DEVICE AND METHOD FOR RESTORING AND DEVELOPING HAND FUNCTIONS

Abstract

A device for restoring and developing hand functions, containing a hand trainer, a control component which interacts with the hand trainer, strain gauges, a unit for collection and pre-processing of data, a personal computer for collecting, processing and storing data, visual and auditory communication devices. It may additionally contain an adjustable means for accommodating a user, and a hand trainer, affixed to the aforesaid adjustable means with the ability to be adjusted in the horizontal plane from at least one side, which is provided with hand restraints. The technical result of solving the present problem consists in expanding the applicability of the device within developmental pedagogy, increasing the functional capabilities thereof in the field of medicine by means of determining dynamics for joint angles development and hand extensions, and in enhancing user quality of life.

Claims

1. A device for restoring and developing hand functions, comprising: a hand trainer, a control object configured to interact with the hand trainer, strain gauges, a unit configured to collect and pre-process data, a personal computer configured to collect, process and store data, visual and auditory communication devices, and adjustable means configured to accommodate a user, wherein the hand trainer is affixed to the adjustable means to be adjusted in a horizontal plane from at least one side, the hand trainer comprises hand restraints.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustable means comprise screens to configured to provide visual information.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the hand trainer contains additionally contains at free ends of plate springs from fingers' side removable elements with different degrees of roughness and density, said removable elements are configured to stimulate tactile receptors.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the strain gauges are two positional strain gauges.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the control object contains a puppet.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the control object contains a set of meccanos puppets.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a system for contactless gesture control of a personal computer in three-dimensional space.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising elements configured to pre-develop fine motor skills of fingers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] The aforesaid and other aspects and advantages of the present invention are disclosed in the following detailed description given with references to the drawings figure.

[0026] FIG. 1: The device being claimed for restoring and developing hand functions.

[0027] FIG. 2: Hand trainer

[0028] FIG. 3: Set of meccanos puppets of different colors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] The device for the recovery and development of hand functions contains a hand trainer 1 with lock of arms 2, the control object 3, the device of the visual 4 and auditory 5 connection to hand trainer, block 6 of collection and pre-processing, environmental monitors 7, the PC 8 for the collection, processing and storage of information, adjustable means 9 to accommodate the user 10 with protruding armrests 11 to be placed under the right and (or) the left hand with the possibility of adjusting the position in the horizontal plane and fixing hand trainer with the control object, screens 12 to provide visual information, 13 system for contactless gesture control PC 13, the elements 14 for the pre-development of motor skills of the fingers. Hand trainer 1 in turn comprises a two-position strain gauges 15, plate springs 16, finger tabs 17, removable elements 18 for stimulation of tactile receptors.

[0030] The proposed device for restoring and developing hand functions is used as follows.

[0031] Adjustable means 9 for accommodating the user as well as the position adjustment in the horizontal plane and fixing hand trainer allows you to configure the device for a comfortable and convenient arrangement of a specific user 10, it is very important during medical and developmental activities. The screens (12) allows you to attach or draw on them in different ways depending on the material of the screen (metallic screenmagnets, wooden screenbuttons) background images to enhance the appeal, interest and meaning when conducting medical and developmental activities, thus improving their performance. Motivation and effectiveness is improved during their studies. Using the device control object 3 interacting with a hand trainer 1, allows for a kinematic model to develop the motor skills of the fingers with adjustable parameters of biofeedbackvisual and auditory. Puppets used as a control object 3 combine two methodsmotor (mechanical) restoring and developing of motor skills of hands and method of art therapy in psychotherapythe game with a puppet. In this case, the puppet can be regarded as a projective object transfer and expression of emotions. The inventive device is used as a puppet of one of the control parameters of biofeedback. The user is given an audible and tactile signal controlled via two-position strain gauges 15 and visible control signalmotion of the puppets recognized in visual communications device 4, in which mirror can be used, a video camera with a monitor, video projector with a screen.

[0032] Puppet serves as an external control object that allows to carry out in the movements of the user, and therefore make them more consciously controllable, what makes it possible to make better use of biofeedback principles.

[0033] Meccanos puppets with different coloring allow the user to choose and collect the puppet according to his age and mental state. The color spectrum and puppets images give the specialist (psychologist) ability on the basis of the previously developed tests, such as Luscher test, to determine the psychological state of the user, as an important factor influencing the process of restoring and development functions of the hands, and if it is necessary, to carry out its correction from negative state to positive.

[0034] During the assembling of puppets the user develops a motility of fingers, trains tactile receptors located on the fingertips, thereby developing cerebral cortex, which receives signals from touch receptors. At the same time restoring and (or) developing the motor skills of the fingers the user's speech recovers and (or) develops, as the speech centers (Brava) and the motor centers in the brain interact closely.

[0035] The image of puppet and its colors are entered using the software in the personal computer 8 throughout the course of treatment and (or) developing lessons. This makes it possible to determine the dynamics of changes in the psychological state of the user and, if necessary, to carry out its adjustment by means of special techniques.

[0036] Tactile sensations are one of the first sensations of living organisms. In humans, the signals from the touch receptors located on the balls of the fingers go directly to the cortex. By stimulating the tactile receptors they stimulate, restore and (or) develop cerebral cortex. Presence of removable elements 18 for stimulation of the tactile receptors of varying degrees of roughness and density at the free ends of the plate springs 16 of hand trainer 1 connected with controls puppet by fingers also extends the functionality of the device, improve its efficiency during the treatment and (or) developing classes.

[0037] Hand spring trainer prototype, based on the structural features, the element used an electronic database and software allows real-time monitor, analyze and store information about dynamics of flexion movements of the hands.

[0038] For the full restoring and developing functions of the hands, information on the dynamics of the extensor movements is needed. The presence in the proposed hand trainer 1 two-position strain gauges 15, allows you to control both flexion and extension movements of the hands. Recording of this information is also required for correction of restoring and developmental activities. This property significantly enhances the functionality of the device.

[0039] One of the most important parameters characterizing the functional state of the hands is joint angle between the different parts thereof. Availability and use of system 13 for contactless gesture control of personal computer in three dimensional space allows to use special software to determine the joint angles in the course of treatment and (or) developing activities and, thus to determine the dynamics of changes in hands movement range. Data on the joint angles are also recorded in the personal computer, that makes it possible to determine in real time changes both in the process of training themselves and throughout the course of study and, if necessary, to make corrections of treatment and (or) developing procedures. In addition, system 13 for contactless gesture control allows to enter information quickly into the personal computer on the functional status of the user's hands.

[0040] Currently, several technologies for contactless gesture control of computer in three dimensional space are developed. Thus, operating principle of CtestIC Microchip Techne Lody system (www. Microchip.com/CtestIC) is to analyze the changes of electric field characteristics caused by the movement of the hands. A technology proposed by Elli Ptic Labs is based on usage of ultrasound and an array of sensitive microphones to detect the position and movement of hands near the computer screen. Leap Motion's technology uses infrared sensors that trace the user's hand movements with unprecedented accuracy (0.01 mm) and display them on the screen. Usage of the contactless gesture control in three-dimensional space expands the functionality of the device, at that this system can be used both as a part of the device and separately from it for other tasks.

[0041] To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of training on the proposed device, at first it is required to stretch and warm up hand fingers. For these purposes, generally warm water, warm sand and special exercises are used. For these purposes, elements 14 may be used as well for preliminary development of motor skills of fingers. Spring rings of different geometry and different colors are used as these elements. The rings are produced from material with different elasticity degree. They must be collected in a chain or chains to be disassembled to components per the given algorithm. Furthermore, carpal expanders, clips of different sizes and of different elasticity degree, or other structures can be used as these various elements.

[0042] Elements 14 for preliminary development of motor skills of the hand fingers can be used as a part of the device being claimed and separately from it.

[0043] It should be notedthe interaction between the separate elements of the device is conducted through cables or by wireless communication, or by combination thereof.

[0044] The device allows to perform both individual and group training on restoring and developing hand functions.

[0045] An additional point is that when developing of appropriate procedures, the device allows to perform diagnostics (including earlier detection) of various diseases associated with dysfunction of the hands, diagnostics of neuromuscular apparatus of the hands, analysis and forecast of restoring and developing of hand functions.

[0046] The device for restoring and developing of hand functions works as follows.

[0047] User 10, comfortably accommodating at the adjustable means 9, puts his hand on the lodgment in front of system 13 for contactless gesture control of the computer. The hand of his arm is scanned. This image is transferred and recorded into personal computer 8. Using special software, parameters of the hand joint angles are defined. These parameters are displayed in the form of figures and recorded into the memory of computer 8. Then the user selects a set of spring rings, based on his physical and psychological condition, and collects chains from rings according to the set algorithm. Before it is possible to conduct thermal procedures and various exercises. Thus, preliminary development of motor skills of the fingers occurs. Data on the rings (geometry parameters, elasticity and quantity) is recorded into computer 8. Then, the user selects a set of puppets and design a puppet based on his psychological state. Data on the puppet (type, color range) is entered into computer 8 for storage. Then, the puppet is fixed on hand trainer 1, which is affixed to the protruding armrest 11. User 10 starts to control the puppet according to a certain previously developed technique. Data on finger efforts is received in block 6 of collection and pre-processing of the information, and then entered into computer 8, processed and displayed in the form of graphs or column charts. During treatment and (or) developing training for stimulation of tactile receptors on the ends of the plate springs 16, removable elements 18 can be fixed with different roughness degree. Data on the roughness degree of removable elements 18 is also entered into computer 8. After training on hand trainer 1, the joint angles are measured again. Thus, the dynamics of their change is determined and effectiveness of training on hand trainer 1 is monitored. The information from the two-position strain gauges 15, data on the joint angles, as well as individual user information throughout all treatment and (or) development training is recorded into personal computer 8, where it is processed and stored.

[0048] The device for restoring and developing hand functions can be manufactured as follows.

[0049] As an example of the claimed device, a tabletop of height-adjustable means 9 for user's accommodation is made of phenol-impregnated modified wool, sharp corners are smoothed to avoid the possibility of injury during training and frame is made of 2020 mm metal profile. It has the telescopic supports to change its height. Screens 12 are double-layered; the base is 5 mm thick plywood, on which metal sheets with the thickness of 0.5 mm are fixed. Such design of screen 12 allows to fix the background image using magnets. Used meccano is a set of puppetsPinocchio, 8 colors. Block 6 for collection and preliminary processing of data is produced based on ADAM and ICOS Remote Data Acquisition and Control Modules.

[0050] To determine the real-time dynamics of joint angles changing and operational input of information on the functional status of the hands into computer 8, system 13 of contactless gesture control of Leap Motion company is used. The system is connected to the computer using USB cable.

[0051] Abrasive paper with different grain sizes is used for stimulation of tactile receptors as the removable elements 18. Sensotek micro two-position strain gauges of Honeywell company are used in the device.

[0052] As elements 14 for the pre-development of motor skills of the fingers, a set of rings of different diameter and a different paint color made of spring wire of HGSA grade with varying degrees of elasticity. Thus, a new and more effective device for restoring and developing hand functions is proposed.

[0053] In comparison with the prototype, this device allows essentially extend its application scope and it far exceeds prototype's functional capabilities and enhances users' quality of life.

[0054] For specialists may be obvious other variants of carrying-out the invention that do not alter its essence, as it is disclosed herein. Accordingly, the invention should be considered limited in scope only by the following formula of invention.