Hand exerciser devices, systems, and methods

A fluid-powered hand exerciser assembly comprising:

• a hand exerciser comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface configured to couple to a base, the base having a base top surface, the top surface comprising a palm portion in a fixed position parallel to the base and a digit portion that is parallel to the base when the hand exerciser is in a neutral position, the top surface formed to resemble a size and a shape of the hand to facilitate isolating a digit to exercise, the top surface configured to removably receive a hand of a user, exercise a first muscle group within the hand, a second muscle group operably connected to a wrist, or both muscle groups, and isolate at least one digit of the hand to be exercised, the first muscle group including at least two of thenar, hypothenar, interossei, and lumbrical muscles;
• a hand attachment mechanism coupled to the top surface of the hand exerciser and configured to secure the hand to the top surface of the hand exerciser, the hand attachment mechanism including one or more adjustable or removeable fasteners, the one or more adjustable or removeable fasteners being configured to secure individual digits, a palm of the hand, or both, the hand attachment mechanism being secured at a plurality of apertures located on the digit portion, the plurality of apertures configured to allow relative movement of different portions of the digits;
• a hand exerciser engine operatively coupled to the hand exerciser and configured to cause the hand exerciser to exercise the hand, the hand exerciser engine comprising a hydraulic pump and hydraulic lines internal to the hand exerciser;
• the hydraulic pump being configured to pump a hydraulic fluid through the hand exerciser
• a heat-transmitting mechanism configured to selectively transfer a level of heat or cooling to one or more digits of the user comprising a heat-transmitting material, the heat-transmitting material including copper, steel, or conductive composite, the heat-transmitting material covering at least a portion of the hand exerciser;
• a user interface including an alert near one or more switches and a safety sensor configured to inhibit operation of the hand exerciser when the hand is not secured with the hand attachment mechanism, the alert being at least one of an audible alert and a visible alert, the safety sensor being a touch or pressure sensor;
• and
• a controller configured to communicate with the user interface, the hand exerciser, and the safety sensor via wireless or wired transmission, the controller having a circuitry internal to the hand exerciser assembly, the controller configured to receive a selected exercise to perform on the hand exerciser, to alert the user of the selected exercise, and to controllably move the hand exerciser to exercise the first or second muscle groups according to the selected exercise, the controller being configured to receive a plurality of instructions from a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and execute the plurality of instructions, including receiving a speed at which to perform the selected exercise, alerting the user of the speed of the selected exercise, and causing the hand exerciser to perform the selected exercise at the speed;
• wherein the palm portion comprises a cylindrical portion above and parallel to the base top surface and is configured to support a palm of the hand, such that the palm lies flat and directly contacts the cylindrical portion;
• wherein the top surface of the hand exerciser is configured to directly support the hand from underneath while operably moving the hand between an open position, in which the digit portion extends beyond the palm portion and above the base top surface, and a closed position, in which the digit portion moves toward the palm portion and toward the base top surface;
• whereby the hand exerciser is configured to tilt the top surface of the hand exerciser relative to the base so as to cause the hand exerciser to exercise the second muscle group, the top surface being uncoupled from the wrist such that portions of the hand exerciser are configured to move, in concert or in isolation, to exercise the at least one digit of the hand and the wrist.