Continuous passive motion devices and methods
First Claim
1. The method of operating a continuous passive motion device for the fingers, to provide a controlled range of motion for each finger, using a reciprocable carriage to which individual finger attachable and length adjustable finger actuators are secured and also using a pair of movable belts, comprising the steps of:
- moving the carriage with a first belt to an anterior limit of position while maintaining a second belt at a posterior limit of position;
securing the individual finger actuators to the tips of the fingers while adjusting the length of the individual finger actuators;
flexing the fingers, the carriage, and the individual finger actuators while maintaining the second belt at the posterior limit position,coupling the two belts together; and
driving the two belts together in reciprocating fashion by sensing an anterior limit position of the first belt and the posterior limit position of the second belt.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for continuous passive motion of a limb or one or more fingers comprises a reciprocable carriage coupled to a drive belt which is driven by a motor through a disengageable clutch. A second drive belt also driven by the motor, and the first drive belt, carry elements whose positions can be sensed to control limits of motion. Individual finger actuators, adjustable in length and with internal springs, couple engagement means on the fingers to the carriage, which can be driven so as to provide predetermined dwell times at limits of flexion and extension.
104 Citations
23 Claims
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1. The method of operating a continuous passive motion device for the fingers, to provide a controlled range of motion for each finger, using a reciprocable carriage to which individual finger attachable and length adjustable finger actuators are secured and also using a pair of movable belts, comprising the steps of:
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moving the carriage with a first belt to an anterior limit of position while maintaining a second belt at a posterior limit of position; securing the individual finger actuators to the tips of the fingers while adjusting the length of the individual finger actuators; flexing the fingers, the carriage, and the individual finger actuators while maintaining the second belt at the posterior limit position, coupling the two belts together; and driving the two belts together in reciprocating fashion by sensing an anterior limit position of the first belt and the posterior limit position of the second belt. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of exercising a finger with a continuous passive motion device comprising the steps of:
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moving the finger in a first direction against a first spring force, movement in the first direction tending to orient the finger in an extended position; moving the finger in a second direction opposite the first direction against a second spring force, movement in the second direction tending to orient the finger in a contracted position; maintaining the finger in the extended position against the first spring force for a dwell time between motion reversals; and securing the finger to a individual finger attachable and length adjustable finger actuators and to a reciprocable carriage such that a tensile force is exerted on the finger at a limit of motion for both extension and flexion.
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5. A system for providing continuous passive motion of at least one of the fingers of the hand comprising:
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a support for securing the system to the region of the wrist; a housing rigidly coupled to the support for containing a drive mechanism, the housing including rigidly mounted motor means, battery means for energizing the motor means, and controller means for varying the excitation of the motor means in speed and direction; a pair of belt drives coupled to the housing, and movable with respect thereto, a first of the belt drives being coupled to the motor means by clutch means and a second of the belt drives being directly coupled to the motor means; carriage means being slidably mounted on the housing and coupled to the first belt drive, the first and second belt drives and the carriage means being movable along a predetermined axis generally parallel to the direction of desired finger movement; adjustable elongated means pivotably coupled to the carriage means and extending therefrom in the direction of the finger tips parallel to the predetermined axis, and each of the adjustable elongated means including means for gripping a finger, such that motion of the motor means may be coupled to the adjustable elongated means so as to manipulate each gripped finger; sensors means for sensing an anterior limit position of the second belt drive; and wherein the controller means includes means for driving the motor means in reversing directions such that the belt drives move together between the anterior and posterior limit positions sensed by the sensor means when the clutch means is engaged so as to define a region of manipulation for each gripped finger. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An actuator for coupling a reciprocating member in a continuous passive motion device to a finger to be exercised along a selected direction, comprising:
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length variable actuator rod means for engagement to the device and movable therewith along the selected direction; substantially linear flexible actuator wire means disposed partially inside the actuator rod means along the selected direction for coupling at an opposite end to the finger to be exercised; and a pair of spring means coupling the rod means to the wire means to provide spring force on the finger in each direction without regard to dimensions of the finger when the actuator rod means has been adjusted. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A drive system for reciprocating a carriage in a continuous passive motion device comprising:
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a battery; a drive motor including a drive shaft; controller means for energizing the motor at selectable speeds and directions; belt drive means comprising first and second parallel belt drives disposed along a predetermined path, and including pulleys adjacent each end of the first and second parallel belt drives along the path, wherein the pulleys at one end of the first and second parallel belt drives are concentric with the drive shaft;
a first one of said pulleys is coupled to the drive shaft, and the first parallel belt drive is engagable to an adjacent carriage and a second one of said pulleys;clutch means for selectively coupling the second one of the pulleys to the drive shaft; separate flag means coupled to each of the belt drive means and movable therewith; and separate sensor means disposed along the predetermined path at selected regions, the sensor means being coupled to the controller means to generate control signals. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. An actuator for coupling a reciprocating member in a continuous passive motion device to a limb to be exercised along a selected direction, comprising:
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length variable actuator rod means for engagement to the device and movable therewith along the selected direction; substantially linear flexible actuator wire means disposed partially inside the actuator rod means along the selected direction for coupling at an opposite end to the limb to be exercised; and a pair of spring means coupling the rod means to the wire means to provide spring force on the limb in each direction without regard to dimensions of the limb when the actuator rod means has been adjusted.
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Specification