FINGER ORTHOSIS

• US 20090036814A1
• Filed: 07/29/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bonutti Research Incorporated (Bonutti IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bonutti Research Incorporated (Bonutti IP LLC)
• Inventors: Bonutti, Peter M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,038,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0137 with two parallel pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0153 combining rotational and stretching movements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/013 for the arms, hands or fingers A61F5/0118 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/05875 for fingers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0288 Fingers

Abstract

The same orthosis can be used to sequentially move joints of different fingers of a hand. A hand cuff of the orthosis is mounted on the hand. Mechanisms operable to move the joints are connected to the hand cuff at locations aligned with the fingers. The mechanisms are connected with the fingers. The joints of the fingers are moved by operating the mechanisms. The joints and first and second portions of the fingers define on one side of the joints outer sectors which decrease in angle as the joints are extended. Force is applied to the first and second portions of the fingers to move the joints by providing relative rotation between internally and externally threaded members disposed in the outer sectors. Actuator members connected with the internally or externally threaded members are moved along paths that extend through the joints.

Claims

1. A method of moving a joint between first and second portions of a finger, wherein the joint and first and second portions of the finger define on one side of the joint an inner sector which decreases in angle as the joint is flexed and define on the opposite side of the joint an outer sector which decreases in angle as the joint is extended, said method comprising the step of applying force to the first and second portions of the finger, said step of applying force to the first and second portions of the finger including providing relative rotation between internally and externally threaded members disposed in the outer sector and transmitting force from the internally and externally threaded members to the first and second portions of the finger.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of providing relative rotation between the internally and externally threaded members includes moving an actuator member connected with one of the internally and externally threaded members along a path which extends through the joint.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of providing relative rotation between the internally and externally threaded members includes effecting relative rotation between the internally and externally threaded members along an axis extending through the joint.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of providing relative rotation between the internally and externally threaded members includes manually moving an input member connected with one of the internally and externally threaded members.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of providing relative rotation between the internally and externally threaded members is performed by the person having the finger.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of applying force to the first and second portions of the finger includes connecting a first cuff of an orthosis with the first portion of the finger and connecting a second cuff of the orthosis with the second portion of the finger.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of applying force to the first and second portions of the finger includes connecting a first cuff and a first cuff arm of an orthosis with the first portion of the finger and connecting a second cuff and a second cuff arm of the orthosis with a second portion of the fingers said step of providing relative rotation between the internally and externally threaded members includes moving one of the first and second cuffs along one of the first and second cuff arms.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said step of moving one of the first and second cuffs along one of the first and second cuff arms includes transmitting force from one of the internally and externally threaded members to the one of the first and second cuffs to move the one of the first and second cuffs along the one of the first and second cuff arms under the influence of force transmitted from the one of the internally and externally threaded members to the one of the first and second cuffs while moving the joint.

9. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said step of moving one of the first and second cuffs along one of the first and second cuff arms includes moving the first cuff along the first cuff arm and simultaneously moving the second cuff along the second cuff arm while moving the joint.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said step of moving the first cuff along the first cuff arm and simultaneously moving the second cuff along the second cuff arm while moving the joint includes simultaneously moving the first and second cuffs toward the joint under the influence of force transmitted to the first and second cuffs from one of the internally and externally threaded members.

11. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of applying force to the first and second portions of the finger includes connecting a first cuff and a first cuff arm of an orthosis with the first portion of the finger and connecting a second cuff and a second cuff arm of the orthosis with the second portion of the finger, said step of providing relative rotation between the internally and externally threaded members includes transmitting force from one of the internally and externally threaded members to the first cuff arm to pivot the first cuff arm about an axis which is offset from the joint on a side of the joint toward a tip of the finger.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said step of providing relative rotation between the internally and externally threaded members includes transmitting force from one of the internally and externally threaded members to the second cuff arm to pivot the second cuff arm about an axis which is offset from the joint on a side of the joint away from the tip of the finger.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said step of providing relative rotation between the internally and externally threaded members includes transmitting force from one of the internally and externally threaded members to the first and second cuffs to simultaneously move the first and second cuffs along the first and second cuff arms.

14. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of providing relative rotation between the internally and externally threaded members includes rotating the internally and externally threaded members relative to each other to move the joint in a direction away from an initial condition of the joint, interrupting relative rotation between the internally and externally threaded members for a period of time, and, thereafter, resuming relative rotation between the internally and externally threaded members to further move the joint in the direction away from the initial condition.

15. A method as set forth in claim 1 further including mounting a first plate of a hand cuff on a palm of a hand having the finger and mounting a second plate of the hand cuff on a back of the hand opposite from the palm.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15 further including connecting a mechanism operable to apply force to the first and second portions of the finger to the second plate mounted on the back of the hand at a location aligned with the finger.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said step of connecting the mechanism to the second plate includes connecting the mechanism to the second plate at one of four locations on the second plate.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein said step of connecting the mechanism to the second plate includes clamping a connecting portion of the mechanism to the second plate.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein said step of connecting the mechanism to the second plate includes extending the connecting portion of the mechanism into one of four cylindrical members connected to the second plate, said step of clamping the connecting portion of the mechanism to the second plate includes threadably engaging a set screw with the one of the four cylindrical members to clamp the connecting portion of the mechanism with the one of the four cylindrical members.

20. A method of moving a joint between first and second portions of a finger, said method comprising the step of applying force to the first and second portions of the finger, said step of applying force to the first and second portions of the finger including providing relative rotation between internally and externally threaded members and transmitting force from the internally and externally threaded members to the first and second portions of the finger, said step of providing relative rotation between the internally and externally threaded members includes moving an actuator member connected with one of the internally and externally threaded members along a path which extends through the joint.

21. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein the joint and first and second portions of the finger define on one side of the joint an inner sector which decreases in angle as the joint is flexed and define on the opposite side of the joint an outer sector which decreases in angle as the joint is extended, said step of applying force to the first and second portions of the finger including providing relative rotation between the internally and externally threaded members disposed in the outer sector.

22. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said step of providing relative rotation between the internally and externally threaded members includes effecting relative rotation between the internally and externally threaded members along an axis extending through the joint.

23. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said step of providing relative rotation between the internally and externally threaded members includes manually moving an input member connected with one of the internally and externally threaded members.

24. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said step of providing relative rotation between the internally and externally threaded members is performed by the person having the finger.