# US 2021/0275872 A1 · Extensor apparatus providing dynamic engagement for treatment of hand spasticity and related devices and computer program products > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0275872 A1 - Document ID: US20210275872A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/196,412 - Filed: 2021-03-09 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-09 - Assignees: RehabilliBuddies - Applicants: RehabilliBuddies - Inventors: Joanna D. Cao; Isabella Elizabeth Watson; Martha Grace Farrell; Lars Patrick Chen; Misbah Ahmad; Jack Patrick Vincent - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210275872A1 ## CPC - A63B 23/16: for hands or fingers {(for teaching typing G09B13/00)} - A61F 5/0118: {for the arms, hands or fingers} - A63B 21/0085: {using pneumatic force-resisters} - A63B 21/4019: {to the hand} - A63B 24/0087: {Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load} - A63F 13/211: using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes - A63F 13/212: using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity - A63F 13/24: Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles - A63F 13/285: Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback - A63F 13/428: involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes - A63F 13/67: adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use - A63B 2022/0094: {for active rehabilitation, e.g. slow motion devices} - A63B 2024/0093: {the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed} - A63B 2024/0096: {using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars} - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An apparatus for treating spasticity can include a splint configured to receive a patient wrist and hand including a wrist portion of the splint including a moveable closure configured to secure a wrist of the patient to the splint. A hand portion of the splint can be rigidly coupled to the wrist portion, wherein the hand portion can include a hand portion that is shaped to receive a palm of the patient's hand and an inflatable bladder can be coupled to the hand portion, wherein the inflatable bladder can be configured to expand against fingers of the patient's hand during inflation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for treating spasticity comprising: a splint configured to receive a patient wrist and hand including: a wrist portion of the splint including a moveable closure configured to secure a wrist of the patient to the splint; a hand portion of the splint rigidly coupled to the wrist portion, the hand portion including a hand portion that is shaped to receive a palm of the patient's hand; and an inflatable bladder coupled to the hand portion, the inflatable bladder configured to expand against fingers of the patient's hand during inflation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inflatable bladder is configured to inflate to a first inflated volume while in contact with fingers of the patient's hand and configured to inflate to a second inflated volume that is greater than the first volume while in contact with the fingers of the patient's hand during inflation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the inflatable bladder is configured to deflate from the second inflated volume to the first volume while in contact with the fingers of the patient's hand during deflation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising: a processor circuit configured to control the inflation and deflation of the inflatable bladder responsive to detecting an increase in pressure in the inflatable bladder responsive to the fingers of the patient's hand compressing the inflatable bladder in an active mode of operation of the apparatus. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the processor circuit is configured to compare the increase in the pressure to a predetermined value to activate the deflation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising: a processor circuit configured to control the inflation and deflation of the inflatable bladder responsive to detecting an input to the system indicating a passive mode of operation of the system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising: a processor-readable storage medium, having stored thereon process-executable code, that, upon execution by the processor circuit, enables actions comprising: (a) receiving the input indicating the passive mode of operation; (b) activating a pump to inflate the inflatable bladder through a valve until reaching the second volume in the inflatable bladder; (c) activating a switch to bypass the valve to deflate the inflatable bladder to the first volume; and (d) repeating actions (a) to (c). ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising: a processor-readable storage medium, having stored thereon process-executable code, that, upon execution by the processor circuit, enables actions comprising: (a) receiving the input indicating the active mode of operation; (b) activating a pump to inflate the inflatable bladder through a valve until reaching the second volume in the inflatable bladder; (c) activating a switch to bypass the valve to deflate the inflatable bladder to the first volume responsive to detecting the increase in the pressure in the inflatable bladder responsive to the fingers of the patient's hand compressing the inflatable bladder; and (d) repeating actions (a) to (c). ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the process-executable code further enables actions comprising: recording the increase in the pressure in the inflatable bladder detected in action (c) to provide recorded therapy data; and providing feedback to the patient including the recorded therapy data. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the process-executable code further enables actions comprising: comparing the recorded therapy data for the patient to therapy data for other patients or a therapy data for projected rehabilitation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the process-executable code further enables actions comprising: providing the feedback to the patient as part of game-play; and providing a comparison between the recorded therapy data for the patient and recorded therapy data for another patient as part of the game-play. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the feedback to the patient as part of the game-play is provided on an electronic display. ### Claim 13 A system for treating spasticity comprising: a splint configured to receive a patient wrist and hand including: a wrist portion of the splint including a moveable closure configured to secure a wrist of the patient to the splint; a hand portion of the splint rigidly coupled to the wrist portion, the hand portion including a hand portion that is shaped to receive a palm of the patient's hand; an inflatable bladder coupled to the hand portion, the inflatable bladder including an input to the inflatable bladder; a pump configured to generate a gas at an output of the pump; and a tube having a first opening coupled to the output of the pump and having a second opening coupled to the input to the inflatable bladder. ### Claim 14 A system for treating spasticity comprising: a splint configured to receive a patient wrist and hand including: a wrist portion of the splint including a moveable closure configured to secure a wrist of the patient to the splint; a hand portion of the splint rigidly coupled to the wrist portion, the hand portion including a hand portion that is shaped to receive a palm of the patient's hand; an inflatable bladder coupled to the hand portion, the inflatable bladder including an input to the inflatable bladder; a pump configured to generate a gas at an output of the pump; a tube having a first opening coupled to the output of the pump and having a second opening coupled to the input to the inflatable bladder; and a processor circuit configured to activate the pump to inflate the inflatable bladder responsive to a first input to the processor circuit and configured to deflate the inflatable bladder responsive to a second input to the processor circuit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12 further comprising a switch coupled to the tube, wherein the processor circuit is configured to detect an increase in pressure in the tube responsive to compressive force on the inflatable bladder while inflated as the second input to the processor circuit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12 further comprising a switch coupled to the tube, wherein the processor circuit is configured to deflate the inflatable bladder responsive to detecting a pre-programmed pressure level in the tube during inflation.