Orthosis for exercising joint

• US 4,214,577 A
• Filed: 02/27/1978
• Issued: 07/29/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mansell I. Hoy
• Original Assignee: Mansell I. Hoy
• Inventors: Hoy, Mansell I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trapp, Lawrence W.
• Application Number:
  US05/881,664
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 128/25 R, 128/25 B, 128/88, 128/24 R, 128/77, 128/80 R, 128/80 G
• US Class Current: 601/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/02 Stretching or bending or torsioning apparatus for exercising
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00061 Replaceable resistance units of different strengths, e.g. for swapping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00065 by increasing or reducing the number of resistance units
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/02 using resilient force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0421 the ends moving relatively by a pivoting arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4017 to the upper limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4025 Resistance devices worn on the user's body A63B21/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0355 A single apparatus used for either upper or lower limbs, i.e. with a set of support elements driven either by the upper or the lower limb or limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0494 primarily by articulating the knee joints A63B23/0405, A63B23/0476 take precedence

Abstract

An orthosis for passive and active movement of a joint of a body limb, permitting application of adjustable flexion or extension bias to that limb without the application of direct force on the joint. A spaced pair of proximal and distal shafts for medial and lateral positioning about the joint and proximal and distal parts of the limb are provided, these cooperating proximal and distal shafts being joined at a pivot. The pivots are juxtaposed the joint and permit pivoting the distal shafts in a direction corresponding to the direction of movement of the distal part of the limb. Cuff and strap means are secured between opposite proximal and opposite distal shafts to releasably secure the orthosis to proximal and distal parts of the limb. Securing means are associated with portions of the proximal and distal shafts at positions spaced from the pivots. Linear biasing means, such as elastic bands or springs, are releasably secured by these securing means to join proximal and distal shafts, the securing means being so positioned, with respect to the shafts, that the linear biasing means are capable of being secured thereto to exert either flexion or extension bias on the proximal shafts.

Claims

1. An orthosis for passive or active movement of a joint of a body limb comprising:

(a) spaced pairs of proximal and distal shafts for medial and lateral positioning about the proximal and distal parts of the limb at each side of the joint, cooperating proximal and distal shafts being joined at a pivot, the pivots to be juxtaposed the joint and permit pivoting of the distal shafts in a direction corresponding to the direction of movement of the distal part of the limb with lugs projecting outwardly away from the limb along the sides of the shaft;

(b) limb holding means secured between opposite proximal and opposite distal shafts for releasably securing the orthosis to proximal and to distal parts of the limb;

(c) a plurality of lever arms fixed to and extending away from portions of the proximal and distal shafts;

(d) linear biasing means to be releasably secured by and extending between selected lugs or lever arms to join proximal and distal shafts, and so secured by the lugs or lever arms that they exert either flexion or extension torque about the pivots on the proximal shafts without the necessity of repositioning the securing means, the shafts, lever arms and lugs being provided with means to permit the lever arms and lugs to be adjustably secured to the shafts at various positions along the lengths of the shafts, whereby the torque exerted by the biasing means may be adjusted.

2. An orthosis according to claim 1, wherein each proximal shaft is provided with an upstanding lever arm, one end of which is securable to different positions at the upper end of that shaft and a lower, downwardly extending lever arm, one end of which is securable to different positions at the lower end of the proximal shaft, and the distal shaft is provided with a further, downwardly extending lever arm, one end of which is securable to different positions at the free end of that shaft, means being provided near the free ends of these lever arms to releasably hold ends of the biasing means.

3. An orthosis according to claim 2, wherein the shafts are further provided with lugs, outwardly extending in a direction away from the limb, and adjustably securable at different positions along the shafts for receiving ends of the biasing means.

4. An orthosis according to claim 1, wherein cuff and strap means are secured between opposite proximal and opposite distal shafts for releasably securing therein proximal and distal parts of the limb.

5. An orthosis according to claim 1, wherein the biasing means is one or more flexible elastic tension bands.

6. An orthosis according to claim 1, wherein stops are provided to prevent extension pivoting of the distal shafts with respect to the proximal shafts beyond a position corresponding to the normal position of full extension of the distal part of the limb.

7. An orthosis according to claim 1, wherein each of the confronting surfaces of pair of proximal and distal shafts are contoured to conform to the profile of the adjacent parts of the limb to which the orthosis is to be fitted.

8. An orthosis according to claim 1, wherein the biasing means remains approximately in the plane of relative movement of the proximal and distal shafts to which it is joined during operation of the orthosis.