Portable Upper Limb Rehabilitation Arm With Nested Folding Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing upper limb rehabilitation instruments are often large, costly, and unsuitable for household use due to their fixed structure and lack of adjustable training modes, leading to high burdens on both patients and healthcare providers, and they often fail to provide comprehensive rehabilitation for all parts of the upper limb.

Innovation Solution

A portable, foldable upper limb rehabilitation mechanical arm with a grading adjustment training function, featuring a big arm component, supporting component, grading adjustment component, small arm component, wrist component, and hand component, which includes joint motors and microvibration units, allowing for adjustable movement and vibration therapy, reducing size, noise, and cost while enhancing safety and adaptability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional fixed-structure mechanical arms with active movement functions are used, then rehabilitation training effectiveness is improved, but device size increases and portability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverehabilitation training effectivenessVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical arm is divided into multiple independent modules (big arm component, small arm component, wrist component, hand component) that can be folded and stored compactly. Each module can be independently assembled and disassembled, enabling the device to achieve full rehabilitation functionality when deployed while collapsing to a small size for portability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical arm components are designed with a nested structure where the small arm component fits within the big arm component, the wrist component fits within the small arm component, and the hand component fits within the wrist component. When not in use, all components can be nested together to form a compact package that is easy to carry and store.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Measurement precision

If gear transmission is used for driving mechanical arm movement, then movement control precision is improved, but working noise increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemovement control precisionVSAvoidworking noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional gear transmission mechanical system with a direct drive system using joint motors. Each joint motor directly drives the corresponding mechanical joint without intermediate gear transmissions, thereby eliminating gear noise while maintaining precise movement control through electronic control of the motors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If interchangeable seven-degree-of-freedom upper limb exoskeleton robot with movable seat is used, then training mode versatility is improved, but purchase cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraining mode versatilityVSAvoidpurchase cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical arm is designed with universal joints and connectors that can accommodate different patient positions and rehabilitation needs. The grading adjustment component allows the same device to provide different levels of assistance (grading) for various rehabilitation stages, making the device versatile without requiring multiple specialized equipment or expensive movable seats.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The device incorporates a grading adjustment component that allows patients to self-regulate the level of mechanical assistance during rehabilitation exercises. The adjustable mechanism enables patients to progress independently through different rehabilitation stages without requiring expensive programmable seats or complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Stability of the object's composition

If fixed base structure is used for exoskeleton, then structural stability is improved, but ease of movement and portability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidease of movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical arm transitions from a static fixed-base structure to a dynamic portable structure. The foldable design with movable joints and connectors allows the device to be easily assembled, disassembled, and repositioned while maintaining structural stability during use. The supporting component can be adjusted to provide stable support during rehabilitation exercises.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

The mechanical arm is convenient to carry, reduces the economic burden on patients, improves comfort by eliminating gear transmission, and provides adaptable rehabilitation for arms, elbows, wrists, and hands in various environments and postures, enhancing rehabilitation effectiveness and safety.

Implementation Method 1

The mechanical arm comprises a big arm component, a supporting component, a grading adjustment component, a small arm component, a wrist component and a hand component, which includes joint motors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS20230050111A1Portable upper limb rehabilitation mechanical arm with grading adjustment training function

Publication Date: 2023.02.16 JILIN UNIVERSITY

AI summary

Disclosed is a portable upper limb rehabilitation mechanical arm with a grading adjustment training function. The mechanical arm comprises a big arm component, a supporting component, a grading adjustment component, a small arm component, a wrist component and a hand component, wherein the big arm component comprises a big arm shell, a big arm back plate, a first big arm support and a second big arm support; the supporting component comprises a supporting base, an inner supporting rod, an outer supporting rod, a sealing piece, a reversing component and a connecting bolt group; the grading adjustment component comprises an elbow motor shell, an elbow joint motor and an adjusting component; the small arm component comprises a first small arm support, a second small arm support, a small arm back plate and a small arm shell.