JPS6134823B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is applicable to diseases and disorders of the central nervous system such as cerebrovascular accidents, brain trauma, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injuries, as well as peripheral nerve disorders, arm joints, hands, etc. associated with disorders of joints, muscles, and tendons. For hand and finger dysfunction, arm joints, hands,
The present invention relates to gloves for improving the function of hands and fingers.

When the above-mentioned diseases and disorders cause dysfunction in the upper limbs, arm joints, hands, and fingers, it is necessary to perform training to restore motor function in parallel with treatment. Since ancient times, it has been considered extremely difficult to restore the function of hand and finger dysfunction, and although much research has been conducted in recent rehabilitation medicine, this problem has not yet been fully elucidated. However, at present, attempts to extend arm joints, hands, and fingers that have flexion contracture or extension difficulties using air pressure or the action of springs, for example, have not yielded satisfactory results.

The present inventor discovered that with conventional gloves for functional improvement, the effects of air pressure and spring elasticity as described above are insufficient, and the arm joints, hands, and fingers cannot be fully extended, and automatic movement is induced. Focusing on the points that could not be achieved, we applied pneumatic pressure to the arm joints, hands, and fingers in a rational, intermittent, and continuous manner, and actively widened the fingers between each finger and expanded the arm. Actively stretches the joints, hands, fingers, improves these extension disorders, promotes the plasticity and compensatory function of the nervous system, and improves the strength of the arm joints, hands, and fingers.
This invention was invented for the purpose of creating a factor that induces automatic movement of fingers, and the present invention will be explained below based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the state of use of the present invention;
The figure is a plan view of the same glove as seen from the palm side, Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line A--A in Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the same glove with the back piece unfolded. The middle part 1 is a glove-like main body that can cover the palm, dorsum of the hand, and forearm including the arm joints at the same time when closed as will be described later. 3, 4, 5, 6 and the palm of the hand,
It consists of three parts: a main pouch part 7 that covers the back of the hand, and an arm pouch part 8 that covers the forearm from the arm joint.

9 is the hand back piece 10a, 10b, 10c of the main body 1,
With the fastener provided to open 10d individually,
Five fasteners 9 are provided extending from the forearm side opening of the main body 1 toward the respective finger pockets 2 to 6. Numeral projections 11 are formed on the entire inner surface of the main body 1 to prevent the palm from slipping.

12 is a gas sac provided between the thumb pocket 2 and the index finger pocket 3; 13 is a gas sac provided between the index finger pocket 3 and the middle finger pocket 4; and 14 is a gas sac provided between the middle finger pocket 4 and the ring finger pocket. The air sac 15 is provided between the ring finger pouch 5 and the little finger pouch 6, and each air sac 1
As shown in Fig. 1, the air sacs 2 to 15 have a generally web-like triangular shape, and the air sac 12 provided between the thumb pouch 2 and the index finger pouch 3 is the largest compared to the other air sacs 13 to 15. , these air sacs 12-15
This makes it possible to spread the space between each finger simultaneously. 12a, 13a, 14a, 15
A is a supply/discharge pipe for supplying and discharging compressed air toward each air sac 12 to 15.

16, 17, and 18 are air bladders provided adjacent to each other in the length direction on the palm side of the main body 1;
A part of the air sac 16 covers the palm side of the thumb pouch 2, and the other part is located in close contact with the lower surface of the air sac 12, and extends from the outside of the main body 1 toward the thumb pouch 2. It has a slightly curved shape in both directions. Also, Qinou 17 is
A part of it covers the palm side of the index finger pouch 3 and middle finger pouch 4, and most of the other parts cover the lower surface of the air sac 17, the thumb side half of the palm surface, and the same side inner surface of the arm pouch 8. They are located close together. In addition, 18
A part of it covers the palm side of the ring finger pouch 5 and the little finger pouch 6, and covers the lower surface of most of the other air sacs 18, the half of the palm surface on the little finger side, and the ipsilateral inner surface of the arm pouch 8. They are placed close together. In addition, each air sac 16 to 18 has a supply/discharge pipe 16 for supplying and discharging compressed air.
a to 18a are respectively attached.

In FIG. 1, 19 is a compressed air supply source such as a compressor that supplies low-pressure compressed air, and 20 is an air supply source 19 that generates low-pressure compressed air to the main body 1.
Each air sac 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 1
The compressed air supply source 19 and the branch pipe 20 are connected by a compressed air supply pipe 22 with an electromagnetic switching valve 21 interposed in the middle.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained.

When in use, open all the fasteners 9 and open the dorsal side pieces 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d so that the vicinity of the finger insertion opening of each finger pocket 2 to 6 is exposed to the outside as shown in FIG. Then, place the main body 1 on the patient's hand, for example, with the thumb, index finger,
The patient's fingers are individually inserted into the finger pockets 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 in the order of the middle finger, and then the five fasteners 9 are sequentially closed to return the patient's fingers to a glove-like shape.
Covers the forearm, including the palm, dorsum of the hand, and arm joint.

In this state, when the air supply source 19 is driven, low-pressure compressed air flows into the branch pipe 20 from the supply pipe 22, and the compressed air distributed to seven circuits by the branch pipe 20 flows through the supply exhaust pipes 12a to 15a and Supply/discharge pipe 16a
~18a, flows into air sacs 12-15 and air sacs 16-18, respectively, and air sacs 12-1
Expand 8. As a result, the main body 1, which was initially contracted and bent, expands as the air sacs 12 to 18 expand, causing flexion contractures and extension problems in the arm joints, extending the hand, and at the same time opening the fingers. Stretch. In this way, basic movements such as arm joint extension, hand and finger extension, and expansion are performed passively.

The above-mentioned supply and discharge of compressed air is performed by electrically operating the electromagnetic switching valve 21 provided in the middle part of the supply pipe 22.
When switched to the supply side, compressed air is supplied into the air sacs 12 to 18, and when switched to the exhaust side, the air in the air sacs 12 to 18 is released into the atmosphere. By repeating this expansion and contraction of air sacs 12 to 18 in a constant rhythm, the above-mentioned extension and expansion applied to the arm joints, hands, and fingers can be rhythmically and intermittently can be done.

In addition, we inflate and deflate the air sacs 12 to 18, either in whole or individually, to stretch and open the necessary areas, improve flexion contractures and extension disorders, and eliminate the factors that induce automatic movements. You can make it.

In addition, flexion contracture and flexion/extension disorder occur in all arm joints.
If it does not reach your hands or fingers, use a clip or the like to block off the supply/discharge pipe leading to the unnecessary air sac, or remove the supply/discharge pipe from the branch pipe 20, and remove the part where the supply/discharge pipe is removed. By blocking the area with a cap, you can improve only the necessary areas.

The present invention has been described above based on examples, but the glove of the present invention includes a finger bag portion 2 that individually covers each of the five fingers,
3, 4, 5, 6, a main pouch 7 that covers the palm and dorsum of the hand, and an arm pouch 8 that covers the forearm including the arm joint.
The glove body 1 is formed by the finger pockets 2 to 3.
There is a pouch 1 between each finger to widen each finger.
2, 13, 14, and 15 are provided, and air pouches 16 and 16 for extending the fingers, hands, and arm joints are provided on the palm surface.
A plurality of air pockets 17 and 18 are formed from the arm joint side or the finger crotch side toward the finger bag, and the air pouches 12 to 18 are
There are compressed air supply and discharge pipes 12a, 13a, 14a,
15a, 16a, 17a, and 18a are connected so that compressed air can be supplied to all the air sacs 12 to 18 simultaneously or selectively to a specific air sac through the same pipes 12a to 18a. By repeatedly starting air supply and then exhausting the air all at once after the required time has elapsed, dysfunctional arm joints,
Passive, rhythmic, and intermittent exercise such as extension and expansion to the hands and fingers to improve flexion contractures and extension disorders of the arm joints, hands, and fingers, and induce automatic movement of the relevant parts. Because it creates a factor,
If the glove of the present invention is placed on a dysfunctional arm joint, hand, or finger, the arm joint, hand, or finger is extended and expanded, and rhythmic, intermittent stimulation is continuously applied to the sensory nerve. The signal is transmitted to the sensory and perceptual systems of the central nervous system, and then to the motor system via nerve fibers within the central nervous system, inducing and promoting compensatory functions for the plasticity of the nervous system, and the generation of automatic movements in these parts. Facilitation occurs and functional improvement is obtained.

Therefore, the gloves of the present invention can actively widen the space between the fingers, and at the same time, improve the extension of the fingers, hands, and arm joints, compared to conventional gloves that simply utilize air pressure or gloves that utilize springs. can do it well. Further, by rhythmic and intermittent changes in air pressure, intermittent and continuous passive movements of the fingers, hands, and arm joints can be performed rationally and appropriately. Furthermore, isolated passive movements can be performed that are compatible with the function of the arm joint.

As shown in the example, if the hand spine pieces 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d are formed to be openable and closable using the fastener 9, it can be easily inserted and attached to the hands and fingers of a patient with severe flexion contracture of the fingers. . Therefore, it is extremely easy to use and can be easily removed after use, regardless of the condition of contractures in the arm joints, hands, and fingers.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the glove of the present invention in use, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the glove as seen from the palm side, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in the figure, and a perspective view showing the glove of the present invention with the back piece unfolded. 1... Main body, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6... Finger bag portion,
7... Main bag part, 8... Arm bag part, 12, 13, 1
4, 15, 16, 17, 18...Kinou, 10
a, 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a, 15a,
16a... Supply/discharge pipe.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A glove-like main body is formed by a finger bag portion that individually covers the five fingers, a main bag portion that covers the palm and the back of the hand, and three arm bag portions that cover the forearm including the arm joint, and the finger bag portions are A pneumatic sac is provided between each finger to extend the fingers, and a pneumatic sac is provided between the palms to extend the fingers, hand, and arm joint from the arm joint side or the finger joint side. A plurality of air sacs are formed facing toward the bag, and a compressed air supply/discharge pipe is connected to the air sac, and compressed air is supplied to all the air sacs simultaneously or selectively to a specific air sac through the pipe. A glove for improving the functions of arm joints, hands, and fingers, characterized in that it is configured to repeatedly supply compressed air and exhaust the air all at once after a required period of time has elapsed.