Adaptive Grip Training for Hand Grasping and Opening Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hand rehabilitation equipment lacks the ability to provide selective force control schemes and is limited by resource accessibility, leading to inadequate dosage and reduced patient motivation, failing to effectively restore hand grasping and opening capabilities suitable for specific user requirements.
Innovation Solution
A limb training device with a controllably adjustable grip unit that measures and adjusts hand gripping and opening forces, incorporating a sensing system and actuation system to simulate real-life tasks, and a control system to manage exercises and provide tactile feedback, allowing for force control and error correction schemes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional hand gripping/opening training equipment is used, then basic hand exercise function is provided, but selective force control schemes cannot be provided leading to inadequate dosage and reduced patient motivation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the force control scheme based on real-time measurement of patient's hand gripping/opening forces. The actuation system modifies the grip unit's resistance dynamically during exercise, transitioning between different force control modes (assistive, resistive, isometric) to provide adaptive rehabilitation dosing suited to each patient's capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing system continuously measures the patient's hand forces during exercise and feeds this information back to the control system. This feedback enables real-time adjustment of the actuation system to maintain optimal force control schemes, ensuring appropriate exercise dosage and preventing patient frustration through responsive force modulation.
2Ease of operation
If conventional training equipment is used, then resource accessibility is limited, but this leads to inadequate dosage and reduced patient motivation
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables patients to self-regulate their exercise intensity through the adaptive force control mechanisms. The sensing system captures the patient's own force output, and the actuation system automatically adjusts resistance based on measured performance, allowing patients to independently perform customized rehabilitation without requiring constant therapist intervention or specialized equipment resources.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a controllably adjustable grip unit with sensing and actuation systems is implemented, then selective force control and error correction are provided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing system, actuation system, and control system are integrated into a unified grip unit assembly. The force sensors are embedded within the grip unit structure, and the actuation mechanism is coupled directly to the same assembly, merging multiple functional subsystems into a compact integrated device that reduces overall system complexity while maintaining advanced force control capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments relate to a limb exercising system comprising a grip training unit configured to be engaged by an exercised limb of a user, and to controllably perform contraction or expansion of a cross-section thereof, and a sensing system coupled to the grip training unit and configured to generate measurement data/signals indicative of gripping or opening action of the exercised limb for control of said contraction or expansion of said grip training unit. Various error enhancement schemes usable for the limb exercising system and/or its grip training unit, and/or for isometrically exercising a body portion/limb, are also disclosed.