GB2165764A

GB2165764A - Indicator for a physiotherapeutic tendon-exercising device

Info

Publication number: GB2165764A
Application number: GB08525629A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Emeralde Zircon Hazarika
Original assignee: Mediscus Products Ltd
Current assignee: Mediscus Products Ltd
Priority date: 1984-10-17
Filing date: 1985-10-17
Publication date: 1986-04-23
Also published as: GB8525629D0; GB8426306D0

Abstract

The indicator has a contact plate 8 which is attached to the wrist of a patient so as to extend behind the back of the associated hand, a plurality of contacts 9 each of which is attached to the top of a digit of the hand and a respective indicating device such as an LED and/or sound emitter associated with each contact. The indicating device and the first and second members 8, 9 are included in an electrical circuit, the said members defining switches which excite the indicating device when closed. The contact plate may be slidably mounted on a pair of rods and fixed in position by means of locking screws. Elastic bands 6 are provided as shown for stretching when straightening the fingers and thereby exercising the wrist tendons, such exercise being stimulated by means of the indicator. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Indicator for a physiotherapeutic device This invention relates to an indicatorfora physiotherapeutic device, and in particular to an inducement indicator for a dynamic exercise device used following flexor tendon repair.

It is well known that, following surgical repair of the flexor tendons which control the movements of the digits of hands, these tendons should be regularly exercised, starting as soon as possible after the operation. If regular tendon exercise is not carried out, the muscle sleeve surmunding each of the repaired tendons (which has to be parted to enable the associated severed tendon to be joined) tends to adhere to that tendon, thereby inhibiting free sliding of that tendon within the protective sheath defined by that muscle sleeve.

A known physiotherapeutic device for dynamically exercising these tendons utilises elastic bands which extend from the finger (and thumb) tips to the bandaged wrist of the patient. The elastic bands are of such a length that the patient must work to stretch the bands in order to straighten the fingers (and thumb).

Although adults of a sound mind can easily be trained to carry out the necessary exercises of the fingers and thumb, for a period of up to six weeks, to ensure the return of the injured finger(s) and/or thumb to the normal position, it is more difficult to ensure that young children (and people of unsound mind) can be so trained.

The aim of the invention is to provide an indicator for the known type of dynamic exercise device, the indicator being such as to stimulate the carrying out of the exercises. As patients who are being treated for a damaged tendon (or tendons) are not confined to bed, it is desirable (though not absolutely essential) that the indicator providing this stimulation should be readily transportable, and as small as possible.

The present invention provides an indicator for a dynamic exercise device, the indicator having a first member which can be attached to the wrist of a patient so as to extend behind the back of the associated hand, a second member which can be attached to the top of a digit of that hand, and an indicating device, the indicating device and the first and second members being included in an electrical circuit, the first and second members defining a switch which excites the indicating device when closed.

Preferably, there are five second members, each which can be attached to the tip of a respective digit of said hand. Alternatively, there are four second members, each of which can be attached to the tip of a respective finger of said hand. In either case, each second member may cooperate with the first member to define a common switch for exciting the indicating device. Alternatively, a respective indicating device may be provided for each second member, and each second member may cooperate with the first member to define a respective switch for the associated indicating device.

In a preferred embodiment, the first member is a metal plate, and the or each second member is a metal contact. Advantageously, the metal plate is slidably mounted on a pair of rods which are adapted to be fixed to a plaster cast at the back of the wrist of said hand. Alternatively the metal plate is fixed to a bandage (or plaster cast) at the back of the wrist. Preferably, the or each metal contact can be fixed to the nail of the associated digit, a respective wire connecting the or each contact to the rest of the electrical circuit, a battery and the indicating device(s). The or each indicating device may be a light emitting diode. Where there are four or five indicating devices, the light emitting diodes may be of different colours.

Preferably, the indicator further comprises an electronic summation box electrically connected to the or each switch, said box being such as to display the number of times the or each switch is operated.

Two forms of indicator, each of which is constructed in accordance with the invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. lisa perspective view of the first form of indicator; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the first form of indicator, shown together with a dynamic exercise device on the hand of a patient; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the second form of indicator; and Fig. 4 is an end elevation of part of the second form of indicator.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 2 shows the hand 1 and wrist 2 of a patient who has had one or more flexor tendons surgically repaired. The surgical incision (not shown) is covered by a bandage 3, and a support rod 4 is held by the bandage so as to extend substantially at right-angles to the wrist 2 at the front thereof. The free end of the rod 4 carries a hook 5, on to which five elastic bands 6 (only three of which can be seen in Fig. 2) are threaded. The other ends of the elastic bands 6 are fixed to the nails 7 of the digits la (only the thumb and first two fingers of which can be seen in Fig. 2) of the hand 1.

The bands 6 are passed through holes in the tops of the nails 7, and fixed there by surgical stitching. The bands 6 have lengths such that the patient has to stretch the bands in order to straighten his (or her) digits, thereby subjecting the wrist tendons to dynamic exercising. This dynamic exercise device is well known.

Fig. 1 shows an indicator for use in stimulating use of this dynamic exercise device. The indicator has a copper plate 8, and five metal contacts 9. The contact plate 8 is connected to a socket 10 by a wire 8a, and the contacts 9 are connected to the socket by five wires 9a and a single wire 9b. The socket 10 includes a 9 volt battery (not shown) and a light emitting diode 11.

Fig. 2 shows the indicator in position for use with the dynamic exercise device. In this position, the contact plate 8 is held at the back of the hand 1, by the bandage 3, in such a manner that the contact plate extends upwardly behind the backs of the digits 1a. The contacts 9 (which are about 1 milli metre in diameter) are fixed to the nails 7 at the same positions (and in the same way) as the elastic bands 6 are fixed to the nails. Thus, when any of the digits 1 a is returned to the vertical (that is to say "straight") position, its contact 9 will touch the plate 8 to complete an electrical circuit, and light up the light emitting diode 11. This will signify success to the patient, and stimulate further exercising.This is particularly useful for patients of unsound mind (and for small children) who tend not to carry out adequate exercising without such stimulation. The socket 10 can be strapped to the arm above the wrist 2, or strapped to the bandage 3.

An improved form of indicator is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This indicator has a shaped copper contact plate 21 which is slidably mounted on a pair of rods 22. The contact plate 21 can be fixed to the rods 22, in any desired position, by means of locking blocks provided with locking screws (only the heads 23 of which can be seen in Fig. 3). The indicator has four fingertip connectors 24 (only one of which is shown), which are connected via leads 25, to an L.E.D. display unit 26 and to an electronic summation box 27. The fingertip connectors 24 are adapted to clip on to the fingertips of a patient, and each is provided with an electrical contact 24a. The L.E.D.

display unit 26 is provided with five differentlycoloured L.E.D.'s 26a, the unit also being slidably (and lockably) mounted on the rods 22. The contact plate 21 is connected to a power pack 28 by a lead 29.

In use, the rods 22 are implanted in a plaster cast that is provided round the wrist of the patient, the rods extending at the back of the hand (compare Fig.

2). The contact plate 21 can then be slid along the rods 22 until it lies behind the finger tips. The power pack 28 (which may be a small 9 volt battery) and the electronic summation box 27 are fixed to the plaster cast, for example by adhesive tape or bandages. The usual electric bands (not shown but similar two the elastic bands 6 of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2) can then befitted between the patient's wrist and the finger tip connectors 24. The connectors 24 have special clip portions to receive the elastic bands, and the other ends of the bands may be incorporated in the plaster cast or fixed to a special connector (not shown) fixed to the plaster cast.

With the indicator and dynamic exercise device positioned in this manner, whenever the patient exercises a finger by returning itto its "straight" position, the contact 24a of that finger will touch the contact plate 21, thereby completing an electrical circuit and lighting up the associated L.E.D. 26a. This will signify success'to the patient, and stimulate furtherexercising. By providing separate LE.D's 26a for each of the fingers, the patient is stimulated to exercise all the fingers, and not just the easiest ones. It should be noted that the L.E.D. display device 26 has five L.E.D.'s 26a, even though there are only four contacts 24a.The fifth L.E.D. 26a is provided in case a fifth contact 24a is required for stimulating exercise of the thumb. In such a case, the shape of the contact plate 21 would be modified, and a separate contact 24a, connector 24 and lead 25 would be provided for the thumb.

The electronic summation box 27 is provided to display, from an electronic memory, the number of contacts that have been made per finger over a defined period, for example daily. This is not intended as a substituteforthe L.E.D.'s 26a (which are provided to indicate correct use to the patient), but enables qualified personnel independently to assess total use over the given set period. A small alarm system could also be incorporated in the electronic summation box 27, to ensure that, over a given time period, the patient is reminded to exercise the finger(s).

Obviously, the indicators described above could be modified in a number of ways. For example, the nail contacts and plate could be modified to define proximity switches instead of contact switches.

Similarly, these items could be modified to define magnetic switches. The stimulator could also be enhanced by having a sound emitted when contact is made, either in addition to, or in substitution for, the light emission.

Claims

1.An indicator for a dynamic exercise device, the indicator having a first member which can be attached to the wrist of a patient so as to extend behind the back of the associated hand, a second member which can be attached to the top of a digit of that hand, and an indicating device, the indicating device and the first and second members being included in an electrical circuit, the first and second members defining a switch which excites the indicating device when closed.

2. An indicator as claimed in claim 1 ,wherein there are five second members, each of which can be attached to the tip of a respective digit of said hand.

3. An indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are four second members, each of which can be attached to the tip of a respective finger of said hand.

4. An indicator as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein each second member cooperates with the first member to define a common switch for exciting the indicating device.

5. An indicator as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein a respective indicating device is provided for each second member, and each second member cooperates with the first member to define a respective switch for the associated indicating device.

6. An indicator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first member is a metal plate, and the or each second member is a metal contact.

7. An indicator as claimed in claim 6, wherein the metal plate is slidably mounted on a pair of rods which are adapted to be fixed to a plaster cast at the back of the wrist of said hand.

8. An indicator as claimed in claim 6, wherein the metal plate is fixed, in use, to a bandage (or plaster cast) at the back of the wrist of said hand.

9. An indicator as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the or each metal contact can be fixed to the nail of the associated digit, a respective wire connecting the or each contact to the rest of the electrical circuit, a battery and the indicating device(s).

10. An indicator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the or each indicating device is a light emitting diode.

11. An indicator as claimed in claim 10 when appendant to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the light emitting diodes are of different colours.

12. An indicator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising an electronic summation box electrically connected to the or each switch, said box being such as to display the number of times the or each switch is operated.

13. A dynamic exercise device indicator substantially as herein before described with reference to, and as illustrated by, Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 3 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.