Method and apparatus for measuring the isometric muscle strength of multiple muscle groups in the human body

US4702108A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• Regent of the Univ. of Minnesota · US
• Twin City Surgical, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Louis R. Amundsen · New Brighton, US
• Robert Patterson · Minneapolis, US
• Tanya L. Baxter · Minneapolis, US
• Glenn N. Scudder · Edina, US
• Wayne O. Duescher · Roseville, US
• Willis E. Dahlman · Cambridge, US
• Gary W. Schukar · North Oaks, US
• Clarence I. Steinback · Edina, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 4, 1986
• Grant date: Oct 27, 1987
• Expiry date: Feb 4, 2006

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S482/901
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An apparatus and method for isometric muscle strength testing using a chair apparatus (40) having a support frame structure (42), a seat assembly (46), a foot rest assembly (60) and load cells (100) interconnected to the support frame structure (42) for measuring the isometric force exerted by any of a plurality of muscle groups in a human subject's body. The load cells (100) are possibly positioned on six track systems; a posterior track (80a), left and right lateral tracks (80b,c) an anterior track (80d), a forward upper track (80e) and a forward lower track (80f) to enable alignment with the muscle group selected for testing. A thorax restraint assembly (120), a sacral pad assembly (140), a pelvic restraint assembly (150), a thigh restraint assembly (160) and a calf restraint assembly (170) are present for selectively engaging and immobilizing parts of the human subject's body, including the pelvis, thorax, thighs and legs, as required to enable the muscle group selected for testing to be tested while isolated from the other muscle groups of the human subject's body.