Goniometer Application Instructions

Goniometer Application Instructions
Overview
This document provides instructions for measuring differences in joint angles using
electrogoniometer equipment developed by Thought Technology, Ltd. The instructions were
developed using equipment that was current in Fall 2011. Images of the equipment are provided.
This document will need to be revised as equipment is updated and replaced.
The instructions consist of four general sections, preparing the equipment, attaching the
endblocks to the participant, accessing the software for data collection, and removing the
goniometer from the participant. In these instructions, we use the wrist and the XM65
goniometer as an example for setting up and installing the equipment. Equipment documentation
should be consulted for obtaining other joint measurements; however, these instructions can still
be consulted for general guidelines.
Steps 1 through 7, 20 and 21, which describe how to attach the equipment to a participant and
remove it, are also posted in video format.
Preparing the equipment
Step 1: Gather the goniometer equipment (Figure 1) and HP tablet laptop that includes the
Thought Technology software (Figure 2).
Figure 1. Electrogoniometer packaging
1
Figure 2. HP laptop with installed measurement software
Step 2: Connect the equipment. Start with hooking up the black connector of the C type lead to
the appropriate connector of the goniometer (Figure 3). Ensure the two white polarization marks
are aligned before insertion.
Figure 3. XM65 Goniometer with connectors circled in red
Next, connect the leads to the appropriate ports labeled on the encoder, usually matching up A to
A, B to B, etc. Again, make sure the two white polarization marks are aligned before insertion
(see Figure 4).
2
Figure 4. Connecting the leads to the encoder with proper alignment
Take the fiber optic cable and insert one end all the way into the port on the side of the encoder
(Figure 5) and the other end all the way into the port on the adapter (Figure 6). Secure the
connection by turning the ports clockwise to tighten the port on the cable.
Figure 5. Fiber optic cable and encoder connection port
3
Figure 6. Fiber optic cable and adapter connection port
Attach the adapter to the laptop with the USB cable (Figure 7).
Figure 7. Adapter and USB cable
Step 3: Turn on the encoder using the small button on the back (Figure 8). Make sure the blue
light comes on. If it does not come on, check the four AA batteries in the encoder.
4
Figure 8. Encoder power button and status indicator
NOTE: When applying the goniometer to the participants, reference the Biometrics Goniometer
and Torsiometer Operating Manual (Figure 9) located in the Thought Technologies case for
specific placement on different joints of the body.
Figure 9. Biometrics Goniometer and Torsiometer Operating Manual
5
Attaching the endblocks
The following instructions explain how to attach the XM65 goniometer to the wrist. These
instructions can still be consulted as general guidelines for other joint measurements.
Step 4: Tape the telescopic endblock to the back of the hand of the participant with the center
axis of the hand and endblock lined up (Figure 10).
Figure 10. Securing the telescopic endblock to the hand
Step 5: Ask the participant to flex his wrist as far as he can.
Step 6: Extend the fixed endblock of the goniometer just before its maximal length and tape the
fixed endblock to the forearm so that when viewed from the dorsal plane (back of the arm/hand),
the axes of the forearm and endblock are in a straight line (Figure 11).
6
Figure 11. Attaching the fixed endblock with flexed wrist
Step 7: Ask the participant to flex/extend or ulnar/radial deviate his wrist to make sure the
goniometer is secure and that the spring on the goniometer does not inhibit the participant from
extending the wrist by compressing excessively (Figure 12).
Figure 12. Checking goniometer attachment
Accessing the software
The next few steps provide a simple walkthrough of the Infinity Software System. They
represent a starting point for operators, and are not intended to be a replacement for detailed
instruction.
7
The Infinity Software System comes with helpful tutorials. To learn how to set up, calibrate and
use the software, find the Thought Technology entry in the Windows Start Menu and open the
Biograph Infinity Tutorials.
The tutorials will show you how to collect a variety of measurements, including the goniometer
data. It will show you the proper steps and settings for the software. The system manual is
located in pdf format via the Thought Technology Start Menu entry, Infinity, Manuals, and
Biograph Infinity Quick Start Guide. Any questions about the next few steps can be answered
in the manual and tutorials.
Step 8: To access the goniomter data collection software on the hp tablet PC, open the BioGraph
Infinity Software using the desktop shortcut (Figure 13) or via the Thought Technology
program group in the start menu.
Figure 13. Biograph Infiniti shortcut
Before you start data collection you will need to:
Step 9: At the Infiniti Software home screen, press the “Start Open Display Session” button.
Step 10: Press the “Define New Session” button or add a new “Client” prior to defining a new
session by pressing the “Add New Client” button at the bottom of the screen.
Step 11: In the “Channel Set” list on the left side of screen, pick Goniometer Calibration. On the
right, pick the 4th calibration screen in the “Screens” list (Figure 14) and press OK.
8
Figure 14. Session setup screen
Step 12: Figure 15 shows the number of channels currently being attached. If they are correct,
press OK.
Figure 15. Channel selection screen
Step 13: Press the green play button on the toolbar (Figure 16) and calibrate the software using
the following steps. First, ask the participant to move his hand, deviating his wrist in four
9
directions. Ask him to flex, then extend, next ulnarly deviate, and finally radially deviate. Write
down the X and Y positive and negative numbers that represent the maximum deviations for
each movement (circled in red in Figure 17). Keep track of which number is associated with each
deviation.
Figure 16. Calibration screen
Step 14: Stop the calibration when completed. A window will pop up asking if you want to save
the session. You don’t have to. Simply remember the numbers in the black area (marked with a
red circle in Figure 17). Press “Do Not Save.”
10
Figure 17. Completed calibration screen
Step 15: Define a new session.
Pick “Goniometer Calibration” in the “Channel Set” list on the left side of screen. On the right,
pick the 2nd calibration screen in the “Screens” list (Figure 18) and press OK. Press OK.” Note
that the label for the screen is misleading. This screen is used for data collection in real trials, not
for calibrations.
11
Figure 18. Session setup screen during data collection
Step 16: Input the calibration data. Go to “Edit”, and “Edit Virtual Channel Settings.” The screen
should appear as it does in Figure 19.
Figure 19. Channel set settings
Step 17: Select the first channel. Input the calibrated max and min data obtained in Step 13 in the
“Input Min” and “Input Max” fields (circled in Figure 19). For the “Output Max” and “Output
12
Min,” you can accept the default values. Those numbers adjust the scales in the graphical plot.
For the output units, enter “degrees.” Repeat the process for each of the remaining channels.
Step 18: Press the green play button and start a trial with your participant. You will see plots in
real time. Test the output by having your participant rotate his wrist, and make sure the plots
reflect the actual movements. When you stop the trail, a window will pop up and ask you to save
the data (Figure 20). The deviation data you saved will be in the original scale.
Figure 20. Save dialog
NOTE: Make sure you check to see where the data is saving to confirm that you are
appropriately capturing and saving it.
Step 19: Start new trials and record and save the data each time.
To retrieve the saved data, press the “Database” button on the Infinity Software home screen.
On the left of the screen, choose the “Client” you were using. On the right side of the screen you
will see a list of data files. Pick one, and you can export it as a text file in your computer.
Removing the goniometer
Step 20: After data is collected and you are finished using the goniometer, turn off the encoder.
13
Step 21: Carefully remove the goniometer from the particpant’s arm. You can ask them to
remove the tape, if it is more comfortable, but make sure to not pull the goniometer. Keep the
hardware as still and straight as possible when taking it off. Be careful to not hyper-extend the
spring in the process.
For additional information on the goniomters, reference the Biometrics Goniometer and
Torsiometer Operating Manual located in the goniometer equipment bag.
14