Source: https://patents.justia.com/patent/8708825
Timestamp: 2020-02-25 07:17:22
Document Index: 44102162

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'arts 14']

US Patent for Device controller with conformable fitting system Patent (Patent # 8,708,825 issued April 29, 2014) - Justia Patents Search
Justia Patents Hand Manipulated (e.g., Keyboard, Mouse, Touch Panel, Etc.)US Patent for Device controller with conformable fitting system Patent (Patent # 8,708,825)
Apr 18, 2012 - Rhode Island Hospital
The device controller 10 of the present invention similarly transmits a desired signal 16, either wirelessly or via wire 34, to a device 12 so that device carries out the desired corresponding action. The transmission of such a signal 16 is triggered not by a button press but by the patient 14 moving one body part 14a relative to another body part 14b. The resultant relative movement is sensed and the appropriate signal 16 is transmitted as a result. Thus, the controller 10 of the present invention converts a physical action into an electrical signal 16 for appropriate use in a device 12, such as a toy or game.
Emanating from the first housing 18 is a first conformable member 22 while a second conformable member 24 emanates from the second housing 20. It is preferred that both of the first conformable member 22 and the second conformable member 24 can conform about a body part 14a, 4b of the user/patient, can be easily moved into place, will stay in place after positioned and have cushioning therein for added comfort. Preferably, the first conformable member 22 and the second conformable member 24 each have a bendable member core 26, which is preferably made of a malleable or pliable metal, such as sculpting wire. Any other type of material can be employed as the member core 26 to provide this function. One or both of the members 22, 24 can be conformable as in certain situations this may be more desirable for the patient 14.
While the member core 26 is bendable, it is preferred that, once bent, it stays in place, namely, in the desired position about a body part 14a, 14b of the user 14. A layer of soft cushioning foam 28 is also preferably provided for added comfort for the patient/user. Such cushioning foam 28 may be a sleeve of foam that is slid over the member core 26. Alternative constructions of the first conforming member 24 and the second conforming member 26 are envisioned. For example, the cushioning layer 28 may be soft rubber or plastic that is deposited or overmolded about the member core 26. Such alternative constructions are considered within the scope of the present invention.
Referring back to FIG. 1, a sensor 30 is positioned to sense the movement of the first housing 18 relative to the second housing 20 and thus the movement of a first body part 14a relative to a second body part 14b respective secured within the first conformable member 22 and the second conformable member 24. In the preferred embodiment shown in the FIG. 1, a rotation sensor 30, in the form of a digital encoder, is placed at the axis A of rotation of the first housing 18 and the second housing 20. Rotational digital encoders are very well known in the art but, generally, they include an array of contacts or indicia on one surface that are exposed to a detector (not shown). As a result, the position of the first housing 18 relative to the second housing 20 can be determine and then translated to a electrical signal 16 with a given value. This signal 16 could be voltage or a digitally encoded signal. The range and gain of the sensor 30, triggered by the movement of the first housing 18 and the second housing 20 related to each other from body movement, for calibration and fine-tuning.
In FIGS. 3 and 4, and example installation is shown for treatment of wrist joint 36 of a patient. For wrist treatment, the sensor 30 is placed at the rotation point of the wrist with one conformable members 24 secured to one housing 20 and the forearm 14b of the patient 14 secured with the users 14 hand 14a secured to conformable member 22 and housing 18. The conformable members 22, 24 can be shaped as desired to carry this out. In this example, the first conformable member 22 is preferably bent and positioned into an “L” shape to enable it to sit proximal to the palm of the patient 14 for easy gripping. The second conformable member 24 is bent to spiral about the forearm 14b of the patient 14 to secure it in place. Uniquely, the conformable members 22, 24 can be adjusted and moved as needed to provide a custom fit to the specific patient 14 being fitted for the device controller 10. FIG. 3 shows one type of wrapping configuration of the device 10 while FIG. 4 shows a slightly modified configuration to best suit the patient 14. The malleable member 26, such as a wire, with foam cover 28 is bent and conformed in place thereon while ensuring that it is snug enough to avoid slippage yet still being loose enough for comfort for the patient 14.
The above described installation of the device controller 10 of the present invention preferably includes two housings 18, 20, one located on one side of a joint 36 and another located on the other side of the joint 36 for purposes of treating that joint 36. It is possible that multiple joints may be treated in a single device controller 10 of the present invention (not shown). A larger controller 10 can be provided with more one sensor 30 and more than two conformable members 22, 24 to respectively secure to more than two body parts 14a, 14b. For example, an entire leg controller is possible with a sensor 30 located at the knee and ankle with conformable members at the thigh, shin and foot. In this example, the sensor 30 at the knee can provide a first signal corresponding to knee movement while a second sensor at the ankle can provide a second signal corresponding to ankle movement.
Turning now to FIG. 5, use of the controller 10 of the present invention, using the conformable fit system, provides a custom fit to a patient 14 to control a device 12 in similar fashion to a RC car. In this example, the controller 10 is shown used to control a toy vehicle. For example, movement of the hand 14a about the wrist joint 36, in turn, rotates the first housing 18 relative to the second housing 20 to send rotational data via signal 16 over wire 34 to the toy vehicle device 12. That rotational data is be translated, using the appropriate software, to software instructions to control the speed of the vehicle device 12. For example, more rotation of the wrist 14a upwardly causes the vehicle device 12 to travel faster. Opposite movement of the wrist 14a downwardly can be programmed to cause the vehicle device 12 to travel slower. Any desirable control of the game or toy device 12 can be carried out using the controller 10 of the present invention.
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Patent number: 8708825
Patent Publication Number: 20120270655
Inventor: Joseph John Crisco, III (Barrington, RI)
Application Number: 13/449,988