Portable intelligent stretching device
First Claim
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1. A portable intelligent stretching device comprising:
- a limb support, said limb support securing a limb such that said limb can be rotated at a joint;
a motor having a motor shaft, said motor shaft rotatable at a variable velocity and mounted to said limb support, said joint rotatable with respect to said motor shaft, said joint aligned with said motor shaft;
a torque sensor, said torque sensor positioned between said motor and said limb support, said torque sensor measuring an amount of resistance torque exerted by said joint; and
a controller connected to said torque sensor and to said motor, the motor adapted to decrease said velocity as communicated by the controller in response to an increase in resistance torque as communicated to said controller from said torque sensor.
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Abstract
A portable intelligent stretching device for use by patients suffering from spastic and contractured joints and limbs. The intelligent stretching device has a motor and a motor shaft for rotating the joint or limb. The variable velocity and stretch distance of the device is determined by a torque sensor on the joint or limb that communicates information to a controller which subsequently instructs the motor as to the variable velocity and stretch distance.
38 Citations
71 Claims
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1. A portable intelligent stretching device comprising:
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a limb support, said limb support securing a limb such that said limb can be rotated at a joint;
a motor having a motor shaft, said motor shaft rotatable at a variable velocity and mounted to said limb support, said joint rotatable with respect to said motor shaft, said joint aligned with said motor shaft;
a torque sensor, said torque sensor positioned between said motor and said limb support, said torque sensor measuring an amount of resistance torque exerted by said joint; and
a controller connected to said torque sensor and to said motor, the motor adapted to decrease said velocity as communicated by the controller in response to an increase in resistance torque as communicated to said controller from said torque sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A portable intelligent stretching device comprising:
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a limb support, said limb support securing a limb such that said limb is rotatable with respect to a joint;
a variable motor having a motor shaft mounted to said limb support, said joint rotatable with respect to said motor shaft by said motor shaft;
a torque sensor, said torque sensor measuring an amount of resistance torque exerted by said joint; and
a computer remotely connected to said motor and said torque sensor, said computer having a controller, said controller controlling the velocity of said motor inversely proportional to the amount of resistance torque measured by said torque sensor. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A portable intelligent stretching device comprising:
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means for rotating a joint, said joint attached to a limb, said means rotational with respect to a motor shaft, said motor shaft mounted to a motor, said motor having a variable velocity;
means for measuring an amount of resistance torque exerted by said joint on said motor shaft; and
means for variably rotating said joint such that as said resistance torque increases, said variable velocity decreases. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. A method of stretching a joint, which comprises the steps of:
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securing a limb to a limb support, the limb rotatable with respect to a joint;
measuring an amount of resistance exerted by said joint as said joint is rotated; and
rotating said joint whereby the rate of rotation is changed in direct proportion to the measured amount of resistance in said joint. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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Specification