Abstract:
A tremor reduction device is disclosed. The tremor reduction device has a mechanical flap having a flap portion arranged to apply pressure on part of an inner arm in order to reduce tremor. The pressure can be manually adjusted by moving a rod in a channel in the tremor reduction device. The tremor reduction device has a case for pivotably mounting the mechanical flap and the pressure is at least partly determined by the angle of the mechanical flap relative to the case. The rod has a tapered section and the mechanical flap has a pin in contact the tapered section for changing the angle of the mechanical flap. Optionally a sensor is placed near the pressure applying location to sense the tremor and to provide a sensing signal to a driving mechanism which causes the rod to move in order to adjust the pressure.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/887,675, filed Oct. 7, 2013. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a body tremor reduction device and, more specifically, to a device arranged to apply pressure to a selective group of muscles and tendons on a human body. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Traditionally surgery and medication are used to control tremor on a human body with varying success. Splints, braces, slings and bandaging are also employed to provide a measure of tremor reduction. However, these methods can be uncomfortable and cumbersome, and restrictive in performing functions such as eating, writing and dressing. 
         [0004]    The present invention provides a different approach to tremor control. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention provides a mechanical device arranged to contact a part of the human body for selectively applying pressure to muscle and tendon groups in order to reduce tremor. 
         [0006]    One aspect of the present invention is a device for applying pressuring force to a part of a human body. The device comprises: 
         [0007]    a mechanical flap arranged to apply a pressuring force on the part of the human body at a location; and 
         [0008]    a movable member configured to cause the mechanical flap to adjust the pressuring force. 
         [0009]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the device further comprises a case, wherein the mechanical flap is pivotably mounted on the case at a flap angle and wherein the case comprises a channel and the movable member comprises a movable rod locatable in the channel at a plurality of positions for changing the flap angle so as to adjust the pressuring force. 
         [0010]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the device further comprises a contacting member operatively connected to the mechanical flap, wherein the rod comprises a tapered section and the contacting member is arranged to contact the tapered section of the movable rod for changing the flap angle at least partly based on the positions. 
         [0011]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the case comprises a slot and a control rod operatively connected to the movable rod, and the control rod is configured to move to different locations in the slot for locating the movable rod to different positions in the channel. 
         [0012]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the contacting member comprises a rounded-head pin arranged to contact the tapered section. 
         [0013]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the mechanical flap comprises a flap portion and the case further comprises two mounting slots for connecting the case to a band configured to wrap around an arm so as to allow the flap portion to contact the part of the human body. 
         [0014]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the movable member is arranged to move along a direction to cause the mechanical flap to adjust the pressuring force, and the device further comprises: 
         [0015]    a sensor arranged to sense a tremor adjacent to the location and to provide a sensed signal indicative of the tremor; and 
         [0016]    a driving mechanism, responsive to the sensed signal, configured to move the movable member along the direction for varying the pressuring force. 
         [0017]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the driving mechanism is configured to move the movable member bi-directionally along the direction via a linear drive. 
         [0018]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the device further comprises a timer configured to control the time duration and/or the pressuring force applied to the part of the human body. 
         [0019]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the timer is configured to reduce the pressuring force over a predetermined period of the time. 
         [0020]    Another aspect of the present invention is a method of applying pressure to a part of a human body. The method comprises: 
         [0021]    arranging a mechanical flap to contact and apply a pressuring force to the part of the human body, and 
         [0022]    operatively connecting a movable member to the mechanical flap for adjusting the pressuring force. 
         [0023]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the mechanical flap is pivotable mounted on a case at a flap angle, and the case comprises a channel and the movable member comprises a movable rod locatable in the channel at a plurality of positions for changing the flap angle to adjust the pressuring force, and the rod comprises a tapered section, the method further comprises connecting a contacting member to the mechanical flap, the contacting member arranged to contact the tapered section of the movable rod for changing the flap angle at least partly based on the positions. 
         [0024]    According to an embodiment of the invention, the case comprises a slot and a control rod operatively connected to the movable rod, and wherein the control rod is configured to move to different locations in the slot for locating the movable rod to different positions in the channel, and the contacting member comprises a rounded-head pin arranged to contact the tapered section. 
         [0025]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the mechanical flap further comprises a flap portion and wherein the case further comprises two mounting slots for connecting the case to a band configured to wrap around an arm so as to allow the flap portion to contact the part of the human body. 
         [0026]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the movable member is arranged to move along a direction to cause the mechanical flap to adjust the pressuring force, and the method further comprises: 
         [0027]    arranging a sensor adjacent to the location for sensing a tremor and for providing a sensed signal indicative of the tremor; and 
         [0028]    providing a driving mechanism, responsive to the sensed signal, configured to move the movable member along the direction for varying the pressuring force, wherein the driving mechanism is configured to move the movable member bi-directionally along the direction via a linear drive. 
         [0029]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises providing a timer to the driving mechanism, the timer configured to control the time duration and/or the pressuring force applied to the part of the human body, wherein the timer is configured to reduce the pressuring force over a predetermined period of the time. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  shows a tremor reduction device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the tremor reduction device attached to a band. 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the tremor reduction device. 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  is a back view of the tremor reduction device. 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the tremor reduction device. 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  shows a movable rod having a tapered section. 
           [0036]      FIG. 7  is a functional diagram of the tremor reduction system, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0037]    The lower arm muscles contract and relax, together with the mass of the hand, forming a vibrating system with low damping. In effect, the hand mass and the arm muscles are analogous to a simple spring mass vibrating system, in which body chemicals supply muscle energy and the nerves activate muscles. If the spring is shortened while maintaining the same amount of vibratory energy, the amplitude of oscillation is reduced with a higher resonant frequency. The spring mass resonant frequency with low damping is roughly proportional to the square root of the spring tension per unit length. Therefore, by compressing a selective group of muscles at a location that is about one quarter of full muscle length, tremor vibration rate is roughly doubled and vibration amplitude is decreased substantially. Chemical energy provided to the shortened portion of the muscle is less than that of the entire muscle which further aids in reducing the tremor. Detrimental nerve-to-muscle response that reinforces the vibration may also be reduced at a higher resonant frequency. 
         [0038]    The present invention provides a mechanical device configured to compress a selective group of muscles at a location of an arm in order to reduce the tremor vibration amplitude by shortening the segment of the muscles that contract and relax. The mechanical device can be made contact to the location of the inner arm by a band or another retaining mechanism. 
         [0039]      FIG. 1  shows a tremor reduction device, according to an embodiment of the present invention, held onto the arm by a band.  FIG. 2  shows an isometric view of the tremor reduction device. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , tremor reduction device  100  has a case  101 , which is attached to a band  200 . Tremor reduction device  100  is positioned at a location of the inner arm for selectively applying pressure to the muscles and tendons on the arm. For example, tremor reduction device  100  can be positioned about 2-5 inches from the hand-wrist line. Optionally, a controlling device  300  is operatively connected to tremor reduction device  100  for providing automatic tremor control, for example. 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , tremor reduction device  100  has a sliding slot  110 , in which a control rod  120  can be manually moved to different positions to change the pressure applied to the inner arm. For example, the pressure can be set to be low (L), medium (M) or high (H) as indicated by indicators  130 . Control rod  120  is used to raise or release a flap that contacts with the arm at a pressure applying point (see  FIG. 5 ). The control rod positions can be reset and released manually. The case  101  of tremor reduction device  100  has two slots  102  to be engaged with band  200  by bars  104 . The shape of tremor reduction device  100  can be elliptical with rounded edges for greater comfort, for example. The back side of tremor control device  100  can also be contoured both for comfort and to counter the flap force against the case  101  of tremor reduction device  100 . Case  101  can have an area approximately 2×2 inches and a depth about 6 inch. 
         [0041]    Band  200  can be made of elastic, plastic, leather or other flexible materials. The two ends of the band that wraps around the arm can be joined by one or more fabric hook-and-loop fasteners, buckles, snaps or other securing means. 
         [0042]      FIG. 3  shows a front view of the tremor reduction device. As shown in  FIG. 3 , tremor reduction device  100  has an inner channel  140  to allow movable rod  150  to move laterally and bi-directionally as indicated by arrow  148 . Movable rod  150  can be moved by control rod  120  along sliding slot  110 . As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , movable rod  150  can also be moved bi-directionally by a motor  332  (or other movement device) via a linear drive mechanism  336 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 4  shows a back view of the tremor reduction device.  FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the tremor reduction device. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , tremor reduction device  100  has a flap opening  166  to accommodate a flap  160  and to allow one end of flap  160  to move in and out of the opening. Flap  160  has a flap portion  162  that contacts with the inner arm for applying pressure to the muscles and tendons around the contacting point. As shown in  FIG. 5 , flap  160  is pivotally mounted at a pivot rod  164 . Flap  160  has a rounded head pin  170  arranged to be in contact movable rod  150 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , movable rod  150  has a tapered section  153  on side  152 . On side  154 , movable rod  150  has a dent  156  to be engaged with control rod  120  (see  FIGS. 3 and 5 ). Depending on the positions of rounded head pin  170  in the tapered section  153 , flap portion  162  can be closer to or further from surface  152  of movable rod  150 . As control rod  120  is moved to different positions in sliding slot  110  (see  FIG. 3 ), the flap angle θ can be increased or decreased. As the flap angle is increased from a small angle, such as 0 degree, to a larger angle, flap portion  162  compresses selective muscles and tendons and applies pressure to the flesh toward the arm and, more significantly, against the radial bone. The flap can be made of metal, plastic or other sturdy materials while the flap portion that contacts with the arm can be made of rubber or other compressible materials.  FIGS. 4 and 5  also show the mounting slots  102  and bars  104  for attaching case  101  to a band ( FIG. 2 ). 
         [0044]    The flap pressure required to compress muscles and tendons against the radial bone is less than it is required to compress the flesh alone. The advantages of the reduced flap pressure are greater comfort and the minimal disturbance to the blood vessels and nerves around the pressure applying point. In addition, by choosing the flap positions, the compression on the muscles and tendons that control finger movement in normal activities can be avoided or minimized. 
         [0045]    The dimensions of the flap can range from ¾ to 4 inches parallel to the arm and ½ to 5/4 inches across the arm, for example. A larger flap area may reduce pressure and could be more effective in clamping muscles and tendons. 
         [0046]    Flaps with varying flexibility and different outlined contours can be interchanged in order to accommodate different users. For example, a smaller arm or wrist may require a smaller flap portion. Flap changing can be done by removing the pivot rod  164  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). 
         [0047]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the tremor reduction device as illustrated in  FIGS. 1  to  FIG. 6  can be used as a stand alone device to reduce tremors in limb and extremity. 
         [0048]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the tremor reduction device can be used in conjunction with an automatic tremor detector and controller, such as controlling device  300  as depicted in  FIG. 1  Controlling device  300  may have various functions as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0049]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , controlling device  300  may comprise a vibration sensor  310 , a signal processor  320 , a driving circuit  330  with a motor  332 , a linear drive  334 , a linear drive mechanism  336 , a battery or external power source  370 , a switch  360 , a manual set  340  and a timer  350 . For example, vibration sensor  310  can be used to sense the tremors of the arm and provides a sense signal  312  to signal processor  320 . Signal processor  320  may comprise an amplifier, a signal filtering circuit and a demodulator, for example, for processing the sense signal and providing a drive signal to driving circuit  330 . Driving circuit  330  may comprise a signal averager, a comparator and a motor driver, for example. The motor driver is arranged to cause motor  332  to turn. Through linear drive  334 , the rotational motion of motor  332  is translated into a linear motion in order to move movable rod  150  bi-directionally via linear drive mechanism  336 . As rounded head pin  170  interacts with tapered section  153  on movable rod  150  driven by motor  332 , one end of flap  160  is moved in and out of flap opening  166  and flap angle e is changed accordingly (see  FIG. 5 ). As such, controlling device  300  may be used to adjust the pressing force applied by flap portion  162  based on the tremor sensing by vibration sensor  310 . 
         [0050]    Vibration sensor  310  can be a coil disposed in relationship to a magnet, for example. As arm tremors vibrate the magnet relative to the coil, induced current in the coil can be used as a sense signal. Linear drive  334 , which can be overridden by manual control, may have a thread screw to translate the rotational motion to the linear motion. Through linear drive mechanism  334 , linear drive  334  moves movable rod  150  as a function of the comparator output, based on signals from manual set  340  and the signal averager in driving circuit  330 , for example. An additional very long-term average signal may augment the manual setting. Furthermore, a timer  350  may be used to control the time duration and/or the force of the pressure. For example, timer  350  can be programmed to reduce the pressure gradually over a period of time, but the user may reset to increase the pressure or disable the timer if so desired. Timer  350 , which can be mechanical or electronic, can be activated by the sense signal, for example. The manual switch  360  can be used by a user to turn the controlling device  300  on or off. 
         [0051]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , flap portion  162 , along with one end of flap  160 , is pushed outward from flap opening  166  by control rod  120  via rounded head pin  170 , which is made contact tapered section  153  of movable rod  150 . When the tremor reduction device is in use, flap  160  is pushed back by the flesh on the arm. 
         [0052]    Nevertheless, flap  160  is returned to flap opening  166  by a leaf spring, according to an embodiment of the present invention, 
         [0053]    It should be understood that control rod  120  in sliding slot  110  provides limit stops for movable rod  150 . When a limit stop is reached, the current that drives motor  332  would rise sharply. This increase in the motor current can be used for rod control, eliminating the use of limit switches and the wiring between controlling device  300  and tremor reduction device  100 , for example. In general, motor  332  is only used for positioning flap  160 . Thus, a sleeper circuit (not shown) can be used to prolong the life of battery  370 . In one embodiment of the present invention, a memory device  380  is used to store data relating to tremors and pressures for analysis purposes, for example. 
         [0054]    In summary, the present invention provides a tremor reduction device having a flap arranged to contact a part of the human body, such as an arm for applying pressure to the muscles and/or tendons around the part of the human body. The tremor reduction device has a movable rod with a tapered section for varying the pressure applied by the flap to the part of the human body. The movable rod can be moved along a channel in the tremor reduction device by a manual control rod to various locations in a sliding slot for adjusting the pressure. In an embodiment of the present invention, the tremor reduction device is used in conjunction with a controlling device having a movement mechanism arranged to move the movable rod for pressure adjustment. The controlling device has a vibration sensor to sense tremors and to send a sense signal to a signal processor. The signal processor provides a driving signal to a driving circuit to turn on a motor. Through a linear drive, the motor moves the movable rode bi-directionally. 
         [0055]    Thus, although the present invention has been described with respect to one or more embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions and deviations in the form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the scope of this invention.