UVM Reference Number: C838
Summary:
The system can be used to allow clinicians to monitor patients’ at-home progress and compliance with rehab protocols after knee surgery
Background:
Current technologies that can be deployed remotely only measure steps taken and/or range of motion to monitor post-surgical rehabilitation or performance. Technologies that can accurately measure muscle and joint loading are currently only available in laboratory-based settings such as optical motion capture, or are not realistically remotely deployable, in the case of systems that require large arrays of sensors.
Technology Overview:
This technology is a system of easily worn sensors and accompanying software that allows remote monitoring of clinically relevant muscle and joint loading in the knee. The system can be used to allow clinicians to monitor patients’ at-home progress and compliance with rehab protocols after knee surgery. Monitoring of patient joint recovery in real life helps clinicians to adjust therapy based on the patient’s response and anticipate negative outcomes, such as osteoarthritis, so they can intervene before they develop, creating better clinical outcomes.
Additional applications of the technology include use by elite athletes and their trainers to identify deficiencies in muscle strength, to identify how the current training protocol is targeting different muscle groups and the load on the joints, and balance stress versus the risk of injury to maximize performance. For recreational athletes, the technology allows the consumer to monitor muscle stress and optimize their fitness without injury.
Benefits:
- Easy to deploy remotely – current systems are lab-based or require a large array of sensors that are not realistically deployable in patient’s normal life situation.
- Low cost – uses low cost, commercially available sensors.
- Comprehensive patient characterization – provides data on muscle and joint loading in the knee in addition to steps taken or range of motion.
- Rehab progression monitoring – Monitors biomechanical outcomes targeted in rehab & allows clinicians to monitor whether patients are adequately following their rehab protocols.
- Allows personalized therapeutic approaches – Clinicians can change therapeutic approaches if incorrect loading is occurring to prevent injury and limit the long-term side effects of surgery.
- Performance & Training Monitoring for Athletes – Allows trainers & athletes to optimize their training, monitor and adjust to avoid injury.
Applications:
- Post-surgical recovery monitoring for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction
- Post-surgical recovery monitoring for total knee arthroplasty
- Optimizing performance for elite athletes
- Training monitoring for recreational athletes
Patents:
Seeking:
- Licensing
- Development partner
