System and methods for monitoring physical therapy and rehabilitation of joints

Abstract

A system for monitoring a joint of a patient includes multiple sensors to be disposed near a joint and to measure or observe actions or physical quantities associated with the joint; and at least one communications module coupled to the sensors to receive data from the sensors and to transmit sensor information to an external device. In some embodiments, the sensors are implantable near the joint. In other embodiments, the sensors are disposed in a sensor module that is positioned adjacent the skin of the patient near the joint.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
         1 . A system for monitoring a joint of a patient, the system comprising:
 a plurality of sensors configured and arranged to be disposed near a joint and configured and arranged to measure or observe actions or physical quantities associated with the joint; and   at least one communications module coupled to the plurality of sensors and configured and arranged to receive data from the sensors and configured and arranged to transmit sensor information to an external device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one communication unit comprises a sensor processor configured and arranged to receive the sensor data and a wireless communications unit configured and arranged to wirelessly transmit the sensor information to or through the external device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a sensor module comprising a housing, the plurality of sensors disposed in the housing, and the at least one communication unit disposed in the housing, wherein the sensor module is configured and arranged to be disposed adjacent skin of the patient to monitor the joint. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the sensor module further comprises an adhesive pad coupleable to the housing and configured and arranged to adhesively adhere the sensor module to the skin of the patient for at least one hour. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a wearable article configured and arranged to receive the sensor module within the wearable article and to be worn by the patient so that the sensor module is disposed near the joint. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least one sensor configured and arranged to provide sensor data that can be processed to determine a range of motion of the joint. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a first accelerometer in combination with at least one of a second accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a magnetometer. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least two proximity sensors configured and arranged to provide sensor data that can be processed to determine a number of repetitions of joint movement. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least one temperature sensor or pulse sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is configured and arranged to be implanted in the patient. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a patient device configured and arranged to receive the sensor information from the at least one communications module and to process the sensor information and display the processed information for viewing by the patient. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a clinician device configured and arranged to receive the sensor information from the at least one communications module or from a patient device and to process the sensor information and display the processed information for viewing by a clinician. 
     
     
         13 . A sensor module, comprising:
 a housing configured and arranged to be disposed near a joint of a patient and adjacent to skin of the patient;   a plurality of sensors disposed within the housing, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least one sensor configured and arranged to provide sensor data that can be processed to determine a range of motion of the joint;   a sensor processor disposed within the housing and coupled to the plurality of sensors and configured and arranged to receive sensor data from the plurality of sensors; and   a communications unit disposed within the housing and coupled to the sensor processor and configured and arranged to transmit sensor information, based on the sensor data, to an external device.   
     
     
         14 . The sensor module of  claim 13 , further comprising an adhesive pad coupleable to the housing and configured and arranged to adhesively adhere the sensor module to the skin of the patient for at least one hour. 
     
     
         15 . The sensor module of  claim 14 , wherein the adhesive pad comprises at least one first locating feature and the housing comprises at least one second locating feature having a shape complementary to a shape of the at least one first locating feature to facilitate alignment of the adhesive pad with the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The sensor module of  claim 15 , wherein one of the at least one first locating feature or the at least one second locating feature comprises a magnet and another one of the at least one locating feature or the at least one second locating feature comprises a second magnet or a magnetically attractive material to facilitate coupling of the adhesive pad to the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The sensor module of  claim 13 , further comprising a wearable article configured and arranged to receive the housing of the sensor module within the wearable article and to be worn by the patient so that the housing of the sensor module is disposed near the joint. 
     
     
         18 . The sensor module of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a first accelerometer in combination with at least one of a second accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a magnetometer. 
     
     
         19 . The sensor module of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least two proximity sensors configured and arranged to provide sensor data that can be processed to determine a number of repetitions of joint movement. 
     
     
         20 . The sensor module of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least one temperature sensor or pulse sensor.