Technostix, Inc.

John D Truelove

Robert W Rose

Carl K Barniak

An apparatus and method used to determine angle of inclination and the range of motion of various human joints therefrom, such as, for example, cervical flexion. The apparatus of one preferred embodiment is a computerized arthrometer which is a stand-alone automated apparatus. Output can be provided to a printer for hard copy or to a computer for storage or further manipulation of data. Each sensor or inclinometer used in the preferred embodiment employs a pair of Hall effect transducers spaced about a rotating ring magnet. The voltage output of the transducers can be evaluated to accurately determine the angle of inclination. In another preferred embodiment, instead of the magnet and transducers, the sensors can include circular sensor having six capacitive sectors, each sector changing capacitance as the circular sensor is rotated. The six capacitance values are evaluated to determine the angle of inclination. Another embodiment incorporates the apparatus into readily available 'personal computers' ('PCs'). By employing a pair of sensors for selected range of motion tests, measurement accuracy is increased by compensating for the effects of secondary motion, for example, compensating for forward or backward movement of the torso when measuring cervical flexion or cervical extension, respectively.

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Evansville, IN, United States of America

John D Truelove