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 result to a database of normative standards to compute an impairment rating.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . 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 selected ones of the one or more pieces of equipment to the computer system;   displaying for selection on the graphical user interface one or more capability-specific protocols of tests;   in response to a selection of a capability-specific test, inputting to the computer system measurements of one or more physical capabilities of the person measured with one or more corresponding pieces of equipment in a plurality of test trials;   displaying in a respective plurality of locations of a measurement region of the graphical user interface ones of the received measurements of the multiple test trials;   calculating a coefficient of variation for the multiple test trials using said inputted measurements;   displaying the coefficient of variation in the graphic user interface, where the coefficient of variation represents validity or invalidity of the test trials;   comparing the coefficient of variation to a threshold amount;   indicating validity of the functional evaluation when the coefficient of variation exceeds the threshold amount for any of the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23  further comprising:
 displaying a test protocol selection graphical user interface comprising a pictorial image of a human body; and 
 wherein said choosing one or more capability-specific protocols 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. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24  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. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 23  further comprising:
 indicating validity when the functional evaluation when the coefficient of variation is greater than 10%. 
 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 23  further comprising calculating the coefficient of variation for the multiple test trials using the inputted measurements as a percentage difference between a comparison value and the inputted measurements in 3 successive trials out of a total of 6 trials. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27  further comprising calculating the coefficient of variation for the multiple test trials using a comparison value from the group of comparison values consisting of:
 a median measurement of the measurements from the three successive trials; 
 a mean measurement of the measurements from the three successive trials; and 
 a largest measurement of the measurements from the three successive trials. 
 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 23  further comprising:
 selecting via the graphical user interface range of motion and muscle testing for the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests. 
 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 23  further comprising:
 selecting via the graphical user interface range of motion, pinch grip, and muscle testing for the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests. 
 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 23  further comprising:
 selecting range of motion, hand grip, and muscle testing for the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests. 
 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 23  further comprising:
 selecting range of motion, pinch grip, hand grip, and muscle testing for the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests. 
 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 23  further comprising:
 selecting range of motion, static lifting, and muscle testing for the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests. 
 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 23  further comprising:
 selecting range of motion, pinch grip, hand grip, static lifting, and muscle testing for the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests. 
 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 23  further comprising:
 selecting range of motion, pinch grip, static lifting, and muscle testing for the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests. 
 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 23  further comprising:
 selecting range of motion, hand grip, static lifting, and muscle testing for the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests. 
 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 23  further comprising:
 selecting pinch grip, and hand grip testing for the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests. 
 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 23  further comprising: displaying an impairment rating based on the inputted measurements by correlating an average of the received measurements to a database of population normative standards, when the coefficient of variation is below the threshold amount. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 23  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. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 23  wherein said coupling each of the one or more pieces of equipment to the computer system comprises wiring of the one or more pieces of equipment to the computer system. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 23  wherein said coupling each of the one or more pieces of equipment to the computer system comprises wirelessly transmitting the measurements automatically to the computer system. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 23  further comprising displaying one or more screens selected from the group of screens consisting of:
 an EG calibration screen providing instructions for calibrating a goniometer; 
 a hand dynamometer calibration screen providing instructions for calibrating a hand dynamometer; 
 a heart rate monitor calibration screen providing instructions for calibrating a heart rate monitor; 
 a pinch gauge calibration screen providing instructions for calibrating a pinch gauge; and 
 an inclinometer calibration screen providing instructions for checking range of motion measurements made using an inclinometer. 
 
     
     
         43 . 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:
 displaying a test protocol selection graphical user interface comprising a pictorial image of a human body;   selecting one or more body regions of the human body in the test protocol selection graphical user interface, thereby selecting a capability-specific protocol of tests associated with the selected one or more body regions;   measuring one or more physical capabilities of the person, the measuring including at least one test trial for selected ones of the one or more capability-specific protocols of tests;   receiving a plurality of corresponding measurements obtained from said measuring into the computer system;   displaying a measurement region in the graphic user interface;   dynamically displaying at least some of the received measurements of the at least one test trial in a respective one or more locations in the displayed measurement region of the graphic user interface.   
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 43  further comprising:
 coupling the one or more pieces of equipment to the computer system; and 
 receiving the measurements obtained from said measuring directly into the computer system through the coupling with the one or more corresponding pieces of equipment. 
 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 43  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. 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 43  further comprising:
 calculating a coefficient of variation for the received measurements of a selected number of successive test trials being calculated as a percentage difference between a comparison value and the received measurements in the successive trials. 
 
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 43  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 maximum of 6 test trials. 
     
     
         48 . The method according lo  claim 43  further comprising calculating the coefficient of variation for the multiple test trials using a comparison value from the group of comparison values consisting of:
 a median measurement of the measurements from the three successive trials; 
 a mean measurement of the measurements from the three successive trials; and 
 a largest measurement of the measurements from the three successive trials.