Elbow rehabilitation using intelligent medical devices

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that the process of elbow joint rehabilitation can be monitored and improved using intelligent medical devices. During the study, an orthosis-type medical device was developed that monitors the mobility of the elbow joint in case of pathology. This device is useful in monitoring flexion movements (forward and backward), as well as internal and external rotation. For this purpose, a set of sensors were used that will capture the necessary and specific information, and the extracted data will be transmitted to a microcontroller for processing. The orthosis is one that can be customized according to the patient's pathology because it will analyse the data collected and interpret the values according to the calibration performed on the patient. The orthosis can be used both in the evaluation of joint dysfunctions at the elbow and in a rehabilitation program to avoid vicious positions. The positioning of the orthosis will be done together with the specialist doctor or in the presence of a physiotherapist, following the detailed clinical examination, so that the calibration of the sensors can be performed correctly. The device can emit warning sequences that will depend on the movements that the patient will perform, movements that can be sudden or accidental.

Keywords

• elbow joint
• orthesis
• physiokinetotherapist
• rehabilitation
• health improvement