Apparatus for measuring head and spine movement

Head-mounted apparatus for measuring the movement of the spine or head about a substantially vertical axis, and also capable of indicating spine or head tilting. A headband firmly affixed to the head includes an indicia scale used in conjunction with a body reference indicator whereby the indicator is maintained stationary while the spine or head is rotated such that the relationship between the indicator and indicia scale represents rotative body movement. A gravity operated gauge also affixed to the apparatus measures tilting of the head with respect to the horizontal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In the medical treatment of neck and spine problems it is often desired to 
be able to relatively accurately measure the movement of the head and 
spine for diagnostic and comparative purposes, particularly with respect 
to the cervical spine. Heretofore, apparatus for measuring spine movement 
has lacked accuracy and ease of use, and there is a need for low cost 
apparatus for accurately measuring head movements. 
It is known to mount gravity sensitive gauges to the head for indicating 
head inclination, as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,565,381 and 3,429,052. 
Also, templates and reference scales have been used to determine the 
extent of head movement as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,465,450. Angle 
indicating devices of a protractor nature have also been used to show and 
measure pivotal movement of limb joints as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 
1,590,499. However, apparatus for accurately measuring head movement, 
particularly about a vertical axis, is not readily available and the 
present invention provides apparatus filling a void in this area of the 
medical field. 
It is an object of the invention to provide apparatus for measuring body 
movement wherein the movement of the head or spine about a vertical axis 
can be accurately determined. 
A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for measuring 
body movements which is economical to manufacture and distribute, and may 
be readily utilized by technicians of ordinary skill. 
Yet a further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for measuring 
body movements about a vertical axis whereby restraining straps are 
employed to maintain consistency of head orientation during testing. 
Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for measuring body 
movements wherein rotation of the spine or head about a vertical axis is 
determined, and also, tilting of the head relative to the vertical may be 
indicated. 
In the practice of the invention a headband is affixed to the head 
circumscribing the lateral portions thereof. A crown bridge mounted upon 
the headband extends over the crown of the head, and at its upper central 
portion a vertical shaft is mounted. A planar indicia scale is mounted 
upon the shaft having angular indications formed thereon whereby the scale 
will rotate as the body is turned about a substantially vertical axis. A 
body reference indicator is pivotally mounted upon the shaft and includes 
means, such as a pivoted end, for positioning adjacent a reference body 
part. Thus, by maintaining the indicator stationary rotation of the head 
causes relative movement between the indicator and the scale permitting 
measurement of head or spine movement. 
Also, a gravity sensitive indicator is mounted upon the crown bridge shaft 
having a pendulum pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis whereby 
tilting of the head in a direction substantially aligned with the plane of 
pendulum movement will indicate the extent of body tilting upon a scale. 
A chest band strapped about the patient may be used as a support for straps 
attached to the headband whereby the horizontal orientation of the head is 
maintained to assure uniformity of testing when rotating the head about a 
vertical axis. The apparatus of the invention may be used without the 
chest band and head straps, but such usage assures consistent results 
during successive tests.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The apparatus of the invention will be appreciated from FIG. 1 wherein a 
headband is illustrated at 10. The headband is adapted to be placed upon 
the head and engage upon the lateral, front and rear portions of the head 
and the circumference of the headband is adjustable by adjustment means 12 
which includes manually operated knob 14. The headband 10 may be of the 
conventional type used in welding helmets and the like, and by adjustment 
of the circumference by means of knob 14 the headband may be securely 
affixed to the wearer's head as apparent in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
In the disclosed embodiment a bow 16 extends between the lateral sides of 
the headband and is affixed at its ends to the headband by connectors 18. 
The connectors 18 also support the crown bridge 20 superimposed over the 
bow 16, and at its upper central region the crown bridge supports the 
vertically disposed shaft 22. The shaft 22 includes an annular recess 24, 
FIG. 4, extending through the hole 26 defined in the crown bridge, and the 
shaft is affixed to the crown bridge in a nonrotative manner. 
A circular indicia scale or protractor 28 is mounted upon the shaft 22 in a 
nonrotative manner, and the scale is provided with a plurality of radial 
lines 30 each bearing indicia indicating a portion of a circle, for 
instance, 10.degree..The radial lines are designated by appropriate degree 
legends. 
A body reference indicator 32 is pivotally mounted upon the shaft 22 above 
the indicia scale 28 by means of recessed bearing portion 34 defined upon 
the shaft, and the body reference indicator is capable of freely rotating 
upon the shaft relative to the scale. In the disclosed embodiment the 
indicator 32 consists of the inner portion 36 rotatively mounted upon the 
shaft 22, and the outer portion 38. These portions are interconnected with 
a hinge pin 42 whereby the outer portion 38 is pivotally connected to the 
inner portion permitting the outer portion pointer end to be disposed 
adjacent the desired body reference point. It is to be appreciated that in 
use, the flat scale 28 will be disposed in a substantially horizontal 
plane, while the shaft axis will be vertical, and the axis of hinge 42 
will be disposed at right angles with respect to the length of outer 
portion 38, and lie in a horizontal plane. 
Preferably, a gravity operated angle gauge 44 is rotatably attached to the 
upper end of the shaft 22, and this angle gauge may be of known design 
including a pendulum-indicator 46 pivotally mounted upon a horizontal 
pivot axis as represented at 48, FIG. 4. Indicia is defined upon the gauge 
adjacent the indicator 46, and because of the influence of gravity upon 
the indicator pendulum of the gauge tilting of the gauge relative to the 
vertical will cause the indicator to specify a particular angle of 
tilting. Of course, with respect to the gauge 44, angle deviations are 
sensed that are in the plane in which the gauge pendulum swings. 
A chest band 50 may encompass the wearer's chest and back, FIGS. 2 and 3, 
and is adjustably closed by fasteners 52 such as represented in FIG. 3, 
which may be of the Velcro type, or laces and buckles could be employed. A 
plurality of anterior straps 54 and posterior straps 56 are attached to 
the chest band extending to the headband 10 as will be appreciated from 
FIGS. 2 and 3, and the purpose of the straps is to restrain the head 
against tilting relative to the vertical. Thus, the chest band and straps 
are primarily employed when checking the patient's spine or head relative 
to rotation about the vertical axis, and the straps do not impede such 
orientation. The straps are taut enough to stabilize the cervical area to 
permit examination of the range of motion of the lumbar thoracic spine. It 
is to be understood that the use of the chest band and straps is optional. 
When firmly mounted upon the patient's head, the pointer end 40 of the body 
reference indicator 32 will be located adjacent a body reference point, 
usually the lower spine, and the patient will be asked to rotate their 
upper body or head in either direction. Such body rotation will cause the 
scale 28 to rotate relative to the indicator 32 which is maintained in 
stationary relationship to the wearer's spine, and in this manner the 
rotative body movement is readily determined indicating the range of 
motion to which the applicant's spine or head may be turned. 
When it is desired to check the ability of the wearer to tilt the head in a 
lateral direction the angle gauge 44 will be observed as tilting occurs, 
and the range of motion observed. By rotating the gauge 44 90.degree. on 
shaft 22 the gauge may be used to check extension, anterior flexion, and 
left and right lateral flexion. 
By the use of the apparatus of the invention the degree of rotation of the 
cervical spine may be accurately determined, and progressive patient 
conditions can be accurately monitored since during each use the indicator 
pointer end 40 may be accurately maintained at the same position relative 
to the patient's spine and consistent results will be obtained over an 
extended duration. When measuring the range of motion of the spine, it is 
desirable that the head not rotate relative to the neck and upper spine as 
the torso is twisted and the chest band and straps are helpful in this 
regard. However, it is also possible to use a cervical collar to fix the 
head relative to the body when using the invention. 
It is appreciated that various modifications to the inventive concepts may 
be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit 
and scope of the invention.