Pediatric hand grip strength measurement device

Abstract

The invention relates to a hand grip strength measurement device that enables the objective and accurate determination of hand grip strength in healthy / sick children and adolescents within the pediatric population.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION PEDIATRIC HAND GRIP STRENGTH MEASUREMENT DEVICE

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to a hand grip strength measurement device that enables the objective and accurate determination of hand grip strength in healthy / sick children and adolescents within the pediatric population.

[0004] PRIOR ART

[0005] Hand grip strength is an objective measure of muscle function. Due to its advantages such as being non-invasive, simple, fast, inexpensive, and having high inter-rater reliability, it is suitable for routine use in community screenings and clinical practice. In adult patients, hand grip strength determined by a hand dynamometer is an important measurement used in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up period of nutritional disorders such as sarcopenia, malnutrition, and frailty. In the pediatric population, it is known to be one of the important tests in the evaluation of musculoskeletal health in adolescents and a useful method in assessing physical health in children and adolescents. Moreover, hand grip strength not only reflects total muscle strength and lean body mass but is also associated with bone mass. Similar to adults, there are data indicating that hand grip strength is a predictive assessment method for nutritional disorders in children.

[0006] The most widely used hand dynamometers in the literature and in clinical settings are the Jamar and Takei brand products. The Takei brand product is a digital dynamometer. Jamar, on the other hand, has a hydraulic system. The Jamar dynamometer consists of an adjustable anatomical hard handle, a hydraulic system, and an analog display, and is accepted as the gold standard. Similar to Jamar, Takei has also been found to be a valid and reliable tool for hand grip strength measurement. It consists of an adjustable ergonomic handle, an electromechanical system, and a digital display. However, both of these devices have been developed for the adult population. Preliminary studies conducted by the research team revealed that both hand dynamometer brands mentioned above cause fear in hospitalized children, leading to refusal to participate in the measurement. Furthermore, the weight of both dynamometers makes it impossible especially for younger healthy and sick children to perform the measurement without assistance. Children struggle during these measurements. And in some children, the measurement could not be performed for this reason. This situation jeopardizes the reliability of the measurement. In addition, particularly in more fragile patient populations, such as oncology patients, hand grip strength measurements of children were frequently recorded as 0 due to the measurement difficulty of the device. In light of these findings, the need for a new device has been identified to ensure accurate evaluation of hand grip strength measurement in the pediatric population.

[0007] A research of national and international patents regarding the evaluation of hand grip strength in the pediatric population revealed an application numbered 2021 / 009555. Within the scope of this patent, it was reported that researchers aimed to develop a device that collects information during the performance of the gripping ability regarding how this ability is carried out, how the generated force is distributed, and which regions of the hand contribute minimally and / or maximally to force production. One of the subobjectives of this device was to develop a device capable of objectively measuring and recording hand grip ability in infants and children, based on the principles defined by themselves. This device consists of a cylindrical hand grip meter and a visual interface.

[0008] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The purposes and prototype of the device developed within the scope of the invention differ from the state of the art. Firstly, the device to be used both in community health screenings and in screening the muscular state of children admitted to the hospital has to be fast and practical. The presence of an analog display on the measuring device affects measurement reliability in children. This is because children's ability to receive and execute commands is different from the adult population. It is also important that the device does not cause fear and anxiety in children and adolescents when measurements are requested. Otherwise, the child will refuse to be measured, or when urged to be measured by family / healthcare personnel, will apply force in a way that does not reflect the actual measurement, or the measurement will be inaccurate due to incorrect positioning. Another important issue is that the use of this measurement in screening for the risk of nutritional disorders and monitoring nutritional therapy requires the device to be easily portable.

[0010] While the dynamometers in the state of the art are developed for the adult population, the main purpose of the device defined in the invention is to perform objective and real measurement of the hand grip strength of the pediatric age group.

[0011] Since the use of a hand dynamometer with an analog display can lead to measurement error in children and adolescents, this device includes a digital display. Also the weight of existing hand dynamometers (Jamar: 1.81 kg and Takei: 0.65 kg) prevents young and / or sick children from holding and lifting these dynamometers to take measurements in the recommended position. The weight of the device defined within the scope of the invention is minimal and its shape is in the form of a ball. The size is large enough for the hand to comfortably grasp. Since the invention is designed in this way, unlike other dynamometers, the measurement reliability will not be affected by the weight of the device.

[0012] Hand dynamometers available in the current literature have the potential to cause anxiety and fear in children and adolescents, therefore within the scope of the invention, a ball-shaped device has been designed in a way that can attract children’s attention, that is easy to carry, and does not cause fear. In addition, since not all children have the same sized palms and a single standard measuring device would be both impractical and would jeopardize measurement reliability, a device that can be used in three different sizes according to the width of the palms of children and adolescents was designed. The recommended methods for measuring hand grip strength involve taking the average of three separate measurements. Within the scope of the developed device, measurements are taken automatically and the average can be seen on the digital display. This makes measurement evaluation practical.

[0013] LIST OF DRAWINGS

[0014] Fig. 1 . Overall view of the invention

[0015] Fig. 2. Exploded view of the invention

[0016] Fig. 3. View of central core superstructure Fig. 4. Exploded view of central core superstructures

[0017] References for the numbering given in the figures:

[0018] 1 . Rubber soft cover

[0019] 2. Data transmission cable

[0020] 3. Digital display

[0021] 4. Pressure gauge

[0022] 5. Pressure gauge data transmission cable

[0023] 6. Microcontroller

[0024] 7. Central core

[0025] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The invention comprises the following parts: rubber soft cover (1 ), data transmission cables (2), digital display (3), pressure gauge (4), pressure gauge data transmission cable (5), microcontroller (6), and central core (7).

[0027] The rubber soft cover (1) has a spherical structure and is the cover of the exterior of the device subject to the invention for measuring hand grip strength. The digital display (3) is the unit where the values obtained as a result of the measurement are visualized and transmitted to the user. The pressure gauge (4) is the unit for measuring hand grip strength. The data obtained from the pressure gauge (4) during manual gripping is transmitted to the microcontroller (6) and converted into meaningful information. The microcontroller (6) is the unit that performs the mathematical calculation of the change of the data received from the pressure gauge (4) according to the determined reference values and transfers it to the digital display (3). The central core (7) is the part on which the pressure measuring units (4) are covered and the microcontroller is positioned.

[0028] The rubber soft cover (1) is formed by coating all the parts placed on the central core (7) and has a spherical structure. This design is ergonomically optimized so that children can easily grasp the device and feel comfortable during use. At least one strip pressure gauge (4) connected to the central core (7) measures the hand grip force applied to the device. These pressure gauges (4) are designed to sensitively detect children's hand grip strength. Since the pressure gauges (4) can be more than one, they can be installed on the central core (7) in a way that covers the core surface. The aim here is to leave as much free space as possible on the center core (7). Because the main purpose of the invention, no matter where the user grasps and applies pressure, is to be able to measure this pressure. Therefore, every area that can be gripped is intended to be covered with pressure gauges (4). These measurements, obtained digitally by means of pressure gauges (4), are processed and converted into meaningful information by the microcontroller (6) located within the central core (7). This data is then transmitted to the digital display (3) via data transmission cables (2). The measurements taken are clearly displayed to the user via the digital display (3).

[0029] During the hand gripping operation, the user grasps the round or circular device covered with a rubber soft cover (1 ). As the hand grips the device, the pressure applied by the user is detected by the strip pressure gauge (4). The strip pressure gauge (4) senses the force applied by the hand and converts it into an electrical signal. This signal is transmitted to the microcontroller (6) located in the Central core (7). The microcontroller (6) processes the raw data from the pressure gauge (4) and converts it into meaningful information. The microcontroller (6) analyzes the obtained data and calculates the hand grip strength values. The processed data is transmitted to the digital display (3) via data transmission cables (2). The digital display (3) displays the measured hand grip strength values to the user in a clear and understandable way. The digital display (3) may include graphics, numerical values, or animations that may be of interest to children.

[0030] The ergonomic and rubberized soft cover (1) of the device allows children to use it comfortably and without fear. This feature especially helps children to feel safe in the hospital environment. Thanks to its lightweight and portable design, the device can be easily used in various environments (hospital, school, home, etc.). This portability makes the device accessible to a wide range of users and provides a practical solution for regular health screenings.

[0031] The combination of pressure gauge (4) and microcontroller (6) ensures reliable and fast measurement. This allows accurate and reliable assessment of hand grip strength in the pediatric population. The digital display (3) of the device subject to the invention shows the measurement results quickly and thus provides an easy monitoring opportunity for both healthcare personnel and parents. Furthermore, the device's user- friendly interface ensures that children find the measurement process fun and encourages their cooperation. This makes the measurement process less stressful and more efficient.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A pediatric hand grip strength measurement device, characterized in that it comprises: a rubber soft cover (1) contacted and compressed by the user; a digital display (3) showing the results to the user; at least one pressure gauge (4) positioned on the central core (7) for measuring hand grip strength and transmitting it to the microcontroller (6); a pressure gauge data transmission cable (5) enabling the transmission of the data obtained by the pressure gauge (4) to the microcontroller (6); a microcontroller (6) processing the data obtained by the pressure gauge (4); and data transmission cables (2) enabling the transmission of the data converted into meaningful data in the microcontroller (6) to the digital display (3).

2. The rubber soft cover (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that it has a spherical form.

3. The pressure gauges (4) according to claim 1 , characterized in that they are placed on the central core (7) so as to cover the entire surface of the central core (7).

4. The digital display (3) according to claim 1 , characterized in that it is configured to provide a display with graphics, numerical values, or animation.

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