System and methods for monitoring physical therapy and rehabilitation of joints

Abstract

A system for monitoring a patient includes a sensor unit having a housing and sensors disposed in or around the housing; and a base having a shell and configured and arranged to be adhesively attached to skin of the patient. The sensors can be used to monitor physical therapy and rehabilitation of the patient. The sensor unit can provide information to a patient or clinician device to facilitate the monitoring. The sensor data can be used to determine measurements such as tilt angle of the sensor unit and range of motion measurements (such as extension, flexion, or forces associated with movement) of the anatomical region to which the sensor unit is attached. The sensor data can also be used for automated identification or classification of exercises performed by the patient.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system for monitoring a patient, the system comprising:
 a sensor unit comprising a housing and a plurality of sensors disposed in or around the housing; and   a base comprising a shell and configured and arranged to be adhesively attached to skin of the patient, wherein the shell comprises sidewalls forming a cavity configured and arranged to removably receive a portion of the sensor unit, wherein the sidewalls are resiliently flexible to expend when the portion of the sensor unit is received in the cavity and then compress against a perimeter of the sensor unit to maintain engagement between the sensor unit and the base while allowing the sensor unit to be removed from the base by the patient.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the base further comprises a tab coupled to the shell and configured to deform the shell by pushing or pulling the tab to facilitate receiving or removal of the sensor unit from the base. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the sidewalls of the shell of the base form a rim and slope outwardly and downwardly from the rim to form an undercut region below the rim. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the housing of the sensor unit is sloped to fit into the undercut region below the rim formed by the sidewalls of the shell of the base. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the sidewalls of the shell of the base define a rim and the housing of the sensor unit defines a groove configured and arranged to receive the rim when the sensor unit engages the base. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a temperature sensor extending out of the housing of the sensor unit and the base defines an opening through the shell, wherein the system is configured and arranged so that when the sensor unit engages the base, the temperature sensor of the sensor unit extends into the opening so that a portion of the temperature sensor is exposed to the skin of the patient. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a substrate with adhesive disposed on opposite sides of the substrate for coupling to the base and to skin of a patient. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the housing comprises an upper housing and a lower housing coupled to the upper housing. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the upper housing forms a concave shell over the lower housing. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a gripping element with a roughened or non-smooth surface attached to the housing of the sensor unit. 
     
     
         31 . A system for monitoring a patient, the system comprising:
 a sensor unit comprising a housing and a plurality of sensors disposed in or around the housing; and   a base comprising a shell and configured and arranged to be adhesively attached to skin of the patient, wherein the shell comprises sidewalls forming a cavity configured and arranged to removably receive a portion of the sensor unit, wherein the sidewalls of the shell of the base define a rim and the housing of the sensor unit defines a groove configured and arranged to receive the rim when the sensor unit engages the base.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the base further comprises a tab coupled to the shell and configured to deform the shell by pushing or pulling the tab to facilitate receiving or removal of the sensor unit from the base. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the sidewalls of the shell of the base form a rim and slope outwardly and downwardly from the rim to form an undercut region below the rim. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the housing of the sensor unit is sloped to fit into the undercut region below the rim formed by the sidewalls of the shell of the base. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the sidewalls of the shell of the base define a rim and the housing of the sensor unit defines a groove configured and arranged to receive the rim when the sensor unit engages the base. 
     
     
         36 . A system for monitoring a patient, the system comprising:
 a sensor unit comprising a housing and a plurality of sensors disposed in or around the housing; and   a base comprising a shell and configured and arranged to be adhesively attached to skin of the patient, wherein the shell comprises sidewalls forming a cavity configured and arranged to removably receive a portion of the sensor unit, wherein the base further comprises a tab coupled to the shell and configured to deform the shell by pushing or pulling the tab to facilitate receiving or removal of the sensor unit from the base.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising a substrate with adhesive disposed on opposite sides of the substrate for coupling to the base and to skin of a patient. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the housing comprises an upper housing and a lower housing coupled to the upper housing. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the upper housing forms a concave shell over the lower housing. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising a gripping element with a roughened or non-smooth surface attached to the housing of the sensor unit.