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  Ankle rehabilitation apparatusUSPTO Application #: 20080096724Title: Ankle rehabilitation apparatus Abstract: An ankle rehabilitation apparatus is disclosed. The ankle rehabilitation apparatus comprises a base, a rotary plate, a rotary plate, an actuator, a control unit, and a torque detector. The rotary plate is pivotally connected to the base to hold a user's ankle. The actuator has a driving shaft to rotate the base. The control unit is electrically connected to the actuator to control the actuator to rotate the rotary plate. The torque detector is electrically connected to the control unit to detect a torque exerted to the driving shaft, and outputting the torque signal according to the torque to the control unit. (end of abstract) Agent: Lowe Hauptman Ham & Berner, LLP - Alexandria, VA, US Inventors: Ming-Shaung JU, Chou-Ching Lin, Bo-Wei Pan USPTO Applicaton #: 20080096724 - Class: 482 5 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080096724. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001]This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 95218794, filed Oct. 24, 2006, which is herein incorporated by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002]This invention relates to an ankle rehabilitation apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus that guides the user's ankle to perform rehabilitation movements. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003]From clinical experience, movement disorders due to hemiplegia include reduced range of motion (ROM), weakness, hyperactive reflexes, incoordination, spasticity, and synergy patterns. Patients' daily activities are affected since these disorders do not allow patients to voluntarily contract a single muscle group. [0004]Conventionally, therapists would guide patients to perform continuously passive movements with their bare hands or with assistive equipment. When patients perform continuously active movements, therapists apply adequate resistance or assistance to induce normal synergies. However, in one period of rehabilitation, therapists have to take a lot of time to guide patients to perform a motion continuously and repeatedly. Therefore, conventional rehabilitation is very laborious and time-consuming. Further, therapists' assessments of the degree of rehabilitation are subjective, so that it is hard to objectively assess the degree of rehabilitation. [0005]When conventional rehabilitation apparatus guides the patient's lower limbs to perform rehabilitation movements, for the stability of the rehabilitation, the conventional rehabilitation apparatus is combined with a chair in a single piece. Therefore, the weight and the size the conventional rehabilitation apparatus is very large, and the apparatus is therefore not portable. The patient can only perform rehabilitation movements in a specific location, such as a hospital. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006]Therefore, an aspect of the present invention is to provide the ankle rehabilitation apparatus to simulate the therapist's rehabilitation method and to continuously guide the user to perform the rehabilitation movements for a long time, thereby saving labor and time. [0007]Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a portable ankle rehabilitation apparatus to perform rehabilitation movements in any location, and to be adjustable corresponding to the user's bodily form. [0008]Another aspect of the present invention is to provide the ankle rehabilitation apparatus to continuously record the torque between the user's ankle and the apparatus in the rehabilitation process, so as to asses the degree of rehabilitation, thereby setting up an objective quantitative index for clinical rehabilitation assessment, and to amend the rehabilitation movements according to the degree of rehabilitation. [0009]Another aspect of the present invention is to provide the ankle rehabilitation apparatus to the passive rehabilitation process or the active rehabilitation process, so as to raise the user's range of motion (ROM) and increase muscle strength, thereby reforming the user's movement disorders. [0010]According to an embodiment of the present invention, the ankle rehabilitation apparatus comprises a base, a rotary plate, an actuator, a control unit, and a torque detector. The base has a holding frame, a first holder and a second holder, wherein the holding frame, the first holder and the second holder are adjustable corresponding to a user's bodily form, and the first holder holds the user's thigh, and the second holder holds the user's shank. The rotary plate is pivotally connected to the holding frame of the base, wherein the rotary plate has at least one holding member to hold the user's ankle. The actuator is mounted in a fixed position to the holding frame of the base, wherein the actuator has a driving shaft to rotate the rotary plate. The control unit is electrically connected to the actuator, wherein the control unit controls the actuator to rotate the rotary plate. The torque detector is disposed between the rotary plate and the actuator wherein the torque detector is electrically connected to the control unit to detect the torque exerted on the driving shaft and outputs a torque signal corresponding to the torque to the control unit. [0011]Therefore, the ankle rehabilitation apparatus disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention can simulate the therapist's rehabilitation method and guide the user to perform the rehabilitation movements for a long time, thereby saving labor and time. The torque between the ankle and the actuator can be recorded to assess the degree of rehabilitation. The rehabilitation process of the ankle rehabilitation apparatus is determined by the degree of rehabilitation, thereby enhancing the rehabilitation effect. Further, the ankle rehabilitation apparatus of the present invention conveniently performs rehabilitation movements in any location, and can be adjusted to correspond to the shape of the user's body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012]The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0013]FIG. 1 is a side view showing the ankle rehabilitation apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [0014]FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view showing the ankle rehabilitation apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [0015]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the ankle rehabilitation apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [0016]FIG. 4 is a partially exploded view showing the torque detector of the ankle rehabilitation apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and [0017]FIG. 5 is the rehabilitation method flow diagram showing the torque detector of the ankle rehabilitation apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0018]In order to make the illustration of the present invention more explicit and complete, the following description is stated with reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 5. Continue reading... Full patent description for Ankle rehabilitation apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Ankle rehabilitation apparatus patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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