Hand Therapy Kit With Elastic Cord And Sensor Tracking

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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, and existing solutions lack effective home-based options for therapy.

Innovation Solution

A hand therapy kit that includes an elastic cord attached to a rigid surface for finger exercises, a therapeutic tracking glove with sensors for motion tracking, and a pressure sensor ball, along with a mobile app for data analysis and remote monitoring, allowing for home-based therapy with minimal professional intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If patients attend physical therapy appointments at professional offices, then they receive professional treatment and guidance, but they face travel time, cost, and inconvenience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality of professional treatmentVSAvoidtravel time and appointment frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables patients to perform hand therapy exercises independently at home using the portable kit with integrated sensors and mobile app guidance, eliminating the need for frequent professional office visits while maintaining treatment quality through remote monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The rotational position sensors and mobile app provide real-time feedback on finger joint angles and exercise performance, allowing patients to self-correct their movements and ensure proper form without direct professional supervision, thus maintaining treatment reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If patients perform exercises at home with common household objects, then convenience is improved, but measurement precision and therapeutic effectiveness are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of home exerciseVSAvoidtracking of finger motion and exercise quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual observation and estimation with rotational position sensors that use optical or magnetic fields to precisely measure finger joint angles, providing accurate quantitative data without adding mechanical complexity to the exercise equipment itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The portable kit integrates multiple functions including exercise equipment (elastic cords), sensing system (rotational position sensors), data processing (microprocessor), and guidance (mobile app) into a single universal device that provides both the mechanical therapy and the measurement/monitoring capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a portable hand therapy kit is designed, then accessibility and convenience are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveportability and home-based useVSAvoidintegration of sensors, housing, and electronic components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system nests the electronic components (rotational position sensors, microprocessor, battery) within a compact housing that can be carried in a bag, with the sensing elements integrated into the exercise equipment itself, creating a portable unit that fits within standard personal carry dimensions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 perform effective hand therapy at home, improving strength and range of motion, reducing costs, and facilitating remote monitoring and feedback, thus enhancing convenience and accessibility.

Implementation Method 1

An elastic cord is attached to the working surface at two or more anchor points to define a gap for receiving a finger. The finger can be moved from a first position proximal to the working surface to a second position distal to the working surface for a therapeutic exercise.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

A rotational position sensor can be mechanically coupled to first and second rods such that a movement of the rods causes the rotational position sensor to rotate.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical coupling:

Implementation Method 3

a pressure sensor ball comprising: a compressible ball; an inner spherical body disposed in a center of the compressible ball; and a plurality of radial force sensors distributed across an exterior surface of the inner spherical body.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentUS10173099B2Hand therapy kit and electronic guide

Publication Date: 2019.01.08 PATEL VIPUL

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, including a therapeutic tracking glove and/or a pressure sensor ball.