1159 results about "Biomechanics" patented technology

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing. compliant, and flexible multi-touch surface. The surface consists of compressible cushion, dielectric, electrode, and circuitry layers. A simple proximity transduction circuit is placed under each electrode to maximize signal-to-noise ratio and to reduce wiring complexity. Such distributed transduction circuitry is economical for large surfaces when implemented with thin-film transistor techniques. Scanning and signal offset removal on an electrode array produces low-noise proximity images. Segmentation processing of each proximity image constructs a group of electrodes corresponding to each distinguishable contact and extracts shape, position and surface proximity features for each group. Groups in successive images which correspond to the same hand contact are linked by a persistent path tracker which also detects individual contact touchdown and liftoff. Combinatorial optimization modules associate each contact's path with a particular fingertip, thumb, or palm of either hand on the basis of biomechanical constraints and contact features. Classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device.

The present invention relates to collagenous membranes produced from amnion, herein referred to as a collagen biofabric. The collagen biofabric of the invention has the structural integrity of the native non-treated amniotic membrane, i.e., the native tertiary and quaternary structure. The present invention provides a method for preparing a collagen biofabric from a placental membrane, preferably a human placental membrane having a chorionic and amniotic membrane, by decellularizing the amniotic membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the amniotic membrane is completely decellularized. The collagen biofabric of the invention has numerous utilities in the medical and surgical field including for example, blood vessel repair, construction and replacement of a blood vessel, tendon and ligament replacement, wound-dressing, surgical grafts, ophthalmic uses, sutures, and others. The benefits of the biofabric are, in part, due to its physical properties such as biomechanical strength, flexibility, suturability, and low immunogenicity, particularly when derived from human placenta.

A method for preoperatively characterizing an individual patient's biomechanic function in preparation of implanting a prosthesis is provided. The method includes subjecting a patient to various activities, recording relative positions of anatomy during said various activities, measuring force environments responsive to said patient's anatomy and affected area during said various activities, characterizing the patient's biomechanic function from said relative positions and corresponding force environments, inputting the measured force environments, relative positions of knee anatomy, and patient's biomechanic function characterization into one or more computer simulation models, inputting a computer model of the prosthesis into said one or more computer simulation models, and manipulating the placement of the prosthesis in the computer simulation using said patient's biomechanic function characterization and said computer model of the prosthesis to approximate a preferred biomechanical fit of the prosthesis.

The virtual intelligence shoe with a podiatric analysis system provided with a portable pair of shoe-like body types thereof, into two of which a miniature electronic module and an enclosed sensor mat are permanently embedded in the shoe-like with a mechanical air package enclosing the electronic module to serve as a shock absorption. A miniature electronic module comprises a transmitting circuit with pressure resistance, shoe temperature and warning buzzer for full memory capacity, which receives the variable pressure and temperature voltage signals, convert them into resistance (ohm) and Celsius, respectively. The electrical signals can be emitted in an infrared light signal. An enclosed sensor mat constitutes a thin, flexible, planar, resilient, and dielectric material that arrays seventy-four positions at strategic geometrical pattern to produce the precision of collecting data exerted by a foot or feet continuously and instantaneously in static and dynamic event during the full weight bearing in various activities. The conjunction of a pair of shoe-like body types, a digital foot scanner, a portable infrared light-receiving unit and a central integrator (servers) form a podiatric analysis system for enabling accurate information. An obtained information of each individual can be stored and analyzed for diagnostic means with respect to the foot or feet maladies. The virtual intelligence shoe with a podiatric analysis system is an unconventional, which can ultimately be used by anyone and capable to produce consistent foot or feet information to implement the changes in the foot or feet biomechanics by altering the shoes, orthoses or other modes. In a preferred form, a pair of shoe-like body types is virtually applied to any type of foot or feet maladies and worn daily as if they were conventional shoes under various terrain conditions.

A system and method used in total joint arthroplasty of a ball and socket joint such as hip and shoulder replacements for accurate positioning of a prosthesis through pinless surgical navigation during replacement surgery according to a predetermined distance from the center of rotation of the replaced joint and/or articular surface to obtain the proper length, offset, and biomechanics of the replaced joint.

An implant device for cartilage regeneration in loading-bearing regions uses the osteochondral defect model. The implant is formed of resorbable polymeric materials. The implant is designed such that load is transmitted from the articulating surface of the bone platform through the implant to the entire area of subchondral bone of the bone platform. Application of load in this manner results in reduced subchondral bone resorption, leading to joint stabilization and maintenance of normal joint biomechanics. The implant allows for the incorporation therein of a resorbable scaffold or matrix material. The present implant solves the current inability to regenerate cartilage in load-bearing articulating surfaces using engineered scaffold devices.

Tension-slide techniques and reconstruction systems for tendon surgical repairs. The technique improves the biomechanics of the combined fixation and helps overcome surgeons' concerns about rapid return to ADLs. The technique reliably seats the tendon against the distal cortex of the bone socket, maximizing the surface area for bone to tendon healing. The technique takes advantage of cortical fixation, while providing the unique advantage of minimizing gap formation and minimizes surgical dissection by performing the surgery through a single incision technique.

A method for agitating a surgical fluid using a vibrating probe is disclosed. The agitation method drives entrapped air voids out of the surgical fluid and forces the fluid into a plurality of pores of various sizes in the adjacent bone. The vibrating apparatus in one embodiment includes a probe tip disposed upon a graspable elongate shaft and a series of fins extending into the fluid. The apparatus in one embodiment may include a set of probe tips of different shapes and sizes. The agitation and interdigitation method may facilitate any procedure involving any type of surgical fluid, with or without a prosthetic device such as an intramedullary nail or femoral prosthesis. This Abstract is provided to quickly inform a reader about the subject matter, and not for use interpreting the scope or meaning of the claims.

A method for determining one or more structure-function characteristics of a structure in a human or animal body from an image of the structure includes generating a structural model of a structure based on an image of the structure. A first biomechanical quantity is computed based on the structural model. The structural model is varied to create a variant model. A second biomechanical quantity is computed based on the variant model. The first and second biomechanical quantities are compared, in order to assess a structure-function characteristic of the structure.

A system, method, and computer program product for providing a user with a virtual environment in which the user can perform guided activities and receive feedback are described. The user is provided with guidance to perform certain movements. The user's movements are captured in an image stream. The image stream is analyzed to estimate the user's movements, which is tracked by a user-specific human model. Biomechanical quantities such as center of pressure and muscle forces are calculated based on the tracked movements. Feedback such as the biomechanical quantities and differences between the guided movements and the captured actual movements are provided to the user.

A system and method for measuring biomechanical parameters of a knee prior to total knee replacement (TKR) surgery includes a plurality of microsensors removably attached to the femur, tibia and patella; at least one sensor communicating with the plurality of microsensors; a navigation system coupled to the at least one sensor; an imaging system coupled to the navigation system for performing imaging of the joint; and at least one display for displaying imaging and tracking data.

A method and system for patient-specific planning of cardiac therapy, such as cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), based on preoperative clinical data and medical images, such as ECG data, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, and ultrasound data, is disclosed. A patient-specific anatomical model of the left and right ventricles is generated from medical image data of a patient. A patient-specific computational heart model, which comprises cardiac electrophysiology, biomechanics and hemodynamics, is generated based on the patient-specific anatomical model of the left and right ventricles and clinical data. Simulations of cardiac therapies, such as CRT at one or more anatomical locations are performed using the patient-specific computational heart model. Changes in clinical cardiac parameters are then computed from the patient-specific model, constituting predictors of therapy outcome useful for therapy planning and optimization.

A method of predicting bone or articular disease in a subject includes determining one or more micro-structural parameters, one or more macroanatomical parameters or biomechanical parameters of a joint in the subject and combining at least two of the parameters to predict the risk of bone or articular disease.

The invention discloses a human body movement reconstruction and analysis system and method based on inertial sensing units. The system comprises a pose information acquisition system, a WIFI wireless router and a central computer. The pose information acquisition system is composed of the inertial sensing units. The inertial sensing units are installed on multiple parts of a human body respectively to collect accelerated velocities, angular velocities and magnetic information of all the parts in real time and fuse the accelerated velocities, the angular velocities and the magnetic information to obtain pose information such as pose angles, quaternions and Euler angles; next, the collected information and the fused information are sent to the central computer through the WIFI wireless router in a WIFI mode; the central computer fuses pose information data of all the inertial sensing units to complete human body movement reconstruction and extracts movement parameters such as positions, velocities, angles, the accelerated velocities and angular accelerated velocities, and the movement parameters are used for biomechanical analysis and kinematic analysis of human body movement. By means of the human body movement reconstruction and analysis system and method, influences on the movement of a subject are reduced to the maximum extent, the requirements for capturing the movement of the whole body of the subject and the special movement of a specific part of the subject are both met, and the system and method are suitable for various application occasions.

A robotic architecture for capturing the autonomous performance advantages the animal models enjoy in the natural environment is disclosed. A biomimesis process is employed to allow selective utilization of basic physical components and adaptation of a common control paradigm for each of different vehicle types. The biomimetic architecture involves five functional elements: a basic biomorphic plant for capturing the biomechanical advantages of the model organism; a neural circuit-based controller consisting of a finite state machine; myomorphic actuators producing linear graded force in response to trains of current pulses for mediating movements; labeled line code output by neuromorphic sensors; and a reactive behavioral sequencer executing command sequences defined within a behavioral library.

The invention relates to a prosthetic socket for a residual limb of the lower extremity or upper extremity of an individual person. The residual limb has particular dimensions and anatomical contours; the prosthetic socket has dimensions and contours that fit the dimensions and contours of the residual limb. The prosthetic socket may also fit in a manner that is biomechanically particularly appropriate for the individual. The prosthetic socket is an assembly of components from groups of components that include (a) struts arranged longitudinally with respect to the residual limb, (b) proximal brim members arranged proximally to the struts and connected thereto; and (c) distal socket members disposed at the distal base of the prosthetic socket. The socket components within these groups may be modular in that they can vary with respect to dimensions and/or contours, and yet have common connecting features that permit assembly of the components together to form the prosthetic socket.

Provided are embodiments of systems, computer medium and computer-implemented methods to monitor the health of an employee. A method for monitoring the health of an employee while the employee is located in an employee workstation including collecting, from a plurality of biometric and biomechanical sensors disposed throughout an employee workstation, health data indicative of biometric and biomechanical characteristics of the employee. The plurality of biometric and biomechanical sensors adapted to sense biometric and biomechanical characteristics of the employee and output corresponding health data indicative of the biometric and biomechanical characteristics of the employee. The method including determining an employee health profile based at least in part on the collected health data, generating a health plan for the employee based at least in part on the health profile, and displaying health content including the employee health profile and the health plan for the employee.