Resistive therapeutic wrist dynamometer and exerciser device

Abstract

A resistive therapeutic device is disclosed such that upon a user applying torque a controller emits a signal to an electromagnetic resistance generating member. The controller detects a maximum torque applied by a user detects if the maximum torque applied by a user is less than or equal to a resistance setting. The torque resistance is variable from a neutral position to a maximum position, and the controller increases the resistance setting as a user moves a torque application member in a direction away from the neutral position that represents an increase in torque applied by the user. A control and user interface for a resistive therapeutic device includes an evaluation display of torque strength applied and displays an angle of rotation clockwise or counterclockwise directions ranging from 0 degrees to 360 degrees and a count of repetitive times a user has rotated at least 360 degrees in either direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A resistive therapeutic device comprising:
 a torque application member enabling torque to be applied by a user;   an electromagnetic resistance generating member in communication with the torque application member, the electromagnetic resistance generating member providing a resistance setting to the torque applied by a user; and   a controller in communication with the electromagnetic resistance generating member,   wherein upon a user applying torque to the torque application member the controller emits a signal to the electromagnetic resistance generating member,   wherein the controller detects a maximum torque applied by a user, and   wherein the controller detects if the maximum torque applied by a user is less than or equal to the resistance setting.   
     
     
         2 . The resistive therapeutic device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the torque application member is variable from a neutral position to a maximum position,   wherein upon a user releasing the torque application member, the torque application member returns to the neutral position.   
     
     
         3 . The resistive therapeutic device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the torque application member is variable from a neutral position to a maximum position, and   wherein the controller increases the resistance setting as a user moves the torque application member in a direction away from the neutral position that represents an increase in torque applied by the user.   
     
     
         4 . The resistive therapeutic device according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the resistance setting is adjustable to a specified turning angle during movement by the user of the torque application member, and   wherein the specified turning angle represents a maximum resistance targeted for the user.   
     
     
         5 . The resistive therapeutic device according to  claim 1 ,
 further including an encoder in communication with the controller,   wherein the encoder senses movement by the torque application member,   wherein, upon sensing movement by the torque application member, the controller emits a signal to the electromagnetic resistance generating member to increase resistance to the movement by the torque application member.   
     
     
         6 . The resistive therapeutic device according to  claim 2 , further including
 a motor that returns the torque application member to the neutral position upon a user releasing the torque application member.   
     
     
         7 . A control and user interface for a resistive therapeutic device comprising:
 a master display; and   a link to an evaluation display, wherein upon a user accessing the link to the evaluation display, the evaluation display displays a torque strength applied by a user to a torque application member.   
     
     
         8 . The control and user interface according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the controller and user interface enables displaying an angle of rotation of the torque application member in a clockwise direction ranging from 0 degrees to 360 degrees or in a counterclockwise direction ranging from 0 degrees to 360 degrees, and   enables displaying a count of repetitive times a user has rotated the torque application member to at least 360 degrees in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction.   
     
     
         9 . The control and user interface according to  claim 7   wherein the controller and user interface enables setting a reference angle to apply torque strength to a torque application member.   
     
     
         10 . The control and user interface according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the controller and user interface enables setting a maximum value for the reference angle in the direction set as one of clockwise or counterclockwise, and   wherein upon setting the maximum value for the reference angle in the direction set as one of clockwise or counterclockwise the controller and user interface enables setting an incremental torque increase versus angle increase as a user applies torque to the torque application member.   
     
     
         11 . The control and user interface according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the controller and user interface enables displaying at least one of a peak torque strength achieved by a user in the clockwise direction or an average of peak torque strengths achieved by a user in the clockwise direction or   wherein the controller and user interface enables displaying at least one of a peak torque strength achieved by a user in the clockwise direction or an average of peak torque strengths achieved by a user in the counterclockwise direction.   
     
     
         12 . The control and user interface according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the controller and user interface enables displaying an angle of rotation of the torque application member in a clockwise direction ranging from 0 degrees to 360 degrees or in a counterclockwise direction ranging from 0 degrees to 360 degrees, and   wherein the controller and user interface enables displaying a count of repetitive times a user has rotated the torque application member to at least 360 degrees or crossing 0 degrees in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction.   
     
     
         13 . A system for controlling input current to an electromagnetic resistance generating member comprising:
 a controller; and   memory in communication with the controller;   the controller and memory configured to direct an input current to set torque resistance of an electromagnetic resistance generating member from one of an increasing current curve versus torque resistance or a decreasing current curve versus torque resistance or both an increasing current curve versus torque resistance and a decreasing current curve versus torque resistance wherein the curves are stored in the memory.   
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the controller recognizes direction of torque change as an increase or decrease in existing torque set point and the controller retrieves one of the increasing current curve versus torque resistance or the decreasing current curve versus torque resistance or both the increasing current curve versus torque resistance and the decreasing current curve versus torque resistance from the memory.   
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the controller decreases the torque resistance and current input to the electromagnetic resistance generating member when the current input is being adjusted along the increasing current curve and   wherein the controller pulses the input current to 100 percent of maximum input current.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the controller returns the pulsed input current to an input current value on the decreasing current curve that represents an equivalent torque resistance to the torque resistance value on the increasing current curve.   
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the controller directs continuing a decrease in current along the increasing current curve to a target torque resistance value. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the controller increases the torque resistance and current input to the electromagnetic resistance generating member when the current input is being adjusted along the decreasing current curve and   wherein the controller pulses the input current to 0 percent of maximum input current.   
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 18 ,
 wherein the controller returns the pulsed input current to an input current value on the increasing current curve that represents an equivalent torque resistance to the torque resistance value on the decreasing current curve.   
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the controller directs continuing an increase in current along the decreasing current curve to a target torque resistance value. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the controller increases the torque resistance and current input to the electromagnetic resistance generating member when the current input is being adjusted along the decreasing current curve;   wherein the controller applies a single direction pulse to 100 percent of maximum input current at the existing torque resistance value;   wherein the controller circumvents adjustment of the input current on both the increasing current curve and on the decreasing current curve; and   wherein the controller sets the input current value on the decreasing current curve that represents an equivalent torque resistance to the torque resistance value on the increasing current curve, thereby crossing the increasing current curve.