Surgery – Truss – Pad
Patent
1989-10-25
1991-08-27
Kamm, William E.
Surgery
Truss
Pad
A61B 511
Patent
active
050425048
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a device suitable for monitoring loading on body members such as the locomotor apparatus of the legs, such device having a measuring apparatus for measuring a load parameter and a portable cordless electronic unit fed with measurement data from the measuring apparatus and comprising an input device for inputting a load reference range. Included also are a computing device and an indicating device, which is used especially for signalling exceeding of the reference range.
The partial removal of loads on the body members plays an important role in treating orthopaedic patients and accident victims. Contusions and compressive injuries to joints, broken bones, injuries to ligaments and tendons, inflammation of the locomotor apparatus as well as wearing down of such parts, or fitting with artificial joints etc. require in part week or month-long partial removal of loading on the affected body part. It is necessary in such cases, to maintain a precise partial load range in order to expedite healing; while excessive loading must be avoided, a minimum load level must be maintained so as to promote the mechanical stimulation required for an optimal healing process. Throughout treatment, the delimited load reference range can be increased.
A device of the above-mentioned type is currently on the market and is described in the brochure "EDAR Insert with Pressure Sensor and Acoustic Feedback" from Harald Haberman Co., Orthopaedic-Technical apparatus, Frankfurt am Main. The conventional battery-driven apparatus possesses a measuring unit in the form of a sole-insert having a pressure sensor. The apparatus emits a low tone when the measured data lie inside the preset reference zone and a high tone whenever this reference zone is surpassed. The patient on crutches can, for example, be acoustically warned by the higher tone should he exert a load upon the locomotor apparatus that is greater than that prescribed by his physician; the deeper tone reassures him that the proper load is being exerted.
The object of the present invention is the further development of the conventional load monitoring device described, with a view to better gauging the loading activity of the patient while permitting continuous long-term load monitoring.
This object is satisfied by the proposed device in that: its data analysis unit features a microprocessor and a data storage area, to which data acquired by the measurement unit, as well as analysis data forming the basis of a load profile, can be fed; analysis data reference values for the establishment of a load reference range can be fed into the storage area from the input device; the momentary load is compared with the reference range and the thus obtained comparative data stored by the electronic unit with the aid of a microprocessor; and the indicating device is designed to function simultaneously with the storage function and/or the stored data relating to a load profile can be retrieved by means of a retrieval device.
The proposed device produces for evaluation not only data relating to the measured load parameters, but also analysis data obtained from such raw data. This has the practical advantage that the loading history can be described more accurately and therefore a more relevant structuring of therapy sessions can be devised. A longer period of overloading, for example, necessitates a different compensatory decrease in the load than a shorter overload interval. On the other hand, the wealth of measurement data permits the acquisition of meaningful analytical data so that the data to be stored and, if necessary, to be compared with the appropriate analysis data reference range, can be reduced in relation to the amount of raw data obtained. This arrangement reduces both the requirement for memory space and the operating time of the microprocessor.
The indicating device allows the patient to monitor his own loading activities and an acoustic signal can be employed to alert the patient should he exceed the load reference zone. This prevents a first feed
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Kamm William E.
Kontler Peter K.
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