Computerized Impairment Rating System for Objective Functional Evaluation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for evaluating a patient's functional ability and impairment rating are often subjective and lack standardization, leading to inconsistent and unreliable assessments, particularly in workers' compensation and disability claims, which can result in inappropriate claim decisions and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A computer-linked system utilizing test-specific hardware and protocols, including a range of selectable standards from the AMA Guides, a software program for empirical data collection, and automatic report generation, to provide objective and repeatable impairment ratings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If subjective assessment methods are used for functional ability evaluation, then the evaluation process is simple and quick, but the reliability and consistency of impairment ratings deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of impairment ratingsVSAvoidcomplexity of evaluation system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces subjective clinical judgment with objective measurement instruments and computerized algorithms. Testing hardware such as dynamometers, goniometers, and pressure algometers collect quantitative data that is processed by software programs to generate impairment ratings, eliminating the need for subjective assessment while maintaining systematic evaluation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables automatic data collection, processing, and report generation through computerized algorithms. The software automatically calculates impairment ratings based on collected test data, reducing manual intervention and ensuring consistent application of evaluation criteria across different cases and evaluators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If standardized protocols and multiple testing instruments are implemented, then the measurement precision and objectivity improve, but the device complexity and operational difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of functional ability measurementVSAvoidease of operating evaluation system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a universal software platform that can manage multiple different testing instruments and protocols through a single integrated system. The computerized evaluation system is designed to accommodate various measurement tools (dynamometers, goniometers, algometers) and different impairment types, allowing operators to conduct comprehensive assessments using one unified interface rather than separate systems for each test.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The software program acts as an intermediary between the testing hardware and the final impairment rating. It automatically collects data from various instruments, processes the information according to standardized protocols, and generates reports, thereby simplifying the operator's task while maintaining measurement precision through systematic data handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If computerized data collection and automatic report generation are used, then the productivity and consistency of evaluations improve, but the initial device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproductivity of evaluation processVSAvoidcomplexity of computer-linked system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual data collection, calculation, and report writing with computerized systems. Testing hardware connects directly to the evaluation software, which automatically processes test results and generates standardized reports, dramatically increasing evaluation speed and consistency while eliminating manual errors in data transcription and calculation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10790063B2Computer-aided multiple standard-based functional evaluation and medical reporting system

Publication Date: 2020.09.29 CHILLEMI MICHAEL

AI summary

A method of performing an objective functional evaluation of a person's physical capacity comprises of a computer program particularly designed to amass and assess test data in accordance with a selected standard. A wide variety of evaluation protocols are incorporated to lead an operator in a step-by-step process. The method includes special testing tools, many of which have been modified to input data directly into the computer diagnostic program. The interface may be a wired or a wireless connection. The software program may use an algorithm to calculate a coefficient of variation for the multiple trials of a test, using the entered data, to providing a determination of validity of the trials. A second algorithm calculates an average result of the condition-specific protocol of tests, after which the software program correlates those average results to a database of normative standards to compute an impairment rating.