A Robotic System for Measuring the Relative Motion Between the Femur and the Tibia

The goal of the robotic system for measuring the relative motion between the femur and the tibia is to provide the clinician with objective parameters (numbers and graphs) which correlate with specific injuries in the knee. In this chapter the sequence of events that shaped the evolution of the robotic system is described. Several key issues that were encountered during the years of development of the robotic system are discussed, as are sources of error during biomechanical knee testing. Detail is given on the problems associated with the management of error using the robotic system. Finally, clinical examples of using the robotic system to examine two patients are presented. On balance, the robotic system allows for the reliable recording of objective parameters of the injured knee while minimizing error. The objective results obtained using the robotic system can provide the clinician with information that will allow for the best treatment plan for the patient with an injured knee.