Therapy system for acute patient care

• US 4,586,495 A
• Filed: 07/02/1984
• Issued: 05/06/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wright State University
• Original Assignee: Wright State University
• Inventors: Petrofsky, Jerrold S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US06/627,241
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 3/1.1, 3/1.2, 3/2, 128/733, 128/421, 128/422, 128/423 W, 128/774, 128/779, 128/782, 272/116, 272/117, 272/125, 272/129
• US Class Current: 602/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 having computer circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/902 Employing specific graphic or video display

Abstract

Apparatus and method for stimulating muscular activity in an acutely injured patient. A leg which is to be stimulated is strapped into a brace, and the leg muscles are stimulated to work isometrically against the brace. The effort exerted by the muscles is measured by load cells which generate feedback signals for a control computer. The computer adjusts the stimulation signals in accordance with the received feedback signals.

Claims

1. A therapy system for a human being comprising:

a stimulation generator for generating electrical signals of muscle stimulating amplitude and waveform,

surface electrode means in electrical communication with said stimulation generator for applying said electrical signals to the skin of said human being at a location providing stimulating access to a muscle connected for causing movement of a joint of said human being,

restraining means attached to said joint for restraining movement thereof and generating a load signal corresponding to the actual load being applied to said joint by said muscle;

load selection means for selecting a target load for said muscle, and

control means in electrical communication with said stimulation generator for controlling the operation of said stimulation generator to cause alternating stimulation and resting of said muscle;

said control means also being in electrical communication with said restraining means and said load selection means for periodically adjusting said stimulation in accordance with the difference between said target load and said actual load to cause isometric muscle effort at a level near the value of said target load.

2. A therapy system for a human being comprising:

a stimulation generator for generating electrical signals of muscle stimulating amplitude and waveform,

surface electrode means in electrical communication with said stimulation generator for applying said electrical signals to the skin of said human being at a location providing stimulation access to a muscle connected for causing movement of a joint of said human being,

an articulated brace attached to said joint for articulating movement with movement of said joint,

a load cell mounted upon said brace for substantially inhibiting said movement and generating a load signal corresponding to the load being applied by said muscle to said joint,

load selection means for selecting a target load for said muscle, and

control means in electrical communication with said load cell and said load selection means;

said control means being responsive to said load signal for controlling the operation of said stimulation generator to cause controlled isometric exercising of said muscle at a level specified by said load selection means.

3. A leg brace comprising:

a rigid upper leg section for attachment to the upper portion of a human leg,

a rigid lower leg section for attachment to the lower portion of said leg and hingedly connected to said upper leg section along a hinge line coinciding with the line of rotation of the knee joint of said leg,

a rigid foot section for attachment to the foot of said leg and hingedly connected to said lower leg section along a hinge line coinciding with the line of rotation of the ankle joint of said leg,

a first load cell mounted upon said leg brace for substantially preventing rotational movement between said upper leg section and said lower leg section and generating a feedback signal indicating a rotational load exerted by said leg at said knee joint, and

a second load cell mounted upon said leg brace for substantially preventing rotational movement between said lower leg section and said foot section and generating a feedback signal indicating a rotational load exerted by said leg at said ankle joint.

4. A leg brace according to claim 3 wherein said first load cell maintains said leg in a position such that it is slightly bent at the knee.

5. A leg brace according to claim 4 wherein said upper leg section and said lower leg section each comprise a plurality of longitudinally extending framing rods which are adjustably joined to permit adjustment of the length of their associated leg sections.

6. Physical therapy apparatus comprising:

a rigid upper leg section for attachment to the upper portion of a human leg,

a rigid lower leg section for attachment to the lower portion of said leg and hingedly connected to said upper leg section along a hinge line coinciding with the line of rotation of the knee joint of said leg,

a rigid foot section for attachment to the foot of said leg and hingedly connected to said lower leg section along a hinge line coinciding with the line of rotation of the ankle joint of said leg,

a first load cell interconnecting said upper leg section and said lower leg section for substantially preventing rotational movement therebetween and generating a first feedback signal indicating a rotational load exerted by said leg at said knee joint,

a second load cell interconnecting said lower leg section and said foot section for substantially preventing rotational movement between said lower leg section and said foot section and generating a second feedback signal indicating a rotational load exerted by said leg at said ankle joint,

muscle stimulation means for stimulation of said leg to cause rotation effort said knee joint and said ankle joint,

control means in electrical communication with said load cells and said stimulation means for reception of said first feedback signal and said second feedback signal and responsive thereto for causing said stimulation means to stimulate said leg to exert a rotation effort corresponding to a predetermined target load.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said first load cell maintains said upper leg section and said lower leg section at relative positions such that said leg is slightly bent at the knee.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said upper leg section and said lower leg section each comprise a plurality of longitudinally extending framing rods which are adjustably joined to permit adjustment of the length of their associated leg sections.

9. Therapy method for a human being comprising the steps of:

applying a transcutaneous electrode to the skin of said human above a muscle connected for moving a joint of said human,

attaching to said joint a brace which substantially restricts movement thereof,

stimulating isometric exertion of said muscle against said brace by applying an electrical stimulation signal to said electrode,

measuring the effort exerted by said muscle against said brace,

adjusting said stimulation signal until said effort reaches a predetermined target load,

interrupting said stimulating step to rest said muscle, and

repeating said stimulating, measuring, adjusting, and interrupting steps.

10. Therapy method according to claim 9 wherein said repeating of said steps is continued until said stimulation signal reaches a predetermined maximum value indicating exhaustion of said muscle.

11. Therapy method according to claim 10 wherein said stimulating step and said interrupting step each have predetermined durations.

12. Physical therapy apparatus comprising:

a leg brace for substantially inhibiting angular motion of the knee joint and the ankle joint of a human leg to which said brace is attached,

muscle stimulation means for mounting upon said leg to stimulate rotation effort at said joints,

first feedback means mounted upon said brace for generating a first feedback signal indicating the rotation effort by said leg at said knee joint,

second feedback means mounted upon said brace for generating a second feedback signal indicating the rotation effort by said leg at said ankle joint, and

control means in electrical communication with said first feedback means, said second feedback means and said muscle stimulation means for causing adjustment of the stimulation activity of said muscle stimulation means until said feedback signals indicate that said rotation efforts are at predetermined target levels.