Patent ID: 9265451
Filing Date: 2016-02-23
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. A method of patient care to reduce spasticity and/or to improve motor control of a limb, the method comprising: a) providing measurement apparatus for measuring a joint angle and EMG activity in said limb; b) determining a threshold EMG activity value in said limb; c) determining a zero angle defining an initial position of said limb; d) imparting a movement to said limb by a clinician from said initial to a final position while measuring an EMG activity value in muscles of said limb and angles and velocities at which said limb is moved; e) recording angle relative to said zero angle and velocity as a data point at which said measured EMG value crosses said threshold EMG activity value to determine a threshold angle at said velocity; f) repeating said movement at a range of velocities until a set of data points are acquired and recorded to provide a relationship between velocities and threshold angles; g) algorithmically validating said data points based on said relationship between velocities and threshold angles; h) repeating one of step b), c), d), e), f) or combination thereof if said data points are outside predetermined quality criteria to obtain a set of valid data points; i) computing a stretch reflex threshold value and a sensitivity of said threshold value to velocities value using said valid data points; j) outputting said stretch reflex threshold value and said sensitivity of said threshold angles to velocities value to provide a quantitative measure of spasticity in said limb; and treating a patient with a physical, pharmacological or surgical treatment based on said quantitative measure.