Adhesive Sensor Unit for Joint Rehabilitation Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Monitoring the progress of physical therapy and rehabilitation after joint replacement surgery is challenging, as it is difficult to measure the range of motion and compliance with exercise therapy, which can lead to stiff joints or the need for additional surgical procedures if not adequately addressed.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising sensors, including accelerometers and a communication arrangement, worn by the patient to track tilt angles, pivot point distances, and exercise performance, which communicates with a processor to provide real-time feedback and monitoring through a patient device, enabling accurate tracking of rehabilitation progress and exercise identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the patient pushes for flexibility and balance in muscles to extend range of motion, then the rehabilitation progress improves, but the risk of falls or over-extension that can damage the implant and injure the patient increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors joint angle, range of motion, and exercise performance using accelerometers and tilt angle sensors, providing real-time feedback to both patient and clinician. This feedback mechanism allows early detection of over-extension or improper movement patterns, enabling corrective action before injury occurs while still encouraging aggressive rehabilitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system acts as an intermediary between the patient's rehabilitation efforts and the implant safety. By measuring joint parameters and comparing them against safe thresholds, the system mediates between the need for aggressive therapy and the risk of damage, alerting users when movements approach dangerous limits.
2Reliability
If the patient does not push their rehabilitation to achieve the needed range of motion, then the patient safety is maintained, but the joint stiffness increases which may require additional surgical operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides continuous monitoring and feedback on rehabilitation progress, showing patients their actual range of motion achievements and exercise compliance. This motivational feedback encourages patients to push their limits safely by making progress visible and trackable, reducing the temptation to settle for insufficient rehabilitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual clinical assessment methods with automated sensor-based measurement systems. Accelerometers and tilt angle sensors objectively measure joint angles and exercise performance, eliminating subjectivity and providing precise, continuous data on rehabilitation progress without requiring frequent clinical visits.
3Device complexity
If manual monitoring methods are used to track physical therapy progress, then the system complexity is low, but the measurement accuracy and compliance tracking capability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual monitoring procedures with simple sensor-based automated measurement. Instead of requiring clinicians to physically measure joint angles or observe exercise performance, accelerometers and tilt angle sensors automatically capture this data, simplifying the patient's daily routine while dramatically improving measurement precision and compliance tracking.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively monitors and reports on the patient's rehabilitation progress, providing alerts for potential issues such as inflammation or insufficient therapy compliance, thus aiding in maintaining active lifestyle and preventing additional surgeries by ensuring proper rehabilitation.
Implementation Method 1
obtaining at least one position value of the accelerometer of the sensor unit and calculating the tilt angle from the at least one position value
Implementation Method 2
determining a tilt angle of the patient device, when sitting on a thigh of the patient, using the tilt angle sensor of the patient device
Data Source
AI summary
A system for monitoring a patient includes a sensor unit having a housing and sensors disposed in or around the housing; and a base having a shell and configured and arranged to be adhesively attached to skin of the patient. The sensors can be used to monitor physical therapy and rehabilitation of the patient. The sensor unit can provide information to a patient or clinician device to facilitate the monitoring. The sensor data can be used to determine measurements such as tilt angle of the sensor unit and range of motion measurements (such as extension, flexion, or forces associated with movement) of the anatomical region to which the sensor unit is attached. The sensor data can also be used for automated identification or classification of exercises performed by the patient.