Abstract:
A method for measuring parameters relating to the stability of joints in a patient's body includes the steps of securing a reference portion of the joint (that portion of the joint closest to the body) to a fixed location. A three dimensional digitization of the size, shape, position and coordinate system of the two portions is performed. A soft tissue compensation procedure is performed by applying forces to the reference portion of the joint to thereby determine the amount of reference portion motion, in the soft tissue surrounding the reference portion, due to these forces. A variety of forces are applied to the relative portion of a joint, which is movable relative to the reference portion thereof, and the total motion of the reference and relative portions associated with the forces are measured. By subtracting the motion determined in the soft tissue compensation from motion as determined by applying a variety of forces, the motion of only the relative portion relative to the reference portion is determined.
Abstract:
A method for measuring parameters relating to the stability of joints in a patient's body includes the steps of securing a reference portion of the joint (that portion of the joint closest to the body) to a fixed location. A three dimensional digitization of the size, shape, position and coordinate system of the two portions is performed. A soft tissue compensation procedure is performed by applying forces to the reference portion of the joint to thereby determine the amount of reference portion motion, in the soft tissue surrounding the reference portion, due to these forces. A variety of forces are applied to the relative portion of a joint, which is movable relative to the reference portion thereof, and the total motion of the reference and relative portions associated with the forces are measured. By subtracting the motion determined in the soft tissue compensation from motion as determined by applying a variety of forces, the motion of only the relative portion relative to the reference portion is determined.
Abstract:
A computer-aided surgical device for aiding a surgeon in positioning a surgical instrument (power or manual) when performing surgery on unexposed and exposed portions of a patient.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a knee laxity evaluator which consists of an instrumented seat (9), a restraint means (7) for restraining the thigh of a patient to the instrumented seat, a motion module (11) for measuring motion of the unrestrained part of the leg relative to the thigh of the patient, and processor means for analyzing outputs of the instrumented seat and the motion module to provide indications of applied force and relative motion. The invention also relates to a specific motion module/digitizer combination which can be used as a part of the knee laxity evaluator, or which can be used independently or in alternate systems. The invention also relates to a novel dynanometer for use in the knee laxity evaluator which includes a triple beam arrangement.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a knee laxity evaluator which consists of an instrumented seat (9), a restraint means (7) for restraining the thigh of a patient to the instrumented seat, a motion module (11) for measuring motion of the unrestrained part of the leg relative to the thigh of the patient, and processor means for analyzing outputs of the instrumented seat and the motion module to provide indications of applied force and relative motion. The invention also relates to a specific motion module/digitizer combination which can be used as a part of the knee laxity evaluator, or which can be used independently or in alternate systems. The invention also relates to a novel dynanometer for use in the knee laxity evaluator which includes a triple beam arrangement.
Abstract:
A computer-aided surgical device for aiding a surgeon in positioning a surgical instrument (power or manual) when performing surgery on unexposed and exposed portions of a patient.
Abstract:
A method of performing 3-dimensional skeletal analysis on a patient using an apparatus which includes a digitizer (11) measuring the position of a point, or a group of points, on the patient's body in 3-dimensional space. The digitizer includes a plurality of rotatable transducers (13) and a plurality of link members (15) linking the rotatable transducers. The free end of the digitizer (11) is adapted to accept a digitizer tip (17) and the output of the digitizer (11) is connected to a computer.