CUSTOMIZED, MECHANICALLY-ASSISTIVE REHABILITATION APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISTAL EXTREMITIES OF THE UPPER AND LOWER REGIONS

• US 20130310717A1
• Filed: 12/05/2012
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Northeastern University
• Original Assignee: Northeastern University
• Inventors: RANKY, Richard, MAVROIDIS, Constantinos, PACELLA, Craig, PAREKH, Nisha, SINGHAL, Abnishek, BICKEL, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US13/705,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20130310717A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0266 Foot
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0288 Fingers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1647 the anatomy of a particular individual
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5061 Force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5064 Position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0094 for active rehabilitation, e.g. slow motion devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00065 by increasing or reducing the number of resistance units
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/026 Bars; Tubes; Leaf springs A63B21/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0421 the ends moving relatively by a pivoting arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4013 to the ankle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4019 to the hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4025 Resistance devices worn on the user's body A63B21/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4039 contoured to fit to specific body parts, e.g. back, knee or neck support arrangements for attaching exercising apparatus to the user's body A63B21/4001; handles, pedals, bars or platforms A63B21/4033
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/08 for ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/16 : for hands or fingers for teaching typing G09B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 : Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/04 : in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously

Abstract

An apparatus for distal extremity rehabilitation includes a mechanical ground subassembly for disposition on a dorsal side of a patient'"'"'s distal extremity, at or near a joint of the patient. The distal extremity may include the hand/wrist complex or the ankle/foot complex. The mechanical ground assembly may be constructed to match contours of the patient'"'"'s distal extremity. The apparatus further includes a distal effector subassembly for disposition upon one or more distal appendages of the patient, the distal effector subassembly coupled to the mechanical ground subassembly. The apparatus also includes an LED thimble subassembly for disposition on one or more finger tips of the patient, and an LED object subassembly with which the patient interacts by manipulating the LED thimble with respect to the LED object.

Claims

1. An apparatus for distal extremity rehabilitation, comprising:

a mechanical ground subassembly for disposition on a dorsal side of a patient'"'"'s distal extremity, at or near a joint of the patient;

a distal effector subassembly for disposition upon one or more distal appendages of the patient, the distal effector subassembly coupled to the mechanical ground subassembly;

an LED thimble subassembly for disposition on one or more finger tips of the patient; and

,

an LED object subassembly with which the patient interacts by manipulating the LED thimble with respect to the LED object.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mechanical ground subassembly is constructed to match contours of the patient'"'"'s distal extremity.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein information from a 3D scan of the patient'"'"'s distal extremity is used to match the mechanical ground subassembly to contours of the patient'"'"'s distal extremity.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mechanical ground subassembly further includes a securing component for binding the mechanical ground subassembly to the patient.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distal effector subassembly further includes a securing component for binding the distal effector subassembly to the patient'"'"'s wrist.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distal effector subassembly further includes a securing component for binding the distal effector subassembly to the patient'"'"'s ankle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the finger extender subassembly further includes at least one distal effector link for disposition on the patient between the distal joints, and at least one distal effector link for disposition between proximal and distal joints.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further including at least one flexible link for coupling the mechanical ground subassembly to the PIP finger link and for coupling the PIP finger link to one or more of the distal effector links.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, the mechanical ground subassembly and the distal effector subassembly being characterized by a subassembly neutral position and the patient'"'"'s extremity being characterized by a patient neutral position, wherein the subassembly neutral position and the patient neutral position are substantially the same.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the mechanical ground subassembly and the distal effector subassembly resists movement away from the subassembly neutral position, and assists movement toward the subassembly neutral position.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the LED thimble includes at least one light source and at least one region having an electrically conductive surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the LED object includes at least one light source and at least one region having an electrically conductive surface.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the LED thimble and the LED object are electrically coupled to a computer system, wherein the computer system is capable of performing one or more of:

(a) providing signals to the LED thimble;

(b) providing signals to the LED object;

(c) receiving signals from the LED thimble;

(d) receiving signals from the LED object.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further including one or more sensors for determining one or more of:

(a) force being applied with respect to any joint within the apparatus;

(b) angular position of any joint within the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an electrically conductive surface on the LED thimble is capable of contacting an electrically conductive surface on the LED object, thereby closing an electrical circuit, the closing being detectable by a sensing circuit.