Physical function training device

Abstract

To provide a physical function training device that allows patients with spastic hand contractions who are unable to perform gripping movements to train their physical functions by supporting their upper limbs. [Solution] The physical function training device 1 includes a support part 2 capable of supporting the patient's upper limb at two points along its length, and a drive part 3 that swings the support part. Even patients whose hands are spastic and who cannot perform gripping movements can have their upper limbs stably supported by the support part 2 at two points along its length, and physical function training can be performed by swinging the support part 2.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a physical function training device for training the physical functions of patients with hand contracture, shoulder joint disease, etc.

Background Art

[0002] For patients with severe paralysis due to sequelae of cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke, many are restricted or impaired in QOL (Quality of Life) due to hand contracture. One of the reasons is that after the acute treatment of stroke, training is generally carried out in a rehabilitation hospital. The main purpose of the rehabilitation hospital is to return home, and training related to walking, such as being able to go to the toilet alone, is the main focus. Regarding upper limb paralysis, training often involves becoming self-reliant in daily life using the non-paralyzed upper limb, and there are many reported cases where the hand becomes a useless hand because training was not carried out at an appropriate time and in an appropriate manner.

[0003] Therefore, a rehabilitation support device has been developed that enables patients with hand contracture to efficiently perform rehabilitation by themselves without relying on a therapist (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The rehabilitation support device described in Patent Document 1 is characterized by including a rod-shaped gripping portion for a patient with difficulty opening the hand due to contracture to grip, and a driving portion for swinging the gripping portion within the hand of the patient who has gripped the gripping portion. According to this rehabilitation support device, when swinging the hand of the patient who has gripped the gripping portion, the forearm and upper arm are not pulled, and the fingers can be opened. Therefore, it is possible for patients with hand contracture to efficiently perform rehabilitation by themselves without relying on a therapist.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, patients with spasticity in their hands are often unable to support their hands on their own, and may not even be able to grasp the gripping part. Therefore, the objective of the present invention is to provide a physical function training device that can support the upper limbs and train physical functions even in patients whose hands are spastic and who are unable to perform gripping movements. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The physical function training device of the present invention includes a support unit capable of supporting a patient's upper limb at two points along its length, and a drive unit that swings the support unit. According to the physical function training device of the present invention, even patients whose hands are spastic and who cannot perform gripping movements can have their upper limbs stably supported by the support unit at two points along its length, and physical function training can be performed by swinging this support unit.

[0007] Here, it is desirable that the support part has a gripping arm that is roughly U-shaped when viewed from the direction of swinging. This allows the upper limb to be placed on the support part from the side or diagonally when the roughly U-shaped base is viewed from the front, and the upper limb to be stably supported on the support part at two points along the length of the upper limb, enabling physical function training.

[0008] The drive unit preferably includes a crank mechanism comprising a crank rotated by a rotary drive motor, an intermediate link connected to the crank, and a swinging arm that can swing around a fixed rotation axis, with the intermediate link connected to one end of the swinging arm and a support fixed to the other end, straddling the rotation axis. This makes it possible to reduce the speed difference during swinging compared to a method in which the movable part swings like a pendulum using an eccentric cam, as in the rehabilitation support device described in Patent Document 1.

[0009] Furthermore, it is desirable that the drive unit includes a belt transmission mechanism that transmits the power of the rotary drive motor to the crank. This reduces the noise generated during rotation compared to a system that directly transmits the motor's rotation to an eccentric cam, as described in the rehabilitation support device in Patent Document 1.

[0010] Furthermore, it is desirable that the physical function training device of the present invention includes an anti-tipping arm extending downward from the support section. This prevents the device from tilting even when a load is applied to the support section. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] (1) The configuration includes a support unit that can support the patient's upper limb at two points along its length, and a drive unit that swings the support unit. This configuration allows even patients whose hands are spastic and unable to grasp to stably support their upper limbs at two points along their length, enabling physical function training. Furthermore, after the spasticity subsides and the hand can open, the support unit can be grasped by the hand and the drive unit can be used to swing it, allowing for further physical function training.

[0012] (2) The support part has a gripping arm that is roughly U-shaped when viewed from the direction of swinging, which allows for flexibility in the direction in which the upper limb is placed on the support part, and makes it possible to change the direction depending on the degree of extension and retraction to perform physical function training.

[0013] (3) The drive unit includes a crank mechanism which comprises a crank rotated by a rotary drive motor, an intermediate link connected to the crank, and a swinging arm that can swing around a fixed rotation axis, with the intermediate link connected to one end of the swinging arm and a support fixed to the other end, straddling the rotation axis. This makes it possible to reduce the speed difference during swinging and to reproduce a natural rocking motion.

[0014] (4) The driving unit includes a belt transmission mechanism that transmits the power of the rotary drive motor to the crank, thereby reducing the noise generated during rotation.

[0015] (5) By including an anti-tipping arm extending downward from the support portion, even when a load is applied to the support portion, the device can be prevented from tipping, and physical function training can be stably performed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view of the physical function training device in the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a plan view of the physical function training device of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a front view of the physical function training device of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] It is a right side view of the physical function training device of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] It is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration of the driving unit of the physical function training device of FIG. 1. [Figure 6] It is an explanatory view showing an example of use of the physical function training device of FIG. 1. [Figure 7] It is an explanatory view showing an example of use of the physical function training device of FIG. 第1図の身体機能訓練装置の使用例を示す説明図である。 [Figure 8] It is an explanatory view showing an example of use of the physical function training device of FIG. 1.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the physical function training device in the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view, FIG. 3 is a front view, FIG. 4 is a right side view, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration of the driving unit.

[0018] In FIGS. 1 to 5, a body function training device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is an automatic jigging (rocking) device having a support portion 2 that supports the upper limb or the like of a patient, and a drive portion 3 (see FIG. 5) that swings the support portion 2. The support portion 2 is provided so as to project outward from the housing 4. The drive portion 3 swings the support portion 2 in the vertical direction (swing direction W). The drive portion 3 is provided inside the housing 4. An operation panel 5 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 4. Further, a fall prevention arm 6 extending downward from the support portion 2 is provided at the lower portion of the housing 4.

[0019] The drive portion 3 includes a rotary drive motor 7 and a crank mechanism 8 that converts the rotational motion of the rotary drive motor 7 into the swinging motion of the support portion 2. The crank mechanism 8 includes a crank 10 rotated by the rotary drive motor 7, a swing arm 20 to which the support portion 2 is fixed, and an intermediate link 30 connected to the crank 10 and the swing arm 20.

[0020] The crank 10 rotates around a rotary shaft 11 fixed inside the housing 4. The power of the rotary drive motor 7 is transmitted to the crank 10 by a belt transmission mechanism 9. The crank 10 has a link shaft 12 at a position offset from the rotary shaft 11. The intermediate link 30 is rotatably connected to the link shaft 12.

[0021] The swing arm 20 is swingable around a rotary shaft 21 fixed inside the housing 4. The intermediate link 30 is rotatably connected to a link shaft 22 provided on one end side of the swing arm 20. The support portion 2 is fixed to the other end side straddling the rotary shaft 21 with respect to the one end provided with the link shaft 22.

[0022] The support portion 2 has a substantially U-shaped grippable arm 23 as viewed from the swing direction W. The arm 23 is fixed to the swing arm 20 via a bracket 24. The arm 23 is configured such that a cylindrical pipe bent in a substantially U shape is covered with a cover of a soft material. Male screw portions 25 are formed at both ends of the arm 23. The arm 23 is detachably fixed to the bracket 24 by nuts 26 screwed onto the male screw portions 25.

[0023] The control panel 5 is equipped with a start / stop button 51, a time setting button 52, a speed adjustment knob 53, a power lamp 54, a 5-minute time indicator lamp 55, and a 10-minute time indicator lamp 56. Pressing the start / stop button 51 starts or stops the operation. Pressing the time setting button 52 switches the timer setting time to 5 minutes or 10 minutes, and the 5-minute time indicator lamp 55 or the 10-minute time indicator lamp 56 lights up. Turning the speed adjustment knob 53 allows the oscillation speed to be adjusted between 2Hz and 4Hz. The power lamp 54 lights up when the main power switch (not shown) is turned on.

[0024] Next, the operation and usage status of the physical function training device 1 with the above configuration will be described. When the physical function training device 1 is placed in a stable location and the main power switch is turned on, the 5-minute indicator lamp 55 lights up. At this time, the timer is set to 5 minutes. If the time setting button 52 is pressed, the 10-minute indicator lamp 56 lights up, and the timer is set to 10 minutes. If the time setting button 52 is pressed again, the 5-minute indicator lamp 55 lights up, and the timer is set back to 5 minutes.

[0025] As shown in Figure 6, the operation starts when patient M's upper limb A is placed on the arm 23 and the start / stop button 51 is pressed. Power from the rotary drive motor 7 is transmitted to the crank 10 by the belt drive mechanism 9, and the crank 10 rotates around the rotation axis 11. Since the rotation axis 21 of the oscillating arm 20 is fixed inside the housing 4, the crank mechanism 8 causes the oscillating arm 20 to oscillate around the rotation axis 21, and the arm 23 oscillates in the oscillating direction W. At this time, the oscillating speed can be adjusted by turning the speed adjustment knob 53. Then, the operation automatically stops when the timer setting time has elapsed.

[0026] As shown in Figure 6, in the physical function training device 1 of this embodiment, the support part 2 is capable of supporting the patient M's upper limb A at two points along its length. Even in patients whose hand H is spastic and who cannot perform a gripping motion, the upper limb A can be stably supported by the support part 2 at two points along its length, and physical function training can be performed by swinging the support part 2. In this embodiment, the physical function training device 1 is equipped with an anti-tipping arm 6 that extends downward from the support part 2, so that the device does not tilt even when a load is applied to the support part 2.

[0027] Furthermore, in the physical function training device 1 of this embodiment, the support part 2 is a gripping arm 23 that is roughly U-shaped when viewed from the direction of swing W. As shown in Figure 6, when the roughly U-shaped bottom part 23A is viewed from the front, the upper limb A can be placed on the support part 2 not only from the side but also from an oblique direction, and the upper limb A can be stably supported at two points along its length, thereby enabling physical function training.

[0028] Furthermore, in the physical function training device 1 of this embodiment, it is possible to place the hand H on the arm 23 as shown in Figures 7 and 8(B), or to grasp the arm 23 with the hand H as shown in Figure 8(A). As a result, after the spasticity has subsided and the hand H has opened, the arm 23 can be swung while being grasped by the hand H, as shown in Figure 8(A). This allows for further training of physical functions.

[0029] In other words, in the physical function training device 1 of this embodiment, it is possible to place not only the hand H but also the upper limb A on the arm 23 and shake the shoulder, allowing for training of physical function not only for hand spasticity but also for patients with shoulder joint disorders (such as frozen shoulder). Furthermore, since the arm 23 of the physical function training device 1 of this embodiment is detachable from the bracket 24, it is possible to replace it with an arm of different length and height. This allows the position on which the upper limb is placed to be varied according to the patient.

[0030] Furthermore, in the physical function training device 1 of this embodiment, the drive unit 3 is a crank mechanism 8 having a crank 10 rotated by a rotary drive motor 7, an intermediate link 30 connected to the crank 10, and a swinging arm 20 that can swing around a fixed rotation axis 21, with the intermediate link 30 connected to one end of the swinging arm 20 and a support part 2 fixed to the other end, straddling the rotation axis 21. As a result, the speed difference during swinging is reduced.

[0031] Furthermore, in the physical function training device 1 of this embodiment, the drive unit 3 transmits the power of the rotary drive motor 7 to the crank 10 via the belt transmission mechanism 9, thereby reducing the noise generated during rotation to approximately 50-55 dB. [Industrial applicability]

[0032] The present invention is useful as a physical function training device for training the physical functions of patients with conditions such as hand spasticity and shoulder joint disorder, and is particularly suitable as a physical function training device that can support the upper limbs and train physical functions even in patients who have hand spasticity and are unable to perform gripping movements. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1 Physical function training device 2 Support part 3. Drive Unit 4 cabinets 5 Control panel 6. Anti-tip arm 7 Rotary drive motor 8 Crank mechanism 9. Belt transmission mechanism 10 Crank 11 Rotation axis 12 Link Axis 20 Swivel Arm 21 Rotation axis 22 Link axis 23 Arms 24 brackets 25 Male threaded section 26 nuts 30 Intermediate Links

Claims

1. A support unit capable of supporting the patient's upper limb at two points along its length, A drive unit that swings the support unit and A physical function training device that includes [this].

2. The physical function training device according to claim 1, wherein the support portion has a substantially U-shaped gripping arm when viewed from the direction of swinging.

3. The physical function training device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drive unit includes a crank mechanism comprising a crank rotated by a rotary drive motor, an intermediate link connected to the crank, and a swinging arm that can swing around a fixed rotation axis, the swinging arm having the intermediate link connected to one end and the support unit fixed to the other end, straddling the rotation axis.

4. The physical function training device according to claim 3, wherein the drive unit includes a belt transmission mechanism that transmits the power of the rotary drive motor to the crank.

5. The physical function training device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a fall prevention arm extending downward from the support portion.

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