Upper Limb Rehabilitation Device With Programmable Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional upper limb rehabilitation methods require manual exertion from therapists, leading to physical strain and occupational injuries, and lack standardization in rehabilitation dosage, making it difficult to quantify therapy effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

An upper limb rehabilitation device featuring a support mechanism, a flexion and extension rehabilitation mechanism, and a twist rehabilitation mechanism, equipped with a control device that allows for programmable rehabilitation sessions, ensuring consistent and quantifiable therapy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a professional rehabilitation therapist uses bare hands and rehabilitation equipment to rehabilitate a patient's limb by pushing, pulling, twisting, etc., then the rehabilitation treatment can be performed manually, but the physical fitness of the rehabilitation therapist may be affected and occupational injury may occur in the long run

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual rehabilitation operationVSAvoidphysical strain and occupational injury to therapist

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical system with an automated robotic system. The robotic arm, controlled by a controller, performs pushing, pulling, and twisting movements on the patient's limb, substituting the therapist's manual mechanical actions with an automated mechanical system that reduces physical strain and prevents occupational injuries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a robotic arm as an intermediary between the therapist and the patient's limb. The robotic arm acts as a mediator that performs the rehabilitation movements, allowing the therapist to control the rehabilitation process without directly exerting physical force on the patient's limb, thereby reducing the risk of occupational injury.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the patient has to move and find the corresponding rehabilitation equipment to suit his/her rehabilitation requirement, then the patient can choose the appropriate equipment, but it is inconvenient during rehabilitation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient choice of rehabilitation equipmentVSAvoidconvenience during rehabilitation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a multi-functional robotic rehabilitation system that can perform various rehabilitation movements (pushing, pulling, twisting) and adapt to different patient requirements. The system serves multiple rehabilitation functions through a single integrated platform, eliminating the need for patients to move between different equipment pieces while maintaining versatility in meeting individual rehabilitation needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If different rehabilitation therapists exert force during rehabilitation, then rehabilitation can be performed by multiple therapists, but the force exerted by different therapists cannot guarantee that the dosage of each rehabilitation session will be the same, so that the rehabilitation therapy effect cannot be quantified

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverehabilitation by multiple therapistsVSAvoidquantification of rehabilitation therapy effect

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates sensors and a controller that provide feedback on the force exerted during rehabilitation. The system measures and records the force data, allowing for precise quantification of the rehabilitation dosage. This feedback mechanism ensures that regardless of which therapist performs the rehabilitation, the dosage can be consistently measured and compared, enabling objective evaluation of therapy effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Object-affected harmful factors

If a robotic arm is used to perform rehabilitation movements, then the physical burden on therapists is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephysical burden on therapistVSAvoidrobotic rehabilitation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the robotic rehabilitation system into modular segments including a robotic arm, a controller, and sensors. This segmentation allows the complex system to be managed through standardized components, reducing the overall complexity while maintaining the ability to reduce physical burden on therapists. Each module can be independently controlled and maintained.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250134745A1Upper limb rehabilitation device

Publication Date: 2025.05.01 NAT CHENG KUNG UNIV

AI summary

An upper limb rehabilitation device includes a support mechanism, a flexion and extension rehabilitation mechanism, and a twist rehabilitation mechanism. The flexion and extension rehabilitation mechanism includes a sliding seat unit mounted on and movable forwardly and rearwardly relative to the support mechanism, and an arm rest seat mounted on the sliding seat unit for an arm of an upper limb of a patient to rest thereon. The arm rest seat is configured to be actuated by a flexion and extension movement of the arm of the upper limb of the patient to drive forward and rearward movement of the sliding seat unit relative to the support mechanism. The twist rehabilitation mechanism includes a handgrip unit mounted on the sliding seat unit and rotatable leftward and rightward relative to the same for a hand of the upper limb of the patient to grip.