Patent ID: 7748271
Filing Date: 2010-07-06
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A resistance-based muscular force evaluation apparatus comprising: a saddle on which a test subject sits; a robot arm adjustable to a length of an upper limb or a lower limb of the test subject, and having a first joint and a second joint; a fastener for securing said robot arm to the upper limb or the lower limb of the test subject; an angular sensor for sensing joint angles at the first and second joints of said robot arm; and a controller for measuring and controlling a first torque at the first joint and a second torque at the second joint of said robot arm generated simultaneously by a coordinated action of the antagonistic mono-articular muscles and antagonistic bi-articular muscles of the test subject, and evaluating a change in muscular force of the test subject based on a change in a hexagonal diagram of output distribution formulated on a plane formed by two axes corresponding to the first torque and the second torque.