Patent ID: 7837599
Filing Date: 2010-11-23
Classification: A61N,A63B,G09B,G16H,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An apparatus to enable a user to perform upper extremity exercises, the apparatus comprising: an arm having a fixed end and a free end, the fixed end being connected to a base for securely supporting the arm and to locate the free end adjacent to the user, proximate to the user's upper extremities; a plurality of joints formed in the arm at or between its fixed and free ends, each joint having one or more rotational degrees of freedom while providing resistance to rotational movement in the one or more degrees of freedom, such that the free end of the arm can be moved in three dimensional space, and such that the arm is self-supporting; and a manipulandum assembly comprising a plurality of hand function manipulanda attached to the free end of the arm in a manner such that each manipulandum can be moved by the user through the one or more rotational degrees of freedom provided by the plurality of joints, each manipulandum being positioned within hand grasping range of the user, each manipulandum being configured to represent a different object encountered in an upper extremity activity, and the plurality of hand function manipulanda includes two or more of a vertically split cylinder manipulandum, a doorknob manipulandum, a key-grip manipulandum, a horizontal handles manipulandum, a peg manipulandum and a coin manipulandum.