Interactive Exercise System For Reducing The Risk Of Developing And Relieving The Symptoms Of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Non-Provisional patent application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/354,206

FEDERAL RESEARCH STATEMENT

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an interactive exercise system that is designed to be used as a preventative means to reduce the risk of developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) and to relieve the symptoms of an individual who has developed CTS. More specifically, this system provides feedback to users and occupational therapists to follow recommended motions accurately and to perform diagnosis.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which one of the major nerves that controls the functioning of the hand and fingers—the median nerve—becomes compressed inside a “tunnel” in the wrist. This can cause various symptoms including pain, numbness, tingling, or a “funny feeling” in the fingers, hand, or wrist. This syndrome is caused by repetitive activity of the wrist joints for a prolonged period of time. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the syndrome is very common and serious among workers in the following industries: meat packing, knit underwear mills, motor vehicles and car bodies, household laundry equipment manufacturing, and poultry slaughtering and processing. In all these industries, it results in the highest number of days lost among all work related injuries and costs more than $20 billion a year in workers compensation. In addition to spending $20 billion annually on workers' compensation costs due to this syndrome, the U.S. spends another $100 billion on lost productivity, employee turnover, and other indirect expenses (courtesy: The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research). The U.S. Department of Labor has concluded that carpal tunnel syndrome is the “chief occupational hazard of the 90's” (OSHA).

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is treated in a variety of surgical and non-surgical ways. The surgical treatment (specifically the endoscopic release surgery) is performed in extreme cases where the symptoms exist for more than six months. The non-surgical treatments include using wrist splints, resting longer between strenuous activities, acupuncture and Yoga, taking diuretics and other anti-inflammatory drugs. The surgical treatment, though one of the most common surgeries performed, is not very effective as only 23% of patients operated upon return to their original professions. The non-surgical methods are effective only when they are undergone regularly and at beginning stages of the syndrome.

Many research initiatives sponsored by foundations and organizations such as The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), American Chronic Pain Association, The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) concentrate on how to prevent the syndrome by studying the chronology of events leading to this syndrome and effective working methods for preventing the syndrome.

With growing concern over CTS, occupational therapists and medical experts have prescribed a set of exercises that can be performed at workplace to prevent its onset. These wrist exercises need to be performed at regular intervals and the user must follow the right procedure to perform these wrist exercises. Thus there is a great need for product that can motivate and guide user to perform exercises at work place.

The inventors have developed a device that makes use of Wii-Remote, Wii Ultra Sensor and a Bluetooth USB device coupled with a LabVIEW application to read the position of the user's hand in space and also the angular positions and orientations of the user's hand. This data is transmitted to the application which in turn recommends hand/wrist exercises that the user can perform to mitigate the effects of CTS. The communication between the devices is made possible using Bluetooth.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Several devices have been developed to monitor the motions of body parts with respect to developing and mitigating the effects of CTS. These devices include U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,751 to Spitzer (Glove for Preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome); U.S. Pat. No. 6,146,347 to Porrata (Appliance and method for treating carpal tunnel syndrome); U.S. Pat. No. 6,942,631 to Hepburn (Device for treating carpal tunnel syndrome); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,719 to Costello (Portable electronic data collection apparatus for monitoring musculoskeletal stresses). However, none of the referenced prior art includes the attributes of the instant invention—namely the incorporation of interactive exercise to reduce the risk of having CTS and to relieve the CTS symptoms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an interactive exercise system that is designed to be used as a preventative means to reduce the risk of developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) and to relieve the symptoms of an individual who has developed CTS. More specifically, this system provides feedback to users and occupational therapists to follow recommended motions accurately and to perform diagnosis.

The present invention has four main components: (1) a pair of sensor-embedded gloves, (2) a means of transmitting data from the sensors to a computer, (3) devices that can translate the motions of a user's hands into a processor and display them on a computer screen and (4) a corresponding software program to aggregate data and display recommended exercises and motions. To monitor the hand movements, at least two accelerometers are mounted on the wrist and joints of the gloves. In addition, a force sensor will be located in the palm of the hand. Sensors may be added for specific applications, including but not limited to Hall Effect sensor, infra-red sensors, nerve sensors, and tension gauges. The sensor data will be gathered into a small micro-processor chip to transmit messages to the software program through a Bluetooth or similar device.

A survey of symptom severity scale has to be completed by the first time user and the information will be used to choose recommended exercises. The software program, currently developed with LabVIEW, keeps a track of the excessive usage of keyboard and guides the users through suggested exercises according to the user wrist condition with feedback from the sensor-embedded gloves for the user to exercise effectively and efficiently. Other computer programs can also be used. The system is adaptable to using enhanced and improved software programs in the future. Moreover, the exercise report will be used for occupational therapists to perform analysis and diagnosis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front view of the device 10; including the pair of gloves 20; the Bluetooth 30; the computer monitor 40; the accelerometers 50; the microcontroller and Bluetooth 60; and the force sensor 70.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has four main components: (1) a pair of sensor-embedded gloves, (2) a means of transmitting data from the sensors to a computer, (3) devices that can translate the motions of a user's hands into a processor and display them on a computer screen and (4) a corresponding software program to aggregate data and display recommended exercises and motions. In addition, a force sensor is located in the palm of the hand. Sensors may be added for specific applications, including but not limited to, a Hall Effect sensor, infra-red sensors, nerve sensors, and tension gauges. The sensor data will be gathered into a small micro-processor chip to transmit messages to the software program through a Bluetooth or similar device.

Referring to FIG. 1, a front view of the device 10 is shown; including a front and back view of the left hand glove of the pair of gloves 20; the Bluetooth transmitter 30; the computer monitor 40; the accelerometers 50; the microcontroller and Bluetooth 60; and the force sensor 70. As the hand moves, the sensors gather data and transmit it via the Bluetooth to the computer for analysis. Based on the analysis, the computer program recommends exercises to be performed by the user to minimize the risk of suffering CTS or, if the user already has CTS, exercises to lessen the impacts of the affliction.

The best mode for practicing the invention is briefly described below:

• • a. The program tracks the keyboard usage by the user and prompts him or her when he or she exceeds the limit. The limit is established and input into the computer program by an occupational or physical therapist.
  • b. The user can either continue to work (i.e. extend) or perform the exercise at this point. The user will be more frequently prompted if he or she decides to continue working.
  • c. If the user chooses to exercise, a set of exercise movements are displayed on the screen and the user is asked to follow the movement. The exercises are specifically tailored to remediate the effects of the movements that the user has performed in the course of his or her work.
  • d. As the user follows the suggested exercise movements, he or she sees his or her hand position plotted on the screen and sees also a solid or shaded image depicting the recommended angular tilt and pitch movements. The user moves his or her hand to replicate or shadow the recommended position and/or movements in order to successfully complete the recommended exercises.
  • e. Another key feature of the instant invention its updateable database. The user can add, modify or change his exercise routines to meet his requirements or physician's recommendations.
  • f. The recorded exercise regimen is sent to occupational therapists and they provide diagnosis and feedback on how well the user is following medical advice. The therapists record their feedback via an online forum wherein each user and therapist is provided login access as well as privacy.
  • g. A social exercise network can be formed where colleagues can share exercises, compare performances and exchange feedback concerning each individual's routines at workplace.