[A direct method for measuring the reflex time of the knee jerk in patients with thyroid pathologies]

A direct method for high-accuracy measurement of the reflex time of the knee jerk is suggested. The method is based on the use of a reflex meter consisting of three basic elements: an electronic stopwatch timer and devices for remote switch-on and switch-off of the timer. The electronic stopwatch timer provides measurement accuracy up to 0.01 sec. The switch-on and switch-off devices are implemented as independently acting systems. The first device switches on the electronic stopwatch timer when the hammer strikes the tendon. The second device switches the stopwatch timer off as the leg jerks. Thus, the stopwatch timer measures the reflex time of the knee jerk. This time is used in diagnosis of the thyroid state.