Computer-Aided Multiple Standard-Based Functional Evaluation and Medical Reporting System

Abstract

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.

1 . A method of performing an objective functional evaluation of one or more physical capabilities of a person utilizing one or more pieces of equipment and a computer system configured for displaying a graphic user interface, said method comprising the steps of:
 coupling each of the one or more pieces of equipment to the computer system;   choosing one or more capability-specific protocols of tests from a database of tests;   measuring one or more physical capabilities of the person utilizing one or more corresponding pieces of equipment;   performing said measuring tor each of the one or more physical capabilities using the one or more corresponding pieces of equipment in multiple test trials for each of the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests;   receiving the measurements obtained from said measuring into the computer system through the coupling with the one or more corresponding pieces of equipment;   displaying a measurement region in the graphic user interface;   dynamically displaying each of the received measurements of the multiple test trials in a respective plurality of locations in the displayed measurement region of the graphic user interface;   calculating a coefficient of variation fur the multiple test trials using said received measurements;   dynamically displaying the coefficient of variation in the graphic user interface, where the coefficient of variation represents validity or invalidity of the test trials;   determining validity of the multiple test trials by comparing the coefficient of variation against a threshold amount;   stopping the functional evaluation when the coefficient of variation is above the threshold amount for any of the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests, indicating invalidity.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to claim further comprising:
 displaying a test protocol selection graphical user interface comprising a pictorial image off human body; and   wherein said choosing one or more capability-specific protocols of tests from a database of tests comprises selecting one or more body regions of the human body in the test protocol selection graphical user interface, thereby selecting an associated protocol of tests.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2  further comprising: selecting the one or more body regions from the group of regions consisting of: front body regions, back body regions, left side regions, right side regions, a head region, a shoulder region, an elbow region, a wrist region, a hand region, a hip region, a knee region, an ankle region, a foot region, a cervical region, a thoracic region, a lumbosacral region, and a pelvic region. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising calculating the coefficient of variation for the multiple test trials using said received measurements as a percentage difference between a comparison value and the received measurements in 3 successive trials out of a total of 6 trials. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4  further comprising calculating the coefficient of variation for the multiple test trials using a median measurement of the measurements from the three successive trials as the comparison value. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5  further comprising calculating the coefficient of variation for the multiple test trials using a mean measurement of the measurements from the three successive trials as the comparison value. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5  further comprising calculating the coefficient of variation fix the multiple test trials using a largest measurement of the measurements from the three successive trials as the comparison value. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 5  further comprising:
 choosing range of motion and muscle testing for the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 5  further comprising:
 choosing range of motion, pinch grip, and muscle testing for the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 5  further comprising:
 choosing range of motion, hand grip, and muscle testing for the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 5  further comprising:
 choosing range of motion, pinch grip, hand grip, and muscle testing for the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 5  further comprising:
 choosing range of motion, static lifting, and muscle testing for the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 5  further comprising:
 choosing range of motion, pinch grip, hand grip, static lifting, and muscle testing for the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 5  further comprising:
 choosing range of motion pinch grip, static lifting, and muscle testing for the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 5  further comprising:
 choosing range of motion, hand grip, static lifting, and muscle testing for the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 5  further comprising:
 choosing pinch grip, and, hand grip testing for the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 5  further comprising: displaying an impairment at based on the received measurements by correlating an average of the displayed measurements to a database of population normative standards, when the coefficient of variation is below the threshold amount. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17  further comprising: displaying a color-coded bar chart identifying functional loss experienced by the person, by arranging the comparison value with a respective one of the population normative standards, for each of the associated protocols of tests. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said coupling each of the one or more pieces of equipment to the computer system comprises a coupling from the group of couplings consisting of:
 wiring of the one or more pieces of equipment to the computer system. 
 wirelessly transmitting the measurements automatically to the computer system. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 displaying a calibration screen having a plurality of tabs, said method further comprising:
 displaying an EG calibration tab configured for toggling for displaying an EG calibration screen providing instructions for calibrating a goniometer; 
 displaying an HD calibration tab configured for toggling for displaying an hand dynamometer calibration screen providing instructions for calibrating a hand dynamometer; 
 displaying an HR calibration tab configured for toggling for displaying a heart rate monitor calibration screen providing instructions for calibrating a heart rate monitor. 
 displaying an PG calibration tab configured for toggling for displaying a pinch gauge calibration screen providing instructions for calibrating a pinch gauge; 
 displaying an RM calibration tab configured for toggling for displaying an inclinometer calibration screen providing instructions for checking range of motion measurements made using an inclinometer.