Hack squat gestural guiding apparatus in view of a standardized evaluation of the tridimensional kinematics of the knee

Abstract

A system and method for evaluating the tridimensional kinematics of the knee is presented wherein the system comprises a gesture-guiding apparatus designed to guide a patient through a repeatable, consistent and standardized motion in view of evaluating the condition of the patient's knees. A hack squatting motion, which generally involves a substantially linear vertical squatting motion of the body, is used to isolate the leg and knee movements and increase repeatability. The patient's upper body is generally stabilized and optionally constrained such that a standardized orientation and alignment thereof is maintained throughout the motion. The patient's feet may also be stabilized and constrained. Motion resistance settings may be provided using a set of adjustable weights and counterweights to accommodate various patients and patient conditions.

1 . A method for monitoring at least one knee of a patient executing a controlled leg pushing motion applied through his feet in view of monitoring a condition of the knee, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a gesture-guiding apparatus and a monitoring device configured to monitor the at least one knee while the patient executes the controlled pushing motion using said gesture-guiding apparatus, said apparatus comprising a foot-bearing surface for positioning the feet of the patient thereon, a body alignment structure for providing an upper-body alignment of the patient thereon and a guiding mechanism for guiding a substantially linear displacement of said alignment structure relative to said surface through the pushing motion;    b) positioning the patient in said gesture-guiding apparatus according to a pre-selected position;    c) having the patient execute the motion; and    d) monitoring the at least one knee using said monitoring device as the patient executes the motion.    
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  Claim 1 , further comprising a step before step c) of adjusting a resistance to the motion for a given patient.  
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein in said step of adjusting a resistance, a resistance mechanism of said gesture-guiding apparatus comprises at least one weight for selectively increasing said resistance.  
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein in said step of adjusting a resistance, a resistance mechanism of said gesture-guiding apparatus comprises at least one counterweight for selectively decreasing said resistance.  
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said body alignment structure comprises fastening means for securing said upper-body alignment, the method further comprising a step after step b) and before step c) of securely fastening said fastening means.  
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said monitoring device comprises at least one kinematics sensing device, for monitoring in step d) a kinematics of the at least one knee.  
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said kinematics is used to provide a mapping of a 3D knee kinematics of the at least one knee.  
     
     
         8 . The method as Claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said monitoring device comprises at least one load-measuring platform incorporated in said foot-bearing surface to monitor in step d) a load applied to the feet of the patient.  
     
     
         9 . The method as Claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said foot-bearing surface comprises foot fastening structures to secure a positioning of the patient's feet thereon, the method further comprising a step after step b) and before step c) of securely fastening said foot fastening structures to the patient.  
     
     
         10 . The method as Claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said substantially linear displacement of said alignment structure relative to said surface is substantially vertical.  
     
     
         11 . The method as Claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said substantially linear displacement of said alignment structure relative to said surface is substantially horizontal.  
     
     
         12 . A gesture-guiding apparatus for controlling a leg pushing motion of a patient in view of monitoring a condition of at least one knee of the patient, the apparatus comprising a foot-bearing surface, an upper-body support structure comprising at least one body alignment mechanism for providing an upper-body alignment of the patient thereon, a guiding mechanism for guiding a substantially linear displacement of said support relative to said surface through the leg pushing motion and a resistance mechanism for adjusting a resistance to the motion, said resistance comprising a weight resistance and said resistance mechanism comprising at least one counterweight to reduce said weight resistance.  
     
     
         13 . The gesture-guiding apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said foot-bearing surface is fixed and said support structure is controllably displaced using said guiding mechanism.  
     
     
         14 . The gesture-guiding apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said resistance mechanism comprises at least one weight selectively coupled to said support structure for adjustably increasing said resistance.  
     
     
         15 . The gesture-guiding apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said resistance mechanism comprises at least one counterweight selectively coupled to said support structure for adjustably reducing said resistance.  
     
     
         16 . The gesture-guiding apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said counterweight is coupled to said support structure using at least one pulley system.  
     
     
         17 . The gesture-guiding apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said body alignment mechanism comprises fastening means for securing said upper-body alignment.  
     
     
         18 . The gesture-guiding apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said fastening means comprise at least one of a hip belt, a chest belt, a shoulder belt and a head belt.  
     
     
         19 . The gesture-guiding apparatus as Claimed in  claim 12 , wherein at least one load-measuring platform is incorporated in said foot-bearing surface to monitor a load applied to the feet of the patient.  
     
     
         20 . The gesture-guiding apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said foot-bearing surface comprises at least one foot restraint for securely positioning the feet of the patient thereto.  
     
     
         21 . A system for monitoring at least one knee of a patient executing a controlled leg pushing motion applied through his feet in view of monitoring a condition of the knee, the system comprising a gesture-guiding apparatus and a monitoring device configured to monitor the at least one knee while the patient executes the controlled leg pushing motion using said gesture-guiding apparatus, said gesture-guiding apparatus comprising a foot-bearing surface for positioning the feet of the patient thereon, a body alignment structure for providing an upper-body alignment of the patient thereon and a guiding mechanism for guiding a substantially linear displacement of said alignment structure relative to said surface through said pushing motion.  
     
     
         22 . The system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said monitoring device comprises at least one kinematics sensing device for monitoring a kinematics of the at least one knee.  
     
     
         23 . The system as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said monitoring device is adapted to use said kinematics to provide a mapping of a 3D knee kinematics of the at least one knee.  
     
     
         24 . The system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said monitoring device comprises at least one load-measuring platform incorporated with said foot-bearing surface to monitor a load applied to the feet of the patient.  
     
     
         25 . The system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said body alignment structure comprises fastening means for securing said upper-body alignment.  
     
     
         26 . The system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said foot-bearing surface comprises at least one foot fastening structure for securing a position of the patient's feet during the motion.  
     
     
         27 . The system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said foot-bearing surface is fixedly mounted within said gesture-guiding apparatus and said support structure is controllably displaced using said guiding mechanism.  
     
     
         28 . The system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said gesture-guiding apparatus further comprises an adjustable resistance mechanism for selectably adjusting a resistance to the motion, said resistance mechanism comprising at least one weight for selectively increasing said resistance.  
     
     
         29 . The system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said gesture-guiding apparatus further comprises an adjustable resistance mechanism for selectably adjusting a resistance to the motion, said resistance mechanism comprising at least one counterweight for selectively decreasing said resistance.  
     
     
         30 . The system as Claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said gesture-guiding apparatus is adapted such that said substantially linear displacement of said alignment structure relative to said surface is substantially vertical.  
     
     
         31 . The system as Claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said gesture-guiding apparatus is adapted such that said substantially linear displacement of said alignment structure relative to said surface is substantially horizontal.  
     
     
         32 . A method for monitoring at least one knee of a patient executing a controlled leg pushing motion applied through his feet in view of monitoring a condition of the knee, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) positioning the patient in a gesture-guiding apparatus and with a selected position for an upper body of the patient;    b) having the patient execute the motion, wherein the upper body displaces substantially linearly; and    c) monitoring the at least one knee as the patient executes the motion.