Device for controlling the physical resistance force produced by a patient, and physical rehabilitation assembly comprising such a device

Abstract

A device including a frame, that is designed to be attached to a stationary structure element, at least one member for applying the forces produced by the patient, mounted on the frame and free to rotate about an axis of rotation that is fixed relative to the frame, a force sensor that measures, in a direction radial to the axis of rotation, the traction component of the forces applied to the member, and an angle sensor that measures the angular positioning of the member about the axis of rotation.

Claims

1. A patient physical rehabilitation assembly, comprising: at least one elastic band to be tensioned by a patient, comprising: a first end that is configured to be held by or attached to the patient; and a second end that is opposite to the first end; and a device configured for controlling physical resistance effort produced by the patient to tension said at least one elastic band, the device comprising: a frame configured to be fixed to a stationary structure element, the frame comprising a tubular body defining a rotation axis that is fixed with respect to the frame, said tubular body comprising two ends that are opposed along the rotation axis; at least one rotating member which is protrudingly mounted at one of said two ends of said tubular body and which rotates freely with respect to said frame about the rotation axis, the at least one rotating member comprising an attachment that is connected fixedly in rotation about the rotation axis to the rest of the at least one rotating member, said second end of said at least one elastic band being attached fixedly in rotation about the rotation axis to the attachment so that when said at least one elastic band is tensioned by the patient, said at least one elastic band both (i) extends lengthwise from the at least one rotating member in a tensioning direction, which is transverse to and intersects the rotation axis, and (ii) applies to the at least one rotating member forces, which are produced by the patient to tension said at least one elastic band and which are oriented in the tensioning direction; a force sensor integrated within each of said at least one rotating member, and which measures, in a radial direction that is perpendicular to the rotation axis, a traction radial component of the forces for any angular orientation of the tensioning direction about the rotation axis; and an angle sensor for each of said at least one rotating member, which measures an angular position of the rotating member about the rotation axis.

2. The patient physical rehabilitation assembly according to claim 1, further comprising electronic processing means for processing signals respectively provided by said force sensor and said angle sensor associated with each of said at least one rotating member.

3. The patient physical rehabilitation assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a screen for displaying an output of said electronic processing means.

4. The patient physical rehabilitation assembly according to claim 1, further comprising electronic processing means for processing the signals respectively provided by said force sensor and said angle sensor of each of said at least one rotating member, and wherein, for each of said at least one rotating member said electronic processing means are simultaneously adapted (i) to monitor measurements provided by said force sensor associated with the rotating member, to determine a variation, as a function of time, of an intensity of the traction radial component of the forces applied to the rotating member, and to compare against a prerecorded setpoint, at least one characteristic of the variation of the intensity, and (ii) to monitor measurements provided by said angle sensor associated with the rotating member, to determine a variation, as a function of time, of the angular position of the rotating member about the rotation axis, and to compare against a pre-recorded setpoint, at least one characteristic of the variation of the angular position.

5. The patient physical rehabilitation assembly according to claim 4, wherein the at least one characteristic of the variation of the intensity is chosen from among a maximum value of the intensity, a minimum value of the intensity, a number of times the intensity passes between a low value and a high value, a duration and a rate of passage of the intensity between a low value and a high value, a duration during which the intensity remains lower than a low value, and a duration during which the intensity remains greater than a high value, and wherein the at least one characteristic of the variation of the angular position is chosen from a maximum value of the angular position, a minimum value of the angular position, and a duration during which the angular position remains between two predetermined values.

6. The patient physical rehabilitation assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said at least one rotating member has a generally tubular shape, which is centered on the rotation axis, and within which is at least partially integrated said angle sensor.

7. The patient physical rehabilitation assembly according to claim 1, wherein, for each of said at least one rotating member, said force sensor comprises at least one strain gauge which is interposed between said attachment of the rotating member and the rest of the rotating member.

8. The patient physical rehabilitation assembly according to claim 1, wherein, for each of said at least one rotating member, said angle sensor is magneto-resistive and comprises a fixed portion, which is fixedly connected to said frame, and a movable portion, which is connected fixedly in rotation about the rotation axis to the rotating member.

9. The patient physical rehabilitation assembly according to claim 1, further comprising electronic processing means for processing signals respectively provided by said force sensor and said angle sensor associated with each of said at least one rotating member, wherein, for each of said at least one rotating member said electronic processing means are designed (i) to monitor measurements provided by said force sensor associated with the rotating member and to determine a variation, as a function of time, of an intensity of the traction radial component of the forces applied to the rotating member, and (ii) to monitor measurements provided by said angle sensor associated with the rotating member and to determine a variation, as a function of time, of the angular position of the rotating member about the rotation axis.

10. A patient physical rehabilitation assembly, comprising: two elastic bands to be tensioned by a patient, each elastic band comprising: a first end that is configured to be held by or attached to the patient; and a second end that is opposite to the first end; and a device configured for controlling physical resistance effort produced by the patient to tension the two elastic bands, the device comprising: a frame configured to be fixed to a stationary structure element, the frame comprising a tubular body defining a rotation axis that is fixed with respect to the frame, the tubular body comprising two ends that are opposed along the rotation axis; two rotating members, which are protrudingly mounted at the two ends of said tubular body so as to be respectively arranged on either side of said frame, both of which freely rotate with respect to said frame about the rotation axis independently of one another, and each of which comprises an attachment that is connected fixedly in rotation about the rotation axis to the rest of the corresponding rotating member, said second ends of said two elastic bands being respectively attached fixedly in rotation about the rotation axis to the attachments of the two rotating members so that when each of said two elastic bands is tensioned by the patient, the elastic band both (i) extends lengthwise from the corresponding rotating member in a tensioning direction, which is transverse to and which intersects the rotation axis, and (ii) applies to the corresponding rotating member forces, which are produced by the patient to tension the elastic band and which are oriented in the tensioning direction; a force sensor integrated within each of said two rotating members, and which measures, in a radial direction that is perpendicular to the rotation axis, a traction radial component of the forces for any angular orientation of the tensioning direction about the rotation axis; and an angle sensor for each of said two rotating members, which measures an angular position of the rotating member about the rotation axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be better understood upon reading the description which follows, given solely by way of an example, and with reference to the drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an elevational view of a rehabilitation system according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic section along the line II-II of FIG. 1, showing on a larger scale a control device according to the invention belonging to the assembly of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic section along the line III-III of FIG. 2; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic section along the line IV-IV of FIG. 1, illustrating different configurations of use of the rehabilitation package.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIGS. 1 to 4 show a patient physical rehabilitation assembly 1. In addition to a device 10 for controlling the physical resistance forces produced by the patient, which will be described in detail later, the rehabilitation unit 1 comprises wall bars 2, which are fixed to a wall or the like, and elastic bands to be tensioned by the patient, wherein these bands are commonly called Sandows. Each of these elastic bands is designed to interact with the control device 10 at one of its opposite longitudinal ends, as will be detailed later, while at its other end, each elastic band is designed to be held by the patient and/or attached to the patient, for example held by the hand or attached to the patient's wrist or to the ankle. Insofar as the arrangements for connection between the elastic bands and the body of the patient are known per se, they will not be further described here as these arrangements do not limit the invention.

(7) Among the elastic bands of the rehabilitation assembly 1, there is a pair of elastic bands 3 shown in solid lines in FIGS. 1 and 4: these bands 3, which may be described respectively as being on the left and on the right, are intended to be respectively connected to the two halves of the body of the patient, for example to his left arm and to his right arm.

(8) Also among the elastic bands of the rehabilitation assembly 1, there is a pair of long bands 4, wherein these two long bands 4 may be described respectively as left-hand and right-hand for the same reasons as those given above for the short bands 3. It should be noted that in FIGS. 1 and 4, the pair of long bands 4 is shown with dotted lines, while being drawn in duplicate only to illustrate various configurations of use of the rehabilitation assembly 1: a single long left band 4 and a single long right band 4 are likely to be used in practice.

(9) In addition, in practice, more specifically during a given physical exercise, the patient is likely to put under tension either the short left band 3 or the long left band 4. This also applies to the right bands, respectively the short right band 3 and long right band 4, wherein it should be noted that the patient is, of course, likely to simultaneously tension one of the left elastic bands, namely the short band 3 or the long band 4, and one of the right elastic bands, namely the short band 3 or the long band 4. In practice, the elastic band(s) actually used in the rehabilitation assembly 1 depend(s) on the muscle groups and the joints of the patient that are to be made to work, as well as the posture of the patient during the treatment exercise, wherein it should be noted that the patient may be sitting or standing.

(10) In addition, it should be noted that the rehabilitation assembly 1 also comprises pulleys 5 which are respectively arranged in the upper right quadrant, the lower right quadrant, the lower left quadrant and the upper left quadrant of the wall bars 2, and held there by any appropriate means, such as straps. Each of these pulleys 5 makes it possible to return one of the long elastic bands 4 during the tensioning of the latter, i.e., to bend the direction in which this long band extends: as shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 4, wherein the pulleys 5 pass the long bands 4 from a substantially vertical orientation for their part extending between the control device 10 and the pulleys, to an inclined orientation relative to the vertical for the part of these bands 4 extending between the pulleys 5 and the patient.

(11) As shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, the device 10 comprises a frame 12 which, in use, is fixed to the wall bars 2, in particular to an intermediate horizontal bar of the wall bars. The embodiment of the attachment between the frame 12 and the wall bars 2 is not limited and any mechanical fixing system, possibly adjustable, may be suitable, wherein it should be noted that, advantageously, a detachable system is preferred in order to detach the device 10 from the wall bars 2 if necessary, typically for storage purposes of the device, or when it is desired to use the wall bars 2 separately. As a variant (not shown), the frame 12 is designed to be attached not exclusively to wall bars, but, more generally, to any stationary structure element, for example directly to a wall.

(12) In the exemplary embodiment considered in the figures, the frame 12 includes a tubular body 14, centered on a geometric axis X-X and with a circular base. When the device 10 is in use, the X-X axis preferably extends horizontally, wherein it should be understood that this X-X axis is fixed relative to the frame 12.

(13) At each of its opposite axial ends, the body 14 carries a movable tubular member 16 coaxial with the axis X-X. Thus, as may be clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the two members 16 are arranged on either side of the frame 12 in the direction of the axis X-X. Each of the members 16 is mounted to rotate freely about the X-X axis on the corresponding end of the body 14 of the frame 12 via a bearing 18.

(14) The embodiment of the bearings 18 is not limiting as long as the members 16 are, independently of one another, freely rotatable about the axis X-X relative to the body 14. In practice, each bearing 18 integrates a stop system 20, known per se, which limits the rotational movement around the axis X-X of the corresponding member 16 to approximately one turn with respect to the body 14, wherein it should be remembered that over this entire stroke, the relative rotation between the member 16 and the body 14 is free, i.e. not kinematically linked.

(15) As may be clearly seen in FIG. 2, each member 16 is provided with an attachment 22 making it possible to attach one of the elastic bands 3 and 4 to it as required. In the embodiment considered in the figures, the attachment 22 comprises an eyelet through which the band 3 or 4 is threaded and fixed to the corresponding member 16. Whatever its embodiment, the attachment 22 is secured to the rest of the member 16 in order to be at least linked to this member 16 in rotation about the axis X-X: it is understood that, in use, when the elastic band 3 or 4, attached to the member 16 by the corresponding attachment 22, is tensioned by the patient, the forces F produced by this patient, in particular the resistance forces maintaining the elastic band in tension, are applied to the member 16 and thus impose on the latter its angular positioning about the axis X-X. Thus, as indicated schematically in FIGS. 2 and 4, when one of the short elastic bands 3 is attached to the corresponding member 16, the orientation of this band 3 relative to the horizontal, resulting from its positioning and its maintaining tension in response to the forces F produced by the patient, induces an identical angular positioning of the member 16 about the axis X-X through free rotation of this member relative to the frame 12, as indicated by the arrows R in FIGS. 2 and 3. Similarly, when one of the long elastic bands 4 is used while being returned by the corresponding pulley 5, the substantially vertical orientation of the part of this band 4 extending from the member 16 to the pulley 5, induces the member 16 to rotate about the axis X-X so that its attachment 22 is directed substantially vertically towards the corresponding pulley 5.

(16) The device 10 further comprises, for each member 16, a force sensor 24 which, in the embodiment considered here, is advantageously integrated inside the tubular wall of the member 16. As a non-limiting example, the force sensor 24 includes one or more strain gauges, which are interposed between the corresponding attachment 22 and the rest of the member 16. Whatever the form of the embodiment, the force sensor 24 is sensitive to mechanical stresses applied to the member 16 in a direction about the axis X-X, so that, within the device 10, each force sensor 24 makes it possible to measure, in a direction about the axis X-X, the traction component of the forces F applied by the patient to the corresponding member 16.

(17) The device 10 further comprises, for each member 16, a sensor other than the force sensor 24, namely an angle sensor 26 which makes it possible to measure the angular positioning of the member 16 about the axis X-X. According to a non-limiting embodiment, which is implemented in the example considered in the figures, each angle sensor 26 is a magneto-resistive sensor, comprising, on the one hand, a fixed part 26A that is fixedly connected to the frame 12 via a bracket 28 to support the fixed part 26A of the angle sensor 26, and that is fixedly integrated inside the tubular body 14, and, on the other hand, a mobile part 26B that is rotatably connected to the member 16 about the axis X-X, wherein it is advantageously integrated inside the tubular wall of the member 16.

(18) It should be understood that for each member 16, the measurements respectively provided by the force sensor 24 and by the angle sensor 26 make it possible to control the physical resistance forces F produced by the patient to put and maintain the elastic band 3 under tension or 4 without this body 16 opposing its own resistance: the measurement provided by the force sensor 24 makes it possible to determine the intensity of the forces F, more precisely the intensity of the traction component of these efforts F to which the force sensor 24 is sensitive, while the measurement provided by the angle sensor 26 makes it possible to determine the spatial orientation about the axis X-X, of the elastic band 3 or 4, more precisely the angular position of the member 16 about the axis X-X imposed by the portion of this band fixed to the attachment 22.

(19) The signals respectively provided by the force sensor 24 and by the angle sensor 26 associated with each member 16, representative of the measurements respectively effected by these two sensors, are transmitted, typically via a wired connection to a unit 30 designed to process these signals and display the result of this processing. Thus, in the embodiment considered here and as indicated only schematically in FIGS. 2 and 3, the unit 30 comprises, on the one hand, electronic processing means 32 for processing the aforementioned signals, comprising, for example, a microprocessor and a computer memory, and, on the other hand, a screen 34 for displaying the output of the electronic processing means 32. In practice, the electronic processing means 32 and the display screen 34 operate in real time in order to give the patient immediate feedback on the resistance forces F that the patient produces, as well as on the angular position at which the exercise is performed via the screen 34 during the processing and display.

(20) According to a preferred embodiment, the electronic processing means 32 are designed to monitor the measurements respectively provided by the force sensor 24 and the angle sensor 26 associated with each member 16 during the entire period of physical exercise. The electronic processing means 32 are then provided to determine the variation, as a function of time, of both the intensity of the traction component of the forces F applied to the member 16, and the angular position of this member about the X-X axis: wherein the variation of this intensity and the variation of this angular position are advantageously displayed on the screen 34, for example in the form of curves or other graphic forms, during the exercise. This feedback may also be accompanied by sound effects.

(21) Subsequent to the above considerations, the electronic processing means 32 are advantageously designed to both memorize a setpoint, typically pre-recorded by a therapist, and to compare this setpoint with at least one characteristic of the variation of the intensity of the traction component of the forces F and/or the variation of the angular position of the corresponding member 16. The result of this comparison is either made available in real time to the patient via the display screen 34, or memorized for subsequent analysis by the therapist, wherein these two alternatives may of course be cumulated. It should be understood that this provision allows the therapist to set instructions for physical rehabilitation to the patient before the beginning of a rehabilitation exercise, so that during this exercise, the patient may be controlled in real time by himself and/or by the therapist with respect to these rehabilitation instructions.

(22) The characteristic(s) of the variation of the intensity of the traction component of the forces F, which are compared by the electronic processing means 32 against pre-recorded instructions, is/are advantageously chosen from among: the maximum value of this intensity, the minimum value of this intensity, the number of times this intensity passes between a predetermined low value and a predetermined high value, the duration and the speed of passage of this intensity from a predetermined low value to a predetermined high value, the duration and the speed of passage of this intensity from a predetermined high value to a predetermined low value, the duration during which this intensity remains equal to or lower than a predetermined low value, and the duration during which this intensity remains equal to or greater than a predetermined high value.

(23) In practice, the above-mentioned low and high values are set by the therapist, with tolerances that are themselves adjustable.

(24) The characteristic(s) of the variation of the angular position of each member 16, which is/are compared by the electronic processing means 32 to pre-recorded instructions, is/are advantageously chosen from: the maximum value of this angular orientation, the minimum value of this angular orientation, and the duration during which this angular orientation remains between two predetermined values.

(25) In practice, the two aforementioned values are set by the therapist and accompanied by tolerances, that are themselves adjustable.

(26) As a purely illustrative detailed example, for a physical exercise during which the patient must stand up and use at least one of the short straps 3, the therapist adjusts the instructions stored by the device 10 so that: during the entire duration of the exercise, the member 16 attached to the band 3 should be so oriented angularly that the band extends horizontally, while deviating at most between the two orientations drawn in dashed lines in FIG. 4, and between the beginning and the end of the exercise, the band 3 should be tensioned ten times, each time from a tension of substantially zero to a tension with an intensity equivalent to 10 kg1 kg, wherein the band 3 is maintained, each time, at rest and under full tension for ten seconds, while passing each time between rest and full tension in less than two seconds.

(27) Of course, based on this example and the explanations given above in this document, it should be understood that the device 10 and the rehabilitation assembly 1 make it possible to carry out very varied physical exercises, in this case gain in amplitude, evaluation of the maximum strength of a limb at the beginning and the end of rehabilitation, specific muscle strengthening, both analytic and global, both under load and released from load, in the muscle chain, up to proprioceptive work and the reproduction of sporting movements, against the resistance offered by the bands 3 and 4.