Adjustable and tunable hand tremor stabilizer

• US 6,730,049 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2002
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael A. Kalvert
• Original Assignee: Michael A. Kalvert
• Inventors: Kalvert, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEMILLE, DANTON D
• Application Number:
  US10/176,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20030236475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 601/5, 601/40, 601/46, 601/70, 601/80, 601/72, 601/74, 602/5, 602/21, 2 1/7, 248/118.1, 248/444, 401/6
• US Class Current: 601/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0118 for the arms, hands or fingers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/065 Hands
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/00 Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms apparatus for passive exercising A61H1/00; generating or transmitting mechanical vibrations in general B06B
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/027 Apparatus forced to oscillate at its resonant frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/222 by overcoming gyroscopic forces, e.g. by turning the spin axis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4017 to the upper limbs

Abstract

A tunable and adjustable device for stabilizing tremors includes a rigid splint for receiving a patient'"'"'s hand, wrist and forearm, and at least one gyroscope removably and rigidly attachable to said splint and positionable for countereffecting the tremors. Also, a method for tuning and adjusting the device is provided which includes assessing the dynamic characteristics of the patient'"'"'s tremors, assessing at least one activity the patient intends to perform with his/her hand, wrist, and arm which is subject to tremors, attaching the splint to the patient'"'"'s hand, wrist, and arm that he/she intends to use for the at least one activity, and attaching and positioning the at least one gyroscope to the splint at least one location which countereffects the patient'"'"'s tremors.

Claims

1. A tunable and adjustable device for stabilizing tremors, the device comprising:

a rigid splint for receiving a patient'"'"'s hand, wrist and forearm; and

at least one gyroscope removably and rigidly attachable to said splint and positionable for countereffecting the tremors.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one mounting band for securing said splint to the patient'"'"'s hand, wrist, and forearm.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one rigid mounting member attached to said splint, said at least one mounting member having at least one of receiving sockets or threaded holes for receiving a gyroscope mounting fitting.

4. The device according to claim 3, said at least one mounting member attached to one of a bottom, top, and side of said splint.

5. The device according to claim 3, said at least one mounting member attached to said splint in a transverse orientation with respect to a longitudinal length of said splint.

6. The device according to claim 5, said at least one mounting member comprising a plurality of mounting members attached to said splint in a transverse orientation with respect to the longitudinal length of said splint.

7. The device according to claim 3, said at least one mounting member being attached in a longitudinal orientation with respect to a longitudinal length of said splint.

8. The device according to claim 7, said at least one mounting member comprising a plurality of said mounting members attached to said splint in a longitudinal orientation with respect to the longitudinal length of said splint.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a rigid plate attached to said splint, said rigid plate having a plurality of receiving sockets or threaded holes for receiving a gyroscope mounting fitting, said receiving sockets or threaded holes being positioned in a matrix to provide multiple mounting positions in both a transverse and longitudinal orientation with respect to a longitudinal length of said splint.

10. The device according to claim 1, said splint having vertical sidewalls and at least one rigid mounting member attached to at least one sidewall, said mounting member having at least one receiving socket or threaded hole for receiving a gyroscope mounting fitting.

11. The device according to claim 1, said splint being structured to be attached to a dorsal portion of the patient'"'"'s hand, wrist and forearm.

12. The device according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of mounting members attached to said splint in a longitudinal orientation with respect to the longitudinal length of said splint, said mounting members each having a plurality of receiving sockets or threaded holes for receiving a gyroscope mounting fitting.

13. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply for providing power to said at least one gyroscope.

14. The device according to claim 13, said power supply comprising a battery powerpack connected to said gyroscope by a power cord.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one gyroscope resists motion in at least one of one, two, and three directional planes.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one gyroscope resists motion in at least one of about an x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis.

17. The device according to claim 1, said at least one gyroscope having at least one of one, two, and three flywheels for countereffecting tremors.

18. The device according to claim 1, said splint comprising a pair of splints configured in a clamshell orientation.

19. The device according to claim 3, further comprising an articulated member connecting said at least one gyroscope to said at least one rigid mounting member.

20. The device according to claim 19, said articulated member capable of being adjusted and positioned by at least one of swiveling, telescoping, and rotating about a hinge, before the position of said articulated member is rigidly secured such that said at least one gyroscope is rigidly supported to said splint.

21. The device according to claim 1, said at least one gyroscope having at least one flywheel with an adjustable spin rate.

22. A method for tuning and adjusting a device for stabilizing tremors, the device comprising a rigid splint for receiving a patient'"'"'s hand, wrist and arm and at least one gyroscope removably and rigidly attached to said splint for countereffecting the tremors, the method comprising:

attaching the splint to the patient'"'"'s hand, wrist, and arm that he/she intends to use for at least one activity; and

attaching and positioning the at least one gyroscope to the splint in at least one location which countereffects the patient'"'"'s tremors.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the attaching and positioning is based upon input from dynamic characteristics of the patient'"'"'s tremors and the at least one activity the patient intends to perform with his/her hand, wrist, and arm which is subject to tremors.

24. The method according to claim 22, further comprising operating the at least one gyroscope to countereffect the patient'"'"'s tremors while the patient performs the at least one activity with his/her hand, wrist, and arm which is subject to tremors.

25. The method according claim 22, wherein the attaching and positioning comprises mounting the at least one gyroscope to the splint so that the splint and at least one gyroscope are balanced as an entire unit.

26. The method according to claim 22, wherein the attaching and positioning comprises mounting the at least one gyroscope to the splint in an out of balance position to induce at least one of a pulling, tipping, and rolling force in a desired direction.

27. The method according to claim 22, wherein the attaching and positioning comprises orienting the at least one gyroscope such that tremors that at least one of pitch about an x-axis, yaw about a y-axis, and roll about a z-axis are countereffected.

28. The method according to claim 22, wherein the attaching and positioning comprises mounting the at least one gyroscope such that tremors are countereffected in at least one of one, two, and three planar directions.

29. The method according to claim 22, further comprising determining a rotational direction of at least one flywheel in said at least one gyroscope, based upon input from the dynamic characteristics of the patient'"'"'s tremors and the at least one activity the patient to perform with his/her hand, wrist, and arm which is subject to tremors, such that the patient'"'"'s tremors are countereffected as a result of the rotational direction of the at least one flywheel in the at least one gyroscope.

30. The method according to claim 22, further comprising determining a rotational direction of at least one flywheel in the at least one gyroscope, based upon input from the dynamic characteristics of the patient'"'"'s tremors and the at least one activity the patient intends to perform with his/her hand, wrist, and arm which is subject to tremors, such that the patient'"'"'s hand, wrist, and arm are pulled or panned in a direction opposing the patient'"'"'s tremors, as a result of the rotational direction of the at least one flywheel in the at least one gyroscope.

31. The method according to claim 22, further comprising one of increasing and decreasing the spin rate of at least one flywheel in the at least one gyroscope according to the dynamic characteristics of the patient'"'"'s tremors and the at least one activity the patient is to perform with his/her hand, wrist, and arm which is subject to tremors, such that the amount of countereffective force resulting from the at least one gyroscope is increased or decreased.

32. A method for tuning and adjusting a device for stabilizing tremors, the device comprising a rigid splint for receiving a patient'"'"'s hand, wrist and arm and at least one gyroscope removably and rigidly attached to said splint for countereffecting the tremors, the method comprising:

assessing the dynamic characteristics of the patient'"'"'s tremors;

assessing at least one activity the patient intends to perform with his/her hand, wrist, and arm which is subject to tremors;

attaching the splint to the patient'"'"'s hand, wrist, and arm that he/she intends to use for the at least one activity;

attaching the at least one gyroscope to the splint at a position which countereffects the patient'"'"'s tremors based upon input from dynamic characteristics of the patient'"'"'s tremors and the at least one activity the patient intends to perform with his/her hand, wrist, and arm which is subject to tremors; and

operating the at least one gyroscope to countereffect the patient'"'"'s tremors while the patient performs the at least one activity with his/her hand, wrist, and arm which is subject to tremors.

33. The method according claim 32, wherein the attaching and positioning comprises mounting the at least one gyroscope to the splint so that the splint and at least one gyroscope are balanced as an entire unit.

34. The method according to claim 32, wherein the attaching and positioning comprises mounting the at least one gyroscope to the splint in an out of balance position to induce at least one of a pulling, tipping, and rolling force in a desired direction.

35. The method according to claim 32, wherein the attaching and positioning comprises orienting the at least one gyroscope such that tremors that at least one of pitch about an x-axis, yaw about a y-axis, and roll about a z-axis are countereffected.

36. The method according to claim 32, wherein the attaching and positioning comprises mounting the at least one gyroscope such that tremors are countereffected in at least one of one, two, and three planar directions.

37. The method according to claim 32, further comprising determining a rotational direction of at least one flywheel in the at least one gyroscope, based upon input from the dynamic characteristics of the patient'"'"'s tremors and the at least one activity the patient to perform with his/her hand, wrist, and arm which is subject to tremors, such that the patient'"'"'s tremors are countereffected as a result of the rotational direction of the at least one flywheel in the at least one gyroscope.

38. The method according to claim 32, further comprising determining a rotational direction of at least one flywheel in said at least one gyroscope, based upon input from the dynamic characteristics of the patient'"'"'s tremors and the at least one activity the patient intends to perform with his/her hand, wrist, and arm which is subject to tremors, such that the patient'"'"'s hand, wrist, and arm are pulled or panned in a direction opposing the patient'"'"'s tremors, as a result of the rotational direction of the at least one flywheel in the at least one gyroscope.