Portable intelligent stretching device

• US 6,599,255 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2001
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (Tenet Healthcare Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (Tenet Healthcare Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhang, Li-Qun
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust, Timothy L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramana, Anuradha
• Application Number:
  US09/871,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20020183655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 600/587, 600/592, 600/594, 600/595, 601/5, 601/23, 601/24, 601/26, 601/27, 601/29, 601/31, 601/32, 601/33, 601/34, 601/35, 601/36
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/02 Stretching or bending or torsioning apparatus for exercising
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2001/0207 Nutating movement of a body part around its articulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0173 Means for preventing injuries
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/018 By limiting the applied torque or force
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/08 Other bio-electrical signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/60 Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user, e.g. Electromyography [EMG]

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.

Claims

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.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said joint reaches at least one predetermined torque or position limits, said controller communicates to said motor to reverse the rotational direction of said motor shaft.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a torque limit light-emitted diode indicating a maximum allowable amount of resistance torque.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a position limit light-emitted diode indicating a maximum and a minimum allowable limb position.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a computer, said computer communicating with said controller, said controller providing resistance torque data, velocity data and position data to said computer.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising an amplifier, said amplifier increasing said variable velocity of said motor.

7. The device of claim 6 further comprising a gearhead mounted to said motor, said gearhead reducing said variable velocity of said motor and increasing the torque output of said motor.

8. The device of claim 7 further comprising a mounting frame, said gearhead and motor fixed to said mounting frame, said mounting frame having an aperture therethrough, said motor shaft extending through said aperture thereby connecting to said limb support.

9. The device of claim 8 further comprising a housing, said housing enclosing said motor, mounting frame, gearhead and amplifier.

10. The device of claim 9 further comprising a height adjustment track for movably adjusting the height of said housing for aligning said motor shaft with said joint.

11. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one stop switch, said stop switch disconnecting power to said motor wherein rotation of said motor shaft is stopped.

12. The device of claim 1 further comprising Electromyogram sensors connected to a limb of said patient, said Electromyogram sensor transmitting Electromyogram information to said computer.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said controller communicates with said motor and computer, said computer displaying said Electromyogram information, velocity, position and resistance torque wherein said computer is selected from the group consisting of handheld devices, laptops and desktop computers.

14. The device of claim 1 further comprising a height adjustable seat, said adjustable seat for aligning said motor shaft with said joint.

15. The device of claim 14 further comprising an angular backrest adjustment, said backrest adjustment for further aligning said joint with said motor shaft.

16. The device of claim 14 further comprising seat adjustment position tracks, said tracks positioning said seat proximate or distal said motor shaft further aligning said joint with said motor shaft.

17. The device of claim 16 further comprising a base plate, said base plate securing said adjustment tracks to a surface.

18. The device of claim 1 further comprising a rotation adjustment disk, said disk rotating said shaft for alignment with said limb and having safety screws, said screws limiting the amount of rotation of said motor shaft.

19. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one safety screw, said at least one safety screw attached to said motor shaft such that said shaft cannot rotate past said at least one screw.

20. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one clamp and a plurality of screws, said plurality of screws securing said clamp to said limb support for additional stabilization of said limb.

42. The device of claim 1 further comprising an alignment pointer, said pointer aligning said joint with said motor shaft comprising:

an arc, said arc aligned with an outer surface of said torque sensor;

a block, said block parallel to a plane of said arc, said arc and said block secured by a pole at a top end of said arc and said block; and

a pointer pin, said pin slidable through a bottom end of said block extending along the same axis as the center of said arc and said torque sensor, such that said pin is on the same axis as said motor shaft.

21. A portable intelligent stretching device comprising:

a limb support, said limb support securing a limb such that said limb is rotatable with respect to a joint;

a 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.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein said joint reaches at least one predetermined position, said controller communicates to said motor to reverse the rotational direction of said motor shaft.

23. The device of claim 21 further comprising a torque limit light-emitted diode indicating a maximum allowable amount of resistance torque.

24. The device of claim 21 further comprising a position limit light-emitted diode indicating a maximum and a minimum allowable limb position.

25. The device of claim 21 wherein said computer having the controller receives resistance torque data, velocity data and position data.

26. The device of claim 21 further comprising an amplifier, said amplifier increasing said variable velocity of said motor.

27. The device of claim 26 further comprising a gearhead mounted to said motor, said gearhead reducing said variable velocity of said motor and increasing the torque output of said motor.

28. The device of claim 27 further comprising a mounting frame, said gearhead and motor fixed to said mounting frame, said mounting frame having an aperture therethrough, said motor shaft extending through said aperture thereby connecting to said limb support.

29. The device of claim 28 further comprising a base plate, said base plate securing said adjustment tracks to a surface.

30. The device of claim 21 further comprising at least one stop switch, said stop switch disconnecting power to said motor thereby stopping rotation of said motor shaft.

31. The device of claim 21 further comprising Electromyogram sensors connected to a limb of said patient, said Electromyogram sensor transmitting Electromyogram information to said computer.

32. The device of claim 21 wherein said computer is a hand-held device for communicating with said motor.

33. The device of claim 32 further comprising a housing, said housing enclosing said motor, mounting frame, gearhead and amplifier.

34. The device of claim 21 further comprising a height adjustable seat, said adjustable seat for aligning said motor shaft with said joint.

35. The device of claim 34 further comprising an angular backrest adjustment, said backrest adjustment for further aligning said joint with said motor shaft.

36. The device of claim 34 further comprising seat adjustment position tracks, said tracks positioning said seat proximate or distal said motor shaft for further aligning said joint with said motor shaft.

37. The device of claim 21 further comprising a rotation adjustment disk, said disk adjusting the rotation of said shaft.

38. The device of claim 21 further comprising at least one safety screw, said at least one safety screw attached to said motor shaft such that said shaft cannot rotate past said at least one screw.

39. The device of claim 21 further comprising at least one clamp and a plurality of screws, said plurality of screws securing said clamp to said limb support for additional stabilization of said limb.

40. The device of claim 21 further comprising a height adjustment track for movably adjusting the height of said housing for aligning said motor shaft with said joint.

41. The device of claim 21 further comprising an alignment pointer, said pointer aligning said joint with said motor shaft comprising:

an arc, said arc aligned with an outer surface of said torque sensor;

a block, said block parallel to a plane of said arc, said arc and said block secured by a pole at a top end of said arc and said block; and

a pointer pin, said pin slidable through a bottom end of said block extending along the same axis as the center of said arc and said torque sensor, such that said pin is on the same axis as said motor shaft.