IES20130368A2

IES20130368A2 - Mobile measuring device for the range of motion of the cervical spine

Info

Publication number: IES20130368A2
Authority: IE
Inventors: Mohamad Saleh
Original assignee: Mohamad Saleh
Priority date: 2013-12-10
Filing date: 2013-12-10
Publication date: 2014-12-17
Also published as: IES86477B2

Abstract

Neck pain is a common complaint in medical practices. This pain could be associated with the range of motions of cervical spine (i.e. the rotational motions about X, Y and Z axis) These motions need to be continuously and correctly measured in order to read the cause of this problem. Typical goniometer and inclinometer are still used in medical practices for such measurement and assessment. These devices are lacking accuracy and reliability and they are impractical if they need to be used by patients at home to follow up their treatment progress. Cervical spine motions can also be studied using MRI and dynamic stereo X-ray imaging techniques. However, these techniques are complicated, not pleasant for the patient and may have negative adverse effects on the patient's health in the case of X-ray radiation. The novelty in this current work is in the design and embodiment of an invasive mobile electronic system, to routinely and accurately measure the range of motion of the human cervical spine without putting the patient under the risk of X-ray or unpleasant experience of MRl. The design of this system consists of three devices: head; shoulder and visual and control devices. These devices communicate with each other wirelessly and are lightweight, easy to handle and powered by low DC voltage. This mobile system has the ability to be interfaced with a PC or other mobile devices.

Description

Title: Mobile Measuring Device for the Range of Motion of the Cervical Spine.

Field of Invention: Neck pain is a common complaint in medical practices. This pain could be associated with the range of motions of cervical spine (i.e. the rotational motions about X, Y and Z axis as seen in Fig. 1). These motions need to be continuously and correctly measured in order to tread the cause of this problem. Typical goniometer and inclinometer are still used in medical practices for such measurement and assessment. These devices are lacking accuracy and reliability and they are impractical If they need to be used by patients at home to follow up their treatment progress.

Cervical spine motions can also be studied using MRI and dynamic stereo X-ray imaging techniques. However, these techniques are complicated, not pleasant for the patient and may have negative adverse effect on the patient's health in case of X-ray radiation.

The novelty in this current work is the design and embodiment of an invasive mobile electronic system, to routinely and accurately measure the range of motion of the human cervical spine without putting the patient under the risk of X-ray or unpleasant experience of MRI.

The design of this system consists of three devices: Head; shoulder and visual and control devices. These devices communicate with each other wirelessly and are lightweight, easy to handle and powered by a rechargeable DC voltage. This mobile system has the ability to be interfaced with a PC or other mobile devices.

Brief description of the drawings: Fig.1 shows the concepts of the range of motions of the cervical spine.

Fig.2 shows a schematic drawing of the head sensing device with visual and control device. Fig . 3 shows a schematic drawing of the shoulder device with the shoulder sensing device. Fig.4 and 5 show the placement and position of the overall system on the patient.

S86477 Detail description: The head device, Fig.2 consists of: head sensing device (7), the visual and control device (10) and head base link device. The head based link device consists of: base link (5); left strap (1) and right strap (2). The base link ¢5) consists of a magnetized clamp plate (9) for holding the visual and control device (10), magnetized top base (6), rest bottom base (12) and strap hooks (11). The face of ciamp (9) can be attracted to a magnet at the back of the visual and control device (10). This magnetic bonding between the clamp (9) and the visual and control device (10) can be activated and deactivated electronically be a switch (13). The top base (6) is to attract a magnet at the bottom of the sensing device (7), This magnetic bonding between the top base (6) and the sensing device (7) can be activated and deactivated electronically by using the switch (8). The rest bottom base (12) is 5 mm soft material bonded with the base link (5) to give comfort to the patient during the clinical investigation. The strap hooks (11) are to securely fix the left strap (1) and the right strap (2) with the base link (5). Strap (1) and (2) are made from elastic flexible material and have Velcro strips (3) at their free ends. Velcro strips (3) are to lock straps (1) and (2) together and thus, the overall head device be securely held at the top of the patient's head as seen in Fig.4 and Fig.5.

The sensing device (7) has electronic circuits and the power module consists of: a rechargeable DC voltage source, microelectromechanical module (MEMS) consisting of an accelerometer, a magnetometer and a gyro; signal conditioning, a low power laser module circuit connected to laser light emitter (4): a bluetooth module; and a magnetized circuit connected to the bottom of the sensing device (7), The sensing device (7) measures the total range of motion of the cervical spine.

The visual and control device (10) consists of: a rechargeable DC voltage source; a microcontroller system; memory system, a bluetooth module. Liquid Crystal Display LCD and a magnetized circuit connected to the back of the control device (10). This magnetized circuit in (10) can be activated and deactivated by the switch (13). This enables the visual and control device (10) to be used as a stationary or a hand held device. The functions of the visual and control device (10) are a menu driven based embedded microcontroller programme. The visual and control device (10) turns on and off using switch ¢14).

The shoulder device. Fig.3 consists of: shoulder sensing device (17); shoulder link device.

The shoulder link device consists of crosslink (21); left shoulder straps (25) and (26); right shoulder straps ¢22) and (18); adjusting block (23) and holding plate ¢24). The sensing device (17) consists of the same circuits and elements as the sensing device (7) in Fig.2.

The cross link (21) is made from light material that can be stiff and flexible enough to reliably 10 hold and accommodate the sensing device (17). The adjusting block (23) can slide in directions (left and right) and is fixed securely on the cross link (21). The holding plate (24) is attached to the sliding block (23) and is made from magnetized material to hold the sensing device (17). This magnetic bonding between the holding plate (24) and the sensing device (17) can be activated and deactivated electronically by using the switch (19), The left and the 15 right shoulder straps ¢25) and (26); (18) and (22) are made from elastic flexible material and have Velcro strips (27) at both ends for locking the overall shoulder device securely at the patient's shoulder as seen in Fig. 4 and Fig.5. The sensing device ¢17) detects the total range of motion of the upper lumbar spine.

Fig.4 and Fig.5 show the alignment of the overall system on the patient. This starts by 20 activating the laser light emitters (4) and ¢20) by the switch (13). The head device in Fig,5 is fixed on the head of the patient by locking the straps (1) and (2) under the patient's chin in Fig 5. The shoulder device in Fig.4 is fixed on the shoulder by the locking the straps (25) with (26) and the straps (18) with (22) under the left and right arm pit of the patient in Fig.4.

Then the head device (7) and shoulder device (17) should be aligned together with the spine 25 (34) by aligning the laser lights (20) and (4) with any point of the spine. The centre of the shoulder sensing device (30) in Fig.5 should be aligned with C7 vertebrae cn the spine (34).

Also the centre of the head sensing device In Fig. 5 should be aligned with the point ¢31). In practice, point ¢31) is located at near the top of the ears and is at the level of the eyes. Point (31) is assumed to be the interception point of the tangent (33) of the spine ¢34) at C7 and the centre balance line of the patient line ¢32) in Fig.5. Once ali the alignments are found the head sensing device ¢7) should be fixed magnetically on the top base ¢6) and the shoulder sensing device (17) should be magnetically on the holding plate (24). Then the elastic strap (28) (in Fig.4 and Fig.5) with Velcro strips is fixed around the head over the strips (1) and (2) to further secure the position of the head device during the clinical trial. During the clinical trial the visual and control device (10); wirelessly receives the signals from the sensing device (7) and (17); subtract the head sensing signals (7) from the shoulder sensing signal (17) and then processes and produces the absolute range of motion of the cervical spine. This absolute signal can be stored on the system or downloaded to a PC or other mobile devices for further processing.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present teaching, are possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment without substantially departing from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.

Claims

Claims:

1. A Mobile Measuring Device for the Range of Motion of the Cervical Spine, comprises of: lightweight head and shoulder sensing devices; head base link device ; shoulder cross link device; visual and control device, wherein said sensing and control devices 5 incorporate electronic circuits and power module compromising a rechargeable DC voltage source, micro electromechanical module (MEMS) consisting of an accelerometer, a magnetometer and a gyro; signal conditioning, a low power laser moduie circuit; a bluetooth module; and a magnetized circuit. 10

2. A Mobile Measuring Device as defined in Claim 1, wherein said head base link device comprises a magnetized base link; clamp plate for holding the visual and control device; magnetized top base; bottom base; strap hooks; elastic flexible straps with Velcro strips at the ends, said magnetized clamp plate is to hold the said control device after activating the magnetized circuit thereto, said magnetized top base is to 15 hold the said head sensing device after the completion of the alignment process and the activation of the magnetized circuit thereto, two of said straps are fixed to said hooks at each of their ends that have no Velcro strips, third elastic strip runs over said two strips to secure the said head sensing and control devices on the head of the patient.

3. A Mobile Measuring Device as defined in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said shoulder cross link device comprises crosslink; left shoulder straps; right shoulder straps; adjusting block; holding plate, said shoufder strips are made from elastic flexible straps with Velcro strips at the ends to position the said cross link on patient’s shoulder, said 25 adjusting block slides and can be fixed securely on said cross link, said holding plate is attached to said sliding block and is made from magnetized material to hold the said shoulder sensing device after completion of the alignment process and the activation of the magnetized circuit thereto.

4. A Mobile Measuring Device as defined in any of Claims 1 to 3 d wherein said visual 5. And control device comprises a rechargeable DC voltage source: a microcontroller platform; memory module; a bluetooth module; analogue to digital and digital to analogue circuit; Liquid Crystal Display LCD; a magnetized circuit, said visual and control device is to communicate with the said head and shoulder sensing devices; processes and produces the absolute range of motion of the cervical spine.

5. A method of using the Mobile Measuring Device as defined in any preceding Claim, in which said visual control device, with the wireless capability, enable the system to process, control and produce the absolute measurement of range of motion of cervical spine and further interface with a computer and other mobile devices for 15 further manipulation and storage of data.