Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A method and equipment for the detection of mechanical injuries in the lumbar spine of a patient and the identification of these injuries, using a mathematical model applicable to the five lumbar vertebrae of a human being, and to to their disks. According to this method, the electromyographis (EMG) activities of the erectores and abdominals of the patient are measured in the bilateral and symmetrical manner with respect to the spine of the patient while the same is flexing forward in the mediane plane and pulling up a small load. The angle of flexion of the patient is measured during this flexion and is supplied as variable input to the mathematical model. A computer is used to run the model with its variable input in order to calculate the EMG activites of the erectores and abdominals that would normally be used by a healthy person to produce the same task. The so calculated EMG activities are then compared to the EMG activities actually measured on the patient and the parameters of the models are tuned to fit the calculated EMG activites for those measured on the patient. The amount and type of tuning that are necessary to complete the last step, are sufficient in practice to detect and identify the mechanical injuries that may be present in the lumbar spine of the patient.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim