exercising of a particular joint for a predetermined number of repetitions, each repetition comprising the movement of said particular joint through a predetermined minimum range of motion, said control means sensing each repetition and activating indicating means responsive to successful completion of each said repetition.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said sensor means comprises an electronic goniometer including:

(a) a casing having an interior peripheral wall of substantially circular configuration;

(b) a resistor film fixedly mounted to said peripheral wall and extending circumferentially over a major portion thereof;

(c) a pendulum rotatably mounted with respect to said casing at a pivot axis and having a weight at an end thereof remote from said pivot axis and swinging in closely spaced relation to said resistor film;

(d) a first contact connected to said resistor film and a second contact connected to said weight and engaging said resistor film whereby swinging movement of said pendulum varies the electrical resistance across said contacts.

3. The invention of claim 2, including a plurality of said electronic goniometers each connectable to a distinct body joint and sending a signal to said control means indicative of the range of motion of said distinct body joint, said control means being programmed to receive signals from said electronic goniometers and therefrom to calculate the ranges of motion of said distinct body joints with respect to one another.

4. The invention of claim 2, wherein said resistor film comprises a highly mechanically oriented carbon material with highly resistance sensitive unidirectional crystals.

5. The invention of claim 2, further including freeze means connected to said control means for freezing said signals, said freeze means being selectively actuable to freeze said signal at its value at the instant of actuation of said freeze means.

6. The invention of claim 5, wherein said calibration means, said freeze means and said display means form an integral part of said electronic goniometer.

7. The invention of claim 2, wherein said pendulum is rotatably mounted with respect to said casing via a bearing which enables said pendulum to freely swing when said casing is tilted up to 70°

in a direction perpendicular to the direction of swing of said pendulum.

8. The invention of claim 1, further including freeze means connected to said control means for freezing said signal, said freeze means being selectively actuable to freeze said signal at its value at the instant of actuation of said freeze means.

9. The invention of claim 1, wherein said display means comprises a series of light emitting diodes arranged to display numerical values as well as indications of relative displacements of joints.

10. The invention of claim 9, wherein said display means further includes a printer connected to said control means for printing displayed information onto a roll of paper associated therewith.

11. The invention of claim 1, further including storage means connected to said control means for storing data related to said signal and for storing data related to a plurality of such signals sequentially received by said control means.

12. The invention of claim 1, further including input means connected to said control means for inputting to said control means information concerning a particular sequence of measurements to be undertaken by said device.

13. The invention of claim 12, wherein said input means includes:

(a) a first set of buttons each of which when activated inputs to said control means information identifying a particular joint or sequence of joints the range of motion of which will be measured;

(b) a second set of buttons each of which when activated inputs to said control means information identifying a particular direction of movement of said joint or sequence of joints; and

(c) a third set of buttons each of which when activated inputs to said control means further information concerning said examination.

14. The invention of claim 13, wherein said further information includes information as to left or right joint, and as to whether said examination will be passive or active.

15. The invention of claim 1, wherein said control means has electrically connected thereto a computer program consisting of a detachable software package.

16. The invention of claim 15, wherein said program includes means for programming said control means in said second mode to activate an audible or visual signal when a user thereof is unable to move a particular joint through a prescribed range of motion during a prescribed time period.

17. The invention of claim 15, wherein said program includes means for programming said control means in said first mode to receive commands enabling said device to measure the range of motion of a single joint in a single direction of motion once.

18. The invention of claim 15, wherein said program includes means for programming said control means in said first mode to receive commands enabling said device to measure the range of motion of a single joint in a single direction of motion a predetermined plurality of times.

19. The invention of claim 15, wherein said program includes means for programming said control means in said first mode to receive commands enabling said device to measure the ranges of motion of a plurality of joints in predetermined directions of motion in a predetermined sequence.

20. The invention of claim 15, wherein said program includes means for programming said control means in said first mode to receive commands enabling said device to measure the range of motion of a plurality of joints in predetermined directions of motion in an inputted sequence.

21. The invention of claim 15, wherein said program includes means for programming said control means in said first mode to receive signals from a plurality of said sensor means simultaneously.

22. The invention of claim 21, wherein said plurality of sensor means comprises four said sensor means.

23. The invention of claim 1, wherein said repetitions are divded into a plurality of sets, said control means monitoring each repetition and causing said display means to display the number of sets and repetitions remaining in an ongoing basis and updating information displayed by said display means after each repetition.

24. The invention of claim 23, further including printing means for printing a permanent record of sets, repetitions, range of motion achieved and patient identification when said exercising of said particular joint is completed.