WO2019031959A1 - Apparatus for rehabilitation of the knee by physiotherapy - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention describes an apparatus for rehabilitation of the knee by physiotherapy, which has the feature of comprising a wireless system using a bluetooth module, which is linked to a smart mobile device, making it possible to control said apparatus remotely and in real time, establishing the parameters required for rehabilitation which include mechanical therapy, in which it is possible to programme the bending angle and the force exerted on the limb to be treated, achieving an increase or a reduction in the mechanical movement according to the needs of the user. Another feature of the apparatus for rehabilitation of the knee by physiotherapy is the control of the electrical pulses sent to the limb, which are sent via the same smart device, in which it is possible to increase or reduce said electrical pulses, which serve as an analgesic in order to reduce discomfort during the application of the therapy. Finally, it should be mentioned that the apparatus comprises the feature of controlling the application of temperature in the affected area, which helps reduce discomfort during the therapy, since adding heat to the affected area serves as an analgesic for better application of said therapy.

Description

The present invention relates to the technical field of electronics, communication modules and mechanics, since it provides an apparatus for physiotherapeutic rehabilitation of the knee.

Mechanotherapy is a discipline that is included within physiotherapy and is defined as the art and science of the treatment of different diseases and injuries, by mechanical devices.

Applied since antiquity, and developed in modern times by Gustav Zander, mechanotherapy uses a wide variety of devices and devices, such as tables, wheels, cages with weights and pulleys, tractions, pedal boards, etc.

It is used primarily in the physical rehabilitation of the sick and injured. Mechanotherapy is a medical prescription and must be exclusively prescribed by a physiotherapist to guarantee the effectiveness of the treatment.

Throughout history, a great number of aesthetic devices and mechanical techniques have been used, especially focused on massage, which has evolved into aesthetic equipment such as Pressotherapy. Other techniques introduced in the world of aesthetics were ultrasounds, since their use goes back to middle age to treat some diseases using the resonance of a crystal when vibrating when an organ is played. The very existence of ultrasound was not known until the nineteenth century that vibrations were discovered that were not audible to man, but if they were perceived by some animals, example is the physicist Gaston who developed a whistle that only the dogs.

The first mechanotherapy devices were created in Sweden in 1910, and they were perfected and modified continuously, however, these first devices fell progressively into disuse due to the complexity of their installation and the economic outlay that their acquisition entailed.

The current interest of mechanotherapy is that the patient can perform exercises with a healing purpose.

Orthopedic braces for knees are sometimes the solution to anatomical or joint problems, they also help to correct postural defects or pains. Depending on the problem or knee injury, there are different types of devices, whose main objective is to exert a healing action on the damaged area.

The knee is one of our most vulnerable joints due to the efforts it is subjected to on a daily basis (running, walking, kneeling, lifting, crossing the legs when sitting, etc.). Most knee problems are related to continuous wear and tear and the natural aging process, with arthritis as one of the most common pathologies.

In other cases, the knees suffer an injury or distension caused by a repetitive movement. Sprain, tendinitis, strain of ligaments, muscles or knee are some of the most common ailments that affect the knee.

Orthotics for knees are used to correct a problem (wear, osteoarthritis, for example) or to prevent it. Currently, there are various physiotherapeutic rehabilitation teams, both conventional and specialized, used to assist the physical therapies of patients undergoing medical interventions.

The problems related to the knee are very abundant in the world population where subjects from the age of 25 years have this type of complications. The mechanical traction devices for the rehabilitation of articular movement that exist function under the same principle (flexing and exerting pressure on the physical objective). The devices most commonly used to overcome mechanotherapy are the knee flexion and extension assistants configured with a motor coupled to an endless screw so that it functions as a linear actuator located in various points of a metal structure that allow the patient's leg in a resting state on a flat platform it flexes and extends in a controlled manner. A patent technical search was carried out for apparatus for knee physiotherapeutic rehabilitation, where it was found that different systems have been developed for this purpose, as mentioned in the publication of the patent number US6966882 (B2), with date of publication of 22 November 2005, which has the title "ACTIVE MUSCLE ASSISTANCE DEVICE AND ETHOD {Active muscular assistance device and method)", which describes a method to control movement using an active device that includes an actuator, a position sensor, articulation, a muscle strain sensor and a control system. The device mainly provides muscle support, although it is able to provide additional joint support (hence the name "active muscle assist device"). The device is designed to work in several ways to provide assistance or resistance to a muscle for the purpose of improving mobility, preventing injury or developing muscle strength. The device is designed to operate autonomously or coupled with other similar devices to provide simultaneous assistance or resistance to multiple muscles.

The patent US6966882 (B2), refers to a device that includes an actuator, a joint position sensor, a muscle strain sensor and a control system, but does not refer to integrate additional functions, where it can clearly be seen that It lacks the application of several therapies applied simultaneously, which are mechanical, electrical and thermal therapy, nor does it refer to having a servo linear actuator, as well as it also lacks with a wireless control which can be operated by a mobile device.

On the other hand, the publication of the United States of America patent number ÜS8574176 (B2) was found, with publication date of November 5, 2013, which has the title "REHABILITATION SUPPORTING DEVICE (Rehabilitation support device)", , which describes a rehabilitation support device including a first frame disposed along a first skeletal portion extending from a joint, a second frame arranged along a second skeletal portion extending from the joint in a direction different from the direction of the first skeletal part, a sensor arranged to detect a rotational angle position between the first frame and the second frame, a biosignal sensor of flexion side arranged to detect a biosignal of a flexor, a sensor of extension side biosignal arranged to detect a biosignal of an extender, a calibration unit arranged to individually determine a correction value of the bending side and a correction value of the extension side, and a memory unit arranged to store individual correction values of the biosignals different for individuals, the correction value of the bending side and the extension of the lateral correction value.

As can be seen patent US8574176 (B2), refers to a mechanical traction system powered by biometric signals, angle and torque sensors, but does not mention containing a textile support with electro-thermal channels that improve the efficiency of therapy, also lacks electro-stimulators and a Wireless control port to be controlled by means of a smart mobile device.

OBJECT OF THE INVEMGXCM

It is, therefore, object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for physiotherapeutic knee rehabilitation, which solves the aforementioned problems,

The characteristic details of this novel device for physiotherapeutic knee rehabilitation are clearly shown in the following description and in the accompanying figures, as well as an illustration thereof, and following the same reference signs to indicate the parts shown. , said figures are shown by way of example and should not be considered as limiting for the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a top perspective view of the apparatus for physiotherapeutic knee rehabilitation, with a servomotor as a movement mechanism.

 Figure 2 shows a left side view in detail of the positioning of the peltier plates and the microcontroller of the apparatus for physiotherapeutic knee rehabilitation, with a servomotor as movement mechanism and without the patellar protector.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view with the servomotor as movement mechanism and the microcontroller installed in the lateral support of the apparatus for physiotherapeutic knee rehabilitation.

 Figure 4 shows a front view of the apparatus for physiotherapeutic knee rehabilitation, with a piston as movement mechanism.

Figure 5 shows a left side view of the apparatus for physiotherapeutic knee rehabilitation, with a piston as movement mechanism.

 Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the lateral supports of the apparatus for physiotherapeutic knee rehabilitation.

Figure 7 shows a detailed side view of a transparency of the attachment of the rods of the lateral support of the apparatus for physiotherapeutic knee rehabilitation.

Figure 8 shows a front view of the patellar protector of the apparatus for physiotherapeutic knee rehabilitation.

 Figure 9 shows a rear view of the textile fixative of the apparatus for physiotherapeutic knee rehabilitation, where the means for fastening the electrodes are appreciated.

For a better understanding of the invention, below, the parts that make up the apparatus for physiotherapeutic knee rehabilitation are listed:

1. Lateral support 2. Upper rod

 3. Lower rod

 4. Union mechanism

 c Bearing

 6. Outgoing openings

 7. Textile fixer

 8. Clamping means

 9. Electrode

 10. Peltier cell

 il. Heat dissipator

 12, Patellar Protector

 13

 14. Servomotor

 15. Microcontroller

 16. External content

 Cable

With reference to the figures, the apparatus for physiotherapeutic knee rehabilitation consists of:

Two lateral supports (1), which are placed one on each side of the leg of the person who will use the apparatus for physiotherapeutic knee rehabilitation; each of the lateral supports (1), is formed by an upper rod (2) and a lower rod (3) which are assembled together, by means of a joining mechanism (4), as shown in figure 8; said joining mechanism (4) is formed by at least one bearing (5), which is configured to be assembled in a fixing hole (not shown) arranged in the upper rod (2) and the lower rod (3), and that are attached by UROS fixing means (not shown), which can be screws, bolts, spikes, media magné combination of the above.

Each lateral support (1) have at least four protruding openings (6), distributed, at least, one on each side of the upper rod (2) and one on each side of the lower rod (3), from the protruding openings (6) there passes a textile fixer (7), which is breathable, antiseptic and elastic, allowing the lateral supports (1) to remain joined together and fitted to the leg of the person who is using the apparatus for physiotherapeutic rehabilitation of the knee, allowing to exercise mechanical rehabilitation while maintaining a firm and constant movement.

The textile fastener (7) is configured with at least one fastening means (8) that supports at least one electrode (9) that by means of an electro stimulator (not shown) that is installed in any of the upper rods (2), generates an electrical pulse, giving rise to the electrotherapy of the knee of the person who is using the device for physical rehabilitation of the knee.

The fastening means (8) that holds the electrodes (9), can be snaps, sailboat, insurance, staples, magnetic media and / or the combination of the above.

At least one Peltier cell (10) is installed in a cavity (not shown) on the side of the upper rod (2) and is connected to a heat sink (11), which distributes the heat generated by the cell Peltier (10); The heat sink (11) is located in a patellar protector (12) that is preferably made of elastic fabric and is configured to resist the temperature emitted by the heat sink (11); said patellar protector (12) is located in the middle of the apparatus for physiotherapeutic rehabilitation of the knee, just to one side of the joining mechanism (4). The heat sink (12) is configured to encompass the cruciate ligaments, the laterals and the rotary circumference, allowing thermal therapy to be generated in the mentioned areas.

The physiotherapeutic knee rehabilitation apparatus has a movement system installed in any of the lateral supports (1), which allows the person using the apparatus for rehabilitation of the present invention to have a movement therapy, at the same time as has thermal therapy and electro stimulation. The movement system can be an electric piston (13) and / or a servomotor (14) together with a transmission system (not shown).

A microcontroller (15) which, in turn, is assembled to a bluetooth module (not shown), allows to control and operate by means of a smart mobile device (not illustrated) the apparatus for knee physiotherapeutic rehabilitation wirelessly, regulating the intensity of the electrical pulse of the electro stimulator (not shown), the temperature of the Peltier cell (10) and the actuation of the movement system either the electric piston (13) and and / or the servomotor (14) together with a system of transmission. Both the microcontroller (15) and the bluetooth module (not shown) are installed, in any of the upper rods (2) or in a. external container (16) connected the apparatus for physiotherapeutic knee rehabilitation by means of a cable (17). A power source (not shown), preferably located in the external container (16) feeds power to the microcontroller (15). Having sufficiently described the invention, the content of the claim clauses of the claim chapter is claimed as property.

Claims

1. An apparatus for physiotherapeutic knee rehabilitation, comprising:  i. two lateral supports (1), which are placed one on each side of the leg, each of which are formed by an upper rod (2) and a lower rod (3) which are assembled together, by means of a connecting mechanism (4) which is formed by at least one bearing (5), which is configured to be assembled in a fixing hole (not shown) arranged in the upper rod (2) and the lower rod (3) , and which are coupled by fixing means (not shown), each lateral support (1) have at least four protruding openings (6);  ii. A textile fastener (7) passes through the protruding openings (6) allowing the lateral supports (1) to remain joined to each other and adjusted to the leg, said textile fastener (7) is configured with at least one fastening means ( 8};  iii. at least one electrode (9) is placed in the fastening means (8), and by means of an electrode (not shown) that is installed in any of the upper rods (2), generates an electrical pulse; iv. at least one Peltier cell (10) is installed in a cavity (not shown) on the side of the upper rod (2) and is connected to a heat sink (11), which distributes the heat generated by the Peltier cell (10);  the heat sink (11) is in a patellar protector (12) located in the middle part of the apparatus for physiotherapeutic knee rehabilitation, just to one side of the joining mechanism (4);  a movement system is installed in any of the lateral supports (1) allows a movement therapy;  a microcontroller (15) which, in turn, is assembled to a bluetooth module (not shown) are installed, in any of the upper rods (2) or in an external container (16) connected by means of a cable (17) ), the microcontroller (15) allows controlling the intensity of the electrical pulse of the electro stimulator (not shown), the temperature of the Peltier cell (10) and the drive of the movement system;  A power source (not shown) powers the microcontroller (15). The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that the fixing means can be screws, bolts, pins, magnetic means and / or the combination of the above. The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that the protruding openings (6) are distributed at least one on each side of the upper rod (2) and one on each side of the lower rod (3) . 4. The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that the textile fastener (7) is breathable, antiseptic and elastic. The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that the fastening means (8) holding the electrodes (9), can be snaps, sailboat, safety, staples, magnetic means and / or the combination of the above. The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that the patella protector (12) is preferably of elastic fabric and is configured to resist the temperature emitted by the heat sink (11). The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that the heat sink (12) is configured to encompass the cruciate ligaments, the sides and the girth. The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that the movement system can be an electric piston (13) and / or a servomotor (14) together with a transmission system (not shown). The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that the power source is preferably in the outer container (16) 10. The apparatus of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is controlled and operated by means of an intelligent mobile device connected to the bluetooth module.