Physiological evaluation and exercise system
First Claim
1. A system for isolating, evaluating and exercising muscle groups of a hand of a test subject, comprising:
- means for detecting the movements of the hand during abduction, opposition, flexion or extension of several or individual digits of the hand, said means for detecting translating the movements into rotational data for the system and effectively isolating the movements of said several or individual digits so that movements of other muscle groups of the test subject are not detected by the system; and
means for providing a variable resistance to the means for detecting and for ascertaining the force applied to the means for detecting by the movements of said several or individual digits, said variable resistance including isotonic, isokinetic, and isometric modes of resistance against said several or individual digits.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for isolating, evaluating and exercising the muscle groups of the human hand, wrist, arm and shoulder including an adaptable detector for interpreting the cardinal movements of at least one muscle group of the hand during flexion, extension, or deviation of the wrist, or abduction, opposition, flexion or hyperextension of individual digits of the hand. The detector translates the movements of the muscle group into rotational data for the system and effectively isolates the movements of the muscle group so that the movements of other muscle groups of the body are not detected by the system. The system also includes a controlled resistance coupled to the detector which provides a variable resistance against the muscle group and ascertains the force applied to the detector by the movements of the one muscle group. The resistance can be varied to provide isotonic, isokinetic, or isometric modes of testing against said at least one muscle group.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for isolating, evaluating and exercising muscle groups of a hand of a test subject, comprising:
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means for detecting the movements of the hand during abduction, opposition, flexion or extension of several or individual digits of the hand, said means for detecting translating the movements into rotational data for the system and effectively isolating the movements of said several or individual digits so that movements of other muscle groups of the test subject are not detected by the system; and means for providing a variable resistance to the means for detecting and for ascertaining the force applied to the means for detecting by the movements of said several or individual digits, said variable resistance including isotonic, isokinetic, and isometric modes of resistance against said several or individual digits. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A compact apparatus for evaluation and correction of various actions of the human hand, comprising:
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means for isolating and testing the abduction, opposition, flexion or extension functions of the hand and individual digits of the hand, the means including a rotational element and means for providing a variable resistance to the rotational element; control means for controlling the magnitude of the variable resistance applied to the rotational means such that the resistance is varied to provide at least isotonic, isokinetic, and isometric modes of resistance; and means for providing data signals from the rotational means to the control means, including means for providing data as to the rotational position of the rotational means and means for providing the magnitude of the torque exerted on the rotational means.
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10. A device for evaluating and exercising a hand of a test subject, comprising:
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means for isolating and testing the abduction, opposition, flexion and extension of the hand and individual digits of the hand, said means including a first fixture and a second fixture, the first fixture being movably positioned adjacent to the second fixture to translate movements of the hand and individual digits into rotational data, the second fixture being fixed, the first and second fixtures effectively isolating said movements from movements of other parts of a human body; and means, coupled to the first fixture, for providing isotonic, isometric, and isokinetic resistance modes to the movements of the hand and digits. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A hand exercise and evaluation apparatus, comprising:
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a grip fixture, the grip fixture including a stationary component and a moving component, the moving component measuring and isolating movements of at least one muscle group of the human hand and the individual digits of the hand; and a resistance control system, coupled to the moving component, the resistance control system including means for providing resistance to the moving element in a variety of modes of operation such that the resistance provided to the moving component provides an isometric, isokinetic, isotonic and passive resistance on the moving element.
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Specification