Portable Forearm Support Device for Upper Limb Rehabilitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rehabilitation robots for upper limb impairments are costly, non-portable, and complex, limiting their widespread adoption and use in home settings, where they are needed for effective rehabilitation of neuro-vascular or musculoskeletal injuries.
Innovation Solution
A portable, modular, and cost-effective device that supports the forearm, enabling simultaneous reaching and lifting movements with integrated sensors for position, velocity, acceleration, and force measurement, allowing for quantitative assessment and feedback, and can be used in tele-rehabilitation environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional robotic devices are used for upper limb rehabilitation, then rehabilitation effectiveness is improved through mechanical coupling and guided exercises, but cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical robotic systems with a simplified portable device that uses a mobile platform, armrest, and sensor array. Instead of mechanical coupling with motors and actuators, the system uses sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, force sensors) to detect and guide patient movements, substituting mechanical complexity with electronic sensing and software-based guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential rehabilitation function from complex robotic systems, isolating only the necessary components: a mobile platform, armrest, and sensor suite. By removing unnecessary mechanical complexity while retaining the core therapeutic function of guiding and monitoring upper limb movements, the system achieves effectiveness at lower cost and complexity.
2Reliability
If traditional robotic devices are used for upper limb rehabilitation, then rehabilitation effectiveness is improved, but portability and ease of use deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static, fixed-position robotic systems into a dynamic, mobile platform that can be easily moved and repositioned. The portable device with wheels allows the system to adapt to different locations and user needs, significantly improving ease of operation and accessibility while maintaining rehabilitation effectiveness.
3Reliability
If more therapy sessions are provided for extended periods, then rehabilitation outcomes improve, but availability of therapists and cost become limiting factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service rehabilitation system where the portable device autonomously guides patients through exercises using visual feedback and haptic guidance. The integrated sensors automatically monitor progress and provide real-time feedback, eliminating the need for constant therapist supervision and enabling patients to perform extended therapy sessions independently, thus improving outcomes without proportionally increasing therapist availability requirements.
4Measurement precision
If objective measurement techniques are implemented to assess impairment and quantify treatment benefits, then assessment accuracy improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement systems with electronic sensors including accelerometers, gyroscopes, and force sensors. These sensors provide objective, quantitative data on patient movements, forces applied, and progress metrics, achieving high measurement precision through electronic detection rather than mechanical measurement apparatus.
Data Source
AI summary
The portable device for rehabilitating an impaired user having difficulties in executing simultaneous reaching and lifting tasks comprises an armrest whereto the forearm of the user can be fastened and mechanism for enabling the movement of the armrest on a surface. It furthermore comprises mechanism for monitoring the movement of the armrest and mechanism for sensing a force exercised by the arm of the user in an orthogonal direction to the surface. The device enables the user to conduct reaching movements in a large workspace having the forearm supported and fastened. The fact that the forearm is supported and fastened to the device allows for better control of the shoulder training movements, avoiding uncontrolled trajectories at the level of the elbow that are possible in case only a handle is grasped.