The Technology
Prior to the use of fluoroscopy, kinematics of human joints were assessed using cadavers or motion analyses systems. Unfortunately, cadaver testing does not allow for in vivo soft-tissue conditions to be present, and motion analyses systems induce significant out-of-plane error due to skin motion. Fluoroscopy does have advantages for in vivo testing, but present-day fluoroscopic units are fixed, not allowing for testing of high demand activities. Drs. William Hamel, Richard Komistek and their research team have developed a first of its kind technology that integrates multiple sensing devices with a mobile mechanical system so that specific skeletal joints of human subjects can be examined in real-time during natural ranges and rates of movement. An electrically driven mechanical arrangement would be provided to allow the entire mobile tracking device to unobtrusively track the human subject during normal movements. The mechanical arrangement would include a separate tracking system that would allow the x-ray source and imaging features of a fluoroscope to closely track the desired geometrical features of the selected skeletal joint. Through the use of this new technology, fluoroscopic image quality has been significantly advanced because the unit now moves with the patient.

Benefits
• Applicable for all major human skeletal joints
• Easy to view real time movement
• First of its kind to move and track joints
• Opportunity for clinical diagnosis during weight-bearing, dynamic activities

Patents
• U.S. 8,406,845

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwnOSuFL0ps

PD 04016