text: the present invention relates to a system and method for noninvasively evaluating a limb for compartment syndrome . the system utilizes a force applicator instrument which is applied to a limb suspected of having the syndrome . the instrument includes a spring biased force plate which is mounted about a probe . this plate is displaced as the instrument is employed in applying an increasing force to the limb . the pressure applied to the probe is detected and recorded , as is the displacement of the force plate relative to the force probe . linear regression techniques are applied to the pressure and distance data to compute hardness of the limb . a compartment syndrome diagnosis is then made in accordance with the hardness computation . details of the system and method are elaborated upon more fully hereinafter . with reference now to fig1 the system 10 of the present invention is depicted . the system 10 employs an applicator instrument 20 , a break out box 22 and a computer 24 . applicator instrument 20 is preferably a hand held device employed by the doctor in applying pressure to a limb 26 of a patient . with reference to fig2 the various components of instrument 20 are depicted in an exploded view . these include : a base portion 28 , a housing portion 32 , a force plate 34 , and a force probe 36 . force probe 36 is preferably positioned through a central aperture within force plate 34 . a spring 38 serves to interconnect force probe 36 and force plate 34 . more specifically , a helical spring is wound about the end of probe 36 positioned within force plate 34 . this connection results in probe 36 and plate 34 being biased with respect to one another . that is , force plate 34 is permitted to slide relative to the probe 36 against the bias of the spring tension . ideally , the spring tension is selected such that the distal end of probe 36 is flush with the outer face of the force plate 34 with spring 38 in an unbiased state . thus , prior to the instrument 20 being applied to the limb 26 of a patient , the distal end 42 of instrument 20 presents a relatively flat surface . thereafter , as the instrument 20 is driven into a limb 26 the force plate 34 is caused to slide rearwardly to expose force probe 36 . with continuing reference to fig2 the stabilizing columns 44 and 45 of force plate 34 are depicted . more specifically , two shorter columns 44 and one elongated column 45 are included . these columns 44 and 45 move linearly within corresponding apertures formed within the housing and base portions ( 48 and 52 , respectively ). these columns 44 and 45 are mounted to the interior of force plate 34 and function in guiding the plate 34 as it passes rearwardly over house and base portions ( 32 and 28 , respectively ). base portion 28 includes an encoder 46 that is employed in measuring the travel distance of elongated stabilizing column 45 . specifically , column 45 is received within apertures formed within housing portion 32 , base portion 28 , and within an elongated cylindrical aperture formed in l - shaped bracket 47 . a portion of bracket 47 is translucent . encoder 46 includes light emitting diodes ( leds ) that both transmit and detect light . consequently , light transmitted through the translucent portion of bracket 47 can detect the presence or absence of column 45 . in this manner , the position of the end of column 45 within bracket 47 can be detected by encoder 46 . this distance measurement corresponds to the travel of force plate 34 relative to force probe 36 . this distance measurement is recorded and used in future calculations , as described more fully hereinafter . a centrally located load cell 56 is interconnected to force probe 36 for use in measuring the pressure applied to force probe 36 . this load cell 56 is interconnected to the opposite end of force probe 36 and is positioned intermediate housing portion 32 and base position 28 . specifically , probe 36 extends through the central aperture of housing portion 32 and contacts load cell 56 . a lead 58 is included for passing signals from cell 56 to breakout box 22 . as such , pressure applied to probe 36 is transmitted to the load cell 56 where it is measured and recorded . additionally , force probe 36 and load cell 56 are fixed with respect to the remainder of instrument 20 . consequently , the force applied to instrument 20 by the operator is transferred to both force probe 36 and the limb region 26 . the system thus described is employed in sensing and measuring both pressure and distance values . the pressure values reflect the pressure encountered by force probe 36 as instrument 20 is pressed into a limb 26 . the distance measurement reflects the distance between force plate 34 and probe 36 which occurs as instrument 20 is pressed into a limb 26 . the components of the system employed in utilizing and analyzing this data are described next . with reference to fig1 the breakout box 22 of the system 10 is depicted . box 22 is electrically coupled to applicator instrument 20 by suitable cabling 62 . the breakout box 22 functions in receiving pressure measurements from the load cell 56 . these values are then compared against preset set minimum and maximum values . when the minimum pressure is met an indicator means 64 within box 22 signals the start of the data sampling period . that is , simultaneous pressure and distance values are recorded for a predetermined length of time only after a threshold pressure value is met . in the preferred embodiment , the threshold pressure value is 25 grams . reaching this value starts the data acquisition cycle within computer 24 , the user is also alerted to the initiation of the cycle by indicator means 64 . in the preferred embodiment the sampling time is 3 seconds . indicator 64 provides audible beeps during the acquisition cycle , preferably one beep per second . likewise , if the doctor applies too much pressure with instrument 20 the indicator means provides a warning signal . in the preferred embodiment , the maximum pressure is between 7 . 5 - 10 lbs . the indicator means 64 can take the form of a audible beep or can be carried out by way of a visual monitor . the computer 24 is also electrically coupled to the breakout box by suitable cabling 66 . this computer 24 preferably takes the form of a laptop or desktop computer . however , the computer can also take the form of a specialized data processor specifically adapted for carrying out the present invention . whatever the form , computer 24 is used in providing electrical power to instrument 20 as well as breakout box 22 . furthermore , computer 24 is employed in collecting , storing , and analyzing the pressure and distance measurements collected by the applicator instrument 20 . once stored within computer 24 , the data is analyzed and employed in making diagnostic assessments . the inventive method carried out by the system of the present invention is next described . in accordance with the method , the applicator is used by a doctor to apply increasing pressure to a limb region suspected of compartment syndrome . this increasing pressure is applied over a predetermined time period by the distal end of the applicator instrument . in the next step of the method , the pressure applied to the force probe is repeatedly sensed and measured . these values are then stored over the predetermined time period . in a similar fashion , the distance between the force plate and force probe at the distal end of the instrument is measured and stored . again , this measurement is repeatedly taken over the course of a predetermined time period . the distance and pressure values are then plotted as a curve . an analysis of the curve is then carried out by linear regression techniques to determine a limb hardness . in a final step of the method , a medial diagnosis is made on the basis of the computed hardness . the handpiece schematic ( fig4 ) discloses the electronics within the handheld applicator instrument . dc power is supplied by the laptop computer 5 volt bus . a regulated 4 . 5 vdc is created by circuitry e 1 ( fig4 )— a national semiconductor chip ( lm2931cm ) to power the load cell . this output voltage powers the force probe load cell fig4 circuitry e 3 ( entran part # elfm - b1 - 10l , fairfield , n . j .) and fig2 . when force is applied to the handheld applicator instrument , the force signal from the probe e 3 ( fig4 ) is converted to an analog signal in circuit e 2 ( fig4 ) and output to connector cable j 1 position 2 . within circuitry e 2 ( fig4 ) the load cell is wired to j 2 and instrumentation amplifier u 7 ( ina114au — burrbrown , tucson , ariz .) converts the differential input from the force probe to a calibrated analog output . an output of 10 volts corresponds to the maximum force reading of 10 pounds . this pressure signal goes through connector cable j 1 to the breakout box . the breakout box ( fig5 ) performs several functions , as described hereinafter . the box allows an interface from a 50 conductor flat computer cable to a durable small diameter handpiece cable . fig5 circuitry b 1 also utilizes + 5 vdc laptop bus and u 3 ( dcpo 105 burr - brown tucson , ariz .) to create a ± 12 vdc supply for analog ic requirements ; fig5 circuitry b 2 comparator u 4 ( lm 311 national semiconductor ) detects when ten pounds of force is present on load cell , and sounds an alarm to alert the operator ( i . e . doctor ) that the maximum load cell pressure is being applied . fig5 circuitry b 3 comparator u 2 provides a “ measure ” signal when load cell pressure reaches 25 grams which zeroes the data acquisition card ( dac ) in the handpiece and triggers the laptop to begin data acquisition . a 50 conductor flex cable interfaces with the laptop through a data acquisition card ( daq700 ) and daq software from national instruments ( lab view ). the displacement of the force plate ( fig2 ) occurs as progressive force is applied to the handheld instrument pushing probe into the limb . force plate is normally maintained flush with the tip of probe by a spring that maintains a constant force slightly greater than the weight of force plate . ( this force is essentially constant regardless of the position of force plate .) this spring ( partially shown in fig2 ) is installed around probe . the force plate has three attached columns that stabilize and direct the displacement of the force plate through the housing of the instrument . as the elongated column ( fig2 ) moves through the housing , optical encoder ( usdigital — vancouver , wash .) of fig4 circuitry e 4 and fig2 generates a series of pulses which are fed to u 2 , a quadrature decoder interface ic ( ls7064 usdigital — vancouver , wash .). signals from u 2 , ( up / down * directional signal and clk distance signal ) feed into circuitry e 5 . fig4 circuitry e 5 , a “ ripple counter ” ( 12 bit up / down counter ) comprised of u 1 , u 4 and u 5 increments or decrements based on the input signals from u 2 . this “ displacement ” data feeds u 3 , a 12 - bit dac ( max507 maxim integrated products sunnyvale , calif .). u 3 output signal “ lin_out ” is then routed to connector cable j 1 position 3 and then to the breakout box . once initiated , simultaneous pressure and distance measurements are read by the laptop computer data acquisition card ( dac - 700 national instruments austin , tex .) through flex cable l 1 from the breakout box . the laptop performs the following functions : upon detection of a start signal from circuitry b 1 of the breakout box ( fig5 ), begins a three second sample of pressure and distance data ; provides the timing signal for the operator ( i . e . doctor ) for the duration of the data acquisition phase ; sounds an alarm when 7 . 5 pounds , and then 10 pounds , of pressure is detected at the load cell . the software program ( labview national instruments — austin , tex .) plots and displays the points of pressure vs . distance . it also performs a mathematical analysis of the data , including a linear regression analysis based on user selected data ranges . the program is capable of saving the data and repeatedly analyzing the data for replotting and reprinting . the linear regression of a specific portion of the curve of pressure vs . distance is the hardness measurement of the compartment , note fig6 . the plot of the pressure to distance curve has information regarding subcutaneous fat thickness as well as muscle compartment pressure and underlying muscle tone ( fig6 ). these three parts of the curve include the beginning portion ( a ), mid portion ( b ) and end portion ( c ). the initial portion ( a ) corresponds to the subcutaneous fat portion overlying the compartment . the mid linear portion ( b ) corresponds to the pressure within the compartment . the end part of the curve ( c ) is the compaction of the muscle compartment which gives information regarding the tone of the muscle ( fig5 ). the linear regression plot ( d ) of mid portion ( b ) gives the hardness value ( e ) of the muscle . the present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims , as well as that of the foregoing description . although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity , it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention .