Edward Judah Fine

US Patent:

46676856, May 26, 1987

Filed:

Sep 23, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/778807

Inventors:

Edward J. Fine - Williamsville NY

International Classification:

A61B 510

US Classification:

128782

Abstract:

A goniometric feedback device and an associated method for monitoring the relative angular position of two human body portions hinged at a common joint utilize a brace mechanism, transducer circuits, an array of selection light-emitting diodes (LEDs), an array of movement response LEDs, indicia associating with each LED array with a series of angular values, preselection circuits and sensing circuits. The brace mechanism includes two brace sections securable to the two body portions, and the transducer circuits provide an output electrical signal which varies in strength in response to a change in the relative angular position between the two brace sections so that the output signal strength corresponds to the relative angular position between the two brace sections. The preselection circuits permit one LED in the array of selection LEDs to be activated to indicate to a user a target angular displacement which the user subsequently attempts to achieve by moving the two body portions, and hence the two brace sections, relative to one another. The sensing circuits sense the strength of the output signal and activate an LED in the array of movement response LEDs which corresponds to the relative angular position of the two brace sections for providing information to the user of progress toward achieving target angular displacement.