Motion assessment system and method

• US 8,679,037 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2009
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hilla Sarig-Bahat
• Original Assignee: Hilla Sarig-Bahat
• Inventors: Sarig-Bahat, Hilla
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGHERTY, SEAN PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US13/131,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20110230792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,574 Days
• Field of Search: 600/587, 600/591, 600/595, 128/898
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1124 Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1127 using markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/20 Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16

Abstract

A system and method of motion assessment for use in medical analysis and treatment of motion impairments. The system is configured to stimulate, monitor and analyze voluntary movements of a subject. A surround-display is used to stimulate movement of the subject, a motion tracker monitors the movements of the subject, and a processor receives data from the motion tracker and may be configured to control the surround-display.

Claims

1. A method for assessing a kinematic parameter of cervical motion in a subject, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) stimulating repeated and continuous cervical movements in said subject, with no return to a stationary mid-position, and until said subject fails to increase a cervical range of motion (CROM), wherein the stimulating is performed by displaying to said subject an interactive video game on a surround display, said interactive video game providing events to which said subject reacts;

(b) three dimensional monitoring of said cervical movements by a three dimensional tracking device, said tracking device comprises a sensor placed about said subject; and

(c) analyzing data received from said tracking device by a processor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said repeated and continuous cervical movements are faster than spontaneous or voluntary movements of said subject.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said cervical movements comprise cervical extension, cervical flexion, cervical rotation, cervical lateral flexion, or any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said kinematic parameter comprises movement time, response time, peak velocity, mean velocity, time of peak, jerk, accuracy, smoothness, range of motion, or any combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said three dimensional monitoring comprises monitoring a linear movement, a rotational movement, an angular movement, or any combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said subject is afflicted with cervical motion impairment.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said cervical motion impairment is neck pain, limited cervical motion, or a combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said surround display is placed in a manner that blocks peripheral distractions.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said tracking device is an electromagnetic tracking device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said stimulating further comprises utilizing a scaling factor for manipulating the appearance of objects in said interactive video game.