Laser goniometer: smartphone goniometer with laser guidance for range of motion measurement in musculo- skeletal medicine

Abstract

Musculoskeletal disease is a common clinical problem, part of the physical examination of these body systems is the range of motion measurement of the joints. Current clinical tools for estimation of this parameters are visual estimation and the universal goniometer, With the advent of less expensive smartphones and widespread sensor availability, there was the development of a great number of apps that allowed the use of a smartphone as a goniometer. The purpose of this paper is to document research developments of creating a laser-aided goniometer with a smartphone, and suggests to create a business opportunity from this idea. Currently used tools: plastic goniometers, inclinometers, halo goniometer, smartphone without case.The most commonly used tool to measure the range of motion is the goniometer, and by 2019 in clinical practice most goniometers consist of plastic rulers. A goniometer is comprised of three elements. The first element is the axis, the second element is the stationary arm, and the third element is a moving arm. The moving arm of the goniometer is usually aligned to some anatomical landmark while the patient performs an anatomical motion so that the range of motion can be measured. In a sense, the goniometer is a special kind of protractor. The goniometer is used by a variety of health professionals that work with muscular-skeletal complaints, but many health professionals estimate range of motion measurements visually. Poulsen et al.[5] evaluated the reproducibility of goniometric measurements between experienced orthopedic surgeons and experienced chiropractors evaluating patients with hip osteoarthritis. The reproducibility was low between both groups of clinicians. Even though the subjects of Poulsen study were using conventional goniometers to evaluate the range of motion. Therefore a new kind of tool is needed for precise physical diagnosis of patients with orthopedic complaints.