Methods and systems for treating hand tremors
View Patent ↗A device for treating hand tremors and methods of using the device. In at least some embodiments, the device includes a glove covering and at least one Coulomb damping suspension assembly. In some embodiments, the Coulomb damping suspension assembly includes a flexible tube and a wire-tube assembly. In some embodiments, the wire-tube assembly includes a first length of a wire and a first tube.
1. A device for stabilizing a hand comprising:
(A) a glove covering;
(B) a first Coulomb damping suspension assembly comprising:
(I) a first flexible tube; and
(II) a first wire-tube assembly comprising;
(a) a first plurality of wires with a first length of a wire; and
(b) a first tube;
(C) a second Coulomb damping suspension assembly comprising:
(I) a second flexible tube; and
(II) a second wire-tube assembly comprising:
(a) a second plurality of wires; and
(b) a second tube,
wherein said first plurality of wires is made up of a number of wires that is different than a second number of wires that makes up said second plurality of wires.
2. The device for stabilizing said hand of claim 1 wherein said first plurality of wires are soldered together.
3. The device for stabilizing said hand of claim 1 wherein said first tube is a polyolefin heat shrink tube.
4. The device for stabilizing said hand of claim 1 wherein said first length of said wire has a diameter of 0.5 mm.
5. The device for stabilizing said hand of claim 1 wherein said wire is made of a shape-memory alloy.
6. The device for stabilizing said hand of claim 1 wherein said wire is made of nitinol.
7. The device for stabilizing said hand of claim 1 further comprising
(D) a third Coulomb damping suspension assembly comprising:
(I) a third flexible tube; and
(II) a third wire-tube assembly comprising;
(a) a third plurality of wires; and
(b) a third tube.
8. The device for stabilizing said hand of claim 1 wherein said first Coulomb damping suspension assembly is configured to extend on the dorsal side of a user's hand from the radius-ulna side of the carpal over the carpal, metacarpal, and metacarpophalangeal joint just past the proximal interphalangeal joint of a first phalange.
9. The device for stabilizing said hand of claim 1 , wherein said first plurality of wires is made up a first material and said second plurality of wires is made up of a second material.
10. The device for stabilizing said hand of claim 1 , wherein said first plurality of wires have a first diameter and said second plurality of wires have a second diameter.
11. The device for stabilizing said hand of claim 1 wherein said first wire-tube assembly is attached at one end to said first flexible tube.
12. The device for stabilizing said hand of claim 1 wherein said glove covering is made, at least in part of, of a latex, a nylon and/or a polyester.
13. The device for stabilizing said hand of claim 1 wherein said device weighs less than 34 grams.
14. The device for stabilizing said hand of claim 1 wherein said device is capable of reducing tremors by at least 90%.