JPS59129059A - Automatic motion apparatus of joint - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to a device for use in the treatment or rehabilitation of diseases that cause a reduction in joint range of motion, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Parkinson's disease.

Description of the Prior Art Conventionally, therapies such as pine surgery have been used to treat rheumatism. However, there was a problem in that a skilled technician was required to administer the treatment. In recent years, passive therapy has been proposed for the treatment of rheumatism, in which the joints are constantly actively turned supine. In passive therapy, it is said to be effective to keep the joints supine even while the patient is asleep.

Such active supination of the joint is extremely difficult to achieve with pine surgery. This is because a skilled pine surgery technician must be by the patient's side 24/7.

It is also conceivable to construct a device that mechanically turns the joint supine to meet such requirements.

However, with mechanical devices, mechanical failure can cause
There is a risk that excessive force will be applied to the joints, so it is not something that can withstand use. In addition, the device itself becomes extremely complex and is difficult to implement.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a device that can move a joint safely and unattended.

In summary, the present invention provides a shape memory alloy member that memorizes a shape bent in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of a joint at a temperature higher than body temperature, a means for heating the shape memory alloy member, and This automatic joint movement device includes a heat insulating member that is provided on the joint side and prevents heat transfer from the shape memory alloy member.

Other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

In the following example, an automatic joint movement device as a treatment device for rheumatism in wrist and finger joints will be described.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line IF-] in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1, this embodiment is generally constructed in the shape of a glove.

As is clear from FIG. 2, the automatic joint movement device of this embodiment also includes an inner globe 1 formed on the inside, a shape memory alloy network 2 made of a shape memory alloy member formed on the outside of the inner globe 1, and Heater section 3 formed on the outermost periphery
Equipped with. The inner glove 1 is made of a material such as leather, and prevents heat from being transmitted from the shape memory alloy network 2 to the joints. As will be described later, the shape memory alloy mesh 2 is heated to a temperature of about 50° C. or higher, so the inner globe 1 is required as a heat insulating member.

The shape memory alloy network 2 formed on the outside of the inner globe 1 is a network member made of braided shape memory alloy wires, and its reverse transformation temperature is set at about 55°C. Shape memory treatment involves knitting the joints of the wrist and fingers in a shape that is bent (outward) in the opposite direction to the direction of movement, then fixed using a jig, and
This was done by heating at 0°C for 15 minutes. As a result, when heated to a temperature of 55° C. or higher, it bends in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the joint, that is, outward.

In this embodiment, the shape memory alloy member is a net-like member made of braided shape memory alloy wires, so it is highly flexible and can smoothly follow the movements of the joints of the hand and fingers.

A plurality of heater wires 4 are provided in the heater section 3, which serves as a heating means for heating the shape memory alloy member. By heating the heater wire 4 with electricity, the inner shape memory alloy network 2 is heated.

Note that by controlling the amount of current applied to the heater wire 4 by 1181I, the heating temperature, heating time, heating/cooling timing, and concentration distribution of the shape memory alloy network 2 can be arbitrarily set.

The operation of the automatic joint motion device according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 when worn on a patient's hand will be described. When the automatic joint movement device of this embodiment is worn on the hand, the finger assumes a natural shape as shown in FIG. 5 when no heating is performed. This is because, as described above, the shape memory alloy network 2 is configured to assume the natural shape of a human hand below the reverse transformation temperature. Next, when the heater wire 4 is energized and heated, the famous finger is bent outward with gentle elasticity, as shown in FIG. This is because the shape memory alloy network 2 is processed at a temperature below the reverse transformation temperature so that it takes a shape opposite to the direction of movement of the joint, that is, the fingers are bent outward. When the heating of the heater wire 4 of the heater section 3 is stopped, the shape memory alloy network 2 starts to cool down and returns to the shape shown in FIG. 5 due to the elasticity of each joint itself. Therefore, by repeatedly heating and cooling the heater wire 4, each joint of the hand and fingers can be supple and quietly turned supine.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway plan view for explaining another embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 3, shape memory alloy wire 5 and elastic metal wire 6 may be mixed and twisted to form shape memory alloy network 2 such that the joint is bent in the direction of movement of the joint. good.

As a result, in a state where no heating is performed, the shape of the shape memory alloy network 2 is such that the hand a5 and fingers are bent in the direction of movement of the joints, that is, inwardly, as shown in FIG.

Next, when heating is performed, the state changes sequentially to the states shown in FIGS. 5 and 4, and when heating is stopped, the state returns to the original shape from the state shown in FIG. 4 through the state shown in FIG. Therefore, it is possible to further increase the supine position of the joint.

In the above-described embodiments, a treatment device for rheumatoid arthritis of the hand and finger joints has been described, but the present invention is also applicable to the ankle,
It can be applied to rheumatism in various joints of the body, such as the knees and the knees. In that case, the shape of the shape memory alloy mesh 2 etc. may be modified as appropriate depending on the shape of each internodal portion. Furthermore, in the above embodiments, the shape memory alloy member was configured as a net-like member formed by knitting shape memory alloy wires, but it is possible to use shape memory alloy members in various shapes such as a rod shape or a flat plate shape. be. In addition, by incorporating a structure for heating the heater, that is, the heating element used to heat the shape memory alloy member, the entire device can be made smaller, and the range of movement of the patient during treatment can be expanded. It is possible.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention provides a shape memory alloy member that memorizes a shape bent in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of a joint at a temperature higher than body temperature, and a means for heating this shape memory alloy member. , is equipped with a heat insulating member that is installed on the joint side of the shape memory alloy member and prevents heat transfer from the shape memory alloy member, so it can flexibly and quietly support joints that require an expanded range of motion. can be directed. Furthermore, since the device utilizes shape change based on phase transformation of a shape memory alloy, the entire device is lightweight and has fewer failures. Therefore, there is no need for a special technician to be present near the patient, such as in the case of pine surgery therapy, and it is possible to treat rheumatism even while the patient is asleep.

It should be noted that this invention can be used for many diseases other than rheumatism, such as Parkinson's disease and rehabilitation after various surgeries.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway plan view of another embodiment of the invention. Figures 4 and 6 are plane views for explaining the operation of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figures, 1 is a heat insulating member, 2 is a shape memory alloy member, and 3
5 (shape memory alloy wire,
6 indicates metal wire -0

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] <1> A shape memory alloy member that memorizes a shape bent in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of a joint at a temperature higher than body temperature, means for heating the shape memory alloy member, and the shape memory alloy member An automatic joint movement device that prevents a reduction in the range of motion of a joint, and includes a heat insulating member that is provided on the joint side of the member and prevents heat transfer from the shape memory alloy member. (2) The joint according to claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy member is a mesh member made of knitted shape memory alloy wires, and the mesh member is formed to cover the periphery of the joint. Automatic exercise device. (3) The automatic joint exercise device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heating means includes a heater section provided near the shape memory alloy member. (4) The automatic joint exercise device according to claim 1 or 2. The shape memory alloy member is a net-like member formed by mixing and twisting a shape-memory alloy wire and an elastic wire, and this net-like member is previously formed in a shape bent in the direction of movement of the joint. Automatic joint movement device according to scope 1. (5) The heating means includes a heater section for heating the shape memory alloy member, and controls the heating/cooling timing, heating temperature, and temperature distribution of this heater section. The automatic joint movement device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising: a control unit for controlling the joint; (6) the heat insulating member is disposed closest to the joint;
The automatic joint movement device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the heating means and the shape memory alloy member are arranged outside the heat insulating member. (7) The shape memory alloy member is a net-like glove made of knitted shape memory alloy wires, and the heat insulating material is an inner globe attached to the inside of the shape memory alloy member, claim 6. The automatic joint motion device described in Section 1.