Isometric system, method and apparatus

Abstract

System, method and apparatus for carrying out isometric exercises for either diagnostic purposes or therapeutic purposes. When employed in a diagnostic mode, the instrument is programmed to carry out standardized diagnostic regimens and during such regimens provides both visual and aural cues, carries out mathematical computations of force values and provides recordation of diagnostic data in archival memory. When employed in a therapeutic mode the apparatus may only be programmed within mandated therapeutic parameter limitations. During therapeutic trials, the user is visually and aurally cued throughout the test sequence and the therapeutic data evolved during the regimen is recorded and recoverable from archival memory.

1 - 77 . (canceled)  
     
     
         78 . Apparatus for carrying out a protocol-based isometric exercise regimen, comprising: 
 a rigid housing having a hand grasping portion with first and second base grip components having respective outwardly disposed first and second elongate grasping surfaces, said first and second grip surfaces being spaced apart a first predetermined widthwise extend and said first base grip having a first base connector assembly adjacent the said first grip surface thereof, said housing having an interacting portion fixed to and extending from said hand grasping portion;    an elongate rigid thrust plate positioned within said housing hand grasping portion in force transfer relationship with said first and second base grip components;    a load cell assembly coupled in stress transfer relationship with said thrust plate and having a force output signal in response to stress imposed from said first and second base grip components;    a control circuit within said housing responsive to said force output signal to provide an evaluation output;    a readout assembly mounted at said housing interaction portion, responsive to said evaluation output to provide a perceptible output corresponding therewith; and    a first auxiliary grip component having a first auxiliary grasping surface and a first auxiliary connector assembly adjacent said first auxiliary grasping surface removably connectable with said first base connector assembly, when said first auxiliary connector assembly is connected with said first base connector assembly said first auxiliary grasping surface being spaced from said second base grip second grasping surface a second predetermined widthwise extent greater than said first predetermined widthwise extent.    
     
     
         79 . The apparatus of  claim 78  in which: 
 said second base grip component includes a second base connector assembly adjacent the said second elongate grasping surface thereof; and    aid first auxiliary grip component first auxiliary connector assembly is removably connectable with said second base connector assembly, when said first auxiliary connector assembly is connected with said second base connector assembly said first auxiliary grasping surface being spaced from said first base grip first grasping surface said second predetermined widthwise extent.    
     
     
         80 . The apparatus of  claim 78  in which: 
 said first auxiliary grip component is generally semi-cylindrical in shape, and said first auxiliary grasping surface is of an undulatory finger grasping configuration.    
     
     
         81 . The apparatus of  claim 78  in which: 
 said second base grip component includes a second base connector assembly adjacent the said second elongate grasping surface thereof; and    further comprising a second auxiliary grip component having a second auxiliary grasping surface and a second auxiliary connector assembly adjacent said second auxiliary grasping surface removably connectable with said first base connector assembly as said second base connector assembly, when said second auxiliary connector assembly is connected with said first or second base connector assembly said second auxiliary grasping surface being spaced from respective said second or first grip surface said second predetermined widthwise extent.    
     
     
         82 . The apparatus of  claim 81  in which: 
 said second auxiliary grip component is generally semi-cylindrical in shape, and said second auxiliary grasping surface is generally of concave curvature effective to engage the palm of the hand.    
     
     
         83 . The apparatus of  claim 78  in which: 
 said second base grip component includes a second base connector assembly adjacent the said second elongate grasping surface thereof;    further comprising a second auxiliary grip component having a second auxiliary grasping surface and a second auxiliary connector assembly adjacent said second auxiliary grasping surface removably connectable with said first base connector assembly;    said first auxiliary grip component first auxiliary connector assembly is removably connectable with said second base connector assembly; and    when said first auxiliary connector assembly is connected with said second base connector assembly and said second auxiliary connector assembly is connected with said first base connector assembly, said second auxiliary grasping surface is spaced from said first auxiliary grasping surface a third predetermined widthwise extent greater than said second predetermined widthwise extent.    
     
     
         84 . The apparatus of  claim 78  in which: 
 said readout assembly is mounted at said housing interaction portion in an angular orientation effective to be observed only from an eye station having a line of sight confronting said first base grip component.    
     
     
         85 . A system for carrying out an isometric exercise regimen by a user, comprising: 
 a hand grip assembly including a load cell component responsive to compressive squeezing force applied by a hand of said user to derive a load value output corresponding with the value of said force;    a display, responsive to a visual input signal to provide a visually perceptible display output;    first and second control members hand actuable to provide respective first and second control conditions;    a controller including a processor and memory operatively associated therewith; and    said processor being responsive to said first control condition to conditionally enter a diagnostic grip test mode providing a said visual input signal deriving a first prompt at said display to actuate said first control member to enter said diagnostic grip test mode, is responsive to said second control condition to v conditionally enter a therapy mode, and is then responsive to said first control f condition to provide a said visual input signal deriving a second prompt at said display to actuate said first control member to enter said therapy mode.    
     
     
         86 . The system of  claim 85  in which: 
 said processor is responsive in the presence of said first prompt to said first control condition to derive a said visual input signal providing a third prompt to said user at said display to actuate said first control member to enter a maximum grip test therapy mode.    
     
     
         87 . The system of  claim 85  in which: 
 said processor is responsive in the presence of said first prompt to said second control condition to derive a said visual input signal providing a fourth prompt at said display to actuate said first control member to enter a rapid exchange diagnostic mode.    
     
     
         88 . The system of  claim 85  in which: 
 said processor is responsive in the presence said second prompt to said first control condition to derive a said visual input signal providing a fifth prompt at said display to actuate said first control member to enter a fixed exercise therapy mode.    
     
     
         89 . The system of  claim 85  in which: 
 said processor is responsive in the presence of said second prompt to said second control condition to derive a said visual input signal providing a sixth prompt at said display to actuate said first control member to enter a stepped exercise therapy mode.    
     
     
         90 - 93 . (canceled)  
     
     
         94 . A method for carrying out an isometric exercising by a user, comprising the steps of: 
 identifying a muscle group of said user for isometrically exercising;    measuring the maximum isometric strength capability value of said identified muscle group;    identifying a protocol matrix of factors;    nominating values to said factors;    initiating and monitoring an exercise protocol based upon a said factor, applied to said measured maximum strength to derive a target force value and a factor representing a hold interval for said target force;    annunciating an alarm when said target force value is exceeded by said user during said exercise;    compiling exercise data from said exercise protocol; and    archiving said exercise data.    
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 94  further comprising the step: 
 providing compliance scores during said exercise protocol.    
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 94  in which: 
 said muscle group is identified from the group comprising:    jaw muscles, neck muscles, shoulder muscles, upper arm muscles, lower arm muscles, hand muscles, finger muscles, diaphragm muscles, abdominal muscles, lower back muscles, upper leg muscles, lower leg muscles, ankle muscles, foot muscles, and toe muscles.    
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 94  further comprising the step of: 
 establishing a goal strength of measuring the maximum strength of an unimpaired muscle group contralateral to said identified muscle group.