METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTION AND ANALYSIS OF THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME (TOS)
20220160259 · 2022-05-26
Assignee
Inventors
- Bryan BURT (Houston, TX, US)
- Bijan Najafi (Houston, TX, US)
- Mohsen Zahiri (Houston, TX, US)
- Changhong Wang (Houston, TX, US)
Cpc classification
A61B5/02438
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61B5/4538
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61B5/1121
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61B5/11
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61B2562/0219
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
Abstract
Motion data collected by a sensing device attached to a patient's arm may be used to determine whether the arm is subject to thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) Motion data regarding motion of an arm of a patient may be received from a sensing device. One or more extremity performance parameters for the arm may be determined based, at least in part, on the motion data. A determination may be made based, at least in part, on the one or more extremity performance parameters whether the arm is subject to TOS.
Claims
1. A method, comprising: receiving, from a motion tracking device, motion data regarding user motion during a diagnosis test; determining, based at least in part on the received motion data, one or more extremity performance parameters; and determining, based at least in part on the one or more extremity performance parameters, whether the user is subject to thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS).
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more extremity performance parameters comprises at least one of cardiac, arousal, cortisol level, or skin conductivity changes in response to a repetitive movement that exacerbates the symptoms of TOS or a digital biomarker indicative of at least one of slowness, weakness, exhaustion, rigidity, jerkiness, upper muscle strength, physiological parameters of pain, heart rate variability, cortisol level, or skin conductivity.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion tracking device comprises at least one of a uni-axial gyroscope or a uni-axial accelerometer.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more extremity performance parameter comprises a measure of repetitive movement of user's arm within a predetermined time period that exacerbates the symptoms of TOS, wherein the repetitive movement of user's arm comprises movements that narrow the scalene muscle triangle.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the user is subject to TOS is based, at least in part, on changes greater than a pre-defined threshold in the one or more extremity performance parameters from pre- to post-pharmacologically targeting anatomy specific to TOS.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a TOS treatment plan for the arm based, at least in part, on the extremity performance parameters, when the arm is determined to be subject to TOS.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining one or more extremity performance parameters for the arm comprises discarding zero crossover points that do not satisfy a predetermined minimum time interval threshold.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, based at least in part on the extremity performance parameters, whether the arm is subject to thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) comprises assigning a score to the arm, based at least in part on the extremity performance parameters, wherein the score indicates a range from an asymptomatic arm to an incapacitated arm.
9. A system, comprising: a processing station, comprising a processor configured to perform steps comprising: receiving the motion data regarding motion of the arm from the sensing device; determining, based at least in part on the received motion data, one or more extremity performance parameters for the arm; and determining, based at least in part on the extremity performance parameters, whether the arm is subject to thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS).
10. The system of claim 9, further comprising: a sensing device, comprising: a sensor configured to sense movement of the arm; and a communications module coupled to the sensor, wherein the communications module is configured to transmit motion data regarding movement of the arm sensed by the sensor to the processing station for extremity performance analysis; and
11. The system of claim 9, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a uni-axial gyroscope, a uni-axial accelerometer, or a camera.
12. The system of claim 9, wherein the extremity performance parameter comprises a number of zero-crossing movements within a predetermined time period to exacerbate the symptoms of TOS.
13. The system of claim 9, further comprising selecting a TOS treatment plan for the arm based, at least in part, on the extremity performance parameters when the arm is determined to be subject to TOS.
14. The system of claim 9, wherein determining one or more extremity performance parameters for the arm comprises applying a moving average filter to the received motion data to reduce artifacts.
15. The system of claim 9, wherein determining one or more extremity performance parameters for the arm comprises discarding zero crossover points that do not satisfy a predetermined minimum time interval threshold.
16. The system of claim 9, wherein determining, based at least in part on the extremity performance parameters, whether the arm is subject to thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) comprises assigning a score from zero to one-hundred to the arm, wherein a score of zero indicates an asymptomatic arm and a score of one hundred indicates an incapacitated arm.
17. A computer program product comprising: a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions to perform steps comprising: receiving, from a sensing device attached to an arm of a patient, motion data regarding motion of the arm; determining, based on the received motion data, one or more extremity performance parameters for the arm; and determining, based at least in part on the extremity performance parameters, whether the arm is subject to thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS).
18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the extremity performance parameter comprises a number of zero-crossing movements within a predetermined time period, and wherein determining one or more extremity performance parameters for the arm comprises discarding zero crossover points that do not satisfy a predetermined minimum time interval threshold.
19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer program product further comprises instructions to perform steps comprising selecting a TOS treatment plan for the arm based, at least in part, on the extremity performance parameters, when the arm is determined to be subject to TOS.
20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein determining, based at least in part on the extremity performance parameters, whether the arm is subject to thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) comprises determining a score that indicates a range from an asymptomatic arm to an incapacitated arm.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] For a more complete understanding of the disclosed system and methods, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0039] Patient motion data may be analyzed to detect thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), such as nTOS, to determine a severity of TOS, and to suggest treatment options for TOS. One or more sensing devices may be attached to arms of a patient while the patient undergoes tests under observation and/or goes about their daily life unobserved. Motion data gathered by the sensing devices may be used to determine one or more extremity performance parameters of one or both of the patient's arms. TOS may be detected based on the extremity performance parameters. In some cases, a severity of TOS symptoms may be determined based on the extremity performance parameters, and a treatment plan may be proposed. Data-driven TOS detection and analysis may not only lead to improved physician and patient confidence in TOS diagnostics, but may also lead to enhanced patient outcomes through data-driven treatment suggestions based on past successful treatment of individuals with similar extremity performance parameters.
[0040] Motion data collected by a sensing device attached to an arm of a patient may be transmitted to a processing station for analysis. An example system 100 for collection and analysis of motion data for TOS diagnosis is shown in
[0041] The sensing device 102 may connect to the processing station 104 via a connection 114. The connection 114 may be a connection over a wireless network, such as a Bluetooth connection or a connection over a local Wi-Fi network or cellular network, and/or a wired connection between the sensing device 102 and the processing station 104. In some embodiments the processing station 104 may be connected to the sensing device 102 to configure the sensing device 102. The processing station 104 may be a tablet, a laptop, a desktop, a server, a smart phone, or other computing platform capable of processing motion data. The processing station 104 may receive motion data from the sensing device 102 and may analyze the received motion data to detect TOS, such as nTOS. For example, the processing station 104 may process motion data to determine one or more extremity performance parameters for an arm of the patient and may determine whether the extremity performance parameters are indicative of nTOS, as described herein. The processing station 104 may, for example, extract 3D angles, 3D angular velocity, and 3D position parameters from the motion data received from the sensing device 102, and kinematic features of interest may be further derived from such features.
[0042] A patient may wear multiple sensing devices while the sensing devices gather motion data for one or both arms of the patient.
[0043] Sensing devices 204, 206, 210, 212 may be calibrated prior to collection of arm motion data during patient activity. For example, the sensing devices 204, 206, 210, 212 may be calibrated to remove a gravity component of measurements and to measure 3D joint angles of the patient 202 in reference to a fixed landmark. For example, the patient 202 may move a predefined distance, and sensor alignment estimates may be corrected based on data gathered during the movement. Axis correction may also be achieved when a patient rotates using quaternion algorithms. In some applications, such as when a patient is experience unilateral TOS, sensing devices on an arm not experiencing TOS, such as left arm sensing devices 204, 206, may be used as a control in analyzing data collected by sensing devices on the arm subject to TOS, such as right arm sensing devices 210, 212. In some embodiments, the system 200 may include a camera in place of or in addition to the use of one or more sensing devices or other means of motion tracking, to track and analyze patient motion and extremity performance parameters. Other devices may also be used to sense extremity performance parameters, such as kinetic and kinematic biomarkers. For example, upper muscle strength could be analyzed using a surface electromyography sensing device.
[0044] Motion data gathered while a patient performs a butterfly TOS test exercise may be useful in determining whether an arm of the patient is subject to TOS. The butterfly test may be based on the upper limb tension test (ULTT), a clinical test involving stretching of the brachial plexus to exacerbate the symptoms of nTOS. An example patient 300 performing a butterfly test is shown in
[0045] A clinical test performed by a patient for TOS diagnosis may include movements designed to narrow the scalene triangle and provoke functional impairment of TOS. In some embodiments, the test may be performed before and after pharmacologically targeting anatomy specific to TOS, such as applying an anesthetic block of the anterior scalene muscle to relax its compression of the brachial plexus. For example, TOS may be diagnosed if a change in extremity performance parameters, such as kinetic and kinematic and physiological biomarkers, after pharmacologically targeting anatomy specific to TOS shows improvement greater than a pre-defined threshold. Such testing may also be used to quantify a severity of TOS based on a magnitude of extremity performance parameters, such as digital kinetic and kinematic biomarkers. Furthermore, additional sensors may be used to quantify changes in pain level before and after applying an anesthetic block of the anterior scalene muscle to improve diagnosis precision. These sensors could include cardia sensors, temperature sensor, skin conductivity sensor, cortisol measurement sensor or any sensor enables measuring physiological indicator of pain in response to the movements designed to narrow the scalene triangle and provoke functional impairment of TOS. In some applications, pain level is assessed by self-report before and after of the movements designed to narrow the scalene triangle and provoke functional impairment of TOS. Thus, in one embodiment of the disclosure, a method may include applying the diagnosis test, receiving motion data during the diagnosis test, determining extremity performance parameters, and determining whether the use is subject to TOS prior to treatment, pharmacologically targeting anatomy specific to TOS, and subsequently repeating the diagnosis test and associated reception and processing of data to determine TOS.
[0046] Motion data gathered while a patient performs a press TOS test exercise may also be useful in determining whether an arm of the patient is subject to TOS. The press test may be based on the upper limb tension test (ULTT), a clinical test involving stretching of the brachial plexus to exacerbate the symptoms of nTOS. An example patient 400 in a first position of a press TOS test exercise is shown in
[0047] Other exercises, such as a rapid hand-over-head abduction task (the “Press Test”) hand-over abduction for a predefined duration (e.g., 20 seconds) that exacerbates the symptoms of nTOS by anatomically narrowing the scalene triangle with arm elevation may also be performed and monitored. For example, a patient may wear a sensing device on the upper arm and may repetitively perform hand-over-head exercise (e.g., for duration of 20 seconds) to exacerbate the symptoms of TOS by leveraging the anatomic narrowing of the scalene triangle that occurs with arm elevation. An angular velocity of the upper arm may be monitored throughout such a test. A zero-crossing technique may be used to identify the onset of the testing period. Real hand-over-head movements may be distinguished from noisy signals, in the collected motion data, by estimating an elapsed time between two consecutive detected zero-crossing points as an indicator of elevation duration, a range of angular velocity estimated between three consecutive zero-crossing points, and a magnitude of the maximum value of the angular velocity as an indicator of maximum speed of rotation during the flexion time. Valid zero-crossing points may be determined if each of the aforementioned parameters exceed a predefined threshold. Using the zero-crossing points, the maximum values for angular velocity during hand-over-head test may be recalculated. If any maximum value is less than twenty percent of the median value of all detected maximum angular velocity values, the zero-crossing points before and after that maximum value may be disregarded and/or removed. The first zero-crossing point may be considered the beginning of the test and the last zero-crossing point before the 20 second interval is complete may be considered the end of the test. Extremity performance parameters, such as biomarkers, including slowness, rigidity, exhaustion, and unsteadiness phenotype parameters listed in Table 1 below, may be extracted from the motion data, such as from analysis of zero-crossing points, and used in diagnosis of TOS. Furthermore coefficient of variance and percentage of decline may be calculated for each of the parameters listed in Table 1 below. Some dominant extremity performance parameters, such as biomarkers, that may be predictive of TOS may include a mean of abduction flexion time, as an indicator of slowness, a mean of elbow range of motion, as an indicator of rigidity, an inter-cycle variability of elbow extension time, as an indicator of a lack of extension steadiness, and a magnitude of decline in elbow rotation power after a 20 second rapid hand-over abduction-adduction test, as an indicator of exhaustion. In some embodiments, the sensor may be attached to wrist instead of upper arm and the test could be repetitive movements that stretches the brachial plexus to exacerbate the symptoms of TOS, called butterfly test. In butterfly test, the patient begins with the elbow fully extended and the arm completely adducted downwards (position 1). The upper extremity then completes 180 degree abduction upwards with the elbow remaining extending, reaching the “stick-up” position (position 2) and then returns to the starting position (position 1). The patient repeat this “jumping jack” cycle as rapidly as possible for a pre-defined period (e.g., 20 seconds). A single, body-worn sensor may collect sufficient data to determine such parameters. The use of a single sensor may reduce memory allocation and power cost for collection and analysis of extremity performance parameters. Use of a gyroscope in place of or in addition to an accelerometer may also enhance the clarity of the collected data.
[0048] One example characteristic of arm movement that can be measured by a sensing device is angular velocity. For example, a sensing device may transmit motion data for an arm of a patient during a TOS test, such as the butterfly test exercise or the press test exercise, to a processing station, and the processing station may extract angular velocity for the arm of the patient from the motion data. An example graph 500 of angular velocity of a sensing device attached to a patient's lower arm during a butterfly test is shown in
[0049] In some embodiments, the angular velocity 510 may be the angular velocity of a patient arm not experiencing TOS, while the other arm of the patient is experiencing TOS. The angular velocity data from the butterfly test of the arm not experiencing TOS may be collected as a baseline, against which to compare data from the arm that is experiencing TOS. In other embodiments, the angular velocity 510 of the asymptomatic arm may be a baseline angular velocity collected from a control group of healthy control subjects not experiencing TOS. The angular velocity 510 of the asymptomatic arm may be used as a baseline against which to compare angular velocity data from patients who may be suffering from TOS. If the angular velocity of a potential TOS patient performing a butterfly TOS test exercises exhibits characteristics similar to the angular velocity 510 of the asymptomatic arm, the patient may have a less severe case of TOS or may not be subject to TOS at all. If the angular velocity of the potential TOS patient performing butterfly TOS test exercises differs substantially from the angular velocity 510, for example, if the angular velocity of the potential TOS patient exhibits erratic movement with varying rise and fall times and a decreasing average speed, the patient's arm may be subject TOS.
[0050] An angular velocity for a TOS-affected arm performing a butterfly TOS test exercise can be compared against the angular velocity for an asymptomatic arm performing a butterfly TOS test exercise, as shown in
[0051] The angular velocity and/or other data collected during the movements may be analyzed to extract kinetic and kinematic biomarkers indicative of categories of slowness, weakness, rigidity, exhaustion, upper muscle strength, and unsteadiness. Extremity performance parameters may include such kinetic and kinematic biomarkers. Example measures that can be extracted from the data are shown in Table 1. Biomarkers may include objective, quantifiable, physiological and behavior data that are collected and measured by digital devices, such as wearables, cameras, and other devices. Digital biomarkers of upper extremity motor capacity may be particularly useful in diagnosing and selecting treatment for TOS. Additional kinetic or kinematic biomarkers can include mean, coefficient of variance, and percentage of decline of each of the measures of Table 1. The association of these extracted measures with characteristics is shown in Table 2.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Extracted measures Example measurement Angular velocity range Range of angular velocity estimated by difference between maximum and minimum angular velocity peaks Angle range Range of abduction/adduction angle Power range Product of the angular velocity range and angular acceleration range Rising time Elapsed time to reach the maximum angular velocity during abduction Falling time Elapsed time to reach the minimum angular velocity during adduction Rising + falling time Sum of rising and falling times Elbow abduction time Duration of elbow abduction Elbow adduction time Duration of elbow adduction Elbow abduction + Sum of elbow abduction and adduction time adduction times Elbow abduction/ Number of elbow abduction/ adduction rate adduction per min Number of abduction/ Number of abduction/adduction adduction during test
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Upper extremity Example characteristics parameters Example measurement Slowness Speed Elbow angular velocity range Slowness Rise time Duration of abduction acceleration Slowness Fall time Duration of adduction acceleration Slowness Abduction time Duration for rising arm from the Position 1 to the Position 2 Slowness Adduction time Duration for moving arm from the Position 2 back the Position 1 Slowness Abduction + Total duration for a cycle of adduction time abduction and adduction Slowness No. of abduction/ Number of repetitions per 20 adduction seconds Weakness Power Product of the angular acceleration rang and the range of angular velocity Rigidity Range of motion Range of abduction/adduction rotation Exhaustion Decline in speed Difference between the first and last 10 seconds of angular velocity Exhaustion Decline in power Difference between the first and last 10 seconds of power Exhaustion Increase in Difference between the first abduction/ and last 10 seconds of adduction time abduction/adduction time Exhaustion Increase in Difference between the first rise time and last 10 seconds of rise time duration Unsteadiness Speed variability Coefficient of variation (CV) of speed Unsteadiness Rise time CV of rise time variability Unsteadiness Abduction + CV of abduction + adduction adduction time variability Unsteadiness Power variability CV of power Unsteadiness Rigidity variability CV of rigidity
[0052] Biomarkers indicative of slowness may include speed (average range of angular velocity), duration of abduction+adduction, rise time (duration of abduction acceleration), fall time (duration of adduction acceleration), abduction time (duration from Position 1 to Position 2), adduction time (duration from Position 2 to Position 1), and total number of cycles. A weakness estimate may be computed as proportional to the product of range of angular velocity and range of angular acceleration. A rigidity estimate may be calculated as proportional to a range of abduction/adduction rotation calculated using quaternion and Kalman filters, as described. Each variable may be determined for each cycle of arm movement and the averages of the variables across multiple arm movement cycles may be compared between groups. Exhaustion may be determined as a decline in motor capacity (including speed, rise time, power) from the first and last ten-second interval. Unsteadiness may be quantified using a coefficient of variations for metrics indicative of slowness, power, and/or rigidity. 5-20 seconds, or more, of data regarding angular velocity may be used to estimate patient phenotypes (e.g., biomarkers) of interest and quantify patient exhaustion.
[0053] Motion data from TOS test exercises, such as the data illustrated in the graphs 500, 600 of
[0054] Machine learning algorithms may be applied to sets of motion data collected from arms subject to TOS and asymptomatic arms to determine extremity performance parameters that are indicative of TOS. An example method 700 for determining extremity performance parameters indicative of TOS is shown in
[0055] The datasets may be passed, at step 704, to a recursive feature elimination algorithm. The recursive feature elimination algorithm may allow for selection of extremity performance parameters that are highly indicative of TOS, while allowing for elimination of extremity performance parameters that are not indicative of TOS. The recursive feature elimination algorithm may include bootstrapping, at step 706. The bootstrapping may include up to and exceeding 2000 iterations of random sampling and replacement of datasets for use in determination of extremity performance parameters that correlate closely with the presence of nTOS. Validation sets of input motion data may be selected during bootstrapping, at step 706, and passed to a validation process, at step 718. Training sets of input motion data may also be selected during bootstrapping, at step 706, and may be passed to a linear regression modeling stage, at step 708. DASH scores associated with the input data sets may also be input and may be used in linear regression modeling, at step 708, as a dependent variable to model sensor-derived output. Features of input motion data, such as extremity performance parameters, may be used as independent variables in the linear regression modeling of step 708. The linear regression modeling step 708 may feed into a calculating accuracy step 710. For example, accuracy of various extremity performance parameters at predicting TOS, when comparing parameters present in randomly selected motion datasets with input DASH scores for the datasets, may be determined. After accuracy is calculated at step 710, features, such as extremity performance parameters, may be ranked at step 712. For example, extremity performance parameters that correlate most closely to high DASH scores, indicating severe TOS, may be ranked above features that do not correlate to high DASH scores as closely. At step 714, the lowest accuracy ranked feature may be removed from analysis. Therefore, a feature that is not as indicative of TOS as other features may be removed. The steps of linear regression modeling, at step 708, calculating accuracy, at step 710, ranking features, at step 712, and removal of the lowest accuracy ranked feature, at step 714, may then repeat until a satisfactory set of extremity performance parameters is arrived at. Extremity performance parameter models arrived at using the machine learning algorithm of
[0056] At step 716, a number of optimized features may be selected based on the recursive feature elimination at step 704, including the linear regression modeling at step 708. For example, a number of extremity performance parameters that will produce the most reliable TOS prediction based on patient arm motion data may be selected. Thus, a set of extremity performance parameters for use in detection and analysis of TOS may be selected. The set of extremity performance parameters may also be used to provide a scale indicative of TOS severity, based on received arm motion data. At step 718, the results of the method 700 may be validated. For example, the set of extremity performance parameters may be adjusted for sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and area under curve. Validation sets of data selected during bootstrapping, at step 706, may be used to validate the selected extremity performance parameters. In some embodiments, data from a rapid elbow adduction-abduction test may be analyzed using the method 700. Demographics information, such as age, body mass index (BMI), and sex, may also be used as independent variables to improve the area under curve for distinguishing motion data from arms subject to TOS and motion data from asymptomatic arms. Thus, through a process of random sampling and replacement, a machine learning algorithm may enable validation of robustness and accuracy of a TOS diagnostic model by selecting some subsets of motion data for training and other subsets of motion data for validation in selecting a set of extremity performance parameters indicative of TOS.
[0057] A variety of methods may be used to compare motion datasets to determine extremity performance parameters. For example, one way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), Fisher's exact tests, and Spearman's chi-square tests may be used to compare data between groups, such as comparing motion data of an arm of a patient subject to nTOS with motion data of the other arm of the patient not subject to nTOS, or comparing motion data from arms of individuals subject to nTOS with motion data from arms of individuals in a healthy control group. For example, an ANOVA model or McNemar test may be used to compare motion data of an arm of a patient subject to nTOS with motion data of the other arm of the patient not subject to nTOS to determine underlying correlation data of the same patient. Mann-Whitney U-tests may be used to compare between patients that respond to and patients that do not respond to physical therapy intervention. Pearson correlation coefficients or Spearman's chi-square test may be used to examine correlation between motion data received from sensing devices attached to patient arms and patient survey data, such as DASH or CBSQ data. For example, such methods may be used in the linear regression modeling at step 708 of
[0058] Speed, power, and rise time of arm movement during butterfly and press TOS test exercises may be analyzed to determine whether an arm is subject to TOS or asymptomatic. The bar graph 800 of
[0059] A healthy benchmark was also established using motion data gathered from a group of ten healthy subjects, with an average age of 28.5, an average BMI of 28.5, and an average DASH score of 2.3. The healthy subjects performed at approximately the same speed for both butterfly and press exercises. Line 810 of
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[0061] The bar graph 1000 of
[0062] To validate the sensor data analyzed in
[0063] In addition to motion data gathered during TOS test exercises, motion data gathered while a patient goes about daily activities unobserved may be used to determine whether an arm of the patient is subject to TOS. Data regarding quality of sleep and heart rate variability may also be gathered, and may be useful in evaluating pain resulting from TOS. An example patient 1200 wearing a plurality of sensing devices is shown in
[0064] The chest sensing device 1206 may, for example, determine when the patient 1200 goes to sleep so that motion data from arm movements during sleep may be discarded. Motion data from the chest sensing device 1206 may be used to determine posture and physical activity of the patient 1200, such as when the patient 1200 is standing, sitting, lying, and walking. The arm sensing devices 1202, 1204 may record motion data from the arms while the patient 1200 goes about their daily activities. Motion data from the arm sensing devices 1202, 1204 may, for example, be used to determine a number of zero crossover movements of the arms of the patient 1200 during a twenty-four hour period.
[0065] Extremity performance parameters such as an average arm speed and number of transverse plane crossings by an arm of a patient during an average day of use may be analyzed, along with speed, power, and rise time measured during butterfly and press exercises, to determine whether the arm is subject to TOS or asymptomatic. Furthermore, extremity performance parameters may be used to determine the effectiveness of treatments the patient has gone through, such as physical therapy and surgery.
[0066] A number of transverse plane crossings for the same group of patients and healthy subjects described with respect to
[0067] Motion data from one or more sensing devices may be received and analyzed to detect and analyze TOS in a patient and, in some cases, to suggest a treatment for TOS. An example method 1600 for processing motion data to detect TOS is shown in
[0068] At step 1604 extremity performance parameters may be determined based, at least in part, on the received motion data. For example, a processing station may receive motion data from one or more sensing devices and may analyze the motion data to determine one or more extremity performance parameters for the data. The extremity performance parameters for which the data is analyzed may, for example, be extremity performance parameters selected by the machine learning algorithm described with respect to
[0069] At step 1606, a determination may be made of whether an arm is subject to TOS. For example, a processing station may determine based on the determined extremity performance parameters whether an arm is subject to TOS, such as nTOS. If the arm is determined to be subject to TOS, a treatment plan may be determined, such as surgery or physical therapy. If the arm is determined not to be subject to TOS, a determination may be made that no treatment is required. For example, if extremity performance parameters for an arm are determined to be typical of arm motion of an arm subject to TOS, such as falling speed over a series of exercises, lengthy rise and fall times, or a low number of transverse plane crossings, a determination may be made that the arm is subject to TOS. In some cases, a score may be assigned to the arm based on the extremity performance parameters. For example, a score on a one hundred point scale may be assigned to the arm with zero indicating an asymptomatic arm and one hundred indicating a non-functional arm. The further extremity performance parameters deviate from a baseline of extremity performance parameters typical of a healthy arm, the higher the assigned score may be. In some cases the determination, including the score, may be compared against results of a DASH survey, a cervical brachial symptom questionnaire (CBSQ), a SF-12, a brief pain inventory (BPI), a pain catastrophizing scale (PCS) and/or a Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS) for the patient to verify the determination. The determination and extremity performance parameters may also be added to a database, for use in evaluation of future patients. The score or other determinations may be reported to the client through other means, such as a display, a monitor, a print-out, an email or text message, or a push notification.
[0070] At step 1608, a treatment for the arm may be selected. For example, the processing station may compare the determined extremity performance parameters with previous baselines of extremity performance parameters of patients who experienced positive results from certain treatments. For example, if an arm of a patient exhibits similar extremity performance parameters to parameters of arms of patients that, in the past, have experienced positive results following a certain physical therapy regimen, the physical therapy regimen may be recommended by the processing station as a possible treatment for the arm subject to TOS. If an arm of a patient exhibits similar extremity performance parameters to parameters of arms of patients that, in the past, have experienced positive results following a surgery, the surgery may be recommended by the processing station as a possible treatment for the arm subject to TOS. Furthermore, the processing station may perform statistical analysis of past outcomes and may provide a probability of success of a variety of possible treatment methods. Factors considered in selecting a treatment for the arm may also include age, sex, BMI, a comorbidity index, cognitive performance, depression, participation in competitive athletics, a length of duration of symptoms, chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, preoperative opioid use, preoperative extremity neurologic deficits, complications of surgery, coverage under a worker's compensation insurance policy, participation in heavy manual labor, marriage status, and education level. For example, a machine learning model similar to the method described with respect to
[0071] In some cases, detected extremity performance parameters, such as kinetic and kinematic and physiological biomarkers, may be used for diagnosis of TOS cases from non-TOS cases presenting with signs and symptoms compatible of TOS. The distinguishing of TOS cases from non-TOS cases with overlapping symptoms (e.g., radiculopathy, shoulder injury, ulnar nerve entrapment, etc.), for example, may be based on measuring a magnitude of extremity performance parameters or on a change in extremity digital markers following pharmacological targeting of anatomy specific to TOS.
[0072] While the sensing and data analysis apparatus, systems, and methods disclosed herein is described with respect to detection, analysis, and treatment of nTOS, the disclosed apparatus, system, and methods may also be used in detection, analysis, and treatment of other conditions. For example, the apparatus, systems, and methods disclosed herein may be applied to detection, analysis, and treatment of cervical radiculopathy, shoulder injury, regional pain syndrome, and other nerve compression syndromes such as ulnar entrapment and carpal tunnel syndrome.
[0073] The schematic flow chart diagram of
[0074] The operations described above as performed by a controller may be performed by any circuit configured to perform the described operations. Such a circuit may be an integrated circuit (IC) constructed on a semiconductor substrate and include logic circuitry, such as transistors configured as logic gates, and memory circuitry, such as transistors and capacitors configured as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), electronically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or other memory devices. The logic circuitry may be configured through hard-wire connections or through programming by instructions contained in firmware. Further, the logic circuitry may be configured as a general-purpose processor capable of executing instructions contained in software. If implemented in firmware and/or software, functions described above may be stored as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Examples include non-transitory computer-readable media encoded with a data structure and computer-readable media encoded with a computer program. Computer-readable media includes physical computer storage media. A storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. Disk and disc includes compact discs (CD), laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs (DVD), floppy disks and Blu-ray discs. Generally, disks reproduce data magnetically, and discs reproduce data optically. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.
[0075] In addition to storage on computer readable medium, instructions and/or data may be provided as signals on transmission media included in a communication apparatus. For example, a communication apparatus may include a transceiver having signals indicative of instructions and data. The instructions and data are configured to cause one or more processors to implement the functions outlined in the claims.
[0076] Although the present disclosure and certain representative advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the present disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.