Therapy and mobility assistance system

• US 20100204620A1
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tibion Corporation (AlterG, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tibion Corporation (AlterG, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Jonathan A., Bhugra, Kern, Arnold, Edith Merle, Marcus, Richard R., Horst, Robert W.
• Application Number:
  US12/471,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20100204620A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/00 Apparatus for passive exercising A61H5/00 takes precedence; Vibrating apparatus driving means for vibrating A61H23/00; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/024 Knee A61H1/0255 takes precedence

Abstract

A therapy and mobility assistance system used by a patient that includes a leg device worn on the leg of the patient that provides assistance and/or resistance to enhance the mobility of the leg of the patient, a therapy shuttle that facilitates therapeutic extension and flexion of at least one of the joints of the leg of the patient, and an appendage fastener that selectively couples the therapy shuttle and the leg device. The therapy and mobility assistance system may additionally include a guide track that constrains motion of the therapy shuttle along a path.

Claims

1. A therapy and mobility assistance system used by a patient comprising:

a leg device worn on the leg of the patient that provides at least one of assistance and resistance to enhance the mobility of the leg of the patient;

a therapy shuttle that facilitates therapeutic extension and flexion of at least one of the joints of the leg of the patient; and

an appendage fastener that selectively couples the therapy shuttle and the leg device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the appendage fastener allows pivotal movement between the therapy shuttle and leg device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the therapy shuttle reduces internal rotation and external rotation of the leg of the patient.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the therapy shuttle is wider than the leg device.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the therapy shuttle includes at least one side wall adjacent to the leg device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the therapy shuttle is adapted to be mounted above the patient.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the appendage fastener has an engaged position in which the leg device is attached to the therapy shuttle, and has a disengaged position in which the leg device is detached from the therapy shuttle.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the appendage fastener includes a latch that, when in the engaged position, locks onto the leg device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the leg device includes a protrusion;

wherein the latch in the engaged position locks onto the protrusion of the leg device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the leg device includes an opening;

wherein the latch in the engaged position locks into the opening of the leg device.

11. system of claim 7, wherein the leg device is operable in the following modes:

a mobility assistance mode that provides at least one of assistance and resistance to enhance the mobility of the leg of the patient, and

a therapy mode that facilitates therapeutic extension and flexion of at least one of the joints of the leg of the patient.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein when the appendage fastener is in the disengaged position, the leg device operates in the mobility assistance mode independent of the therapy shuttle.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein when the appendage fastener is in the engaged position and the leg device is operated in the therapy mode, the therapy shuttle moves to accommodate the therapeutic extension and flexion of at least one of the joints of the leg of the patient.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a guide track that constrains motion of the therapy shuttle along a path.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the guide track and the therapy shuttle cooperate to reduce friction during the therapeutic extension and flexion of at least one of the joints of the leg of the patient.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the guide track includes a linear bearing.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the guide track is adapted to be placed on a surface.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the guide track is generally flat and parallel to the surface.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the guide track is curved.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the guide track is adapted to be mounted above the patient.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the guide track limits the range of motion of the therapy shuttle.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the leg device includes an actuator system that includes:

a drive shaft that provides rotational output,

a first motor subsystem having a first output shaft and a first transmission connecting the first output shaft to the drive shaft, and

a second motor subsystem having a second output shaft and a second transmission coupling the second output shaft to the drive shaft.

23. A therapy and mobility assistance system used by a patient, comprising:

a leg device worn on the leg of the patient that provides motion control of the leg of the patient in multiple operating modes including a mobility assistance mode and a therapy mode;

a therapy shuttle that facilitates therapeutic extension and flexion of at least one of the joints of the leg of the patient;

an appendage fastener movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position;

wherein moving the appendage fastener into the engaged position couples the therapy shuttle to the leg device and allows the therapy shuttle to move to accommodate the therapeutic extension and flexion of at least one of the joints of the leg of the patient; and

wherein moving the appendage fastener into the disengaged position decouples the therapy shuttle from the leg device and allows the leg device to operate in the mobility assistance mode independent of the therapy shuttle.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a guide track that constrains motion of the therapy shuttle along a path.

25. A method of providing therapy and mobility assistance to a patient, comprising the steps of:

fastening onto the leg of the patient a leg device that provides motion control of the leg of the patient in multiple operating modes including a mobility assistance mode and a therapy mode; and

selectively coupling the leg device to a therapy shuttle that facilitates therapeutic extension and flexion of at least one of the joints of the leg of the patient;

wherein coupling the leg device to the therapy shuttle allows the therapy shuttle to move to accommodate the therapeutic extension and flexion of at least one of the joints of the leg of the patient, and wherein decoupling the leg device from the therapy shuttle allows the leg device to operate in the mobility assistance mode independent of the therapy shuttle.