Anatomically correct continuous passive motion device for a limb

• US 5,239,987 A
• Filed: 12/06/1991
• Issued: 08/31/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TGZ Acquisition Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: Jace Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Kaiser, Robert T., Ricci, Vero, Telepko, George, Kalustyan, Berdj C., Drozdowski, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DVORAK, LINDA C
• Application Number:
  US07/802,911
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 128/25 R, 128/25 B, 128/25 C, 128/26
• US Class Current: 601/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0259 moved by translation

Abstract

A bilateral anatomically correct continuous passive motion orthosis device for a limb having pivotally connected first and second body portions. The device includes a base having a proximal end and a distal end. A first carriage member receives the first body portion and is pivotally connected to a second carriage member which receives the second body portion. The second carriage member is also pivotably connected to the base. A drive mechanism moves the first carriage member between the distal and proximal ends of the base. A speed control device controls the velocity of the first carriage member between the distal and proximal ends of the base such that the first carriage member pivots about a first support pivot axis with respect to the second carriage member at a predetermined angular velocity. A biasing mechanism is provided to assist the drive mechanism in lifting the limb. The second carriage member is pivotally connected to the base such that its virtual pivot axis is spaced from the base to permit bilateral use of the device.

Claims

1. An anatomically correct continuous passive motion device for a leg, the leg being formed by an ankle, a calf, a thigh and a hip, the calf being pivotably connected to the thigh to form a knee joint such that calf is pivotable with respect to thigh about a knee joint pivot axis, the thigh being pivotably connected to hip to form a hip joint such that the thigh is pivotable with respect to the pelvic region about a hip joint pivot axis, said device comprising:

a base having a proximal end and a distal end;

a first carriage member for receiving the calf, said first carriage member having a first end and a second end;

a second carriage member for receiving the thigh, said second carriage member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second carriage member being spaced from said second end of said second carriage member a predetermined distance;

first hinge means interconnecting between said second end of said first carriage member and said first end of said second carriage member such that said first carriage member is pivotable with respect to said second carriage member about a first support pivot axis;

drive means interconnected between said base and said first carriage member for reciprocally moving said first carriage member between the distal end of said base and proximal end of said base; and

second hinge means interconnecting said second carriage member and said base such that said second carriage member is pivotable about a second virtual support pivot axis, said second support pivot axis being spaced from said second hinge means and said proximal end of said base, the calf and thigh being respectively positionable on said first and second carriage members such that the knee and hip joint pivot axes are generally aligned with said first and second support pivot axes, respectively, said second hinge means comprising an expanding assembly having a first end attached to said base adjacent to said proximal end of said base and a second end attached to the second end of said second carriage member such that the second end of said assembly moves away from said first end of said assembly along an arcuate path as said first carriage member moves from said distal end of said base toward said proximal end of said base and said second end of said assembly moves toward said first end of said assembly as said first carriage member moves from said proximal end of said base toward said distal end of said base whereby the knee and hip joint pivot axes and the first and second support pivot axes, respectively, remain aligned as said first carriage member moves between said distal and proximal ends of said base.

2. An anatomically correct continuous passive motion orthosis device for a limb, the limb being formed by a first body portion having a first end and a second end, a second body portion having a first end and a second end, and a third body portion, the first end of the first body portion being pivotably connected to the second end of the second body portion to form a first joint such that the first body portion is pivotable with respect to the second body portion about a first joint pivot axis, the first end of the second body portion being pivotably connected to the third body portion to form a second joint such that the second body portion is pivotable with respect to the third body portion about a second joint pivot axis, said device comprising:

a base having a proximal end and a distal end;

a first carriage member for receiving the first body portion of the limb, said first carriage member having a first end and a second end;

a second carriage member for receiving the second body portion of the limb, said second carriage member having a first end and a second end;

first hinge means interconnecting said second end of said first carriage member and said first end of said second carriage member such that said first carriage member is pivotable with respect to said second carriage member about a first support pivot axis;

drive means interconnected between said base and said first carriage member for reciprocally moving said first carriage member between the distal end of said base and proximal end of said base; and

second hinge means interconnecting said second carriage member and said base such that said second carriage member is pivotable about a second virtual support pivot axis, said second support pivot axis being spaced from said second hinge means and said proximal end of said base, the first and second body portions being respectively positionable on said first and second carriage members such that the first and second joint pivot axes are generally aligned with said first and second support pivot axes, respectively, said second hinge means comprising an expanding assembly having a first end attached to said base adjacent to said proximal end of said base and a second end attached to the second end of said second carriage member such that said second end of said assembly moves away from said first end of said assembly as said first carriage member moves from said distal end of said base toward said proximal end of said base and said second end of said assembly moves toward said first end of said assembly as said first carriage member moves from said proximal end of said base toward said distal end of said base whereby the first and second joint pivot axes and the first and second support pivot axes, respectively, remain aligned as said first carriage member moves between said distal and proximal ends of said base.

3. The device as recited in claim 2 wherein said expanding assembly expands telescopically.

4. The device as recited in claim 2 wherein said assembly expands along an arcuate path whose radial center is aligned with the second joint of said limb.

5. The device as recited in claim 2 wherein said assembly further includes biasing means for biasing said assembly to an expanded position.

6. The device as recited in claim 5 wherein said biasing means is a spring.