Method and apparatus for positioning a forearm for imaging and analysis

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for repeatably positioning a forearm at a plurality of angular positions for medical analysis. A forearm of a patient is positioned in a support channel within reach of a rotatable handle. The handle can be locked in a number of angular positions, providing a counteractive force as the handle is rotated. The patient rotates and applies a torque force to the handle at selected rotational angles. The forearm and wrist can be scanned in these locked position, and applied torque can be measured to evaluate joint stability.

1 . A method for repeatably positioning and stressing a forearm of a subject for scanning, imaging, or other examination, the method comprising: 
 restraining the forearm of the subject in a stationary position;    disposing a rotatable member within the reach of the hand of the subject;    selectively prompting the subject to move the rotatable member between a rest position and at least one rotation angle; and    scanning the forearm in the rest position and the rotation angle.    
     
     
         2 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of scanning the forearm at the sixty degree pronation and at the sixty degree supination positions.  
     
     
         3 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a counteractive force opposing the rotation of the rotatable member; and    prompting the subject to rotate the rotatable member against the counteractive force to provide a torque force; and    scanning the forearm of the subject as the torque is applied.    
     
     
         4 . The method as defined in  claim 3 , further comprising the step of measuring the applied torque.  
     
     
         5 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 restraining a second forearm of the subject in a second stationary position, the second stationary position being in a plane substantially parallel to the stationary position;    disposing a second rotatable member within the reach of the hand of the subject;    prompting the subject to simultaneously move each of the rotatable members to the same rotation angle; and    aligning the forearm and the second forearm to be in substantially identical positions;    scanning each of the forearm and the second forearm in each of the rest and the rotation angle positions.