Abstract: Apparatus for taking body measurements of a seated person for making individually sized seat and back support cushions includes a foldable frame having a first leg/buttocks rule and a second height rule pivotally coupled together and adapted for positioning adjacent the leg/buttocks and back portions, respectively, of a person positioned thereon. The height rule is moveable along the length of the leg/buttocks rule upon which the person being measured is seated for measuring the distance from the seated person's buttocks to his or her knees. A moveable, generally V-shaped bracket adapted for engaging the person's shoulders is attached to the height rule and allows the person's seat-to-shoulder dimension to be measured. A moveable third rule attached to the leg/buttocks rule and disposed between its knee engaging end and the height rule includes a pair of moveable hip engaging paddles for measuring the person's hip width.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with an orthotic fitting device and method. An envelope and an adjacent diverticulum are connected to one another and are filled with a known amount of a viscous fluid. The diverticulum has indicia on it capable of indicating what portion of the fluid is within the diverticulum. The envelope is fitted against a portion of a patient's body which is to be cushioned and the fluid adjusts between the envelope and the diverticulum to provide proper cushioning for the foot. Flow communication is stopped between the diverticulum and the envelope and the amount of fluid in the diverticulum is determined from the indicia. An orthotic device in the shape of the envelope is then formulated containing the amount of fluid which remained in the envelope of the fitting device.

Abstract: This invention relates to a foot testing method to analyze the functional biomechanic type of the foot of a person such as an athlete to determine the appropriate insole to be fitted in the person's shoe as well as to a measuring device and insole used to implement this method. This method comprises the following steps: (1) placing the foot in a neutral (unloaded) position; (2) identifying the center line of the heel bone; (3) identifying the center line of the tendo Achillis; (4) placing the person tested in a standing position and preferably identifying the type of arch; (5) measuring the angle between the heel bone center line and the tendo Achillis center line preferably with his/her knees bent at approximately 45.degree..

Abstract: Measuring the length of a human limb by compressing body tissue at the ends of the limb a prescribed amount and then making the length measurement while the body tissue is compressed the prescribed amount.

Abstract: A prosthetic shape sensor comprises a single camera unit and a reflecting surface each mounted on a turntable and arranged opposite each other to define therebetween a space for a stump of a patient. The reflecting surface is shaped to fit between the stump and a leg of the patient. The camera unit includes a light source and the camera unit and the reflecting surface are rotatable together on the turntable through at least 180.degree.. The camera unit can collect a series of silhouette views of the stump upon rotation about the stump.

Abstract: A method of making measurements on a body includes the steps of placing a body in a space which is divided along a plane into adjacent regions of contrasting illumination with the dividing plane intersecting the body, rotating the body relative to the dividing plane about an axis and sensing the position on the dividing plane of at least a part of the exterior surface of the body with a sensor sensitive to the illumination at a plurality of rotational positions of the body. The axis about which the body is rotated lies in the dividing plane and light sources which divide the space into adjacent regions of contrasting illumination are located on the dividing plane.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for measuring the strength of selected muscles of the human anatomy for the purpose of analyzing body symmetry and column disorders comprising an upright support frame, a force sensor and measuring device stationarily positioned on the frame, a first force transmitting member carrying a patient engageable apparatus operable to transmit forces along a horizontal axis to actuate the sensor and measuring device, a second force transmitting member carrying additional patient engageable apparatus operable to transmit forces along a vertical axis, a force transfer mechanism capable of converting forces transmitted along said vertical axis by the second member into horizontal forces transmitted by the first transmitting member, and apparatus for locating the patient in the same position during successive measuring sessions.

Abstract: System for measuring the limit of peripheral strength, consisting of method and apparatus for raising the heel of a patient in discreet steps while testing for peripheral strength.

Abstract: A wheelchair fitting apparatus has a laterally adjustable back section, a vertically adjustable footrest and a pair of armrests which are adjustable both vertically and laterally. A back section extender allows vertical adjusting of the back section in relation to the seat section. Suitable indicia, for example a numbered grid on the seat section, the back section and the foot rest, as well as numbered intervals on the front legs of the chair, are provided to facilitate taking of measurements of an individual. The adjustable chair is preferably made of a transparent material to allow pressure and shear, among other things, to be readily observed through the chair. The chair may be adjusted to conform to the basic dimensions of a custom wheelchair for an individual, and measurements may be easily read off of the numbered grid and the numbered intervals on the front legs.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming customized footwear, such as shoes, boots or inner bladders for shoes or boots, and particularly an athletic shoe or boot, is disclosed in which an impression of the foot is used to make a positive mold, around which the shoe, boot or bladder is constructed. In the improved process a range-of-motion measuring apparatus is used to accurately determine the neutral position of the bone structure of the rearfoot complex of the foot. The foot is maintained in that position by means of the apparatus while the impression or casting of the foot is being made. The process provides a shoe, boot or inner liner or bladder therefor which will evenly support the foot in a neutral position. The range-of-motion measuring apparatus includes a beam generating laser that is directed toward a mirror mounted on the leg of the person being fitted.

Abstract: A screw-type device that can be screwed into a hole in the skull for measuring subarachnoid fluid pressure in the head. The screw-type device has an elongated body with a threaded distal end, and an adjustable depth stop means which can be moved along the distal end of the device and clamped to the body of the device to control the amount of penetration of the distal end into the skull. By this means, the exact placement of the distal tip of the device to the inner table of the skull can be achieved for any skull thickness. A through-opening in the body of the device and connection means at the proximal end enables subarachnoid fluid pressures to be measured by external apparatus. The adjustable depth stop provided added advantages of stability, safety, accuracy, universality and convenience.

Abstract: Apparatus for electronically measuring the size of a foot for determining a properly fitted specific shoe size. A light source is arranged to cause an outline of a foot to be delineated upon a translucent panel. Light energy is directed from the panel through photo optic means to an electronic device containing means for inherently discriminating impulses of energy into a distinct white/black status to produce an electronic duplicate of the foot outline. The electronic image of the foot is processed within the apparatus to determine an accurately fitted size of shoe for the measured foot. Video display means is provided so that a customer may view the process of measurement of the shoe size and be informed of the precisely determined size of shoe to fit the customer's measured foot. Specific hardware is provided in the form of schematic diagrams for defining the operation of the invention.

Abstract: An auxological measuring apparatus in which there is provided a flat surface which is preferably horizontal, having on it a plate arranged for contact by the feet of a person with his back against the surface and on the case of a horizontal surface lying supine on it, there being a carriage linearly moveable on the surface which can be brought into contact with the person's head. An electronic transducer is associated with the carriage and is arranged to produce an electric signal indicative of the distance between the carriage and the surface and it is associated with electronic circuitry arranged to process the signal and to provide a visible indication of the distance and thus of the height of the person on the surface. A side table may be provided for attachment to the surface so that a person may lie on the surface and the side table with arms outstretched on the table so that an arm span mesurement can be made.

Abstract: System for measuring the limit of peripheral strength, consisting of method and apparatus for raising the heel of a patient in discreet steps while testing for peripheral strength.

Abstract: Apparatus for electronically measuring the size of a foot for determining a properly fitted specific shoe size. A light source is arranged to cause an outline of a foot to be delineated upon a translucent panel. Light energy is directed from the panel through photo optic means to an electronic device containing means for inherently discriminating impulses of energy into a distinct white/black status to produce an electronic duplicate of the foot outline. The electronic image of the foot is processed within the apparatus to determine an accurately fitted size of shoe for the measured foot. Video display means is provided so that a customer may view the process of measurement of the shoe size and be informed of the precisely determined size of shoe to fit the customer's measured foot.