Rehabilitation grip ball

Abstract

The application relates to a rehabilitation gripping ball, a ball body gripping surface is in contact with a finger part, an internal inflation cavity is filled with a gas with a preset air pressure; a driving mechanism is arranged in the cavity and comprises: a support member penetratingly arranged with a gas channel; a one-way air valve penetratingly arranged with the ball wall, an inner end connected with a first end of the channel and an outer end connected with the outside; a driving motor fixedly arranged in the channel, the channel is divided into a first section connected with the valve body and a second section connected with the cavity body. The motor is reversely rotated to suck external gas, the gas is injected into the inflation cavity through the valve body, the first section and the second section to increase the pressure, the gripping surface is hardened to provide resistance gripping training; the motor is positively rotated to discharge the gas to reduce the pressure, the gripping surface is softened to assist finger stretching. Therefore, through the integrated gas path of the motor embedded channel and the valve body penetratingly arranged with the ball wall, the hardness of the gripping surface is dynamically adjusted, the muscle strength is strengthened through pressure increase, and spasm is inhibited through pressure reduction; the elastic ball body converts the air pressure change into radial deformation to simulate real gripping feeling, a compact sealing structure prevents leakage, and the ball is suitable for motion disorder and spasm scenes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of rehabilitation therapy, and more particularly to a rehabilitation grip ball. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional medical hand rehabilitation balls primarily provide gripping resistance through the passive deformation of elastic materials such as rubber or silicone, relying on the patient's active force to complete the squeezing training. For stroke patients with hand dysfunction, common symptoms include muscle weakness, abnormal muscle tone such as spasticity or flaccidity, and loss of motor coordination, resulting in severely limited active gripping ability. These static balls cannot dynamically adapt to the patient's differentiated muscle strength state, and are particularly difficult to assist in completing the crucial grip surface relaxation movement, i.e., finger extension training, which is essential for restoring hand balance function.

[0003] To meet the specific needs of stroke patients, existing technologies have proposed two types of improved solutions: Adjustable resistance inflatable balls, which have a closed air chamber inside the ball, allowing for manual adjustment of the initial air pressure to change the grip stiffness. Patients need to repeatedly squeeze the ball to achieve contraction training, while the relaxation process relies entirely on the elastic rebound of the material. Staged training balls, employing a multi-chamber structure or gradient stiffness design, require patients to change to different ball models according to their rehabilitation stage. For example, a low-pressure ball is used when muscle strength is weak, and a high-pressure model is gradually used as function recovers.

[0004] While the above solutions attempt to address the resistance matching issue, they all rely on the patient to actively exert force to complete the contraction of the gripping surface, and the relaxation process is still a passive elastic recovery, which cannot provide active assistance. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this application is to provide a rehabilitation grip ball for stroke patients.

[0006] According to one aspect of this application, a rehabilitation gripping ball is provided, comprising a ball and a drive mechanism. The ball has a gripping surface formed on its outer peripheral surface that abuts against the user's fingers, and an expansion cavity is formed inside the ball, the expansion cavity being filled with gas at a preset pressure value; the drive mechanism is disposed within the expansion cavity, and the drive mechanism includes a support valve and a drive motor.

[0007] The support valve penetrates the wall thickness of the sphere, with its inner end connected to the first end of the gas channel and its outer end leading to the outside of the sphere. The drive motor is fixedly installed inside the gas channel, dividing the gas channel into a first section connecting the one-way valve and a second section connecting the expansion chamber. When the gripping surface needs to expand, the drive motor draws gas from the external environment through the one-way valve and the gas channel into the expansion chamber to increase the gas pressure inside the expansion chamber, driving the gripping surface to expand outward. When the gripping surface needs to contract, the drive motor discharges gas from the expansion chamber through the gas channel and the one-way valve to the external environment to reduce the gas pressure inside the expansion chamber, driving the gripping surface to contract inward. The preset pressure value is 0.8 to 1.2 atmospheres.

[0008] In one specific embodiment, the drive motor is a miniature brushless motor, and its stator coils are encapsulated with a sealing layer to isolate gas.

[0009] In one specific embodiment, the one-way valve is an umbrella-shaped one-way valve or a duckbill-type one-way valve.

[0010] In one specific embodiment, the driving mechanism further includes a partition; the partition is disposed inside the sphere, dividing the internal space of the sphere into a first cavity and a second cavity; the first cavity is the expansion cavity; the second cavity is a filling cavity, which is filled with an elastic cushioning material; the outer peripheral edge of the partition forms an interference fit with the inner wall of the sphere.

[0011] In one specific embodiment, the support member includes an integrally formed expansion cavity segment and an extension; the expansion cavity segment is located within the expansion cavity; the extension extends from the expansion cavity segment, at least partially located within the filling cavity, and abuts against the elastic cushioning material. The extension is an elastic structure, and the elastic structure abuts against the elastic cushioning material to form a cushioning fit.

[0012] In one specific embodiment, the rehabilitation gripping ball further includes a fixing finger sleeve, which is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the ball. The finger sleeve is used to fix the finger in use, and when viewed around the outer peripheral surface of the ball, multiple finger sleeves are respectively set for finger joints.

[0013] In one specific embodiment, the one-way valve is a one-way valve assembly disposed at the same through hole position. The one-way valve assembly includes a first valve plate and a second valve plate disposed opposite to each other. The first valve plate only allows the flow of the external environment to the gas passage, and the second valve plate only allows the flow of the gas passage to the external environment, so as to open the corresponding valve plate respectively under the conditions of inhalation and exhaust.

[0014] According to another aspect of this application, this application also provides a hand rehabilitation grip training method for a rehabilitation grip ball, the rehabilitation grip ball comprising: a sphere having an outer peripheral gripping surface, an expansion cavity disposed inside the sphere, a one-way air valve penetrating the wall thickness of the sphere and communicating with the external environment, a support member having a gas channel along its length, and a drive motor disposed within the gas channel and dividing it into a first section communicating with the one-way air valve and a second section communicating with the expansion cavity; the method comprising: S1: The user's fingertip is brought into contact with the gripping surface, and the fingertip is positioned on the outer periphery of the ball by fixing the finger sleeve; S2: Set the air pressure in the expansion chamber to a preset pressure value as a training benchmark; S3: When it is necessary to stretch the gripping surface for finger extension training, control the drive motor to run in the suction direction, so that external gas enters the expansion chamber through the one-way air valve and the gas channel, increasing the air pressure in the expansion chamber, thereby driving the gripping surface to stretch outward and push the user's fingers. S4: When it is necessary to retract the gripping surface for finger flexion training, control the drive motor to run in the discharge direction, so that the gas in the expansion chamber is discharged to the external environment through the gas channel and the one-way valve, reducing the gas pressure in the expansion chamber, thereby driving the gripping surface to retract inward and cooperate with the user's grip. S5: When the target pressure or target configuration is reached, the drive motor is stopped, the one-way air valve is kept closed when the pressure difference is zero, thereby maintaining the cavity pressure at the current state, and the diastolic assist and systolic assist are switched according to the training plan to form a training cycle.

[0015] In one specific embodiment, the fixed finger sleeves are configured as multiple sleeves distributed around the outer circumference of the sphere, each corresponding to a user's finger joint; the method includes adjusting the position and tightness of each finger sleeve before training to limit relative slippage and obtain uniform load distribution.

[0016] In one specific embodiment, the training cycle includes several rounds, and each round includes: a diastolic holding period T1, a transition period T2, and a systolic holding period T3, and a programmable pressure-time curve is obtained by controlling the start-stop and speed of the drive motor.

[0017] In one specific embodiment, the cavity pressure change is indirectly controlled by detecting changes in the operating current or speed of the drive motor. When the criterion reaches a preset threshold, the motor stops and enters a holding phase to avoid sudden pressure changes causing discomfort to the user.

[0018] Therefore, this application discloses a rehabilitation gripping ball that addresses the core issues of hand muscle weakness, spasticity, and sensory feedback loss in stroke patients. Through an integrated pneumatic drive system, the drive motor is embedded in the gas channel of the support component, and a one-way valve penetrates the ball wall, enabling dynamic adjustment of the gripping surface's hardness. During degassing, the expansion chamber pressurizes, hardening the ball to provide resistance gripping training and enhance muscle strength; during degassing, the pressure decreases, softening the ball to assist in the extension of spastic fingers and prevent contractures. The ball's elastic material directly translates air pressure changes into radial deformation of the gripping surface, simulating the gripping sensation of a real object to promote neurosensory reconstruction. Simultaneously, the compact, sealed structure eliminates the risk of leakage, making it suitable for use in scenarios involving patients with motor coordination disorders and sudden spasticity, achieving safe and controllable progressive rehabilitation training. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 An axial view of a rehabilitation grip ball; Figure 2 A vertical sectional view of a rehabilitation grip ball along its main view; Figure 3 This is the first vertical sectional view of the main view of the support component; Figure 4 This is a diagram showing the axis lines of the support component; Figure 5 A schematic diagram illustrating the contraction state of a rehabilitation grip ball; Figure 6 A schematic diagram illustrating the expansion state of a rehabilitation grip ball; Figure 7 The second vertical sectional view of the main view of the support component; Figure 8 This is a flowchart of a hand rehabilitation grasping training method.

[0021] Explanation of icon numbers: 1. Sphere; 2. Grip surface; 3. Expansion chamber; 4. Drive mechanism; 5. Support component; 8. Drive motor; 9. Partition; 10. Filling chamber; 11. Fixing finger sleeve; 6. Gas channel; 212. Expansion chamber section; 12. Extension; 33. One-way valve assembly; 331. First valve plate; 332. Second valve plate; 100. A rehabilitation grip ball. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To facilitate understanding of this application, a more complete description will be provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Preferred embodiments of this application are shown in the drawings. However, this application can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of the disclosure of this application.

[0023] Please refer to Figure 1 - Figure 8 According to one aspect of this application, this embodiment provides a rehabilitation gripping ball 100, which generally includes a ball 1 and a drive mechanism 4 disposed inside the ball 1.

[0024] Firstly, in terms of overall structure, the sphere 1 is generally spherical, with a gripping surface 2 formed on its outer circumference for contact with the user's fingers. This surface design allows the user to receive a uniform force distribution when gripping, avoiding excessive local pressure that could cause discomfort, while also improving the controllability of finger movements during training.

[0025] Furthermore, the sphere 1 has an expansion cavity 3 inside, which is filled with gas at a preset pressure value. In this embodiment, the preset pressure value is preferably between 0.8 and 1.2 atmospheres. This pressure range is chosen because the gas within this range provides moderate elastic support, allowing the gripping surface 2 to deform controllably under external force, without causing significant discomfort to the user during training due to excessive pressure. In other words, this pressure range aims to simulate the resistance level of a natural human hand grip, thereby achieving the realistic experience required for rehabilitation training.

[0026] It is important to note that the pressure range (0.8 atm–1.2 atm) in this embodiment is a commonly used range in medical rehabilitation training. Gas pressure within this range not only meets the hand rehabilitation needs of most patients but also avoids safety hazards caused by excessively high or low pressure. Specific pressure values ​​can be adjusted according to different users' rehabilitation stages to achieve personalized training goals. Adjustable pressure values ​​facilitate customized training based on the patient's specific condition, thereby improving treatment effectiveness.

[0027] Based on this, a drive mechanism 4 is disposed within the expansion chamber 3 to regulate the air pressure within the expansion chamber, thereby achieving the expansion and contraction of the gripping surface 2. The drive mechanism 4 includes a support member 5, a one-way air valve 30, and a drive motor 8. The support member 5 has a through-hole gas channel 6 extending along its length. The one-way air valve 30 penetrates the wall thickness of the sphere 1, with its inner end connected to the first end of the gas channel 6 and its outer end opening to the outside of the sphere 1, thus providing a one-way flow path between external gas and the expansion chamber 3.

[0028] In the design of the gas channel 6, the material and shape of the support 5 can be adjusted according to different pressure requirements. For example, the support 5 can be made of high-pressure resistant plastic or metal to ensure that the gas channel 6 does not deform or leak under high pressure. In addition, the diameter and length of the gas channel 6 will also affect the airflow speed and the inflation speed of the expansion chamber 3, so it needs to be optimized according to the gas flow rate.

[0029] The drive motor 8 is fixedly installed within the gas channel 6, dividing the gas channel 6 into a first section connected to the one-way valve 30 and a second section connected to the expansion chamber 3. When it is necessary to expand the gripping surface 2, the drive motor 8 rotates in the suction direction, allowing gas from the external environment to enter the expansion chamber 3 through the one-way valve 30 and the gas channel 6, thereby increasing the air pressure within the expansion chamber 3. As the air pressure increases, the expansion chamber 3 pushes the outer circumference of the sphere 1 to bulge outward, causing the gripping surface 2 to deform outward, thereby extending the user's fingers and assisting in stretching exercises.

[0030] Conversely, when the gripping surface 2 needs to contract, the drive motor 8 rotates in the discharge direction, causing the gas in the expansion chamber 3 to be discharged to the external environment through the gas channel 6 and the one-way valve 30. At this time, the air pressure in the expansion chamber 3 decreases, and the gripping surface 2 on the outer circumference of the ball 1 undergoes an inward deformation, thereby forcing the user's fingers to gradually return to their grip to complete the flexion training.

[0031] The one-way air valve 30 employs a high-efficiency airflow control valve to ensure the one-way nature of the gas inflow and outflow process, avoiding pressure control instability caused by gas backflow. This design effectively ensures precise control of air pressure changes within the expansion chamber 3, improving user comfort and preventing potential safety hazards caused by gas backflow. The design of the one-way air valve 30, in conjunction with the control of the drive motor 8, enables rapid expansion and contraction of the gripping surface 2.

[0032] Through the aforementioned structure and working principle, the rehabilitation gripping ball 100 of this embodiment can flexibly switch between expansion and contraction, meeting the auxiliary needs of hand extension and flexion movements in rehabilitation training. In particular, with the controllable drive of the gas flow direction and flow rate by the drive motor 8, the pressure change process in the expansion chamber 3 can be ensured to be stable and controllable, avoiding discomfort caused to the user by sudden pressure changes. Therefore, this solution not only solves the problems of monotonous training movements and insufficient comfort in traditional rehabilitation devices, but also provides an intelligent and adjustable hand training device for the medical rehabilitation field.

[0033] In one specific embodiment, such as Figure 2As shown, the drive motor 8 is a miniature brushless motor. Compared with traditional brushed motors, miniature brushless motors have the advantages of small size, high speed, low noise, and long life, making them very suitable for use in medical rehabilitation training equipment. Since rehabilitation training often needs to be conducted in a quiet environment, especially since rehabilitation patients need to be in contact with the device for a long time, excessive motor noise will significantly reduce the comfort experience; therefore, the low noise characteristics of brushless motors can effectively improve the user's subjective experience, while their long lifespan also reduces the maintenance costs of frequent component replacement.

[0034] Furthermore, considering that the drive motor 8 needs to be fixed inside the gas channel 6, and its working environment is in direct contact with the gas, there is a risk of gas penetrating into the motor coil. Without protection, the motor stator coil may experience a decrease in insulation performance or even short-circuit failure due to moisture or gas erosion. Based on this, in this embodiment, the stator coil 221 of the drive motor 8 is encapsulated with a sealing layer. This sealing layer can be made of epoxy resin or silicone material to structurally isolate the coil from direct gas contact.

[0035] This design ensures the stability of the motor during long-term cyclic operation, preventing damage caused by gas ingress. It also improves the sealing reliability of the entire drive mechanism 4, allowing the air pressure within the expansion chamber 3 to change stably according to the set operating conditions. Therefore, this embodiment solves the reliability problem of the motor in special pneumatic environments by setting a sealing layer on the stator coil of the micro brushless motor, ensuring the safety and durability of the rehabilitation gripping ball 100 in medical applications.

[0036] In one specific embodiment, the one-way valve 30 is configured as an umbrella-shaped one-way valve or a duckbill-type one-way valve. The function of these two types of one-way valves in this embodiment is to ensure that gas can only flow in a predetermined direction, thereby preventing backflow of gas within the expansion chamber 3 and ensuring the stability of gas pressure control.

[0037] The umbrella-shaped one-way valve employs a valve plate with an umbrella-shaped structure, which closes naturally when there is no external pressure difference. When gas flows in the suction direction, the airflow applies pressure through the bottom of the valve plate, forcing it to open and allowing outside gas to enter the expansion chamber 3. When the airflow direction reverses, the valve plate closes rapidly under the pressure difference, preventing gas backflow.

[0038] The advantage of this design lies in its rapid opening and closing, enabling effective airflow control in a short time. This allows it to support frequent pressure changes, especially during the relaxation and contraction processes of rehabilitation training. Furthermore, the umbrella-shaped valve has a simple structure, is highly responsive, and is not easily affected by particulate contamination or minor dirt, ensuring long-term stability.

[0039] The structure of a duckbill-type check valve resembles the shape of a duckbill. The valve body is made of flexible material, and the valve port consists of two elastic lips. When an external airflow pushes the valve, the port automatically opens, allowing gas to flow in; when the airflow direction changes, the port closes quickly due to its elasticity, thus preventing backflow of gas.

[0040] The advantages of duckbill check valves include high fatigue resistance and the ability to maintain good sealing performance even after prolonged use. Furthermore, the use of flexible materials results in low airflow resistance, making them suitable for airflow control under low pressure differential conditions, effectively reducing energy consumption and improving airflow efficiency.

[0041] In this design, when the one-way valve 30 is an umbrella-shaped one-way valve, its valve plate has an umbrella-shaped structure and closes naturally when there is no pressure difference. When the drive motor 8 rotates in the suction direction, the umbrella-shaped valve plate automatically opens under the action of the pressure difference, allowing external gas to enter the gas channel 6 and eventually the expansion chamber 3. When the airflow direction is reversed, the umbrella-shaped valve plate can quickly close, effectively preventing backflow of gas in the expansion chamber 3. The advantages of this structure are: sensitive opening and closing, short response time, and the ability to maintain good sealing and speed when frequently switching between diastolic and systolic conditions, making it particularly suitable for rehabilitation scenarios that require continuous training cycles.

[0042] Furthermore, when the one-way valve 30 adopts a duckbill-type one-way valve, its valve body is shaped like a rubber elastic lip, resembling a duckbill. In the intake state, the two sides of the valve port naturally separate due to the pressure difference, allowing gas to flow in; in the exhaust state or without pressure difference, the valve port relies on its own elasticity to tightly seal, forming a closed system. The advantages of this structure are: simple manufacturing process, low cost, and good fatigue resistance, making it suitable for long-term, high-frequency pneumatic cycle working environments.

[0043] Through the above two embodiments, it can be seen that both the umbrella-shaped one-way valve and the duckbill-type one-way valve can achieve the basic function of one-way flow, but their advantages are different: the former focuses more on response sensitivity and sealing, while the latter focuses more on structural simplicity and durability. In specific applications, this application can select the appropriate valve type according to different rehabilitation training needs and cost control requirements. It can be seen that this design not only ensures the unidirectional airflow of the rehabilitation gripping ball 100 during the inhalation and exhalation process, but also enhances the adaptability and flexibility of the overall structure, and improves the promotion and application value of the device in the field of medical rehabilitation technology. In a specific embodiment, the driving mechanism 4 also includes a partition 9; the partition 9 is disposed inside the ball 1, dividing the internal space of the ball 1 into a first cavity and a second cavity; the first cavity is the expansion cavity; the second cavity is the filling cavity 10, which is filled with elastic buffer material; the outer peripheral edge of the partition 9 forms an interference fit with the inner wall of the ball 1.

[0044] In one specific embodiment, the support member 5 includes an integrally formed expansion cavity section 212 and an extension 12. The expansion cavity section 212 is located inside the expansion cavity 3 and is used to directly contact the gas in the expansion cavity 3 and withstand the gas pressure to maintain stable communication between the gas channel 6 and the expansion cavity 3. This integrally formed structure avoids air leakage problems caused by assembly gaps between different components, thereby enhancing the overall sealing reliability.

[0045] Furthermore, the extension 12 extends outward from the expansion cavity section 212, with at least a portion located within the filling cavity 10 and abutting against the elastic cushioning material 131 therein. In this embodiment, the elastic cushioning material 131 can be materials such as silicone foam, polyurethane elastomer, or medical sponge. These materials have good elastic recovery properties and can quickly rebound after external force is applied, thereby buffering and absorbing the vibration or pneumatic impact of the drive mechanism 4 during operation.

[0046] It is worth noting that the extension 12 itself is designed as an elastic structure, for example, it can adopt a corrugated, serpentine, or thin-walled arc geometry, or be made of a highly flexible elastic material. When this elastic structure comes into contact with the elastic cushioning material 131, it forms a double cushioning effect: on the one hand, the extension 12 can undergo elastic deformation under pressure; on the other hand, the elastic cushioning material 131 can further absorb energy. This double-layer cushioning design effectively reduces the vibration or discomfort that may occur to the user during grip training due to rapid changes in the gas inside the device, thereby improving the comfort and safety of rehabilitation training.

[0047] Therefore, this embodiment achieves a unified overall sealing and cushioning performance by providing an integrally formed expansion cavity section 212 and an extension 12 on the support member 5, and by having the extension 12 abut against the elastic cushioning material 131 in the filling cavity 10. This not only solves the problems of easy leakage in the air passage structure and discomfort caused by hard contact, but also gives the rehabilitation grip ball 100 better durability and human-computer interaction friendliness.

[0048] In one specific embodiment, the rehabilitation gripping ball 100 further includes a plurality of fixed finger sleeves 11. The fixed finger sleeves 11 are fixedly disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the ball 1 and are used to fix the user's fingers during training. Specifically, the fixed finger sleeves 11 are distributed around the circumference of the ball 1, and when viewed from the outside, the plurality of fixed finger sleeves 11 are arranged sequentially, each corresponding to a different joint of the user's fingers.

[0049] This design ensures that the user's fingers are accurately positioned on the gripping surface 2 of the sphere 1 during training, avoiding inaccurate training movements or uneven load caused by finger position deviation. For example, when the user performs extension training, the fixed finger sleeve 11 restricts the relative slippage of the fingers, thus ensuring that each finger is evenly stressed during pneumatic expansion and contraction; while during flexion training, the fixed finger sleeve 11 provides a certain limiting effect, making the finger movement trajectory more stable.

[0050] Furthermore, the fixing finger sleeve 11 can be made of flexible medical silicone or fabric strips to balance fixation and comfort. The number of finger sleeves can be flexibly configured according to training needs. For example, in one embodiment, five finger sleeves can be set, corresponding to the first or second joints of the thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger, respectively; in another embodiment, only three finger sleeves can be set to meet the simplified needs of some rehabilitation training scenarios.

[0051] Therefore, this embodiment achieves accurate finger positioning and uniform force distribution by setting a fixed finger sleeve 11 on the outer circumference of the ball 1. This design not only solves the problem of finger deviation that easily occurs during the use of traditional rehabilitation training balls, but also improves the repeatability and effectiveness of training movements, thereby significantly enhancing the scientific nature and controllability of rehabilitation training.

[0052] In one specific embodiment, the one-way valve 30 is configured as a one-way valve assembly 33 installed at the same through hole. The one-way valve assembly 33 includes a first valve plate 331 and a second valve plate 332 arranged opposite to each other, each of which performs the one-way control function of airflow in different directions.

[0053] Specifically, the first valve plate 331 only allows external airflow to flow into the gas passage 6. When the drive motor 8 operates in the suction direction, the first valve plate 331 opens under the action of pressure difference, allowing external air to enter the gas passage 6 through the valve plate and eventually enter the expansion chamber 3; when the airflow is reversed, the first valve plate 331 can close quickly, thereby effectively preventing gas backflow.

[0054] Meanwhile, the second valve plate 332 only allows gas passage 6 to flow towards the external environment. When the drive motor 8 runs in the discharge direction, the gas in the expansion chamber 3 flows to the second valve plate 332 through the gas passage 6. The valve plate automatically opens under the action of the internal and external pressure difference, discharging the gas to the external environment. When the airflow is reversed, the second valve plate 332 remains closed, thereby preventing external air from entering.

[0055] To achieve this design, both the first valve plate 331 and the second valve plate 332 are made of flexible materials (such as silicone or rubber) to enable rapid opening and closing under differential pressure. The elastic material of the valve plates ensures that they are not easily aged or damaged during repeated opening and closing, thereby improving the system's durability and response speed.

[0056] This "dual-valve division of labor" structure allows the intake and exhaust processes to be automatically controlled by their respective valves, eliminating the need for complex mechanical switching mechanisms or electronic control logic. Compared to traditional single-valve bidirectional switching structures, this solution not only improves response speed but also significantly enhances system stability and durability, avoiding wear or leakage problems caused by frequent valve opening and closing.

[0057] The one-way valve assembly 33 is installed in the thicker part of the wall of the sphere 1, ensuring a stable and reliable connection between it and the gas channel 6, and avoiding mechanical loosening or leakage caused by pressure changes. Precise control of the airflow direction also makes the pressure changes within the expansion chamber 3 more stable, achieving a more flexible and smooth transition between expansion and contraction.

[0058] Through the above design, the rehabilitation gripping ball 100 can smoothly switch between diastolic and systolic states, ensuring the unidirectional and controllable change of air pressure within the expansion chamber 3. Therefore, this embodiment further enhances the safety and reliability of the device during rehabilitation training, ensuring that users can complete hand training movements under stable and predictable pressure.

[0059] According to another aspect of this application, such as Figure 8 As shown, this application also provides a hand rehabilitation grip training method, which is applied to the aforementioned rehabilitation grip ball 100. The rehabilitation grip ball 100 includes: a sphere 1 with an outer peripheral gripping surface 2, an expansion cavity 3 disposed inside the sphere 1, a one-way air valve 30 penetrating the wall thickness of the sphere 1 and communicating with the external environment, a support member 5 having a gas channel 6 along its length, and a drive motor 8 arranged within the gas channel 6 and dividing it into a first section connecting the one-way air valve 30 and a second section connecting the expansion cavity 3. Based on this structure, this method can achieve full-process control of hand grip training.

[0060] Step S1: Finger positioning Before training, the user's fingers first contact the gripping surface 2, and the fingers are positioned using the fixing finger sleeves 11. This step ensures that the fingers maintain stable contact with the gripping surface 2 throughout the training process, avoiding problems such as distortion of training movements or uneven force distribution caused by finger position deviation. This ensures the accuracy and repeatability of the training process.

[0061] Step S2: Set the reference air pressure Subsequently, the air pressure in expansion chamber 3 is set to a preset pressure value (preferably 0.8 to 1.2 atmospheres) as a training baseline. This pressure range simulates the resistance level of a natural hand grip, avoiding both insufficient training effect due to excessively low air pressure and discomfort or potential safety risks caused by excessively high air pressure. This step serves to provide stable initial conditions for subsequent relaxation and contraction movements.

[0062] Step S3: Stretching exercises (stretching movements) When finger extension assistance is needed, the drive motor 8 rotates in the suction direction. At this time, ambient air enters the expansion chamber 3 through the one-way valve 30 and the gas channel 6, causing the air pressure inside the expansion chamber 3 to gradually increase. This increase in air pressure drives the gripping surface 2 to bulge and expand outwards, thereby pushing the user's fingers to achieve the extension movement. The core of this step lies in providing active thrust through increased air pressure, solving the problem of traditional training equipment lacking extension assistance.

[0063] Step S4: Contraction Training (Flexion Movement) When finger flexion assistance is needed, the drive motor 8 is controlled to rotate in the discharge direction. At this time, the gas in the expansion chamber 3 is discharged to the external environment through the gas channel 6 and the one-way valve 30, reducing the air pressure in the expansion chamber 3. As the pressure decreases, the gripping surface 2 gradually contracts and retracts inward, thereby forcing the user's fingers to complete the gripping action. In this way, the system can effectively assist the user in flexion training, avoiding the limitations of relying solely on muscle strength training.

[0064] Step S5: Hold and cycle switching When the air pressure in the expansion chamber 3 reaches the target pressure or the gripping surface 2 reaches the target configuration, the drive motor 8 stops operating. With the pressure difference at zero, the one-way valve 30 automatically closes, ensuring the air pressure in the expansion chamber 3 remains stable at its current value. Subsequently, the system can switch between diastolic and systolic assistance according to a preset training plan, thus forming a complete training cycle. This step ensures the continuity and periodicity of the training movements, allowing rehabilitation physicians to adjust the training rhythm according to the patient's rehabilitation stage.

[0065] Through the aforementioned steps S1–S5, the method of this application enables alternating training of finger extension and flexion. The entire process is driven by the air pressure regulation of the rehabilitation gripping ball 100, offering advantages such as ease of operation, controllable training rhythm, and high safety. In particular, by combining the device's dual-valve control structure with its motor-driven characteristics, this method ensures stable air pressure changes during execution, avoiding sudden pressure changes that could cause discomfort to the patient, thereby effectively improving the comfort and scientific rigor of rehabilitation training.

[0066] In one specific embodiment, multiple fixed finger sleeves 11 are provided and distributed around the outer periphery of the sphere 1. Each fixed finger sleeve 11 corresponds to a different finger joint of the user, such as the first or second joint of the thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger. This surrounding distribution ensures that each finger joint corresponds to the gripping surface 2 of the sphere 1 when the user wears the sleeve, thereby enabling precise guidance of movements during training.

[0067] Before using this method for rehabilitation training, the user or rehabilitation instructor needs to adjust the position and tightness of each fixed finger sleeve 11 according to the hand size and specific training needs. The adjustment process includes: on the one hand, fine-tuning the installation position of the finger sleeve 40 by sliding or rotating it to ensure accurate alignment with the corresponding finger joint; on the other hand, adjusting the tightness of the finger sleeve 40 to ensure that it fixes the finger without causing obstruction of blood circulation or local pressure discomfort.

[0068] Through the above adjustments, the relative slippage between the fingers and the gripping surface 2 can be effectively limited before training begins, ensuring that the fingers are always within the designed force path. This not only improves the accuracy of training movements but also avoids training deviations or uneven force distribution caused by loose finger sleeves. Furthermore, since multiple finger sleeves 40 are evenly distributed on the outer circumference of the sphere 1, the fingers can obtain a more even load distribution during training, thereby reducing the risk of excessive pressure on a single joint or finger.

[0069] In one specific embodiment, the training cycle includes several rounds, and each round includes: a diastolic holding period T1, a transition period T2, and a contraction holding period T3, and a programmable pressure-time curve is obtained by controlling the start-stop and speed of the drive motor 8.

[0070] In one specific embodiment, the training cycle includes several rounds, each round sequentially comprising a relaxation hold period T1, a transition period T2, and a contraction hold period T3. The total duration of each training round is 20 seconds, where T1 is 8 seconds, T2 is 4 seconds, and T3 is 8 seconds.

[0071] During the relaxation and holding period T1: the drive motor 8 is controlled to operate at a constant speed (e.g., 5000 rpm). Within 8 seconds, the air pressure in the expansion chamber 3 gradually increases from 1.0 atm to 1.1 atm, and the gripping surface 2 expands outward, pushing the user's fingers to perform stretching exercises.

[0072] Transition period T2: Drive motor 8 decelerates, and air pressure drops from 1.1 atm to 1.0 atm within 4 seconds. This decompression process is a transition between relaxation and contraction, helping the fingers smoothly transition from an extended state to a flexed state.

[0073] Contraction and hold period T3: Control the drive motor 8 to operate at a higher speed (e.g., 7000 rpm), so that the air pressure in the expansion chamber 3 drops from 1.0 atm to 0.9 atm within 8 seconds, and the gripping surface 2 contracts inward to help the fingers complete the flexion training.

[0074] By controlling the start / stop and speed of the drive motor 8, the pressure changes within the expansion chamber 3 can be precisely controlled, generating a programmable pressure-time curve. This curve exhibits a "rise → transition → fall" pattern in each training round, allowing users to adjust the motor speed and operating time to achieve different training effects. For example, a relatively gentle pressure change can be set in the initial training phase, while a more dramatic pressure fluctuation can be selected in the intensive training phase to increase training intensity.

[0075] In one specific embodiment, this method indirectly determines the change in air pressure within the expansion chamber 3 by detecting changes in the operating current or speed of the drive motor 8. By monitoring the motor's operating status, when the change in the motor's current or speed reaches a preset threshold, the system automatically stops the motor and enters a holding phase, thereby avoiding discomfort to the user due to sudden changes in air pressure.

[0076] Specifically, during the operation of the drive motor 8, changes in airflow and cavity pressure cause variations in motor load, resulting in significant fluctuations in current or speed. These fluctuations can serve as indirect indicators of cavity pressure changes. The system monitors the motor's current or speed in real time and compares it with preset thresholds. When the change in current or speed exceeds the preset threshold, it means the air pressure is approaching the set target value, at which point the system automatically stops the motor.

[0077] For example, when the change in motor current exceeds a predetermined 10%, the system will determine that the air pressure in expansion chamber 3 has stabilized near the target value, and drive motor 8 will automatically stop running. At this time, the chamber pressure remains unchanged, and one-way air valve 30 will close to ensure pressure stability, thereby avoiding sudden pressure changes that could cause discomfort to the user.

[0078] The key to this method lies in using the monitoring of changes in the motor's operating status as a feedback mechanism for air pressure changes. This ensures a smoother air pressure regulation process and avoids human intervention or unnecessary complex operations. As a result, users can enjoy a more comfortable and safer experience during training, making it particularly suitable for patients in the rehabilitation phase.

[0079] Therefore, this application discloses a rehabilitation gripping ball 100 that addresses the core issues of hand muscle weakness, spasticity, and sensory feedback loss in stroke patients. Through an integrated pneumatic drive system, a drive motor 8 is embedded in the support component 5, and a gas channel 6 and a one-way valve 7 penetrate the ball wall, enabling dynamic adjustment of the gripping surface 2's hardness. During degassing, the expansion chamber 3 pressurizes, hardening the ball 1 to provide resistance gripping training and enhance muscle strength; during degassing, the pressure is reduced, softening the ball 1 to assist in the extension of spastic fingers and prevent contractures. The elastic material of the ball 1 directly translates air pressure changes into radial deformation of the gripping surface 2, simulating the gripping sensation of a real object to promote neurosensory reconstruction. Simultaneously, the compact, sealed structure eliminates the risk of leakage, making it suitable for use in scenarios involving patients with motor coordination disorders and sudden spasticity, achieving safe and controllable progressive rehabilitation training.

[0080] The embodiments described above are merely examples of several implementations of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these modifications and improvements all fall within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A rehabilitation grip ball, characterized in that, include: A sphere with a gripping surface on its outer circumference that contacts the user's fingers, and an expansion cavity inside the sphere filled with gas at a preset pressure. A drive mechanism is disposed within the expansion cavity, and the drive mechanism includes: The support component has a through-hole gas channel along its length. A one-way valve penetrates the wall thickness of the sphere, with its inner end connected to the first end of the gas channel and its outer end leading to the outside of the sphere. A drive motor is fixedly installed in the gas channel, dividing the gas channel into a first section that connects to the one-way gas valve and a second section that connects to the expansion chamber. When it is necessary to expand the gripping surface, the drive motor drives the gas to be drawn from the external environment through the one-way valve and the gas channel into the expansion chamber, so as to increase the gas pressure in the expansion chamber and drive the gripping surface to expand outward. When the gripping surface needs to be contracted, the drive motor drives the gas from the expansion chamber through the gas channel and the one-way valve to be discharged to the external environment, so as to reduce the gas pressure in the expansion chamber and drive the gripping surface to contract inward. The preset pressure value is between 0.8 standard atmospheres and 1.2 standard atmospheres.

2. The rehabilitation grip ball according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive motor is a miniature brushless motor, and its stator coils are encapsulated with a sealing layer to isolate gas.

3. A rehabilitation gripping ball according to claim 1, characterized in that, The one-way valve is either an umbrella-shaped one-way valve or a duckbill-shaped one-way valve.

4. A rehabilitation gripping ball according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive mechanism also includes a partition; The partition is disposed inside the sphere, dividing the internal space of the sphere into a first cavity and a second cavity; The first cavity is the expansion cavity; The second cavity is a filling cavity, which is filled with elastic cushioning material; The outer peripheral edge of the partition plate forms an interference fit with the inner wall of the sphere.

5. A rehabilitation gripping ball according to claim 4, characterized in that, The support member includes an integrally formed expansion cavity section and an extension; The expansion cavity segment is located within the expansion cavity; The extension extends from the expansion cavity section, and is at least partially located within the filling cavity and abuts against the elastic cushioning material. The extension is an elastic structure, which abuts against the elastic cushioning material to form a cushioning fit.

6. A rehabilitation gripping ball according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rehabilitation gripping ball also includes a fixing finger sleeve, which is fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the ball. The finger sleeve is used to fix the finger in use, and when viewed around the outer circumferential surface of the ball, multiple finger sleeves are respectively set for finger joints.

7. The rehabilitation grip ball according to claim 1, characterized in that, The one-way valve is a one-way valve assembly located at the same through hole. The one-way valve assembly includes a first valve plate and a second valve plate arranged opposite to each other. The first valve plate only allows the flow of the external environment to the gas passage, and the second valve plate only allows the flow of the gas passage to the external environment, so as to open the corresponding valve plate respectively under the conditions of inhalation and exhaust.

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