Method and apparatus for monitoring deviation of a limb
Inventors
Ronchi, Daniel M. • Ronchi, Andrew J. • Charry, Edgar • Hu, Wenzheng
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9999378-B2
Publication Date
2018-06-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
Apparatus is disclosed for monitoring, measuring and/or estimating deviation of a body part of a vertebral mammal. The apparatus includes at least one sensor for measuring rotation of the body part relative to a first frame of reference and for providing data indicative of the rotation. The apparatus also includes a memory device adapted for storing the data and a processor adapted for processing the data to evaluate a deviation of the body part that correlates to the data. The processor may be configured to execute an algorithm for evaluating deviation of the body part. A method of monitoring, measuring and/or estimating deviation of a body part of a vertebral mammal is also disclosed.
Core Innovation
An apparatus and method are described for monitoring, measuring and/or estimating deviation of a body part of a vertebral mammal using rotation sensors that provide data indicative of rotation relative to a first frame of reference. The apparatus includes a memory device adapted for storing the data and a processor adapted for processing the data to evaluate a deviation of the body part that correlates to the data. The deviation evaluation is performed by executing an algorithm that integrates the data over a period of time to provide an angular displacement (θ).
The algorithm evaluates a twist component (θX) of the angular displacement representing twist angle, and compensates the twist component (θX) by adding an angular offset (θx0) to the twist component. In the presented description, drift correction is performed using accelerometer-derived flexion/lateral flexion angles, and a twist component is compensated by applying an angular offset based on θY and θZ to project lateral flexion onto a frontal/visual reference plane. The twist-corrected result is expressed as θxresultant = θX + θx0.
The disclosed system includes digital components for storing and processing sensor data, including analog to digital (A/D) conversion and wireless transmission, and may provide biofeedback of the evaluated deviation to the monitored subject. Illustrative results are described in terms of medio-lateral lower-extremity (knee) deviation with little deviation, varus (about +18°) and valgus (about −15°) during a jump, corresponding to knee alignment evaluation.
Claims Coverage
The provided claim set includes 2 independent claims, each centered on an algorithmic deviation evaluation that integrates rotation data over time to obtain angular displacement, evaluates a twist component, and compensates that twist using an angular offset. The dependent claims further refine the sensing setup and the decomposition/projection used to evaluate specific deviation components.
Twist-compensated integrated deviation evaluation
An apparatus for monitoring, measuring and/or estimating deviation of a body part of a vertebral mammal, including at least one sensor for measuring rotation relative to a first frame of reference and providing data indicative of said rotation; a memory device adapted for storing said data; and a processor adapted for processing said data to evaluate a deviation that correlates to said data, wherein the processor executes an algorithm adapted to integrate said data over a period of time to provide an angular displacement (θ), evaluate a twist component (θX) representing twist angle, and compensate the twist component by adding an angular offset (θx0) to the twist component.
Twist-compensated integrated deviation evaluation method
A method of monitoring, measuring and/or estimating deviation of a body part of a vertebral mammal, including using at least one sensor to measure rotation relative to a first frame of reference and provide data indicative of said rotation; storing said data in a memory device; and processing said data by a processor to evaluate a deviation of said body part that correlates to said data, wherein the processor executes an algorithm adapted to integrate said data over a period of time to provide an angular displacement (θ), evaluate a twist component (θX) representing twist angle, and compensate the twist component by adding an angular offset (θx0) to the twist component.
Both independent claims require an algorithm that integrates rotation data over time to produce angular displacement (θ), evaluates a twist component (θX) as twist angle, and compensates the twist by adding an angular offset (θx0) to the twist component. The dependent claims further specify evaluation components such as valgus/varus via θZ, include frame/reference transformations and projection onto a frontal plane, and refine sensors (including gyroscope) and feedback.
Stated Advantages
Enables monitoring, measuring and/or estimating deviation of a vertebral mammal body part based on sensor rotation data processed by an algorithm.
Documented Applications
Objective real-time monitoring of medio-lateral lower-extremity (knee) deviation in vertebral mammals/including humans, including evaluation of varus and valgus during a jump.
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