Hand Therapy Kit with Elastic Cord and Rigid Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients requiring hand physical therapy face challenges due to the need for frequent visits to professional offices, which can be inconvenient and costly, as many exercises could be performed at home with common objects.
Innovation Solution
A hand therapy kit with an elastic cord attached to a rigid surface for finger exercises, along with removable modules and a motion recognition system, allowing for home-based physical therapy with minimal medical supervision and reduced costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If patients attend professional physical therapy offices for hand treatment, then they receive professional supervision and guidance, but they face travel time, childcare requirements, and frequent appointments over multiple weeks or months
Solution Approach 1:
The therapy system is segmented into portable modular components including an elastic cord, rigid surface, and exercise guide that can be distributed and used at home, separating the therapy delivery from the clinical setting while maintaining effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
A motion recognition system acts as an intermediary between the patient and professional therapist, using cameras and software to monitor and guide exercises remotely, providing professional supervision without requiring in-person visits
2Ease of operation
If patients perform exercises at home with common household objects, then convenience and cost are improved, but lack of specialized therapeutic equipment may reduce treatment effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides specialized therapeutic quality locally through a rigid surface with precisely positioned contact points and an elastic cord configured for specific hand therapy exercises, ensuring treatment effectiveness while maintaining home convenience
Solution Approach 2:
The therapy kit combines multiple therapeutic functions in a single portable system, including various elastic cords for different resistance levels, rigid surfaces for support, and motion recognition capabilities that work together to provide comprehensive hand therapy at home
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables patients to improve hand strength, dexterity, and range of motion in a convenient and cost-effective manner, reducing the need for frequent medical visits and lowering healthcare costs.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic cord attached to a rigid surface at two or more contact points to define a gap for receiving a finger
Data Source
AI summary
A hand therapy kit includes a housing having a lid that is expandable from a folded position to an unfolded position to expose a working surface on an inside of the lid. An elastic cord is attached at two or more anchor points on the working surface to define at least one gap for receiving a finger. The finger can be therapeutically exercised by moving from a first position proximal to the working surface to a second position distal to the working surface. The hand therapy kit can also include removable hand therapy modules.