Abstract:
An improved finger exerciser to exercise each finger individually by depressing directly against the resistance of a spring. Embodiments are described wherein the device includes an electronic controller in operative communication with individual finger exercise elements to sense exercise parameters and provide tactile feedback to a user. In embodiments, the disclosed finger exerciser is configured to communicate sensed measurements to an integrated controller and/or a mobile device, such as a distance each finger is pressed, speed, response time, repetition count, and so forth. In embodiments, the exerciser is configured to provide tactile feedback, such as vibration, to a user via the finger pads. The finger exerciser may receive communications from an integrated controller and/or mobile device to activate a tactile stimulator. In some embodiments, the finger exerciser includes one or more spatial sensors to monitor movement of the device and communicate spatial information to an integrated controller and/or mobile device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/591,040, filed Jan. 26, 2012, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/591,043, filed Jan. 26, 2012, the entirety of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Finger exercising devices have found widespread use in strength and endurance training applications, as well as in therapeutic applications to overcome physiological dysfunction and injury. Various type of finger and hand exercise devices have been developed, such as a large v-spring having handles on either leg which are held in the hand and repeatedly squeezed together. Another device features two parallel handles which are urged apart by an arrangement of spring or elastomeric bands which are grasped between the thumb and forefingers and squeezed together. Yet another style of hand exerciser features individual spring-activated plungers and an opposing spring activated palm rest. Still others utilize a wristband or glove arrangement having an array of elastomeric tethers running from the fingers to an anchor point. Various other shapes and styles of squeezable foam rubber devices have also been used. 
         [0003]    Conventional hand exercise devices may have drawbacks, because they rely upon the user to faithfully perform the necessary exercises to achieve a desired outcome, such as improved strength, dexterity, or recovery from dysfunction or injury. Moreover, conventional hand exercise devices have limitations in that they are passive devices which cannot effectively enable a therapist or trainer to monitor a user&#39;s progress or compliance with a prescribed exercise regimen. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present disclosure is directed to an improved finger exerciser. In embodiments, the disclosed finger exerciser includes a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, a plunger assembly, and a grip. The plunger assembly includes a tubular shaft having a pad base defined at an upper end thereof that is configured to operably engage a finger pad, and a finger pad operably engaged with the pad base. An opening is defined in the upper portion of the housing that is configured to enable the tubular shaft to traverse therethrough. The disclosed finger exerciser includes a coil spring in operative association with the shaft that is configured to urge the shaft in an upward direction. The grip is defined in the lower portion and includes a first concave portion forming a thumb saddle defined in the grip, a second concave portion forming a finger saddle defined in the grip, and a convex portion forming a palm pad defined on the grip. 
         [0005]    In some embodiments, the disclosed finger exerciser includes a generally tubular shaft guide configured to slidably extend into an inner bore of the tubular shaft. In some embodiments, the tubular shaft guide extends from a guide frame. In some embodiments, the coil spring is concentrically disposed between the inner bore of the tubular shaft and an outer surface of the shaft guide. In some embodiments, the disclosed finger exerciser further includes a controller configured to communicate with at least one of a linear position encoder and a transducer. The controller may include a data communication interface. In some embodiments, the disclosed finger exerciser further includes a linear position encoder in operative association with the shaft and in operable communication with the controller. In some embodiments, the linear position encoder comprises a scale fixed on an outer surface of the shaft having encoded indicia disposed thereupon, a light source configured to illuminate the scale, and a light detector configured to detect reflected light from the scale. In some embodiments, the finger exerciser a piezoelectric transducer fixed to the pad base and in operable communication with the controller. In some embodiments of the disclosed finger exerciser, the controller includes a processor, and a memory in operable communication with the processor and comprising a set of programmed instructions executable on the processor to vibrate the piezoelectric transducer in accordance with a predetermined pattern. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, a finger exercising system is disclosed. In embodiments, the disclosed finger exercising system includes a finger exerciser that includes a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, a plunger assembly including a tubular shaft having a pad base defined at an upper end thereof, wherein the pad base is configured to operably engage a finger pad, and a finger pad operably engaged with the pad base. An opening is defined in the upper portion of the housing that is configured to enable the tubular shaft to traverse therethrough. The finger exerciser includes a coil spring in operative association with the shaft that is configured to urge the shaft in an upward direction. The finger exerciser includes a grip defined in the lower portion that includes a first concave portion forming a thumb saddle defined in the grip, a second concave portion forming a finger saddle defined in the grip, and a convex portion forming a palm pad defined on the grip. The disclosed finger exercising system includes a controller configured to communicate with at least one of a linear position encoder, a spatial sensor, and a transducer and having a data communication interface configured to communicate with a remote handheld device. The disclosed finger exercising system includes a software application executable on a remote handheld device and configured to communicate with the controller to perform an action selected from the group consisting of receiving a linear position, receiving a spatial parameter, storing a linear position, storing a spatial parameter, displaying a linear position, displaying a spatial parameter, and transmitting a transducer command. In some embodiments, the spatial sensor is selected from the group consisting of a silicon accelerometer, a silicon gyroscope, and a silicon compass. In some embodiments, the software application is configured to communicate a linear position and/or a spatial parameter to an evaluating entity. In some embodiments, in the linear position encoder is configured to encode a position of the shaft. In some embodiments, a piezoelectric transducer is fixed to the pad base and is in operable communication with the controller and/or the software application. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, a method of operating a hand exerciser is disclosed. In embodiments, the disclosed method includes providing a hand exerciser having a finger-actuatable plunger having a finger-contacting portion and a biasing member that urges the plunger against finger pressure, performing a gesture comprising depressing the finger-actuatable plunger to initiate an exercise routine, and causing the finger contacting portion of the plunger to vibrate. In some embodiments, causing the finger contacting portion of the plunger to vibrate includes vibrating the finger contacting portion of the plunger in a predetermined pattern corresponding to the exercise routine. In some embodiments, the method includes selecting an exercise routine from a set of predetermined exercise routines in response to the performed gesture. In some embodiments, the method includes measuring a displacement of the shaft and/or a velocity of the shaft. In some embodiments, the method includes wirelessly communicating the measured displacement and/or velocity to a remote device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Example embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the drawings wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an improved finger exerciser in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 1   a  is a block diagram of an embodiment of an improved finger exerciser in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of another embodiment of an improved finger exerciser in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an alternative perspective view of the  FIG. 2  embodiment of an improved finger exerciser in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side, exploded view of the  FIG. 2  embodiment of an improved finger exerciser in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective, exploded view of the  FIG. 2  embodiment of an improved finger exerciser in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a side, cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 2  embodiment of an improved finger exerciser in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7   a  is a view of an embodiment of a finger pad of an improved finger exerciser in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7   b  is a view of another embodiment of a finger pad of an improved finger exerciser in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7   c  is a view of yet another embodiment of a finger pad of an improved finger exerciser in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7   d  is a view of still another embodiment of a finger pad of an improved finger exerciser in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a finger exercise system in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a finger exercise system in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10   a  is a view of an embodiment of an improved finger exerciser in use in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10   b  is another view of an embodiment of an improved finger exerciser in use in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10   c  is still another view of an embodiment of an improved finger exerciser in use in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10   d  is a yet another view of an embodiment of an improved finger exerciser in use in accordance with the present disclosure; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 10   e  is a view of an embodiment of an improved finger exerciser in use to exercise a thumb in accordance with the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Particular embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms. Well-known and/or repetitive functions and constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary or redundant detail. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. In addition, as used herein in the description and in the claims, terms referencing orientation, e.g., “top”, “bottom”, “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “clockwise”, “counterclockwise”, and the like, are used with reference to the figures and features shown and described herein. It is to be understood that embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure may be practiced in any orientation without limitation. In this description, as well as in the drawings, like-referenced numbers represent elements which may perform the same, similar, or equivalent functions. 
         [0028]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , an improved finger exerciser  10  is disclosed. The finger exerciser includes a housing  11  that supports one or more plunger assemblies  25  that are generally regularly spaced along a common centerline and which include a shaft  23  having a pad base  15  fixed to a top end of the shaft  23 . A finger pad  14  having a recess  24  defined on an upper surface thereof is coupled to the pad base  15 . Finger pad  14  and/or pad base  15  includes a transducer  22 , such as without limitation, a piezoelectric transducer, which will be described in detail below. In some embodiments the finger pad  14  is selectively coupled to the pad base  15  to enable a user to easily swap finger pads  14  as desired. In embodiments, finger pad  14  is removably coupled to pad base  15  by a snap fitting. In embodiments, finger pad  14  and/or pad base  15  are indexed to ensure finger pad  14  is coupled to pad base  15  in a specific orientation, such as without limitation, where recess  24  is oriented generally transverse to the common center line of the shafts as shown in  FIG. 1  and in the example embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 . In embodiments, finger pad  14  and/or pad base  15  are configured to enable pad  14  to be affixed to pad base  15  in other orientations, such as without limitation where recess  24  is oriented generally longitudinally to the common center line of the shafts and/or where recess  24  is oriented at an arbitrary angle to the common center line of the shafts. 
         [0029]    A compression spring  16  is disposed about a length of the shaft  23  and is configured to urge the shaft  23  in an upward direction. A top portion of spring  16  rests in a saddle  26  defined in a lower portion of pad base  15 ; a lower portion of spring  16  rests in a portion of housing  11 . In use, a user&#39;s finger F bears down on a finger pad  14 , overcoming the upward bias of spring  16  to depress plunger assembly  25  and thereby exercise finger F. As will be appreciated, the finger exerciser may be grasped by a user using one or more fingers of the hand to train the fingers individually or in any combination. 
         [0030]    Improved finger exerciser  10  includes a controller  13  that is operably coupled to a linear optical encoder assembly  18 , a power source  12 , and to one or more transducers  22 . Optical encoder assembly  18  is operably associated with a corresponding shaft  23  and is configured to communicate shaft position data to controller  13 . Optical encoder  18  includes a light source  19  that is configured to illuminate a scale  21  affixed to shaft  23 , and a light detector  20  configured to detect reflected light from scale  21  to enable controller  13  to ascertain the distance and/or speed at which each shaft is depressed. Scale  21  includes indicia disposed thereon, e.g., by printing, engraving, and the like, in regularly spaced intervals and/or in an encoded pattern, such as a quadrature or other pattern, to facilitate the detection of shaft  23  motion by light detector  20 . In some embodiments, other linear motion detection and encoding assemblies and technologies may be advantageously employed, including without limitation, magnetic encoding, hall effect sensing, a transmissive optical detector wherein a shutter arrangement is used to modulate light emitted from light source  19  and received by light detector  20 , a variable differential transformer, a potentiometer-based encoder, laser interferometer encoders, and so forth. In embodiments, light source  19  may include, without limitation, a light-emitting diode, laser diode, incandescent bulb, or other suitable light source. In embodiments, light detector  20  may include a photodiode, phototransistor, and/or any suitable light detection circuit element having the necessary bandwidth and/or response time to effectively detect the motion of shaft  23  when actuated by a user&#39;s finger. In some embodiments, light source  19  and light detector  20  may be included in a common housing. 
         [0031]    Controller  13  is in operably coupled to transducer  22  by a conductor  17  disposed within a bore of shaft  23 . In order to accommodate the up and down motion of shaft  23 , conductor  17  may be formed from flexible conductive material, such as stranded wire, having a coiled construction. Conductor  17  may include one or more individual conducting elements separated by an insulator, e.g., a mini “coil cord”, to effectively couple transducer  22  to controller  13 . Transducer  22  is configured to impart mechanical vibrations into finger pad  14 , thereby providing tactile communication to a user. 
         [0032]    During use, the user may initiate an exercise routine by activating the controller by depressing one or more finger pads  14 , and grasping finger exerciser  10  in the hand while placing the fingertip on the respective finger pads  14 . Various exercise routines may be selected using a pushbutton, and/or using predetermined patterns of finger pad depression to communicate the user&#39;s selection to the controller  13 . Additionally or alternatively, various levels of vibratory finger stimulation, various exercise speeds, and the like, may be selected in a similar manner. Controller  13  includes a microprocessor  26  ( FIG. 1   a ) configured to execute a set of programmed instructions which is stored in memory  27 , such as non-transitory memory, included in controller  13 . Controller  13  may include a timeout function whereby the microprocessor enters a low-power standby state after a predetermined period of time has elapsed from an event such as a last finger pad depression or the completion of an exercise routine. In some embodiments, controller  13  may include a power up function that is activated by a user depressing one or more plunger assemblies  25 . 
         [0033]    Once an exercise routine has been activated, controller  13  communicates with a transducer  22 , which, in turn, vibrates one or more finger pads  14  individually or in combination to indicate to the user via tactile stimulus which pad should be depressed. Additionally or alternatively, as the user depresses finger pads  14 , and correspondingly, shaft  23 , optical encoder  18  communicates positional information of the associated plunger assembly  25  to controller  13 . In this manner, controller  13  may evaluate whether the user is dutifully and correctly performing the exercise routine. For example, and without limitation, controller  13  can determine if one finger is depressing the plunger associated therewith more slowly than the other fingers, conclude that the slow finger needs additional exercise, and modify the exercise routine by scheduling additional or more frequent tactile stimulus to the deficient finger during the exercise routine. In another embodiment, an exercise routine may be tailored to enhance dexterity for playing a particular musical instrument, for example, stringed instruments (guitar, bass, violin), brass instruments (trumpet, saxophone), keyboard instruments, and so forth. In some embodiments, a user may input a customized exercise routine into controller  13  by causing the controller to enter a programming mode, “playing” the desired routine, causing the controller to store the custom routine, and causing the controller to initiate the custom routine. 
         [0034]    Tactile feedback may additionally or alternatively be employed to confirm that full depression of the plunger assembly  25  has been achieved, and/or may be used to provide massage therapy to the fingertip before, during, and following an exercise routine. In some embodiments, intensity of the tactile vibration may be modulated in response to speed and/or position of the plunger assembly  25 . 
         [0035]    In embodiments, controller  13  includes a data communication interface  29 , such as a Bluetooth® interface, operably associated with the processor to facilitate communication with another device, such as a mobile device, smart phone, tablet computer, and so forth. Data communication interface  29  may communicate using wired, wireless, and/or optical techniques. In embodiments, controller  13  includes one or more spatial/positional sensors  28  operably associated with the processor, such as, without limitation, a silicon accelerometer, a silicon gyroscope, and/or a silicon compass. 
         [0036]    Turning now to  FIGS. 2-6 , another embodiment of an improved finger exerciser  30  is illustrated. Finger exerciser  30  includes a housing  31  having an upper housing  44  and a lower housing  45 . Lower housing includes a grip  46  having several features configured to improve the effectiveness of finger exercises performed with finger exerciser  30 . Grip  46  includes a first concave portion forming a thumb saddle  47  defined therein that is configured to cooperate ergonomically with web  92 ′ of a user&#39;s thumb  92  during use (see  FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b ) and/or a user&#39;s forefinger ( FIG. 10   e ). Grip  46  includes a second concave portion forming a finger saddle  48  defined therein that is configured to cooperate ergonomically with an upper portion of a user&#39;s thumb  92  during use (see  FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b ) and/or a user&#39;s forefinger ( FIG. 10   e ). Grip  46  includes a convex portion forming a palm pad  57  defined thereupon that is configured to cooperate ergonomically with a user&#39;s palm during use ( FIGS. 10   a ,  10   b ). It is to be understood that the uses of thumb saddle  47 , finger saddle  48 , and palm pad  57  are not limited to the hand and finger placements described above, and may be used with any hand placements, finger placements, gripping styles, etc., as may be desired. 
         [0037]    Finger exerciser  30  includes a guide frame  51  having one or more generally tubular shaft guides  50  extending therefrom, and one or more corresponding shafts  43  having a bore dimensioned to slidably receive shaft guide  50 . A coil spring  36  positioned between shaft guide  50  and shaft  43  urges shaft  43  upwardly to provide the resistance required to perform finger exercises. In some embodiments, coil spring  36  is concentrically disposed between an outer diameter of shaft guide  50  and an inner diameter (e.g., bore diameter) of shaft  43 . The rigidity and smoothness of motion of shaft  43  benefits from the internal support afforded by shaft guide  50 , which, in turn, enables exercises to be performed with greater precision and comfort than with prior-art exercisers. An upper portion of shaft  43  includes a pad base  35  that is configured to operably couple to a finger pad  34 . In embodiments, finger pad  34  is removable and/or interchangeable and may be indexed to ensure consistent positioning on pad base  35 , as described above. Pad  34 , pad base  35 , and shaft  43  comprise plunger assembly  58 . Advantageously, finger pad  34  may be removed to enable a user to change spring  36  to enable different levels of resistance. Spring  36  may be provided in various strengths, and may include a progressive winding that increases resistance as plunger assembly  58  is depressed. Additionally or alternatively, spring  36  may be changed by removing lower housing  45  from upper housing  44 , removing guide frame  51  and/or controller  33 , and swapping spring  36  from the bottom. 
         [0038]    Upper housing  44  includes one or more openings  55  defined therein that are configured to enable plunger assembly  58  to move up and down therethrough. Opening  55  may include a notch  59  that is configured to engage a corresponding rib  60  provided on shaft  43 . Advantageously, the described finger exerciser  30  design lends itself to a “bottom-up” assembly. A bottom-up assembly enables the device to be assembled rapidly, using no special tooling or jigs and requiring fewer parts, and with a decreased cost of production when contrasted to prior art devices having designs which dictate cumbersome and more costly “top-down” assembly requiring, for example, custom tooling to maintain parts in alignment during assembly. 
         [0039]    Finger exerciser  30  includes a controller  33  that is operably coupled to a linear optical encoder assembly  38 , a power source  32  operably coupled to controller  33  by one or more clips  54 , and to one or more transducers  42  by a conductor  37 . In order to accommodate the up and down motion of shaft  43 , conductor  37  may be formed from flexible conductive material, such as stranded wire, having a coiled construction. Conductor  37  may include one or more individual conducting elements separated by an insulator, e.g., a mini “coil cord”, to effectively couple transducer  42  to controller  33 . Transducer  42  is configured to impart mechanical vibrations into finger pad  34 , thereby providing tactile communication to a user. 
         [0040]    Optical encoder assembly  38  is operably associated with a corresponding shaft  43  and is configured to communicate shaft position data to controller  43 . Optical encoder  38  includes a sensor mount  56  on which is mounted a positional sensor  39  that is configured to sense the linear motion of scale  41  that is affixed to shaft  43  to enable controller  33  to ascertain the distance and/or speed at which each shaft  43  is depressed. In embodiments sensor mount  56  may include a printed circuit board (PCB). In embodiments, positional sensor  39  may include a light transceiver comprising, e.g., a light source and a light detector. Scale  41  includes indicia disposed thereon, e.g., by printing, engraving, and the like, in regularly spaced intervals and/or in an encoded pattern, such as a quadrature or other pattern, to facilitate the detection of the movement of shaft  43  motion by positional sensor  39 . Scale  41  may be annexed to rib  60 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Optical encoder assembly  38  includes a tandem arrangement whereby sensor mount  56  includes a first positional sensor  39  mounted of first side of sensor mount  56  and a second positional sensor  39  mounted of second side of sensor mount  56 , and where encoder assembly  38  is disposed between a pair of adjacent shafts  43 . In this arrangement, the scales  41  of each shaft pair are oriented to face the corresponding positional sensor  39 , as best seen in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6 . Controller  33  may include a wireless communications interface and positional sensors as described above. 
         [0041]    Optical encoder assembly  38  is fixed at a bottom edge thereof to guide frame  51 . Guide frame  51  includes one or more tabs  52  that are configured to engage one or more corresponding slots  53  defined in controller  33 . Controller  33  is operably coupled to a switch  49  that is configured to accept user inputs to controller  33 , including but not limited to, power on/off, an exercise selection, an exercise parameter, a user identification, and so forth. In embodiments, switch  49  includes a snap dome contact. 
         [0042]    Turning now to  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b ,  7   c , and  7   d , example embodiments of alternative finger pads are shown which include a specialized textured finger-contacting surface for enhancing particular training regimens, such as without limitation, exercises addressing neurological disorders, rock-climbing training, callous-building exercises (for, e.g., guitarists), etc.  FIG. 7   a  shows a finger pad  64   a  that includes a finger contacting surface having a crosshatch pattern  65   a.    FIG. 7   b  shows a finger pad  64   b  that includes a finger contacting surface having a coarse, nubbed texture  65   b.    FIG. 7   c  shows a finger pad  64   c  that includes a finger contacting surface having a rock-like surface  65   c.  In embodiments, rock, sand, gravel and/or other mineral compositions may be embedded in finger pad  64   c  to form surface  65   c .  FIG. 7   d  shows a finger pad  64   d  that includes a finger contacting surface that includes a musical instrument string  65   d  and/or a musical instrument string-like structure protruding therefrom. As described above, such alternative finger pads may be selectively coupled to pad base  35  for use. 
         [0043]    With reference to  FIG. 8 , in another aspect a finger exercise system is disclosed in which finger exerciser  70  is in communication with a handheld device  73 . During use, data relating to an exercise being performed is received by a controller. In the example embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , positional motion of a finger exerciser  70  is sensed by spatial sensor  74  (accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, etc.) and communicated to a controller  76 . Additionally or alternatively, an optical positional encoder  75  senses the movement of plunger assembly  72  by a user&#39;s finger  71 , and communicated the positional data to controller  76 . Controller  76  communicates spatial and positional data wirelessly through a wireless interface  77 , which may include a Bluetooth® transceiver, to a handheld device  73 . Handheld device  73  includes an application program (“app”) that is programmed to collect and display the spatial and positional exercise data. In embodiments, the handheld device includes the capability of recording the collected data, tracking performance of a use, and communicating exercise data to an evaluating entity, such as a hand therapist, guitar teacher, etc., for analysis. 
         [0044]    With reference to  FIG. 9 , in another aspect a finger exercise system is disclosed in which finger exerciser  80  is in communication with a handheld device  83 . During use, application  82  executing on handheld device  83  communicates commands to a communications interface  84  of a controller  85  included within finger exerciser  80  to cause a finger pad transducer  81  to vibrate, sending tactile stimulation to the user&#39;s fingertip(s). In embodiments, application  82  includes the capability of receiving user input to select, define, and/or store an exercise routine. Application  82  may directly control the sequence of finger stimulation events in real time, or may download a routine to finder exerciser  80  for execution by controller  85 . 
         [0045]    Turning now to  FIGS. 10   a - 10   e,  various methods of use of a finger exerciser  30  in accordance with the present disclosure are illustrated. In  FIG. 10   a , a user places finger exerciser  30  in the hand, such that grip  46  rests generally in the palm and base  92 ′ of thumb  92  rests within thumb saddle  47 . In  FIG. 10   b  the user&#39;s hand is closed around finger exerciser  30  and fingertips  91  are placed on finger pads  34 . In the  FIG. 10   b  configuration the primary focus of the finger exercise are the user&#39;s four fingers  91 . In the configuration shown in  FIGS. 10   c  and  10   d , the tip of the user&#39;s thumb  92  is placed into thumb saddle  47  and/or finger saddle  48 . As shown in  FIG. 10   c , an exercise routine targeted to the user&#39;s middle finger and thumb is illustrated. Advantageously, the contours of thumb saddle  47  and finger saddle  48  enable a user to grasp finger exerciser  30  in a manner which enables the targeted exercise to be performed ergonomically and which may provide improved physiological benefits.  FIG. 10   d  shows another configuration wherein the finger exercise is targeted to the index, middle, ring, pinky finger, and thumb, with the thumb squarely placed in thumb saddle  47 . In  FIG. 10   e , yet another configuration is shown wherein a user&#39;s index finger  91  is placed within finger saddle  48  and the tip of the user&#39;s thumb  92  is placed in a finger pad  34  to perform an exercise routine targeted to the user&#39;s thumb  92 . 
         [0046]    The described embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive, and are not intended to represent every embodiment of the present disclosure. Further variations of the above-disclosed embodiments and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be made or desirably combined into many other different systems or applications without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims both literally and in equivalents recognized in law.