High Dynamic Range / Low Noise IMU to Prevent Tommy John Surgery and Slow Progression of Knee Osteoarthritis
The advancement and scalability of MEMS technology, namely inertial measurement units (IMU’s), have catalyzed the innovation of novel biomechanics tracking applications across many sectors. However, many MEMS/IMU systems are limited in factors of dynamic range and noise that diminishes validity and reliability of systems’ capacities to measure sensitive biomechanical data. The ITG-3701 high-dynamic-range and low-noise gyroscope has allowed for both valid and reliable measures of kinematic and kinetic data to be calculated in both high-speed overhand sports, and clinically in embedded orthopedic knee braces. Launched in 2015, the motusTHROW was the first ever wearable technology to be approved by Major League Baseball for in-game use. The motusTHROW IMU allows for calculation of torque on the ulnar collateral ligament (Tommy John Ligament) during a baseball pitch— the fastest recorded human movement ever. Used by a majority of MLB organizations and over 20,000 youth and amateur baseball players, cumulative valgus torque helps players, coaches, and high-performance staffs personalize training strategies to optimize stamina and reduce injury risk to the throwers arm.Developed over the past two years, Motus’ sensors are also being deployed in a FDA-Class I medical device— a knee brace aimed at slowing the progression of knee osteoarthritis. The same sensor that allows for capture of the high-speed baseball pitch has a low-noise profile that allows for repeatable extraction of gait biomechanics and remotely prescribed home exercises for knee pre-hab and re-hab applications.