Exercise and diagnostic system and method

• US 4,889,108 A
• Filed: 03/20/1989
• Issued: 12/26/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Loredan Biomedical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Loredan Biomedical, Inc.
• Inventors: Dempster, Phlip T., Bond, Malcolm L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US07/325,529
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: 272/129, 272/130, 128/25 R
• US Class Current: 601/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 having computer circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/902 Employing specific graphic or video display

Abstract

A muscle exercise and diagnostic system which includes a lever arm, a mounting arrangement for mounting the lever arm for rotation about a fixed axis, and a connecting arrangement for connecting a selected portion of the human body to the lever arm for rotation about a selected anatomical axis of rotation. The connecting arrangement provides a fixed tangential and sliding mounting to permit free radial movement of the point of attachment of the patient relative to the axis of rotation of the lever arm. A velocity control arrangement coupled to the lever arm limits the velocity in accordance with a preselected velocity control function. The radial distance from the point of attachment to the axis of rotation is measured and used in the velocity control function. Range of motion limits are set in one embodiment by way of a potentiometer for each limit position and by a pushbutton and limit storing arrangement in another embodiment.

Claims

1. In a method for operating an exercise system to limit movement of a lever arm to a prearranged angular range of motion, the step of:

programming the desired range of motion of the lever arm during a programming interval, using a dedicated pair of pushbutton switches, including the steps of;

continuously measuring the angular position of the lever arm and producing an output position signal corresponding thereto;

moving said lever arm to a first angular position corresponding to a first range of motion limit position;

operating a first one of said pair of pushbutton switches to produce a first limit control signal,

storing the value of said output position signal in response to said first limit control signal as a first limit position signal;

moving said lever arm to a second angular position corresponding to a second range of motion limit position;

operating a second one of said pair pushbutton switches to produce a second limit control signal; and

storing the value of said output position signal in response to said second limit control signal as a second limit position signal;

and operating the exercise system during a subsequent exercise interval by limiting movement of said lever arm within said preprogrammed range of motion, including the steps of;

continuously measuring the angular position of said lever arm and producing an output exercising position signal corresponding thereto;

comparing the value of said output exercising position signal with said first limit position signal when said lever arm is moving toward said first range of motion limit position;

restraining further movement of said lever arm in the same direction of motion when the value of said output exercising position signal is equal to said first limit position signal;

comparing the value of said output exercising position signal with said second limit position signal when said ever arm is moving toward said second range of motion limit position; and

restraining further movement of said lever arm in the same direction of motion when the value of said output exercising position signal is equal to said second limit position signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of operating said exercise system during a subsequent exercise interval further includes the step of:

calculating the difference between the value of said output exercising position signal and a correctly active one of said first and second limit position signals; and

decelerating said lever arm toward a zero velocity value in the direction of motion toward the currently active one of said limit positions as said calculated difference becomes small.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said velocity control means further includes means for gradually decelerating said fixture toward a zero velocity as said fixture approaches one of said first and second limit positions.

3. In a method for programming an exercise system to define a prearranged limited angular range of motion of a lever arm using a dedicated pair of programming switches, the steps of:

continuously measuring the angular position of the lever arm and producing an output position signal corresponding thereto;

moving said lever arm to a first angular position corresponding to a first range of motion limit position;

operating a first one of the pair of programming switches to produce a first limit control signal;

storing the value of said output position signal in response to said first limit control signal;

moving said lever arm to a second angular position corresponding to a second range of motion limit position;

operating a second one of said pair of programming switches to produce a second limit control signal; and

storing the value of said output position signal in response to said second limit control signal.

4. In a muscle exercise apparatus, a fixture adapted to be contacted by a human subject and to move in response to a force exerted by said subject;

and velocity control means operatively associated with said fixture for controlling the velocity thereof;

said velocity control means including range of motion limit means defining a permitted range of motion of said fixture between a first limit position in a first direction of motion and a second limit position in a second direction of motion, said range of motion limit means comprising position measuring means for producing a position output signal corresponding to a position of said fixture, limit storing means for storing a first limit position signal corresponding to said first limit position and a second limit position signal corresponding to said second limit position, first switch means for enabling said limit storing means to store said position output signal as said first limit position signal when said fixture is moved to said first limit position, and second switch means for enabling said limit storing means to store said position output signal as said second limit position signal when said fixture is moved to said second limit position.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising converter means for converting an analog position output signal produced by said position measuring means to a digital position signal;

wherein said limit storing means is digital storage means for storing the first and second digital limit position signal values.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said velocity control means further comprises digital computer control means including a central processing unit, program memory means for storing a computer operating program, digitizing means for converting a plurality of analog parameter signal values into corresponding digital parameter signal values, and parameter memory means for storing said plurality of digital parameter signal values;

said position output signal is an analog position output signal; and

said first switch means and said second switch means enabling said digital computer control means to digitize and store in said parameter memory means the value of said output signal from said position measuring means when said fixture is positioned at one of said first limit position and said second limit position.

8. In a muscle exercise and diagnostic system, shaft means defining a fixed axis of rotation;

a lever arm;

arm coupling means for coupling said lever arm to said shaft means for rotation about said fixed axis;

body coupling means for coupling a selected portion of the human body to said lever arm for rotation with said lever arm; and

velocity control means operatively associated with said shaft means for controlling the rotational velocity of said shaft and said lever arm including range of motion limit means for preventing rotation of said shaft and said lever arm past a first set limit position in one direction of rotation of said shaft and said lever arm and a second set limit position in an opposite direction of rotation of said that and said lever arm, said range of motion limit means comprising position measuring means for producing a position output signal corresponding to an angular position of said shaft and said lever arm, limit storing means for storing a first limit position signal corresponding to said first set limit position and a second limit position signal corresponding to said second set limit position, first switch means for enabling said limit storing means to store said position output signal as said first limit position signal when said shaft and said lever arm are moved to said first limit position, and second switch means for enabling said limit storage means to store said position output signal as said second limit position signal when said shaft and said lever arm are moved to said second limit position.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising converter means for converting an analog position output signal produced by said position measuring means to a digital position signal;

wherein said limit storing means is digital storage means for storing the first and second digital limit position signal values.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said velocity control means further comprises digital computer control means including a central processing unit, program memory means for storing a computer operating program, digitizing means for converting a plurality of analog parameter signal values into corresponding digital parameter signal values, and parameter memory means for storing said plurality o digital parameter signal values;

said position output signal is an analog position output signal; and

said first switch means and said second switch means enabling said digital computer control means to digitize and store in said parameter memory means the value of said output signal from said position measuring means when said shaft and said lever arm are positioned at one of said first limit position and said second limit position.

9. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said velocity control means further includes means for gradually decelerating said shaft and said lever arm toward a zero velocity as said shaft and said lever arm approach one of said first and second limit positions.