RU2617199C2 - Device for hands functions recovery and development - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medicine.SUBSTANCE: device for hands functions recovery and development, comprising a manual simulator, a control object interacting with the manual simulator, strain gauges, data collection and pre-processing unit, a personal computer for data collection, processing and storage, a visual and aural communication device, and adjustable means for user accommodation, where a manual simulator is mounted at least on one side, characterized by the manual simulator having additional removable elements with different degrees of roughness and density at the free ends of leaf springs from the finger side, for tactile stimulation, and comprises a set of puppets constructors as a control object.EFFECT: expansion of the device scope - developing pedagogy, enhancing its capabilities in the field of medicine by determining the dynamics of the joint angles and extension movements of hands, improving the users quality of life.3 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the fields of medicine and developing pedagogy and can find application in the restoration and treatment of patients with pathology of the central nervous system, motor disorders of the upper extremities, psychological and pedagogical rehabilitation and correction, as well as during developmental classes.

State of the art

One of the most serious consequences of damage to the nervous system is impaired hand function, which plays a crucial role in limiting the life of patients. The restoration of movements in the hands of patients after injuries and diseases of the nervous system still remains an urgent problem that needs to be addressed at a new theoretical and technological level.

Significantly increases the effectiveness of restorative measures using biofeedback techniques. Biofeedback is understood as a set of procedures during which a person, through an external feedback loop, is provided with information about the state of his or her physiological functions in order to teach them “conscious” control of these functions. Biofeedback with feedback allows the patient to achieve control (self-control) over the parameters of voluntary movements, to cause and fix their shifts in the desired direction. In particular, returning to the patient information about the characteristics of his movements improves the possibilities of his control over them. The most effective use of biofeedback is to restore motor functions in patients with impaired sensitivity. The additional use of vision to track the parameters of their movements in these patients allows us to compensate for the lack of information on conductors of surface and deep sensitivity. The use of biofeedback can significantly improve voluntary control over movements in patients with apraxia, in whom the possibility of arbitrary targeted actions is impaired due to damage to the cortical level of the brain.

In the market of modern medical equipment, devices with biological feedback for the treatment and rehabilitation of upper limbs are widely represented. For example, “HandTutor” (www.meditouch.co.il), “Hand of Norah” (http://www.rehab - robotics.com), Gloreha (www.gloreha.com), “Amadeo” (http : //turomotion.com/). These devices are focused only on the medical field of application, they have a high ratio of the value of cost - functionality. In addition, they present a game format of visual biological feedback in the form of a computer game, and a long stay of a user at a computer game causes and develops addiction - gambling, which negatively affects his mental state. These devices do not have a system for determining objective factors (weather conditions) that significantly affect the processes of rehabilitation and treatment and, therefore, do not allow making adjustments to these processes depending on these factors.

Known toy simulator for the development of motor skills of the fingers, protected by a patent of the Russian Federation for utility model No. 97267, IPC A61H 1/02, A63B 23/16, publ. September 10, 2010. The toy contains a sheath of sheet material and a filler located in it. The shell is made of sheet material such as polyethylene, divided into sealed sections having a size smaller than the size of the pads of the fingers. Sections are distributed throughout the shell in the appropriate order and rise from one or both sides of the shell. Air was used as a filler, with which each section is filled, and each section is made with the possibility of being destroyed by pressing on it with the fingers of one hand, at least a child. The disadvantage of the simulator toy is the lack of biological feedback. Therefore, the interest and effectiveness of classes with this simulator is low.

A device for the development of motor skills of the fingers, protected by RF patent No. 2290909, IPC A61H 1/00, A63B 23/16, publ. January 10, 2007

A device for developing motor skills of fingers includes a spring mechanism located in the housing. The spring mechanism consists of a set of leaf springs made with the possibility of replacing and moving along grooves made in the housing. Leaf springs have protruding parts from the body. The free ends of the leaf springs are connected to the controls of the puppet doll. A disadvantage of the known device is the inability to accumulate, process and store information on an electronic medium about the dynamics of the development of motor skills of the fingers. Therefore, it does not allow to analyze and predict the results of rehabilitation classes, in addition, it does not have a system for determining environmental parameters that affect the processes of treatment, restoration and development of the functions of the hands, therefore, it does not allow making adjustments to these processes depending on these factors.

Known robotic rehabilitation complex ReoGo (manufacturer: Motorika, Israel) for functional therapy of the upper limbs with extended feedback. This complex is designed to develop and enhance locomotor and grasping functions (info@mednt.ru).

Training on the ReoGo robotic platform is based on multiple repetitions of functionally directed patient movements and response to them. Internal feedback is via sensory pathways, and external feedback is through visual imaging, control (targeting), and training. Exercises are aimed at restoring the ability of the hand to reach objects and make movements characteristic of a healthy hand.

The disadvantage of the complex is the limited scope - medicine, narrow functionality - only the development and strengthening of locomotor and grasping functions.

Closest to the proposed invention in technical essence and the achieved result, selected as a prototype, is a rehabilitation device protected by RF patent No. 2282430, IPC A61H 1/00, A63B 24/00, publ. 06/27/2008

The device includes a manual spring trainer, load cells, a personal computer for collecting, processing and storing information and a puppet doll. The puppet doll is connected to the simulator. The simulator and load cells are under the patient’s hand.

A disadvantage of the known device is its limited field of application - medicine, lack of effectiveness due to the lack of the ability to determine the dynamics of changes in the articular angles of the hands, as an important indicator when conducting medical and rehabilitation exercises to restore and develop the functions of the hands. Also, this device does not allow to determine the dynamics of extensor movements of the hands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to develop a new, more effective device for the restoration and development of the functions of the hands with biofeedback.

The technical result in solving this problem is to expand the scope of the device - developing pedagogy, increase its functionality in the field of medicine by determining the dynamics of the development of articular angles and extensor movements of the hands, improving the quality of life of users.

This result is achieved by the fact that the device for restoring and developing the functions of the hands containing a hand trainer, a control object that interacts with a hand trainer, strain gauges, a unit for collecting and pre-processing information, a personal computer for collecting, processing and storing information, visual and auditory devices communication, further comprises an adjustable means for placing the user on which is mounted with the possibility of adjusting the position in the horizontal plane, at least On the one hand, hand simulator, equipped with clamps hands.

As a control object, the device may comprise a puppet.

The adjustable means for accommodating the user may further comprise screens for providing visual information.

The hand trainer at the free ends of the leaf springs from the fingers may additionally contain interchangeable elements with varying degrees of roughness and density to stimulate tactile receptors.

As load cells, the device may include on-off load cells.

As a control object, the device may further comprise a set of puppet constructors.

The device may further comprise a system for contactless gesture control of a personal computer in three-dimensional space.

The device may further comprise elements for preliminary development of motor skills of the fingers.

List of drawings

The above and other aspects and advantages of the present invention are disclosed in the following detailed description given with reference to the figure of the drawings.

In FIG. 1 shows the inventive device for the restoration and development of functions of the hands.

In FIG. 2 shows a hand trainer

In FIG. 3 shows a set of puppet constructor of different color versions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A device for restoring and developing the functions of the hands contains a hand trainer 1 with hand clamps 2, a control object 3, visual devices 4 and auditory 5 communication with a hand trainer, a unit 6 for collecting and preprocessing information, environmental sensors 7, a personal computer 8 for collection, processing and storage of information, an adjustable tool 9 for accommodating the user 10 with protruding armrests 11 for placement under the right or (and) left hand with the ability to adjust the position in a horizontal plane spine fixation and manual treadmill with the object management screen 12 for providing visual information system 13 for non-contact gesture control PC 13, 14 for the preliminary development of motor skills of the fingers. The hand trainer 1, in turn, contains on-off strain gauges 15, leaf springs 16, finger clips 17, interchangeable elements 18 for stimulating tactile receptors.

The proposed device for the restoration and development of functions of the hands is used as follows.

Adjustable tool 9 for placing the user, as well as adjusting the position in the horizontal plane and fixing the hand trainer allows you to configure the device for a comfortable and convenient location for a specific user 10, this is very important when conducting medical and developmental exercises. The presence of screens 12 allows you to fix or draw on them in different ways, depending on the material of the screen, (metal screen - magnets, wooden screen - buttons) background images to increase the attractiveness, interest and richness in conducting therapeutic and developmental activities, therefore, their effectiveness. Increases the user's motivation for classes and their effectiveness. Using the control object 3 in the device, interacting with a hand-held simulator 1, allows you to implement a kinematic model for the development of motor skills of the fingers with controlled parameters of the biofeedback - visual and auditory. The use of 3 puppets as a control object combines two methods - motor (mechanical) recovery and development of hand motor skills and the art therapy therapeutic method of playing with a puppet. In this case, the puppet can be considered as a projective object of transfer and expression of emotions. In the claimed device, the puppet is used in the form of one of the controlled parameters of the biofeedback. The user is provided with an audible and tactile controlled signal through on-off load sensors 15 and a visual controlled signal — puppet movement reflected in visual communication device 4, which can be used as a mirror, a video camera with a monitor, and a video projector with a screen. The puppet acts as an external controlled object, which allows the user to be carried out of the movement, and therefore, to make them more controlled by the consciousness, which makes it possible to more effectively use the principles of biofeedback.

The presence of sets of puppet designers with different colorings allows the user to independently choose and assemble a puppet, according to his age and psychological state. The color scheme and the image of the puppet allows the specialist (psychologist), based on previously developed tests, for example, the Luscher test, to determine the psychological state of the user as an important factor affecting the recovery and development of the functions of the hands, and if it is necessary to correct it from a negative state to positive.

During the collection of puppets, the user develops the motor skills of the fingers, trains the tactile receptors located on the fingertips, thereby developing the cerebral cortex, where signals from tactile receptors arrive. At the same time, restoring and (or) developing the motor skills of the fingers, the user's speech is restored and (or) develops, since the speech centers (Brave centers) and motor centers in the human brain are closely interacting.

The image of the puppet and its color scheme are entered using the software into a personal computer 8 throughout the course of medical and (or) developmental classes. This makes it possible to determine the dynamics of changes in the psychological state of the user and, if necessary, carry out its adjustment using special techniques.

Tactile sensations are one of the first sensations of living organisms. In humans, signals from tactile receptors located on the pads of the fingers enter directly into the cerebral cortex. By stimulating tactile receptors, they stimulate, restore and (or) develop the cerebral cortex. The presence on the free ends of the leaf springs 16 of the hand trainer 1 connected to the puppet controls on the fingers of the removable elements 18 to stimulate tactile receptors of varying degrees of roughness and density also expand the functionality of the device, increase its effectiveness during therapeutic and (or) developmental exercises .

The manual spring simulator according to the prototype, based on the structural capabilities of the used electronic components and the corresponding software, allows real-time monitoring, analysis and storage of information on the dynamics of flexion movements of the hands. For the full restoration and development of the functions of the hands, information on the dynamics of extensor movements is necessary. The presence in the proposed manual simulator 1 of two-position strain gauges 15 allows you to control both flexion and extensor movements of the hands. Accounting for this information is also necessary to adjust recovery and developmental activities. This property significantly expands the functionality of the device.

One of the most important parameters characterizing the functional state of the hands is the articular angles between their various parts. The presence and use in the device of the system 13 for non-contact gestural control of a personal computer in three-dimensional space allows using special software to determine these articular angles during medical and (or) developmental exercises and thus determine the dynamics of changes in the volume of movements of the hands. Data on the articular angles are also entered into a personal computer, which makes it possible to determine in real time their changes both during the lessons themselves and throughout the entire course of studies and, if necessary, make adjustments to medical and (or) developmental procedures. In addition, the system 13 of contactless gesture control allows you to quickly enter information into a personal computer about the functional state of the user's hands.

Currently, several technologies have been developed for contactless gesture control of a computer in three-dimensional space. Since the principle of the CtestIC Microchip Techne Lody system (www. Microchip.com/ CtestIC) is to analyze changes in the characteristics of the electric field caused by hand movements, the technology proposed by Elli Ptic Labs is based on the use of ultrasound and an array of sensitive microphones to determine the position and movements of the hands near the computer screen. Leap Motion technology uses infrared sensors that monitor the movements of the user's hands with unprecedented accuracy (0.01 mm) and display them on the monitor screen. Using a contactless gesture control system in three-dimensional space expands the functionality of the device, and this system can be used both as part of the device itself and separately from it to solve other problems.

To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of classes on the proposed device, you must first "knead" and "warm up" the fingers. For these purposes, as a rule, they use warm water, warm sand and special exercises in the complex. Also for these purposes, it is possible to use elements 14 for preliminary development of motor skills of the fingers. As these elements, spring rings of different geometries and different colors are used. Rings are made of material of varying degrees of elasticity. They need to be assembled into chains or disassemble the chains into components according to a given algorithm. In addition, various hand expanders, clothespins of different sizes and different degrees of elasticity or other designs can be used as these elements.

Elements 14 for preliminary development of motor skills of the fingers can be used both as part of the claimed device itself, or separately from it.

It should be noted - the interaction between the individual elements of the device is carried out either via cables or using wireless communication or a combination thereof.

The device allows for both individual lessons on the restoration and development of the functions of the hands, and group.

In addition, in the development of appropriate techniques, the device allows the diagnosis (including early) of various diseases associated with impaired functions of the hands, diagnostics of the state of the neuromuscular apparatus of the hands, analysis and prognosis of recovery and development of hand functions.

A device for restoring and developing the functions of the hands works as follows.

The user 10 is conveniently located behind the adjustable tool 9 for its placement puts his hand on the lodgement in front of the system 13 of contactless gesture control of the computer. There is a scan of his hand. This image is transmitted and recorded to a personal computer 8. Using special software, the parameters of the articular angles of the hand are determined. These parameters are displayed on the display in the form of numbers and are recorded in computer memory 8. Next, the user selects a set of spring rings based on their physical and psychological state, and according to a given algorithm collects chains from rings. Before this, it is possible to conduct thermal procedures and selected various exercises. Thus, preliminary development of motor skills of the fingers is carried out. Data on the rings (geometric parameters, elasticity, their number) are recorded in computer 8. Then, the user selects a set of puppets and designs the puppet based on his psychological state. Data on the puppet (type, color scheme) is entered into the computer 8 for storage. Next, the puppet is fixed on a hand-held simulator 1, which is fixed on the protruding armrest 11. The user 10 begins to control the puppet according to a previously defined technique. Data on the force of the fingers enter the unit 6 for collecting and pre-processing information, and then are entered into the computer 8, processed and displayed on the display in the form of graphs or histograms. In the process of therapeutic and (or) developing activities for stimulation of tactile receptors, replaceable elements 18 with varying degrees of roughness can be fixed at the ends of leaf springs 16. Data on the degree of roughness of the interchangeable elements 18 is also entered into the computer 8. After the lesson on the hand trainer 1, the articular angles of the elements of the hands are re-measured. In this way, the dynamics of their changes is determined and the performance of the exercises on the hand-held simulator 1 is monitored. Information from the on-off load sensors 15, data on the articular angles, as well as individual information about the user during all medical and (or) developmental activities, is entered into a personal computer 8, where it processed and stored.

A device for restoring and developing the functions of the hands can be made as follows.

In an example implementation of the claimed device, the tabletop of height-adjustable means 9 for accommodating the user is made of delta wood, the sharp corners of the tabletop are smoothed to eliminate the possibility of injury during training, the frame is made of a 20 × 20 mm metal profile. To change its height, the supports are made telescopic. Screens 12 are made of two layers - the base is plywood, 5 mm thick, on which metal sheets with a thickness of 0.5 mm are fixed. This design of the screens 12 allows them to fix background images with magnets. The constructor used - a set of puppets - Pinocchio 8 colors. Block 6 data collection and preprocessing is assembled on the basis of remote data acquisition and control modules ADAM and ICOS.

To determine in real time the dynamics of changes in the articular angles and promptly enter into the computer 8 information on the functional state of the user's hands, a non-contact gesture control system 13 of the American company Leap Motion is used. Connection to a computer is via a USB cable.

As replaceable elements 18, sandpaper of different grain sizes is used to stimulate tactile receptors. The device uses a super-miniature two-position Sensotek strain gauges from Henoywell.

As elements 14 for the preliminary development of motor skills of the fingers, a set of rings of different diameters and different colors is used, made of spring wire of the HGCA brand of different degrees of elasticity.

Thus, a new, more effective device for restoring and developing the functions of the hands is proposed.

The device allows, in comparison with the prototype, to significantly expand its scope, significantly surpasses it in functionality, improves the quality of life of users.

Other specialists may be obvious to other embodiments of the invention, without changing its essence, as it is disclosed in the present description. Accordingly, the invention should be considered limited in scope only by the following claims.

Claims (1)

A device for restoring and developing the functions of the hands containing a hand trainer, a control object that interacts with a hand trainer, strain gauges, a unit for collecting and preprocessing information, a personal computer for collecting, processing and storing information, a visual and auditory communication device, and an adjustable placement tool user, on which is mounted at least on one side of the hand trainer, characterized in that the hand trainer at the free ends of the leaf springs from the fingers d optionally contains replaceable elements with varying degrees of roughness and density for stimulation of tactile receptors, and as a control object contains a set of puppet designers.

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