Patent Publication Number: US-10780011-B2

Title: Finger joint rehabilitation exercise aid part

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the national phase entry of International Application No. PCT/CN2018/094199, filed on Jul. 3, 2018, which is based upon and claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201710552259.0, filed on Jul. 7, 2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to the technical field of joint exercise aid, and in particular to a finger joint rehabilitation exercise device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It has been clinically confirmed that during early rehabilitation and spontaneous recovery after surgery on a patient&#39;s limb or for a patient suffering from injury of cranial nerves, implementation of continuous passive exercise can compensate for patient&#39;s lack of active exercise, increase the mobility of the limb, and reduce corresponding complications at the same time. In addition, at present, patients suffer from contracture of fingers due to finger paralysis caused by central nervous injury such as cerebral infarction, in which case, if the patient&#39;s fingers can be assisted in exercise, the recovery speed of patient&#39;s fingers can be increased. 
     In view of the above defects, the inventor of the present invention finally obtained the present invention after a long period of research and practice. 
     SUMMARY 
     To solve the above technical defects, the technical solution used by the present invention is to provide a finger joint rehabilitation exercise aid part, comprising: 
     a rubber part, at least one small bracket, one middle bracket and one large bracket, wherein the small bracket, the middle bracket and the large bracket are fixed on the rubber part, with the positions of the small bracket, the middle bracket and the large bracket fixed on the rubber part respectively corresponding to a distal phalanx/middle phalanx, a proximal phalanx and a metacarpal bone; 
     a front end of the rubber part is provided with a finger sheath into which the patient&#39;s finger can reach. 
     Preferably, the small bracket, the middle bracket and the large bracket are all provided with a fixing hole for fixing the power source. 
     Preferably, a front end of the finger sheath has an opening from which the patient&#39;s finger can reach out, improving the patient&#39;s finger touch. 
     Preferably, the rubber part is provided with at least four raised cylinders, and the small bracket, the middle bracket and the large bracket are all provided with holes that cooperate with the cylinders. 
     Preferably, when the small bracket, the middle bracket and the large bracket are fixed on the rubber part, a ring hole is provided in the rubber part between the small bracket and the middle bracket and/or between the middle bracket and the large bracket for improving the flexibility of the rubber part. 
     Preferably, a curved surface ( 116 ) on the reverse side of the rubber part has a greater curvature than a curved surface ( 117 ), facilitating fitting to the patient&#39;s finger. 
     Preferably, the finger sheath is provided with a flat face segment for supporting the finger. 
     Preferably, the small bracket, the middle bracket and the large bracket are all made of a lightweight material. 
     Preferably, the material of the rubber part is rubber. 
     Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effect of the present invention is as follows: According to the finger joint rehabilitation exercise aid part, the rubber part is sheathed on the patient&#39;s finger, the power source is fixed by means of the small bracket, the middle bracket and the large bracket fixed on the rubber part, and the rubber part is forced by the power source to bend and straighten and drives the patient&#39;s fingers to perform exercise at the same time, thus helping patients perform rehabilitation training. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To illustrate the technical solutions in various embodiments of the present invention more clearly, the accompanying drawings to be used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram for illustrating the skeletal structure of a human hand; 
         FIG. 2  is a frame diagram of a finger joint rehabilitation exercise aid part; 
         FIG. 3  is a structural diagram of a finger joint rehabilitation exercise aid part to be worn on an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger and a little finger; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a rubber part to be worn on an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger and a little finger; 
         FIG. 5  is a reverse view of a rubber part to be worn on an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger and a little finger; 
         FIG. 6  is a structural diagram of a small bracket; 
         FIG. 7  is a structural diagram of a middle bracket; 
         FIG. 8  is a structural diagram of a large bracket; 
         FIG. 9  is a structural diagram of a finger joint rehabilitation exercise aid part to be worn on a thumb; and 
         FIG. 10  is a structural diagram of a rubber part to be worn on a thumb. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The above and other technical features and advantages of the present invention will be illustrated in more detail below with reference to the drawings. 
     [Skeletal Structure] 
     Before illustration for a joint exercise aid device involved in this embodiment, the skeletal structure of a human hand will be illustrated. 
       FIG. 1  is the skeletal structure of a right hand viewed from a palm side. The skeletal structure of a right hand is shown in  FIG. 1 , in which metacarpal bones of a thumb, an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger and a little finger are connected to a carpal bone. The metacarpal bone of the thumb is connected to phalanges composed of a “proximal phalanx” and a “distal phalanx”. Regarding the thumb, the distal phalanx of a fingertip is connected to the proximal phalanx through a “first joint”, and the proximal phalanx is connected to the metacarpal bone of the thumb through a “second joint”. 
     In addition, metacarpal bones of the index finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger are respectively connected to phalanges composed of a “proximal phalanx”, a “middle phalanx” and a “distal phalanx”. Regarding the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger and the little finger, the distal phalanx of the fingertip is connected to the middle phalanx through a “first joint”, and the middle phalanx is connected to the proximal phalanx through a “second joint”. Moreover, the proximal phalanx is connected to the metacarpal bone through a “third joint”. Furthermore, in the following illustration, the part of a finger where a distal phalanx is used as a bone is referred to as a “distal part”, and the part of a finger where a middle phalanx is used as a bone is referred to as a “middle part”. In addition, the part of a finger where a proximal phalanx is used as a bone is referred to as a “proximal part”. Also, the part where a “metacarpal bone” is used as a bone is referred to as a “metacarpal part”. 
     [Structure of Finger Joint Rehabilitation Exercise Aid Part] 
       FIG. 2  is a frame diagram of a finger joint rehabilitation exercise aid part, which comprises a rubber part  11 , a small bracket  12 , a middle bracket  13  and a large bracket  14 . The small bracket  12 , the middle bracket  13  and the large bracket  14  are all fixed on the rubber part  11 , and a power source corrugated tube  3  is fixed by means of a small bracket  12 , the middle bracket  13  and the large bracket  14 . 
     The finger joint rehabilitation exercise aid part can be worn on each finger, but the fingers are different in length and bone structure such that the rubber part structure and the number of small brackets to be worn on each finger will be different. Since the distal phalanx of each finger is short, the power source, such as a corrugated tube, is fixed with a small bracket  12 , the distal phalanx of the finger is forced to exercise under the action of the power source, and the fixed position of the small bracket  12  on the rubber part corresponds to the distal phalanx of the finger. The index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger and the little finger all have a middle phalanx, and since the middle phalanx is slightly shorter than the proximal phalanx, the power source is also fixed with a small bracket  12  to prevent the power source from being detached from the rubber part and thus not being able to drive the finger by means of the rubber part, and at this moment the fixed position of the small bracket  12  on the rubber part is in the middle of the middle phalanx of the finger. The five fingers of one hand all have a proximal phalanx, since the proximal phalanx is longer than the middle phalanx, in order to bring the power source more fit to the finger, a middle bracket  13  is provided on the rubber part to be worn on the thumb at the position of the proximal phalanx close to first joint so as to fix the power source, and in addition, middle brackets  13  are provided on the rubber parts to be worn on the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger and the little finger at the position of the corresponding middle phalanx close to the second joint so as to fix the power source. The large brackets  14  are provided on the rubber part to be worn on the five fingers at positions respectively corresponding to the end of the proximal phalanx and the metacarpal bone so as to fix the power source. As such, one small bracket  12 , one middle bracket  13  and one large bracket  14  are provided on the rubber part to be worn on the thumb, and two small brackets  12 , one middle bracket  13  and one large bracket  14  are provided on the other four fingers, such that the rubber part to be worn on the thumb is different in structure from the rubber parts to be worn on the other four fingers. 
     [Structure of Finger Joint Rehabilitation Exercise Aid Parts on the Index Finger, the Middle Finger, the Ring Finger and the Little Finger] 
       FIG. 3  is a structural diagram of a finger joint rehabilitation exercise aid part, which can be worn on the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger and the little finger, which comprises a rubber part  11 , a small bracket  12 , a middle bracket  13  and a large bracket  14 . The small bracket  12 , the middle bracket  13  and the large bracket  14  are all fixed on the rubber part  11 . 
     The rubber part  11  can be sheathed on a patient&#39;s finger, and the material thereof is rubber, especially medical silicone, and has strong flexibility to adapt to different deformation of the patient&#39;s finger.  FIGS. 4 and 5  are respectively the front side and the reverse side of the rubber part  11 . The front side of the rubber part  11  is provided with multiple raised cylinders  111  for fixing the small bracket  12 , the middle bracket  13  and the large bracket  14  to the rubber part  11 , with the number of the raised cylinders  111  being the same as the total number of the small bracket  12 , the middle bracket  13  and the large bracket  14 . A front end of the rubber part  11  has a finger sheath  112 , which is open at a front end thereof, that is, the rubber part  11  has an open end  113 , and the patient&#39;s finger reaches into the finger sheath  12  and out from the open end  113 , so that the patient&#39;s finger is exposed, which can improve the patient&#39;s finger touch and is advantageous for the rehabilitation of the patient&#39;s fingers. The finger sheath  112  is provided, at a position where it is in contact with the finger pulp, with a flat face segment  1121  for supporting the finger, and the finger is kept straight when it is forced to straighten under the drive of the power source. A ring opening  114  is provided between the small bracket  12  and the middle bracket  13  and/or between the middle bracket  13  and the large bracket  14  on the rubber part  11 , which improves the flexibility of the rubber part at the periphery of the ring opening  114 , and when the patient&#39;s finger bends and spreads, the rubber part  11  with the ring opening  114  tightly fits with the patient&#39;s finger, which is more helpful for the patient to perform follow action with the aid of the finger joint rehabilitation exercise aid part, facilitating rehabilitation of the patient. The rubber part  11  is further provided with a hole  115  for fixing the rubber part  11  to other aid structures through the hole  115 . The curvature of a curved surface  116  of the back side of the rubber part  11  cooperating with the finger is greater than that of a curved surface  117 , which facilitates closely fitting to the patient&#39;s finger, such that when the rubber part  11  is driven by the power source to bend and stretch, the patient&#39;s finger can accurately and synchronously move therewith without lag, and the curvature of the curved surface  117  is smaller for fixedly connection with other aid parts. 
       FIGS. 6, 7 and 8  are respectively structural diagrams of the small bracket  12 , the middle bracket  13  and the large bracket  14 . In  FIG. 6 , the small bracket  12  has a fixing hole  121  such that a power source, such as a corrugated tube, that forces the rubber part  11  to bend and straighten is placed into the fixing hole  121  and is fixed, and a fixing hole  122  that cooperates with the cylinder  111  such that when the cylinder  111  extends into the hole  122 , the small bracket is fixed onto the rubber part  11 . 
     The structure of the middle bracket  13  is the same as that of the small bracket  12 , except that when the middle bracket  13  and the small bracket  12  are fixed on the rubber part  11 , the length of the middle bracket  13  in the lengthwise direction of the finger is greater than the length of the small bracket  12 , the middle bracket  13  is further provided with a fixing hole  131  such that a power source, such as a corrugated tube, that forces the rubber part  11  to bend and straighten, is placed into the large hole  131  and is fixed, and a fixing hole  132  that cooperates with the cylinder  111  such that the middle bracket is fixed on the rubber part  11 . 
     The large bracket  14  is different in structure from the small bracket  12  and the middle bracket  13 , the large bracket  14  has a greater length and is provided with two holes  141  that cooperate with the cylinder  111  to facilitate fixing the large bracket  14  onto the rubber part  11 . The large bracket is further provided with a fixing hole  142  such that a power source, such as a corrugated tube, that forces the rubber part  11  to bend and straighten is placed into the large hole  142  and is fixed, and a hole  143  through which the large bracket  14 , the rubber part  11  and other aid parts are fixed together. 
     Since the small bracket  12 , the middle bracket  13  and the large bracket  14  need to be worn for a long time, the materials thereof are all lightweight materials, such as plastic. 
     The finger joint rehabilitation exercise aid parts on the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger and the little finger have the same structure, but the four fingers are different in length, so that the length of the rubber parts will be different, and the distance between the corresponding cylinders  111  will be adjusted. 
     The finger joint rehabilitation exercise aid part is driven by the power source to bend and stretch and at the same time drives the patient&#39;s fingers to perform bending and stretching exercise, thereby helping the patient perform rehabilitation training. 
     [Structure of Finger Joint Rehabilitation Exercise Aid Part on the Thumb] 
     The difference between the finger joint rehabilitation exercise aid part to be worn on the thumb and the finger joint rehabilitation exercise aid parts to be worn on other fingers lies in that one small bracket is fixed on the rubber part to be worn on the thumb, and two small brackets are fixed on the rubber part to be worn on other fingers, so the rubber parts to be worn on the thumb have different technical features from the rubber parts to be worn on other fingers. 
       FIG. 9  is a finger joint rehabilitation exercise aid part to be worn on the thumb, which comprises a rubber part  21 , a small bracket  22 , a middle bracket  23  and a large bracket  24 , wherein the small bracket  22 , the middle bracket  23  and the large bracket  24  are fixed on the rubber part  21 , and the power source corrugated tube  3  is fixed with the small bracket  22 , the middle bracket  23  and the large bracket  24 . 
       FIG. 10  is a rubber part  21  to be worn on the thumb. The thumb has only three joints, including the distal phalanx, the proximal phalanx and the metacarpal bone. Since the distal phalanx is relatively short, a small bracket  22  is provided on the rubber part  21  to fix the power source (corrugated tube); since the proximal phalanx and the metacarpal bone are relatively long, the middle bracket  23  is provided on the rubber part at a position corresponding to the proximal phalanx close to the first joint of the thumb so as to fix the power source (corrugated tube), and the large bracket  24  is provided on the rubber part  21  at a position corresponding to the end of the proximal phalanx and the metacarpal bone so as to fix the power source (corrugated tube); and the rubber part  21  to be worn on the thumb is provided with four raised cylinders  211  (the same as the cylinder  111 ) respectively used for fixing the small bracket  22 , the middle bracket  23  and the large bracket  24 . As such, the small bracket with a smaller length is provided on the rubber part at the position corresponding to the shorter distal phalanx, and the middle bracket  23  and the large bracket  24  are respectively provided on the rubber part at the position corresponding to the longer proximal phalanx and the metacarpal bone, so that the rubber part fit more closely to the power source, which is more advantageous for controlling the deformation of the rubber part to allow the rubber part to fit on the finger, so that the power source (corrugated tube) controls the bending and stretching of the finger. The rubber part  21  is provided with a ring hole  214  (the same as the ring hole  114 ) is provided between the small bracket  22  and the middle bracket  23  and/or between the middle bracket  23  and the large bracket  24 , the rubber part  11  to be worn on other fingers is provided with three ring holes, and providing the ring holes is advantageous for improving the fitting of the rubber part to the patient&#39;s finger. The rubber part  21  is also provided with a finger sheath  212 , with a front end thereof having an opening  213 , so that the patient&#39;s finger reaches into the finger sheath  212 , and the fingertip is exposed out of the opening  213 , the finger being exposed to the outside improving the patient&#39;s finger touch, which is advantageous for the rehabilitation of the patient. Also, the rubber part  21  is provided with a hole  215 , such that the rubber part  21  is fixed, through the hole  215 , together with other aid parts. The small bracket, the middle bracket and the large bracket to be worn on the thumb have the same structure and size as those to be worn on other fingers. 
     As such, the finger joint rehabilitation exercise aid part to be worn on the thumb is driven by the power source to bend and stretch and at the same time, drives the patient&#39;s fingers to perform bending and stretching exercise, thereby helping the patient perform rehabilitation training. 
     The apparatus that controls the air pressure in the corrugated tube is any apparatus that can perform suction, compression and exhaust, such as an electric air pump, a manual air pump, a foot-operated air pump, etc. 
     The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are merely illustrative but not restrictive for the present invention. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that many changes, modifications and equivalents can be made within the spirit and scope as defined by the claims of the present invention, but will fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.