Diagnospine Research Inc.

Domtar Inc.

Other

Serge Gracovetsky

John M Lucas

Rudolf U Frost

George Papagiannis

An apparatus for the rehabilitation of the musculoskeletal performance of a human body, comprising a handle and a set of three cylinders capable of longitudinal extension and retraction, the cylinders extending at angle with respect to each other and each having one end rotatably connected to the handle and another end rotatably connected to a rigid surface, the ends of the three cylinders opposite the handle being spaced apart from each other. By adjustably and independently controlling the longitudinal extension and retraction of each of the cylinders, it becomes possible to simulate objects being lifted or moved on the job at various heights and in any particular angle and plane and thus use the apparatus for rehabilitation purpose. The apparatus may also comprise strain gauges preferably located between the end of each cylinder attached to the rigid surface and the corresponding rigid surface in order to measure the strain applied by the human body to the handle, this measured strain being indicative of the musculoskeletal performance. Thus, it becomes possible to use the apparatus for diagnostic purpose, such as, for example to make isometric and isokinetic measurements of the musculoskeletal performance of the human body, by locking the cylinders and allowing the same to extend or retract, respectively.

Apparatus for the rehabilitation and measurement of musculoskeletal

A connection kit for use in electrically connecting to a monitoring equipment a plurality of skin-markers and/or electrodes detachably fixed onto the body of a patient, in such a manner as to let the patient free to move in a given area. The kit comprises a connection box electrically connectable to the monitoring equipment in such a manner as to let the patient free to move in the given area. It also comprises a harness to be worn by the patient. The harness includes a chest-piece on which can be mounted the connection box. At least one primary conductor cable is provided, which has one end electrically connectable to the connection box and at least one other end provided with a connecting plug. This connection plug is detachably fixable with a sticking pad. Alternatively, the connection plug may be fixed in the same position on a back-strap forming part of the harness and passing over shoulder of the patient. At least one secondary conductor cable is also provided, which has one end electrically connectable to the connecting plug of the primary cable, and at least one other end electrically connectable to at least one skin-marker and/or electrode.

Connection kit for skin-markers and electrodes

A non-invasive method and equipment for the evaluation of the flexibility of the spine of a patient and identification of possible mechanical injuries in the lumbar portion of this spine. A string of skin-markers is fixed onto the skin of the back of the patient in the midline of his spine from at least cervical vertebra C.sub.7 down to at least sacral vertebra S.sub.3. Two other skin-markers are fixed onto the skin of the back of the patient in a bilateral and symmetrical manner on the crests of his ilium. The relative positions of all the skin-markers are then monitored and recorded as he flexes forward in this sagittal plane and the so recorded positions are processed to determine the ranges of hip and spine motions in the sagittal plane, which can be compared with each other and with results obtained from a group of 'normal' patients to determine any discrepancy or singularity in the flexibility of the spine. The data obtained may be correlated with other data obtainable by the same equipment to provide a full 3D dynamic motion analysis of trunk, spine, pelvis and inter-segmental movement.

Method and equipment for evaluating the flexibility of a human spine

A non invasive method and equipment for the detection of a mechanical abnormality or injury, especially a torsional injury, in the lumbar spine of a patient. In a first step, any variation in the lumbar curve of the patient is measured using a non invasive technique, while the patient is performing a physical test. In a second step, any discrepancy or assymmetry away from the average response of a group of normal healthy persons is detected in the previously measured variation in the lumbar curve. In practice, the absence of any variation or the detection of a discrepancy or assymmetry in the so measured variation when compared with the average, is indicative of the presence of a mechanical abnormality or injury in the lumbar spine of the patient.

Non invasive method and equipment for the detection of torsional

A method and an equipment for the detection of a mechanical abnormality or injury in the lumbar spine of a patient and for the identification of this abnormality or injury as being of the compression or torsion type. In a first step, any variation of the lumbar curve of the patient is measured using a combined visual and an electromyographic (EMG) technique. Then, any discrepancy or assymetry is detected in said measured variation of lumbar curve. In practice, the absence of any variation or the detection of any discrepancy or assymetry in the case where a variation is measured, is indicative of the presence of a mechanical abnormality or injury of the lumbar spine of the patient, and of the nature of this particular abnormality or injury.

Method and equipment for the detection of mechanical injuries in the

A method and equipment for the detection of mechanical injuries in the lumbar spine of a patient and the identification of these injuries, using a mathematical model applicable to the five lumbar vertebrae of a human being, and to to their disks. According to this method, the electromyographis (EMG) activities of the erectores and abdominals of the patient are measured in the bilateral and symmetrical manner with respect to the spine of the patient while the same is flexing forward in the mediane plane and pulling up a small load. The angle of flexion of the patient is measured during this flexion and is supplied as variable input to the mathematical model. A computer is used to run the model with its variable input in order to calculate the EMG activites of the erectores and abdominals that would normally be used by a healthy person to produce the same task. The so calculated EMG activities are then compared to the EMG activities actually measured on the patient and the parameters of the models are tuned to fit the calculated EMG activites for those measured on the patient. The amount and type of tuning that are necessary to complete the last step, are sufficient in practice to detect and identify the mechanical injuries that may be present in the lumbar spine of the patient.

Equipment for the detection of mechanical injuries in the lumbar spine

A blackening sensor analyses a signal generated by the detection of scattered light reflected from a succession of small illuminated areas on the surface of a web to determine the degree of skewness of the amplitude distribution of the generated signal from a normal distribution, thereby to provide an indication of the degree of blackening.

Blackening sensor

A sensing element having a face adapted to contact the surface of a travelling web or sheet of paper, said face formed into a convex surface that substantially is in the form of a single base segment of a sphere having a radius between 35 and 10 mm. The surface of the web is pressed against the face so that the area of contact between the surface and the face has a minimum dimension of 2 mm. In the preferred application of the present invention the element is as an optical window in an optical sensing device wherein light is passed through the window in a direction and is reflected to sensors positioned on the same side of the window as the light source.

Sensor contact

A surface sensor utilizing a light source for projecting light onto a travelling surface and thereby illuminate a limited area of said surface is combined with at least two angularly spaced sensors and arranged to detect light reflected. Signals are generated in accordance with the amount of light received and these signals are processed to obtain at least one of (a) an indication of topographical surface characteristics of the web surface while suppressing the effects of changes in reflectivity of the surface and (b) indication of the change in reflectivity while suppressing the effects of topography of the surface.

Surface sensor

The invention is concerned with measuring 'on-line' the surface roughness of a moving sheet material, e.g. a paper web. The method comprises illuminating the moving web, preferably at a low angle, suitably collecting the light reflected from the moving web and processing the light by means of a sensitive photo-electrical system. The electrical signals thus obtained are divided into an AC and a DC component, the components are separately measured and their ratio used as an index of roughness. An apparatus for carrying out roughness measurements on a moving paper web, e.g. on a paper machine, is described.

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St. Lambert, Canada

Serge Gracovetsky