Method and apparatus for rehabilitation of damaged limbs

Claim 1

Apparatus for simulating the operational characteristics of different tools in the rehabilitation therapy of damaged limbs by simultaneously carrying out, in coordinated fashion, several muscle and joint movements, which comprises: (a) an angularly adjustable shaft mounted for full rotation about a fixed axis; (b) electric brake means responsive to an applied voltage for applying a constant pre-determined torque resistance to said shaft corresponding to the amount of applied voltage and appropriate muscle and joint movement being carried out; (c) means for selectively varying the amount of said voltage such that said corresponding torque resistance is maintained at a desired constant value within a range useful for rehabilitation therapy; (d) an accessory coupler on one end of said shaft for detachably receiving and supporting the corresponding coupler element of a tool simulator accessory, said coupler element having a common axis of rotation with the axis of rotation of said accessory coupler and said shaft; (e) means interconnecting said coupler element with a tool simulating handle such that movement of said handle through the path of movement of its simulated tool rotates said coupler element and communicates such rotation to said shaft; and (f) said accessory being a pliers simulating accessory having a pair of handles, a coupler element for connection to said accessory coupler on said brake controlled shaft, and means for converting squeezing movement of said handles to turning of said coupler element, said means comprising a pair of plier jaws connected, respectively, to said handles, a shaft interconnecting said jaws and attached to said coupler element, said shaft being fixed to one of said jaws and freely rotatable with respect to the other jaw, and a bracket connected to said other jaw and arranged to maintain said other jaw rotationally fixed when said coupler element is connected to said accessory coupler.