Brace having integrated remote patient monitoring technology and method of using same
A brace configured for attachment to a joint of a subject is provided. The brace includes a first arm having a first end and a second end. The brace includes a second arm having a first end and a second end. The brace includes a hinge assembly coupling the first end of the first arm with the first end of the second arm such that the first arm and the second arm are movable to different relative angular orientations. The brace includes a potentiometer coupled to the hinge assembly. A method of monitoring a relative angular orientation of a first arm of a brace relative to a second arm of the brace is also provided. The method includes monitoring an output of a potentiometer coupled to one of the first arm and the second arm.
1 . A brace configured for attachment to a joint of a subject, the brace comprising:
a first arm having a first end and a second end;
a second arm having a first end and a second end;
a hinge assembly coupling the first end of the first arm with the first end of the second arm such that the first arm rotates about a first axis and the second arm rotates about a second axis, parallel to and spatially separated from the first axis, when the first arm and the second arm are moved to different relative angular orientations relative to the hinge assembly; and
a potentiometer coupled to the hinge assembly and configured to generate signals indicative of the different relative angular orientations of the first arm with respect to the second arm; and
wherein a rotatable shaft of the potentiometer is fixed to the first arm along the first axis, and the potentiometer is mounted to a printed circuit board, such that rotating the first arm relative to the second arm about the first and second axes, respectively, is configured to adjust a rotational position of the rotatable shaft with respect to a resistive element of the potentiometer, changing a resistance thereof, and adjust an orientation of the printed circuit board.
2 . The brace of claim 1 , further comprising an integrated remote patient monitoring device configured to receive the signals from the potentiometer indicative of the different relative angular orientations of the first arm with respect to the second arm.
3 . The brace of claim 2 , wherein the integrated remote patient monitoring device is further configured to make a determination of at least one of a range of motion, an angular velocity and an acceleration of the joint of the patient based at least in part on the signals from the potentiometer when the brace is worn by the patient.
4 . The brace of claim 3 , wherein the integrated remote patient monitoring device is further configured to wirelessly transmit at least one of an indication of the signals from the potentiometer and an indication of the determination to a communication device.
5 . The brace of claim 2 , wherein the integrated remote patient monitoring device is further configured to determine at least one of an average, a peak, a minimum and a maximum value of at least one of a range of motion, an angular velocity and an acceleration of the joint of the patient based at least in part on the signals from the potentiometer when the brace is worn by the patient.
6 . The brace of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable shaft of the potentiometer rotates about the first axis.
7 . The brace of claim 6 , wherein a portion of the rotatable shaft of the potentiometer is keyed and fits in a mating aperture in the first end of the first arm.
8 . The brace of claim 1 , wherein the potentiometer is an analog mechanical potentiometer.
9 . The brace of claim 1 , wherein the spatial separation is fixed.
10 . The brace of claim 1 , comprising a second shaft parallel to the shaft of the potentiometer that is mechanically fixed to the shaft of the potentiometer.
11 . The brace of claim 1 , wherein an output of the potentiometer is connected to a buffer.
12 . The brace of claim 1 , wherein an input of the potentiometer is coupled to a battery.
13 . The brace of claim 1 , wherein a voltage of the generated signals from the potentiometer varies in proportion to the different relative angular orientations of the first arm with respect to the second arm.