HUMAN MOTOR COORDINATION MEASURING APPARATUS

• US 3,745,990 A
• Filed: 10/26/1970
• Issued: 07/17/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harry B. Neis
• Original Assignee: Harry B. Neis
• Inventors: Neis, Harry B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/084,143
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2N,2R,2S,2.5R,2.6F,2.6R 272/73 73/379R,38R,381R
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/221 Ergometry, e.g. by using bicycle type apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0214 by rotating cycling movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0005 with particular movement of the arms provided by handles moving otherwise than pivoting about a horizontal axis parallel to the body-symmetrical-plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0007 by alternatively exercising arms or legs, e.g. with a single set of support elements driven either by the upper or the lower limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/001 by simultaneously exercising arms and legs, e.g. diagonally in anti-phase A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances

Abstract

A stationary exercise device is modified to record cyclic positional information of the hand and foot operated pedals against a variable load which load level is also recorded to indicate brain damage in terms of pedal lag for either set of pedals. Alternatively, the apparatus may be motor driven under a specified load for a partially or totally incapacitated person for therapy for the motor brain center.

Claims

1. Apparatus to measure human motor coordination comprising:

a cyclic, limb-drivable mechanism comprising a stationary, modified bicycle including a rotatable foot pedal assembly and a rotatable hand-operated pedal assembly;

sprocket means carried by each of said pedal assemblies;

an endless chain coupling said sprocket means;

idler sprockets operatively coupled to said chain intermediate of said hand and foot pedal assemblies;

means for varying the frictional restraint on said idler sprockets to provide a variable load force;

first transducer means providing electrical signals indicative of instanteneous positions of said cyclically drivable mechanism;

means coupled to said first transducer means to record said signals sequentially to thereby provide a complete record of limb participation at various stages of each cyclic movement of said mechanism;

second transducer means operatively associated with said limbdrivable mechanism for providing instantaneous electrical signals indicative of pressure applied to said pedals during cyclic operation of said limb-drivable mechanism; and

means coupled to said second transducer means to record said signals to thereby provide a record of limb participation at various stages of each cyclic movement of said mechanism.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said first transducer means are associated with each of said pedal assemblies for inciating independently, the instantaneous angular position of respective pedals.

3. The apparatus as claim in claim 2 wherein:

said first transducer means comprises a pair of discs, one of said discs being fixed, the other of said discs being rotatable, said rotatable disc carries a single contact, said fixed disc carries a plurality of circumferentially spaced contacts positioned in the path of said rotating contact; and

said apparatus further includes means energizing said single contact of said rotatable disc, differentially weighted resistors, means connecting said fixed disc contacts respectively to individual,differentially weighted resistors;

amplifier means for amplifying the signals from said contacts through said individual resistors; and

recording means for recording each of said signals whereby the angular movement of said individual pedal assemblies at cyclic positions during exercise may be visually ascertained.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein:

said second transducing means includes a pressure transducer associated with each right and left pedal for indicating the pressure being applied to the respective pedal assembly components by individual limbs during rotation thereof.