System and method for providing indirect movement feedback during sensorimotor function rehabilitation and enhancement

Abstract

A rehabilitation feedback system is used during rehabilitation of one or more body appendages of a user. The system includes four finger tracking elements and a thumb tracking element supported for movement relative to one another so as to allow a user to perform a gripping motion when the elements are coupled to the fingers and thumb of a user. A biasing member provides a resistance force acting to urge each tracking element towards a starting position thereof. A visual barrier is adapted to hide the hand of the user at a first side of the visual barrier from direct visual sight by the user at a second side of the visual barrier. A sensor at the first side of the visual barrier detects movements of the tracking elements and communicates with an indicator element detectable by the user from a second side of the visual barrier.

1 . A sensorimotor rehabilitation feedback system comprising:
 a base frame;   a working element configured to be coupled to a body appendage of a user, said working element being movable relative to said base frame;   a biasing means operatively coupled to said working element, said biasing means being configured to provide a resistance force when said working element is moved by the body appendage;   a sensing means configured to detect movement said working element; and   an indicator means operatively coupled to said sensing means, said indicator means being configured to provide, to the user, an indirect indication of movement of said working element by the body appendage.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1  further comprising a visual barrier configured to prevent direct visual sight of the body appendage by the user when the body appendage is coupled to said working element. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein said working element is adjustable to accommodate coupling to a range of sizes of the body appendage. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one additional working element, such that said system comprises a plurality of working elements, each working element being configured to be coupled to a respective body appendage of the user. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein said system is configured to permit multiaxial positioning of the body appendage. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein said biasing means is adjustable between a plurality of resistance settings, each resistance setting corresponding to a different resistance force. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 4  wherein a spacing between said plurality of working elements is adjustable. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 4  wherein said biasing means is configured such that each working element is capable of being biased independently of the other working elements. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8  wherein said biasing means is configured such that different biasing forces can be independently applied to said plurality of working elements. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 4  wherein said sensing means comprises a plurality of sensors, each sensor being operatively coupled to a respective working element. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10  wherein said indicator means is configured to display, to the user, in response to detection of motion of at least one working element by said plurality of sensors, feedback indicative of displacement of at least one of said plurality of working elements. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11  wherein said indicator means is configured such that the feedback presented to the user permits the user to indirectly perceive displacement of each one of said plurality of working elements independent of the other working elements. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 4  wherein said sensing means comprises a single sensor operatively coupled to said plurality of working elements. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13  wherein said indicator means is configured to display, to the user, in response to detection by said single sensor, feedback indicative of displacement of any one of said plurality of working elements. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein said sensing means comprises an electromechanical sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein said working element is a finger tracking element arranged to be coupled to a finger of the user. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16  further comprising a thumb tracking element arranged to be coupled to a respective thumb of the user. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17  wherein the thumb tracking element is movable relative to said biasing means in an opposing direction relative to that of said finger tracking element. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein said biasing means comprises a deformable member. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19  wherein a portion of said deformable member is fixed and prevented from bending. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 20  wherein the portion of said deformable member that is fixed is configurable to permit selection of a resistance force from a range of resistance forces. 
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein said indicator means is configured such that a presence of movement of said working element is indicated to the user. 
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein said indicator means is configured such that a magnitude of movement of said working element is indicated to the user. 
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein said indicator means is configured to provide visual feedback to the user. 
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein said indicator means is configured to provide auditory feedback to the user. 
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one working element includes a socket adapted to receive a finger tip of the user therein, said socket being angularly adjustable through a range of angular positions about an adjustment axis. 
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 26  wherein said socket includes a locking element enabling said socket to be fixed at one or more selected angular positions. 
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 26  wherein said socket is supported to be freely pivotable between the range of angular positions. 
     
     
         29 . A method of facilitating sensorimotor rehabilitation of a user, the method comprising:
 while a body appendage of the user is coupled to a working element that is configured to apply a resistance force in response to displacement thereof: 
 preventing direct visual observation of the body appendage by the user; 
 employing a sensor to detect motion of the working element by the body appendage; and 
 providing indirect feedback to the user indicative of detected motion of the body appendage.