DEVICE FOR MEASUREMENT, DIAGNOSIS AND/OR THERAPY OF THE STRENGTH OF THE HUMAN FINGER, HAND, ARM AND/OR SHOULDER

Abstract

The present invention concerns the field of medical technology and relates to a device for the measurement, diagnosis, and/or therapy of the strength of the human finger, hand, arm, and/or shoulder, as can for example be used to measure bending strength. The object of the invention is to specify a device with which a multi-functional measurement, diagnosis, and/or therapy of the strength of the human finger, hand, arm, and/or shoulder is possible on one device. The object is attained by a device composed at least of a base plate and force-measuring sensors, of which at least one sensor comprises a puller bolt passing therethrough and this force-measuring sensor is positioned in a stationary manner on one side of the base plate and is connected to an actuation part in a force-fit via the puller bolt, furthermore in the region of the base plate a guide for additional force-measuring sensors is present and movable auxiliary devices can also be present.

Claims

1. A device for the measurement, diagnosis, and/or therapy of the strength of the human finger, hand, arm, and/or shoulder, composed at least of a base plate and force-measuring sensors, of which at least one sensor comprises a puller bolt passing therethrough and this force-measuring sensor is positioned in a stationary manner on one side of the base plate and this force-measuring sensor is connected to an actuation part in a force-fit via the puller bolt, furthermore a guide for additional force-measuring sensors is present on the side of the base plate opposite of the force-measuring sensor positioned in a stationary manner and at least partially in the region of the base plate sides adjoining said side, and furthermore also axially and/or radially movable auxiliary devices can be present at and/or on the base plate, which auxiliary devices can be used to position the fingers, hand, and/or arm and/or can serve as a brace.

2. The device according to claim 1 in which the force-measuring sensors are spring-bellows force transducers, piezo force transducers, transducers with vibrating elements, force transducers with electromagnetic compensation, and/or strain-gauge force transducers.

3. The device according to claim 1 in which a finger grip part, hand grip part, hand rest, thumb rest, and/or elbow tray is present as an actuation part, wherein these actuation parts are shaped for the individual fingers for the right or left hand, arm, and/or shoulder.

4. The device according to claim 3 in which, for the hand grip part, device elements are present which achieve the stationary positioning of the fingers during the measurement and/or therapy.

5. The device according to claim 4 in which releasable connecting elements, bolts, locking screws, and/or grip recesses are present as device elements.

6. The device according to claim 1 in which the force-fitting connection between the puller bolt and the actuation part is achieved via a quick-release fastener or locking screw.

7. The device according to claim 1 in which a rectangular plate made of wood and/or plastic and/or metal, with or without cushioning elements, is used as a base plate.

8. The device according to claim 1 in which a base plate is present, the cross section of which is adapted or adaptable to the forearm shape and/or hand shape across the length of the base plate.

9. The device according to claim 1 in which the guide is present on the side of the base plate opposite of the force-measuring sensor positioned in a stationary manner, in the form of a U-shaped metal rail at the edge of the base plate or in the form of a groove at the outer edge of the base plate.

10. The device according to claim 1 in which the guide serves to receive a fastening device for one or more force-measuring sensors, wherein these sensors are arranged such that they can be displaced and fixed in place on or at the guide.

11. The device according to claim 1 in which the axially movable auxiliary devices are present for positioning and/or as a brace for measuring and/or training the fingers, hand, and/or arm.

12. The device according to claim 1 in which the radially movable auxiliary devices are present for positioning and/or as a brace for measuring and/or training the fingers, hand, arm, and/or shoulder.

13. The device according to claim 1 in which a hand rest, a thumb rest, and/or an elbow tray are present as auxiliary devices, wherein these auxiliary devices are shaped for the right or left hand, right or left thumb, and/or right or left elbow.

14. The device according to claim 1 in which immobilizing elements for the fingers, hand, arm, and/or elbow are present as auxiliary devices.

15. The device according to claim 1 in which a holding device fixed in place in the region of the stationary force-measuring sensor is positioned for an additional force-measuring sensor, wherein this holding device positions an additional force-measuring sensor to the right and/or left of the base plate in the region of the thumb and/or the hand, and is designed to absorb the force of the thumb strength and/or torsional strength of the hand and/or forearm.

16. The device according to claim 1 in which the bending, pulling, stretching, torsional, and/or compressive strength of the human finger, hand, arm, and/or shoulder are measurable and/or trainable.

17. A use of a device for the measurement, diagnosis, and/or therapy of the strength of the human finger, hand, arm, and/or shoulder for measuring and/or training the bending, pulling, stretching, torsional, and/or compressive strength of the human finger, hand, arm, and/or shoulder.

18. The use according to claim 17 in which the strength of finger, hand, arm, and/or shoulder muscles is measured, given therapy to, and/or trained.

19. The use according to claim 18 in which the strength of the biceps, triceps, and/or deltoid muscle is measured, given therapy to, and/or trained.

Description

[0067] FIG. 1 shows a schematic overall view of the device according to the invention, with a hand grip part as an actuation part

[0068] FIG. 2 shows a schematic detailed view of the advantageous hand grip part as an actuation part

[0069] FIG. 3 shows a schematic detailed view of the advantageous arrangement with an additional force-measuring sensor for the measurement diagnosis, and/or therapy of the thumb strength of the right or left hand and/or the torsional strength of the hand and/or forearm with the aid of a grip used as an additional auxiliary device

EXAMPLE 1

[0070] The device according to FIG. 1 comprises a rectangular base plate 1 of wood with the dimensions WLH=60203 cm, wherein two force-measuring sensors 2 and 3 are arranged on the base plate 1. One force-measuring sensor 2 is positioned in a stationary manner on the one short side of the rectangular base plate 1 via a metallic connection and comprises a puller bolt 4 passing through the sensor. The other force-measuring sensor 3 is arranged by means of a metallic connection on the U-shaped guide 6 such that the sensor is displaceable in both an axial and also in a radial direction with respect to the base plate. The U-shaped guide 6 is made of metal, and is guided 30 cm along each of the longitudinal sides of the rectangular base plate 1 and attached to the base plate 1.

[0071] The puller bolt 4 passing through the stationary force-measuring sensor 2 is connected in a force-fit to an actuation part 5 in the form of a hand grip.

[0072] On the base plate 1, a forearm cushion is attached as an auxiliary device, on which cushion the forearm is positioned, wherein the cushion also serves as a stationary form of immobilization of the forearm. Additionally, as an auxiliary device an immobilizing device composed of adjustable rods and screws is attached to the base plate 1 at the height of the wrist, which immobilizing device immobilizes the forearm as much as possible during the measurement/diagnosis/therapy, so that the force can be measured along the axis of the forearm when the hand exerts its strength on the hand grip.

[0073] A finger grip part can be arranged in place of the hand grip part. In this case, a hand rest, for example, a bolt, is advantageously present in order to perform the measurement, diagnosis, and/or therapy for the finger and minimize forces coming from the hand, arm, or entire human body.

EXAMPLE 2

[0074] On the base plate 1 according to example 1, an elbow tray displaceable in an axial direction on the base plate 1 is additionally attached as an auxiliary device on the side opposite of the stationary force-measuring sensor 2, which tray serves as a form of immobilization of the elbow and as a brace.

[0075] After the positioning of the forearm on the base plate 1 and immobilization of the wrist and elbow, the measurement of the abduction of the shoulder is performed by measuring the force laterally on the elbow with the force-measuring sensor 3 positioned on the guide 6, wherein the force-measuring sensor 3 was moved to the position of the elbow beforehand. A forearm cushion and hand rest, by means of which the immobilization of the wrist takes place, are located on the base plate 1. The forearm is positioned on forearm rest and the hand grasps the hand rest, the force-measuring sensor then measures the strength of the shoulder when a force is exerted by the elbow on the force-measuring sensor.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0076] 1 Base plate

[0077] 2 Force-measuring sensor

[0078] 3 Force-measuring sensor

[0079] 4 Puller bolt

[0080] 5 Actuation part

[0081] 6 Guide

[0082] 7 Support

[0083] 8 Holding device

[0084] 9 Movable force-measuring sensor

[0085] 10 Grab handle as an auxiliary device