Positioning device for producing movement in the shoulder

US5520181A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Technology Funding Secured Investors II · US

Inventors

• Marc S. Kreidler · Sunnyvale, US
• Rodney E. Bell · Kalamazoo, US
• Charles P. Ho · Palo Alto, US
• David Hung · Belmont, US
• Erin A. Ryan · Palo Alto, US
• Harrie J. M. Wolters · Menlo Park, US
• Chuckson Yokota · Fremont, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 24, 1993
• Grant date: May 28, 1996
• Expiry date: Nov 24, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R33/28
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A positioning device for producing movement in the shoulder of a human patient in MRI apparatus includes a base movable into the aperture of the MRI apparatus. On the base is provided a swivel which includes a first lever pivoted on an axis, on which the shoulder is located, in substantially the plane of the base. And then with the elbow in an elbow cup located at the end of the first lever arm, a second lever arm is pivoted at the cup. The second lever arm at its distal end restrains the forearm or hand of the patient. Movement of this second lever arm is sensed by an angle encoder mounted on the axis of the elbow cup to indicate internal/external rotation. Movement of the first lever arm is sensed by an angle encoder at the first axis to provide abduction/adduction angle movement information. Flexion/extension movement is also provided.