JP7162230B1 - Upper extremity function measuring instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

An upper limb function measuring instrument capable of correctly evaluating changes in upper limb function is provided. SOLUTION: A main body 10, a fixed shaft 20 fixed to the main body 10, a rotating shaft 30 supported by the main body 10 so as to be freely rotatable by operation by a user's upper limb, and a torsional torque of the rotating shaft 30 An upper extremity function measuring instrument comprising a torque clutch 40 that connects a fixed shaft 20 and a rotating shaft 30 so that they cannot rotate relative to each other until a predetermined unsealing torque is reached, and a torque sensor 50 that detects torsional torque of the fixed shaft 20 or the rotating shaft 30. 1. [Selection diagram] Fig. 2

Description

The present invention relates to an upper limb function measuring instrument.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a training device for upper limbs for the purpose of functional recovery of hands, fingers, and the like. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a functional training device in which a cap member is screwed into a cylindrical member provided on a base, and the rotating motion at this time recovers a wrist injury. This functional training device can measure the required time from the start of rotation of the cap member to the stop thereof by means of a measuring instrument.

Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-75527

The above-mentioned conventional functional training device is said to be able to grasp the degree of functional recovery from the time required for the rotation of the cap member, but it is difficult to accurately evaluate the recovery and improvement of the upper limb function only by measuring the required time. Met.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an upper limb function measuring instrument capable of correctly evaluating changes in upper limb function.

The object of the present invention is to provide a main body, a fixed shaft fixed to the main body, a rotary shaft supported by the main body so as to be rotatable by manipulation by a user's upper limb, and a torsional torque of the rotary shaft. Achieved by an upper extremity function measuring instrument comprising a torque clutch that connects the fixed shaft and the rotating shaft so that they cannot rotate relative to each other until a predetermined opening torque is reached, and a torque sensor that detects the torsional torque of the fixed shaft or the rotating shaft. be done.

In this upper extremity function measuring instrument, the main body preferably comprises a bottle-shaped container in which the fixed shaft is accommodated, and one end of the rotating shaft is connected to the fixed shaft via the torque clutch. It is preferable that a bottle cap-shaped operating portion arranged outside the main body is fixed to the other end side.

Preferably, the torque sensor is of strain gauge type and attached to the outer peripheral surface of the fixed shaft.

According to the upper limb function measuring instrument of the present invention, changes in upper limb function can be correctly evaluated.

1 is a front view of an upper limb function measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the upper limb function measuring instrument shown in FIG. 1;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of an upper limb function measuring instrument according to an embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the upper limb function measuring instrument shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper limb function measuring instrument 1 includes a main body 10, a fixed shaft 20, a rotating shaft 30, a torque clutch 40 and a torque sensor 50 as main components.

The main body 10 consists of a bottle-shaped container, and an opening 12 is formed at the top. Above the opening 12, a bottle cap-shaped operating portion 31 having a circular plan view is arranged. As shown in FIG. 1, the upper-limb function measuring instrument 1 has a shape that imitates a PET bottle for beverages as a whole with the main body 10 and the operation part 31 .

As shown in FIG. 2 , the fixed shaft 20 is accommodated inside the main body 10 , and its lower end is clamped by a fixing member 21 provided on the bottom portion 11 of the main body 10 so that the fixed shaft 20 is held from the center of the bottom portion 11 of the main body 10 . It is fixed so that it stands vertically.

The rotating shaft 30 is arranged coaxially above the fixed shaft 20 , and its lower end is connected to the upper portion of the fixed shaft 20 via a torque clutch 40 . The upper portion of the rotating shaft 30 protrudes upward through the opening 12 of the main body 10, and the operating portion 31 arranged outside the main body 10 is fixed. The rotating shaft 30 is rotatably supported by the main body 10 by bearings 13 and 14 .

In the present embodiment, the operation unit 31 has a size that can be grasped with the thumb and forefinger. It can be appropriately determined according to the site (finger, hand, arm, etc.) whose motor function is to be measured. The operating portion 31 does not necessarily have to be separate from the rotating shaft 30 , and the upper portion of the rotating shaft 30 itself can be used as the operating portion 31 .

The torque clutch 40 includes a receiving plate 41 and a first clutch plate 42 each having through holes through which the fixed shaft 20 passes, and a clutch spring 43 held between the receiving plate 41 and the first clutch plate 42 . I have. The receiving plate 41 has a female threaded portion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the through hole to be screwed with a male threaded portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the fixed shaft 20 , and can be vertically moved along the fixed shaft 20 . can. The first clutch plate 42 is supported by a clutch spring 43 so as to be movable relative to the fixed shaft 20 .

The torque clutch 40 further includes a second clutch plate 44 fixed to the lower end of the rotating shaft 30 and balls 45 interposed between the first clutch 42 and the second clutch plate 44 . The first clutch 42 and the second clutch plate 44 have concave portions 42a and 44a formed on the surfaces facing each other, respectively. are connected so as not to rotate relative to each other. When the torsional torque of the rotating shaft 30 reaches a predetermined unsealing torque by rotating the operating portion 31, the second clutch plate 44 pushes the balls 45 downward against the biasing force of the clutch spring 43. , the ball 45 is pushed out from the concave portion 44a of the second clutch plate 44, and the rotating shaft 30 becomes rotatable.

The receiving plate 41 has a plurality of teeth formed on its outer peripheral surface, and as shown in FIG. 1, is meshed with a position adjusting gear 46 which is rotatably supported in the main body 10 and partly exposed through the window. is doing. The position adjusting gear 46 rotates the receiving plate 41 by forward and reverse rotation, and can be moved up and down so as to be held at a desired height position. The opening torque can be set to a predetermined value.

The configuration of the torque clutch 40 is not necessarily limited to that of the present embodiment. and the rotating shaft 30 can be connected to each other so as not to rotate relative to each other.

The torque sensor 50 is of strain gauge type, is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the fixed shaft 20, detects the torque transmitted from the rotating shaft 30 to the fixed shaft 20, and outputs an electric signal corresponding to the magnitude of the torque. An output signal from the torque sensor 50 passes through a signal processing unit 51 having an amplifier and an A/D converter and an extraction unit 19, and is output to the outside of the main body 10 by wire. not shown). The display device can display and record the torsional torque value as a numerical value, a graph, or the like. The display device may be separate from the main body 10, or may be integrated with the side surface of the main body 10 or the like. The signal that has passed through the signal processing unit 51 can be wirelessly transmitted to the user's portable terminal or the like instead of being transmitted to the display device.

In this embodiment, the torque sensor 50 and the signal processing section 51 are provided separately, but the torque sensor 50 and the signal processing section 51 may be integrated. The torque sensor 50 may be attached to the rotating shaft 20 instead of being attached to the fixed shaft 30 . Any type of torque sensor 50 may be used as long as it can calculate the torsional torque of the fixed shaft 20 or the rotating shaft 30 in a state where the fixed shaft 20 and the rotating shaft 30 are connected. , a phase difference type, a mechanical type, and the like can be exemplified.

In the upper limb function measuring instrument 1 of the present embodiment, when the user holds the main body 10 with one hand and pinches the operation part 31 with the thumb and forefinger of the other hand and tries to rotate it, the rotating shaft 30 is: A torsional torque corresponding to the force in the rotational direction of the operating portion 31 is generated while being connected to the fixed shaft 20 so as not to rotate relative to the operating portion 31 . When the torsional torque of the rotating shaft 30 reaches a predetermined unsealing torque, the torque clutch 40 is released to release the connection state between the fixed shaft 20 and the rotating shaft 30, and the torsional torque of the rotating shaft 30 decreases. Such an operation of the operation unit 31 is similar to the operation of opening a PET bottle for beverages, and the user feels a click when the operation unit 31 is opened (rotation is started) by releasing the torque clutch 40. end can be easily grasped.

The detection signal of the torque sensor 50 from the start of the opening operation of the operation unit 31 to the actual opening can be output as time-series data of the torsional torque value, and this measurement data can be displayed and recorded. Therefore, it is possible to clarify not only the time required to unseal the operation unit 31, but also the force acting on the operation unit 31 until it is unsealed and its change over time. Therefore, by periodically acquiring such measurement data, it becomes possible to correctly evaluate changes such as improvement and recovery of motor function. In addition, the user can obtain a rehabilitation effect by continuing to apply force with the opening of the operation unit 31 as motivation.

After the measurement is finished, the torque clutch 40 is reset and the fixed shaft 20 and the rotary shaft 30 are connected so as not to rotate relative to each other, so that the measurement can be repeated. When changing the unsealing torque, the receiving plate 41 is moved up and down along the fixed shaft 20, so that the unsealing torque value can be appropriately adjusted according to the intensity of rehabilitation.

1 Upper Limb Function Measuring Instrument 10 Main Body 20 Fixed Axis 30 Rotating Axis 31 Operating Part 40 Torque Clutch 50 Torque Sensor

Claims (3)

the main body;
a fixed shaft fixed to the body;
a rotating shaft supported by the main body so as to be freely rotatable by manipulation by a user's upper limb;
a torque clutch that connects the fixed shaft and the rotating shaft so that they cannot rotate relative to each other until the torsional torque of the rotating shaft reaches a predetermined unsealing torque;
and a torque sensor for detecting torsional torque of the fixed shaft or the rotating shaft. The main body is a bottle-shaped container, in which the fixed shaft is accommodated,
2. The upper limb according to claim 1, wherein one end of said rotating shaft is connected to said fixed shaft via said torque clutch, and a bottle cap-shaped operating portion disposed outside said main body is fixed to the other end of said rotating shaft. Functional measuring instrument. 3. The upper limb function measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein said torque sensor is of strain gauge type and attached to the outer peripheral surface of said fixed shaft.

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