An apparatus for the passive motor rehabilitation of the upper limbs and shoulders

Abstract

 An apparatus for the passive motor rehabilitation of the upper limbs and shoulders, comprising a vertical support structure, along which run vertically the means of movement of the upper limb and/or shoulder of a patient or user, comprising means of control for allowing the user themselves to start/stop said means of movement.

Description

[0001] The present invention essentially relates to the motor rehabilitation sector, with particular reference to the rehabilitation of the upper limbs and shoulders.

[0002] Currently, rehabilitation occurs by means of specially trained personnel (for example physiotherapists) and/or by means of special machinery, usually very expensive and complicated.

[0003] Furthermore, very often, patients must attend the hospital or gymnasium or health facility equipped with such apparatus. The physiotherapist only visits the patients house in certain cases.

[0004] The main scope of the present invention is that of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks by providing an apparatus that is easily portable, easy to use and simple to manufacture.

[0005] This has been achieved according to the invention, by providing a portable rehabilitation apparatus with a vertical support structure, along which move vertically the means for moving the upper limb and/or shoulder of a patient or user, comprising means of control allowing the user themselves to start/stop said means of movement.

[0006] Greater understanding of the invention can be obtained from the following detailed description and by referring to the enclosed figures which illustrate, purely by way of non-limiting example, several

preferred embodiments.

[0007] In the figures:

figure 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the invention;

figure 2 is a plan view of a partial cross section along trace plan A-A of fig. 1;

figure 3 is a front view corresponding to fig. 1;

figure 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention;

figure 5 is a plan view of a partial cross section along trace plan B-B of fig. 4;

figure 6 is a front view corresponding to fig. 4;

figure 7 shows the movement of some of the parts of the invention in the second embodiment; and

figure 8, like fig. 4, shows a variant of the vertically moving carriage that can also be applied to the first embodiment of fig. 1.

[0008] With reference to the aforementioned figures, the invention comprises: a lower base 13 onto which is secured a supporting structural element 10 and a vertical rail, along which run the means of movement of one upper limb and/or one shoulder, as well as a control unit 3 for means of operation of the aforementioned means of movement.

[0009] In the example shown, said means of movement are essentially constituted by a carriage or chassis 6 running vertically with an alternating motion along said vertical rail 10. To said carriage 6, is fixed a handle or grip 4 which the user must grasp in order to perform the passive motor rehabilitation movement.

[0010] The control unit 3 allows the speed of the movement of the carriage 6 to be adjusted by appropriately controlling the means of activation comprising a motor, preferably electric 2, fitted with appropriate gears, of known type.

[0011] According to the invention, it is possible to adjust the rehabilitative movement by means of the control unit 3 or, more simply, by means of the special upper and lower limit switches 16, which can be moved along the vertical rail 10 as appropriate, in order to change the direction of movement of the motor 2 (for example by operating relays which reverse the polarity of the power supply).

[0012] In the preferred embodiment described, said motor reducer 2 turns an upper pulley 11 which draws a belt or cable 7 held tight by means of a lower pulley 8 which turns idly on a hub mounted on a special lower stay 9. This way, the belt or cable 7 defines two parallel vertical limbs: one descendent (ascendant) and the other ascendant (descendent). The carriage 6 is firmly fixed to one of said limbs of the belt or cable 7, so that each rotation of the pulleys 11 and 8 corresponds to a displacement of the carriage 6 itself along the vertical guide and support element 10.

[0013] The example embodiment described envisages the cable 7 being fixed to the carriage 6 by means of one or more clamps 15. Furthermore, said limit switches 16 are preferably activated by corresponding locator elements fixed to the cable 7.

[0014] In the figures, said vertical guide and support element 10 is constituted by two circular cross section tubular vertical arms, and the moveable carriage 6 comprises at least one tube or sleeve, coaxial to one of them.

[0015] In order to avoid any undesired rotation of the carriage around the axis of the pole on which it runs, the body of the carriage comprises a transverse forked element adapted to running along the second vertical support pole (figure 2).

[0016] One constructional variant of said carriage envisages that, in place of said forked element, the body of the carriage comprises a second tube or sleeve, fixed to the former, adapted to running along the second vertical pole. In other words, in said variant, the carriage has an essentially "H" shaped body, wherein the two vertical parts are the sleeves, running along the vertical support poles (figure 8).

[0017] It is obvious that unwanted rotation of the carriage around the vertical axis of the guide and support element can also advantageously be impeded by using a single vertical guide and support pole, the shaft of which is characterised by having a polygonal instead of circular cross section, and a carriage, the body of which comprises a sleeve with a matching cross section.

[0018] A second embodiment of the invention, particularly useful for the rehabilitation of the shoulder joint, envisages fixing an anatomical support 5 for the forearm (figures 4-7) to the vertically moving carriage, in addition to or in place of the hand grip.

[0019] Said support 5 is fixed essentially transversally with respect to the vertical guide element 10.

[0020] According to the invention, in this case it is also possible to envisage that said forearm support 5 has, at the same time as the alternating vertical movement already described, an additional rotational movement which raises/lowers the wrist with respect to the elbow (figures 6-7).

[0021] One particular characteristic of the invention comprises said rotational movement of the forearm being obtained by fixing said forearm support 5 in a way that can be rotated, to the moving carriage 6 with one end of the support itself hinged to a lower connecting rod B, the opposite end of which is fixed below to the vertical guide and support element 10. This way, particularly simple and effective articulated motion is achieved, without any need to modify the means of movement already described.

[0022] Since this is an apparatus which must be used in close contact with the human body, it is preferable to use a low voltage motor reducer 2, thus the means of supplying power comprises a transformer 1 for reducing the voltage of the mains supply to that of said aforementioned motor, for example to 24 Volts.

[0023] Finally, one interesting variant of the means of movement of the carriage 6, comprises - in place of the system of pulleys 11, 8 and belt or cable 7 - a screw drive system wherein the screw is arranged vertically and is engaged within a corresponding female nut joined or fixed to the carriage 6, thus meaning that each rotation of the screw, driven by the motor reducer 2, corresponds to a given vertical displacement of the screw drive, and hence the carriage 6 fixed thereto: reversing the direction of rotation of the screw obviously reverses the direction of displacement of the carriage.

[0024] The present invention has been described and illustrated in some of the preferred embodiments and variants thereof, but it is obvious that one skilled in the art could effect modifications and/or technically equivalent replacements, without moreover straying from the scope of protection of the present industrial patent.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the motor rehabilitation of the upper limbs and shoulders, characterised in comprising a vertical support structure, along which run vertically the means of movement of the upper limb and/or shoulder of a patient or user, comprising means of control for allowing the user themselves to start/stop said means of movement.

2. The apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said structure comprises: a lower base (13) onto which is secured a supporting structural element (10) and a vertical rail, along which run the means of movement of one upper limb and/or one shoulder, as well as a control centre (3) for the means of activation of the aforementioned means of movement.

3. The apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterised in that in the example shown, said means of movement are essentially constituted by a carriage or chassis (6) running vertically with an alternating motion along said vertical rail (10); to said carriage (6), is fixed a handle or grip (4) which the user must grasp in order to perform the passive motor rehabilitation movement.

4. The apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the control unit (3) allows adjusting the speed of the movement of the carriage (6) appropriately controlling the means of activation comprising an electric motor (2), fitted with appropriate gears, of known type.

5. The apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the control unit (3) is capable of adjusting the amplitude of the stroke of rehabilitative movement, by appropriately controlling the motion of the motor (2).

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that special upper and lower limit switches (16) are envisaged, which can be positioned appropriately along the vertical guide element (10) so as to cause the inversion of the direction of movement of the motor (2); thus providing the ability to adjust the stroke of rehabilitative movement.

7. The apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterised in envisaging relays, controlled by the limit switches (16), capable of inverting the polarity of the power supply of the motor (2) in order to reverse the direction of motion.

8. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that said motor or motor reducer (2) is capable of turning an upper pulley (11) which draws a belt or cable (7) held tight by means of a lower pulley (8) which spins idly on a hub mounted on a special lower stay (9); thus making the belt or cable (7) define two parallel vertical arms: one descendent (ascendant) and the other ascendant (descendent).

9. The apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the carriage (6) is firmly fixed to one of said limbs of the belt or cable (7), so that each rotation of the pulleys (11, 8) corresponds to a displacement of the carriage (6) itself along the vertical guide and support element (10).

10. The apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the cable (7) is fixed to the carriage (6) by means of one or more clamps (15).

11. The apparatus according to claims 9 or 10, characterised in that said limit switches (16) are preferably operated by corresponding locator elements fixed to said cable (7).

12. The apparatus according to claim 3 characterised in that said vertical guide and support element (10) is constituted by two circular cross section tubular vertical arms, and that said moveable carriage (6) comprises at least one tube or sleeve, coaxial to one of them.

13. The apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterised in that in order to avoid undesired rotation of the carriage (6) around the axis of the pole on which it runs, the body of the carriage comprises a transverse forked element adapted to running along the second vertical support pole.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterised in that in order to avoid any undesired rotation of the carriage (6) around the axis of the vertical pole on which it runs, the body of said carriage comprises a second tube or sleeve, fixed to the previous, and adapted to running along the second vertical pole; thus giving the body of the carriage an essentially "H" shape, wherein the two vertical parts are sleeves running along the vertical support poles.

15. The apparatus according to claim 3 characterised in that said vertical guide and support element (10) is constituted by a polygonal cross section tubular vertical pole, and that said moveable carriage (6) comprises at least one tube or sleeve, coaxial to it, and having a matching cross section.

16. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in envisaging fixing an anatomical forearm support (5) to the vertically moving carriage, in addition to or alternatively to the hand grip (4).

17. The apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said support (5) is fixed essentially transversally with respect to the vertical guide element (10).

18. The apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said forearm support (5) allows, at the same time as said alternating vertical movement, also a rotating movement which raises/lowers the wrist with respect to the elbow.

19. The apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said rotational movement of the forearm is obtained by fixing said forearm support (5) in a way that can be rotated, to the moving carriage (6) with one end of the support itself hinged to a lower connecting rod (B) the opposite end of which is fixed below to the vertical guide and support element (10), thus allowing particularly simple and effective articulated motion, without any need to modify the means of movement.

20. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that said motor reducer (2) is of the low voltage type; for this reason, being provided that the means of supplying power comprise a transformer (1) for reducing the mains voltage to that of the motor already mentioned, for example to 24 Volts.

21. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that said motor or motor reducer (2) rotates a screw drive kinematic mechanism, wherein the screw is arranged vertically and engages inside a corresponding female nut joined or fixed to the carriage (6); thus meaning that each rotation of the screw, imposed by the motor reducer (2), gives a corresponding vertical displacement of the screwdrive, and hence the carriage (6) fixed thereto, and that by reversing the direction of rotation of the screw, the direction of displacement of the carriage is obviously reversed.

22. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that said structure is manufactured so as to be portable.

Drawing