Smart stylus for hand rehabilation therapy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025284350-A1
Application number	US-202418598029-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 7, 2024
Priority date	Mar 7, 2024
Publication date	Sep 11, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A smart stylus for use in hand therapy includes an elongate body having a stylus end, a central body, a C-shaped handle, and a handle end cap. The stylus end is connected to a first end of the central body and a second end of the central body is connected to a first end of the C-shaped handle. The central body is configured to taper in width and depth from the second end of the central body to the first end of the central body and the handle end cap is connected to a second end of the C-shaped handle. The length of the central body may be adjusted by sliding mechanisms. A pressure sensor measures the amount of force of the stylus tip on a therapeutic tablet. The therapeutic tablet presents therapy exercises and communicates therapy results to a physical therapist of the patient.

First claim

1 . A smart stylus for use in hand therapy, comprising:
an elongate body having a stylus end, a central body, a C-shaped handle, and a handle end cap, wherein the stylus end is connected to a first end of the central body, a second end of the central body is connected to a first end of the C-shaped handle, wherein the central body is configured to taper in width and depth from the second end of the central body to the first end of the central body, wherein the handle end cap is connected to a second end of the C-shaped handle; a first sliding mechanism located between the central body and the first end of the C-shaped handle; and a second sliding mechanism located between the second end of the C-shaped handle and the handle end cap, wherein a length of the elongate body depends on an adjustment of the first sliding mechanism and the second sliding mechanism.

2 . The smart stylus of claim 1 , wherein an outer region of the C-shaped handle includes a first groove which extends from the first end of the C-shaped handle to the second end of the C-shaped handle, wherein the first groove has a width in a range of 80% to 90% of a width of the C-shaped handle and a depth in a range of 0.25 to 1.0 cm.

3 . The smart stylus of claim 2 , wherein an outer region of the central body from the second end of the central body to about halfway between the first end of the central body and the second end of the central body includes a second groove which matches the first groove of the C-shaped handle in depth and width.

4 . The smart stylus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first flexible grip located on the central body halfway between the first end of the central body and the second end of the central body, wherein the first flexible grip includes raised lines extending across the central body perpendicular to a central axis of the central body; and a second flexible grip located on the handle end cap, wherein the second flexible grip includes raised lines extending across the handle end cap perpendicular to a central axis of the handle end cap.

5 . The smart stylus of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least two upper weight receiving compartments, wherein each upper weight receiving compartment is located on either side of the C-shaped handle near the first end; at least two lower weight receiving compartments, wherein each lower weight receiving compartment is located on either side of the C-shaped handle near the second end; and a plurality of weights, wherein each weight is sized to fit within a respective weight receiving compartment.

6 . The smart stylus of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of weights includes an oblong weight and a cylindrical weight, wherein each side of the C-shaped handle includes a weight receiving compartment sized to receive the oblong weight and a weight receiving compartment sized to receive the cylindrical weight.

7 . The smart stylus of claim 1 , wherein the elongate body and the C-shaped handle are made of elastomeric thermoplastic.

8 . The smart stylus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a rechargeable battery located within the handle end cap.

9 . The smart stylus of claim 8 , further comprising:
a pressure sensor located within the elongate body and connected to the stylus end.

10 . The smart stylus of claim 9 , further comprising:
a microcontroller located within the central body, wherein the microcontroller is operatively connected to the rechargeable battery and the pressure sensor; and a near field communications unit located within the central body and operatively connected with the microcontroller.

11 . A smart stylus therapeutic system for use in hand therapy, comprising:
an elongate body having a stylus end, a central body, a C-shaped handle, and a handle end cap, wherein the stylus end is connected to a first end of the central body, a second end of the central body is connected to a first end of the C-shaped handle, and the handle end cap is connected to a second end of the C-shaped handle; a rechargeable battery located within the handle end cap; a microcontroller located within the central body, wherein the microcontroller is operatively connected to the rechargeable battery; a near field communications unit located within the central body and operatively connected with the microcontroller; a therapeutic tablet including a touch screen, wherein the therapeutic tablet includes a memory including program instructions including a hand therapy treatment plan and one or more processors configured to execute the program instructions to receive near field communications from the near field communications unit and display the hand therapy treatment plan and hand therapy exercises upon the touch screen, wherein the hand therapy exercises are configured to direct a patient to write upon the touch screen with the stylus end while gripping the C-shaped handle; a case configured to hold the elongate body and the therapeutic tablet; a charging port located on the case, wherein the charging port is configured to mate with the handle end cap, wherein the rechargeable is battery located with the central body; and an electromagnetic coil located within the handle end cap and connected to the rechargeable battery, wherein the electromagnetic coil is configured to generate a charging current when the handle end cap is placed adjacent to the charging port.

12 . The smart stylus therapeutic system of claim 11 , wherein the therapeutic tablet is configured to receive a battery charge status by near field communications from the microcontroller and display the battery charge status on the touch screen.

13 . The smart stylus therapeutic system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a pressure sensor located within the elongate body and connected to the stylus end, wherein the pressure sensor is connected to the microcontroller, wherein the pressure sensor is configured generate electrical signals in response to an amount of pressure sensed by the pressure sensor when the stylus end contacts the touch screen, and wherein the microcontroller is configured to transmit the electrical signals related to the amount of pressure by near field communications to the therapeutic tablet.

14 . The smart stylus therapeutic system of claim 13 , further comprising:
at least two upper weight receiving compartments, wherein each upper weight receiving compartment is located on either side of the C-shaped handle near the first end; and at least two lower weight receiving compartments, wherein each lower weight receiving compartment is located on either side of the C-shaped handle near the second end; and a plurality of weights, wherein each weight is sized to fit within a respective weight receiving compartment, wherein the plurality of weights is stored in weight receiving slots in the case, and wherein the therapeutic tablet is configured to receive the electrical signals related to the amount of pressure of the stylus end against the touch screen and select a weight from the plurality of weights in accordance with the hand therapy treatment plan.

15 . The smart stylus therapeutic system of claim 11 , wherein the hand therapy exercises include grip strength exercises, hand-eye coordination exercises, and interactive games configured to improve motor skills, coordination, and cognitive functions.

16 . The smart stylus therapeutic system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a patient assessment unit located within the therapeutic tablet, wherein the patient assessment unit is configured to monitor a progress of the patient against a baseline assessment and generate a prog

Assignees

• Univ Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal

Inventors

• Al-Hawas Razan Osama
• El-Wakeel Hala
• Kattan Noran
• Alshehri Lama
• Alamri Lojain

Classifications

• G16H20/30

  relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising · CPC title

• G06F3/03545 Primary

  Pens or stylus · CPC title

• G06F3/04162

  for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware · CPC title

• G06F3/0442

  using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for transmitting changes in electrical potential to be received by the digitiser · CPC title

• G06F3/0414

  using force sensing means to determine a position · CPC title