Mobile device for proprioceptive stimulation

Abstract

FIELD: medical technology.SUBSTANCE: invention which can be used in the process of habilitation and rehabilitation of children with motor disorders. The proprioceptive stimulation device is designed to be integrated into the back of a modular wheelchair for children with motor impairments. The device contains support elements for contact with the user's body with the ability to adjust the position. A support stand equipped with hinges is vertically attached to the center of the device frame. The hinges are designed to move forward and backward. The spring elements, movably attached to the hinges, are equipped with flexible strips. The bars contain X-shaped stimulation elements, equipped with support elements in the form of convex stops at the ends. The X-shaped stimulation elements are positioned so that they can be moved along the bar and removed. The device is equipped with a double-sided, loose-fitting case, one side of which is lined.EFFECT: mobile, compact device is provided, the use of which creates conditions for proprioceptive stimulation both in specialized medical institutions and at home.1 cl, 4 dwg

Description

[0001] FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

[0002] The invention relates to medicine, in particular to medical technology, and can be used in carrying out proprioceptive stimulation in the process of habilitation and rehabilitation of children with motor disorders.

[0003] STATE OF THE ART

[0004] Proprioception is the perception of the position of body parts relative to each other and in space. Thanks to various proprioceptor organs, information is transmitted along large nerve fibers in the peripheral nerves and the posterior columns of the spinal cord to the nuclei of the central nervous system and then, via the thalamus, to the parietal lobe of the brain, where a body schema is formed (Schmidt, Robert F. (Robert F. Schmidt). Somatovisceral sensitivity / / Fundamentals of Sensory Physiology / Ed. by Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences A.L. Byzov. - Moscow: Mir, 1984. - pp. 108-115 p.).

[0005] The main cause of childhood disabilities in young children is movement disorders. (Treatment of nervous system diseases in children. Clinical guidelines for physicians. Ed. by VP Zykov. 4th edn, rev. and supply. Moscow: Triada-X, 2016. 424 p. (In Russ.)]. The main influence on the formation of the functions of postural control and locomotion during the intrauterine development of the brain is exerted by polymodal afferentation of the brain and, to a greater extent, proprioceptive impulses, which play a crucial role after the birth of the child, determining and modeling the entire process of movement. (Orbeli L.A. Adaptation and trophic function of the nervous system. Selected works. Vol. 2. M.-L.: Publishing house USSR Academy of Sciences, 1962. 608 p. [Orbeli LA Adaptive trophic function of the nervous system. Selected works. Vol. 2.Moscow-Leningrad: USSR Academy of Sciences, 1962. 608 p. (In Russ.)].

[0006] Physical habilitation is a complex process that promotes the development of motor skills that were not initially developed in children. Physical habilitation methods are effective in cases of motor dysfunction with the aim of improving motor activity and spasticity control. (Novak I., McIntyre S., Morgan C. et al. A systematic review of interventions for children with cerebral palsy: state of the evidence. Dev Med Child Neurol 2013; 55(10):885-910. DOI: 10.1111 / dmcn.12246.

[0007] Proprioceptive stimulation, one of the methods with confirmed effectiveness in the development of motor activity. (Sokolov PL. Cerebral palsy: dysontogenesis and restorative treatment. Moscow, 2012. 217 p. (In Russ.)].

[0008] Corrected proprioceptive impulses contribute to the normalization of the activity of damaged structures of the nervous system that control motor skills and stop or prevent the process of pathological changes in the musculoskeletal system. (Preobrazhenskaya IG, Shelyakin AM, Katysheva MV et al. Impact of afferent signals from the locomotor system on mental functions of children with cerebral palsy. Human Physiology 1997; 23 (1): 47-9. (In Russ.)].

[0009] However, despite the importance of proprioceptive stimulation for children with motor impairments, the range of devices available remains limited and inaccessible. Most existing devices are material-intensive and bulky, making them restricted to medical and rehabilitation facilities. The confinement of existing devices to hospitals makes proprioceptive stimulation difficult to access and significantly time-limited. This creates a "deficit" of proprioceptive stimulation, while frequent and longer sessions are needed to improve motor activity and control spasticity.

[0010] A prior art device for training proprioception (EA Patent No. 037165 B1) consists of a ramp-stairs and an oscillating platform. The ramp-stairs includes alternating movable and fixed handrails, the movable handrails suspended by flexible suspensions and swinging. Swinging steps leading downward are also suspended at the top of the ramp. The oscillating platform also includes alternating movable and fixed handrails and a horizontal platform suspended by flexible suspensions with a lever for adjusting the amplitude of its oscillations.

[0011] The disadvantages of this well-known exercise machine include its bulky, material-intensive design, which requires a separate room for operation.

[0012] A haptic feedback device integrated into gloves (Patent No. 2820418) is known. It consists of an inner and outer housing formed from plates with cylindrical recesses. The cylinders are provided with through holes in the center, and return springs are located within the cylinders, into which haptic elements are inserted. The haptic elements consist of rods with magnetic washers attached to their ends. The inner housing is mounted inside the glove so that its cover is flush with the glove material, and the haptic elements are oriented with the rods facing upward, allowing the fingertips to rest on them.

[0013] The disadvantages of the known device include low functionality due to the limited area of ​​application (only on the pads of the phalanges of the fingers).

[0014] A prior art method for non-invasive proprioceptive stimulation for the treatment of epilepsy (US Patent No. 20220211319 A1) describes a device equipped with a vibration motor connected to a controller configured to control the vibration movement of the vibration motor. At least one vibration motor is located on a subject's limb and generates a vibration stimulation signal.

[0015] The disadvantages of the known device include its complex, bulky design, which requires a stationary power source for operation. The presence of vibrations carries the risk of frightening a child during initial use and the development of a persistent fear of the device.

[0016] A proprioceptive kinesthetic device and its method of use are known from the prior art (Patent RU No. 2343946). The device consists of a shoe comprising a support element attached to the foot and two support elements mounted on the lower surface of the support element. One of the support elements is located closer to the rear. Protrusions are mounted on said surface and can be slid, positioned, and secured as desired.

[0017] The disadvantages of the known device include increased labor costs associated with the need to involve several medical workers to conduct a proprioception stimulation session.

[0018] Of the known technical solutions, the vibration system (RU Patent No. 2648860 C2) is closest in purpose and technical essence to the claimed object. The system comprises a device consisting of support elements for the user's body, arranged to provide support for the occipital region, lumbar region, buttocks, hand region, popliteal region, and heel. The support elements are designed to allow contact between the user's body, in a reclining position, and the support surfaces only in the specified zones. Each support element contains a corresponding vibration device for transmitting controlled vibration to the body using an electronic control device. The vibration devices comprise an electric motor for rotating an eccentric weight and audio headphones.

[0019] The disadvantages of this well-known device include its complex, expensive design, with numerous small parts. Failure of any one of these parts could lead to an emergency situation involving electrical or mechanical stress on the user. The device's design requires the user to assume a semi-recumbent position, which is extremely difficult to achieve with proprioceptive stimulation in children and can lead to resistance, negatively impacting their nervous system and psyche.

[0020] DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Thus, to solve existing problems, there is a need to create a mobile compact device, the use of which creates conditions for proprioceptive stimulation at any time convenient for the user.

[0022] The technical result of the claimed invention is the development of a compact proprioceptive stimulation device with the possibility of integration into the back of a modular wheelchair for children with motor impairments, the use of which creates conditions for carrying out proprioceptive stimulation both in specialized medical institutions and at home.

[0023] The technical result is achieved by a proprioceptive stimulation device integrated into the backrest of a modular wheelchair for children with motor impairments. The device consists of a frame with a vertically attached support post in the center. The support post is equipped with hinges. Spring elements are movably attached to the hinges, and flexible bars are attached to these spring elements. These bars support X-shaped stimulation elements, each equipped with a convex stop at each end. The device is also equipped with a loose-fitting cover made of a dense material, with one side lined. The device can be made of lightweight, durable materials commonly used in the industry for such devices, such as polypropylene, polycarbonate, nylon, etc.

[0024] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] Fig. 1 - Proprioceptive stimulation device integrated into the backrest of a stroller for children with motor impairments (side view).

[0026] 1 - Frame;

[0027] 2 - Support stand;

[0028] 3 - Hinges;

[0029] 4 - Spring elements;

[0030] 5 - Flexible strips;

[0031] 6 - X-shaped stimulation elements;

[0032] 7 - Convex stops.

[0033] Fig. 2 - X-shaped stimulation elements (top view).

[0034] 6 - X-shaped stimulation elements;

[0035] 7 - Convex stops.

[0036] Fig. 3 - Double-sided loose-fitting case placed on the device.

[0037] 8 - Double-sided loose-fitting cover;

[0038] 9 - Side of double-sided loose-fitting cover with lining;

[0039] 10 - The side of the double-sided cover is loose-fitting and unlined.

[0040] Fig. 4 - Spring element (top view).

[0041] 4 - Spring element.

[0042] IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] The following describes in detail all the components of the proposed invention with reference to the drawings and the reference numbers indicated therein for a more complete understanding of the scope and all technical aspects of the claimed technical solution by a person skilled in the art.

[0044] A proprioceptive stimulation device integrated into the backrest of a modular wheelchair for children with motor impairments (Fig. 1) consisting of a frame [1] to which a support post [2] is vertically attached in the center. The support post [2] is provided with hinges [3] that can be extended forward and backward. Spring elements [4] are movably attached to the hinges [3] (Fig. 4). Flexible bars [5] are attached to the spring elements [4]; X-shaped stimulation elements [6] (Fig. 2) are placed on them, equipped with convex stops [7] at the ends. In this case, the X-shaped stimulation elements [6] are placed so as to be able to move along the bars [5] and, if necessary, be dismantled from them. The device is provided with (Fig.3) a double-sided, free-cut cover [8] (made from any dense material used in the industry for the production of covers, for example, from artificial upholstery leather GOST R 57019-2016) of which one side [9] is made with a lining of a soft elastic material (for example, from rigid polyurethane foam GOST R 56590-2015), and the opposite side

[10] is without a lining. The device can be made of lightweight, durable material used in industry for such devices, such as polypropylene, polycarbonate, nylon, etc. The device is attached to the modular stroller using any fasteners (GOST 27017-86) used in industry, such as: DIN 912 М6×30 cylindrical head screws, ISO 7380-1 М6×16 round head screws, DIN 125 Мб flat washers, DIN 986 М6 cap nuts, etc.

[0045] The device operates as follows.

[0046] During use, the double-sided, loose-fitting cover [8] is placed over the convex supports [7], with the

[10] side unlined, to ensure greater contact between the device and the user's body. The user rests their back against the device, causing the convex supports [7] to continuously contact the user's body with varying force and in various locations, depending on the user's body displacement. The user's movements and the surface terrain on which the wheelchair moves influence the degree of body displacement and, consequently, the force and speed of contact between the convex supports [7]. Thus, the user experiences relaxed, continuous, and varied proprioceptive stimulation throughout their entire stay in the wheelchair.

[0047] When the convex pads [7] touch the user's body in various places and with varying force, various signals are transmitted to the brain, where the information is processed. Through the contact of the convex pads [7] with various proprioceptors (located in muscles, ligaments, joint capsules, and skin), information is transmitted via nerve fibers in the peripheral nerves and the posterior columns of the spinal cord to the central nervous system and then, via the thalamus, to the parietal lobe of the brain, where a body schema is formed. This continuous stimulation of proprioception promotes positive brain function.

[0048] During use, the device's ergonomics can be adjusted by moving it along the bars [5] or removing individual X-shaped stimulation elements [6], as well as by sliding the spring elements [4] forward or backward, or tilting it depending on the user's wishes and needs. The spring elements [4] and flexible bars [5] in the design soften sharp impacts of the user's body against the convex stops when the stroller is moving over an uneven, intermittent surface. The double-sided, free-cut cover [8] allows for gradual adaptation of the child to the device, allowing for a gradual increase in stimulation time. Interval stimulation can be performed with a specific time interval between stimulation and rest sessions, simply by turning the cover over.

[0049] For example, to gradually acclimate a child to the proposed device, it was decided to conduct short sessions of proprioceptive stimulation, say 20 minutes followed by a 30-minute deactivation interval. To do this, the cover [8] is placed with the

[10] side over the X-shaped stimulation elements [6], then the child is seated in the stroller and the stroller is moved in a relaxed environment (a walk, the way home, etc.). After 20 minutes, the double-sided, loose-fitting cover [8] is turned over with the [9] side with the lining over the stops, deactivating the device. The time intervals given in the example are chosen arbitrarily; in real-life conditions, parents or healthcare professionals may use any time intervals at their discretion.

[0050] The proposed technical solution allows for the integration of a proprioceptive stimulation device into the backrest of a modular wheelchair for children with motor impairments and the implementation of proprioceptive stimulation both in medical facilities and at home, at any time convenient for the user.

Claims

A device for proprioceptive stimulation, designed with the possibility of integration into the back of a modular wheelchair for children with motor impairments and containing support elements for contact with the user's body, designed with the possibility of adjusting the position, characterized in that it contains a frame, to which a support post is vertically attached in the center, provided with hinges designed with the possibility of sliding back and forth, to which spring elements are movably attached, provided with flexible bars, on which X-shaped stimulation elements are placed, provided at the ends with support elements in the form of convex stops, wherein the X-shaped stimulation elements are placed with the possibility of moving along the bar and dismantling, the device is provided with a double-sided cover of a free cut, one side of which is made with a lining.

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