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US006827579B2
(12) United States Patent (io) Patent No.: US 6,827,579 B2
Burdea et al. (45) Date of Patent: Dec. 7,2004
(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
REHABILITATION OF NEUROMOTOR
DISORDERS
(75) Inventors: Grigore C. Burdea, Highland Park, NJ (US); Rares Boian, Piscataway, NJ (US)
(73) Assignee: Rutgers, The State University of NJ,
New Brunswick, NJ (US)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 10/008,406
(22) Filed: Nov. 13, 2001
(65) Prior Publication Data
US 2002/0146672 Al Oct. 10, 2002
Related U.S. Application Data
(60) Provisional application No. 60/248,574, filed on Nov. 16, 2000, and provisional application No. 60/329,311, filed on Oct. 16, 2001.
(51) Int. CI.7 G09B 19/00
(52) U.S. CI 434/258; 434/247; 434/262;
434/274
(58) Field of Search 434/258, 247,
434/262, 374, 350, 322, 323, 219; 600/587,
592-595
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 5,354,162 A 10/1994 Burdea et al.
The invention relates to a method and system for individually exercising one or more parameters of hand movement such as range, speed, fractionation and strength in a virtual reality environment and for providing performance-based interaction with the user to increase user motivation while exercising. The present invention can be used for rehabilitation of neuromotor disorders, such as a stroke. A first input device senses position of digits of the hand of the user while the user is performing an exercise by interacting with a virtual image. A second input device provides force feedback to the user and measures position of the digits of the hand while the user is performing an exercise by interacting with a virtual image. The virtual images are updated based on targets determined for the user's performance in order to provide harder or easier exercises.
49 Claims, 19 Drawing Sheets
