Abstract:
A human extremity movement system including a work surface, a repetitive movement apparatus connected to the work surface, a roll and a releasable constraint. The roll rotatably connected to said repetitive movement apparatus. The releasable constraint being releasably connected to the roll. The releasable constraint enveloping at least a portion of the extremity with a portion of the extremity being supported by the work surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a human joint stimulator device, and, more particularly, to a repetitive human joint stimulator and extremity movement device.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Various medical conditions result in the loss, or reduction of use of an extremity, such as arthritis or a stoke. For example, a stroke may result in a loss or degradation of use and control of a portion of the body. One result of a stroke is the loss of use of one side of a person&#39;s body, which is caused by a blood flow restriction or clot in the brain. The extremity, through lack of use, can atrophy resulting in reduced muscle mass. Another result of non-use of an extremity can be reduced range of movement particularly, in the hands. This can result in reduced dexterity and/or range of movement by the individual that is recovering from a stroke and can become a permanent condition.  
         [0005]     Repetitive motion mechanisms exist that move joints such as knee joints after knee replacement surgery so that leg motion can be restored to a normal level following surgery.  
         [0006]     What is needed in the art is an economical hand or arm movement device.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention relates to a human joint stimulator and extremity movement device, particularly for the movement of the joints of a hand.  
         [0008]     The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a human extremity movement system including a work surface, a repetitive movement apparatus connected to the work surface, a roll and a releasable constraint. The roll rotatably connected to said repetitive movement apparatus. The releasable constraint being releasably connected to the roll. The releasable constraint enveloping at least a portion of the extremity with a portion of the extremity being supported by the work surface.  
         [0009]     An advantage of the present invention is that glove is releasably connected to a rotating member that allows the fingers to rotate therearound and yet be releasable therefrom.  
         [0010]     Another advantage of the present invention is that the repetition rates, duration at hold time and distance of movement are all adjustable.  
         [0011]     Another advantage of the present invention is that the hand is easily releasable from the movement apparatus in the event the patient desires to be released therefrom. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a human extremity movement device of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the movement device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is another top view of the movement device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a partially sectioned side view of a portion of the movement device of  FIGS. 1-3 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is another partially sectioned side view of the movement device of  FIGS. 1-4 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is another embodiment of the human extremity movement device of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a partially sectioned side view of the movement device of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is another partially sectioned side view of the movement device of  FIGS. 6 and 7 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is a side view of another embodiment of the human extremity movement device of the present invention; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  is a side view of yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0023]     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1-5 , there is shown a human extremity movement device  10  including a controller  12 , a driver  14  and a glove  16 . Driver  14  rotates about an axis  18  causing a portion of driver  14  to move causing rotation about axis  20  and axis  22  during use. Driver  14  includes torque selections that act as a clutching arrangement. If a resistance to movement is encountered driver  14  will cease rotation about axis  18 , dependant upon the selected torque.  
         [0025]     Controller  12  includes control selections  24  which govern the movements of driver  14 . Controller selections  24  include the selection and variation of speed profiles, acceleration, repeatable directions of rotation, number of repetitions until an automatic stop, distance of movement and hold times at positional extremes. Control selections  24  may alternatively be controlled by another automated process such as a computer system, not shown.  
         [0026]     Driver  14  is connected by mount  26  to a work surface  27 , such as a table, which may include padding or other features to accommodate a patient&#39;s extremity. Driver  14  includes a threaded shaft  28 , a positional adjustment  30 , a threaded stirrup rod  32 , a stirrup  34  and a roll  36 . Threaded shaft  28  is driven in a rotatable manner by driver  14  and the threads thereon rotate in positional adjustment  30  causing lateral movement of stirrup  34 . The combination of threaded stirrup rod  32  and positional adjustment  30  can be used to provide an initial position, by rotating positional adjustment  30  relative to stirrup rod  32  until a desired position, which may be thought of as a start position of stirrup  34 , is achieved. Alternatively, stirrup rod  32  may be fixed to positional adjustment  30 . Threaded stirrup rod  32  is threadably connected to positional adjustment  30  and is rotatably connected to stirrup  34  so that stirrup  34  may rotate about axis  22 . Stirrup  34  has a roll  36  that is rotatably connected to stirrup  34 . Roll  36  rotates about axis  20  in a generally unrestrained manner. Roll  36  has a releasable hook/loop arrangement  38  thereon that interacts with a complimentary releasable hook/loop structure  40  on glove  16 . Releasable hook/loop structures  38  and  40  interact to allow glove  40  to be variously connected to and rotated about roll  36  as stirrup  34  moves in a lateral direction.  
         [0027]     Once controller  12  is set up in a desired mode by the selecting of the speed, acceleration, direction, number of repetitions, hold time durations and distances of movement, then the patient inserts their hand into glove  16  and a portion of glove  16  is placed in contact with roll  36 . Releasable hook/loop arrangements  38  and  40  interact to connect a portion of glove  16  to roll  36 . Controller  12  is then initiated causing a rotational movement on threaded rod  28 , which causes the movement of positional adjustment  30  in a direction  42  and conversely in a direction  44 . The lateral movement of positional adjustment  30  causes threaded stirrup rod  32  and stirrup  34  to likewise move in directions  42  and  44 . As positional adjustment  30  moves in direction  44  the patients hand rotates about roll  36  increasing the amount of contact between roll  36  and glove  16 . While roll  36  is shown as a cylindrical roll, different diameters of cylindrical rolls and profile diameters are also contemplated. A profiled roll  36  could have different diameters along the lateral direction of roll  36  thereby allowing the fingers of the patient to be rotated to different extremes based on the lateral movement of positional adjustment  30 . As stirrup  34  moves in directions  36  and  38 , in a repetitive manner, the patient&#39;s joints are exercised helping to also prevent the atrophy of the muscle tissue, the stretching of tendons and exercising the patient&#39;s hand. Although releasable hook and loop arrangements  38  and  40  are shown to extend over a considerable amount of the surface of glove  16  and around the entire outer surface of roll  36 , it should be understood that a lesser amount of hook/loop arrangements  38  and  40  are also contemplated.  
         [0028]     Now, additionally referring to  FIGS. 6-8  there is shown another embodiment of human extremity movement device  10  having an offset arm  50 , which rotates in a quasi lateral movement causing stirrup  34  to move in directions  46  and  48 . The interaction of glove  16  with roll  36  and stirrup  34  is similar to that discussed in the first embodiment above.  
         [0029]     Now, additionally referring to  FIG. 9  there is shown another embodiment of the present invention illustrating the replacement of stirrup  34  with a strap  52  that is connected to the arm of a patient. The control of driver  14  is identical to that discussed above. Additionally referring to  FIG. 10  there is shown yet another embodiment of a driver  14  moving a human extremity in another manner involving a cable  54  that is connected to driver  14  and travels over a pulley  56 . The patients arm is repetitively lifted in a swinging manner from cable  54 .  
         [0030]     The present invention advantageously connects a glove, or other releasable constraint, to a moving rotatable roll  36  and allows the patient to easily remove their hand from the mechanism.  
         [0031]     While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.