Orthosis for bending wrists
First Claim
1. A method of using the same orthosis to sequentially bend different wrists, said method comprising the steps of mounting the orthosis on a first arm with the orthosis in a first orientation relative to a first wrist, bending the first wrist in flexion by operating a mechanism in the orthosis in a first direction while the orthosis is mounted on the first arm in the first orientation, mounting the orthosis on a second arm with the orthosis in a second orientation relative to a second wrist, said second orientation being different than the first orientation, and bending the second wrist in extension by operating the mechanism in the orthosis in the first direction while the orthosis is mounted on the second arm in the second orientation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The same orthosis can be sequentially used to bend different wrists. The orthosis may be used to bend a first wrist in flexion and a second wrist in extension. When the orthosis is to be used to bend a wrist in flexion, a pair of cuffs and cuff arms are connected with a forearm and hand with the orthosis in a first orientation relative to the wrist. At this time, the cuff arms and an actuator mechanism are disposed in an inner sector disposed adjacent to a palm side of the hand. When the orthosis is to be used to bend the wrist in extension, the orthosis is mounted on the forearm and hand in a second orientation with the cuff arms and actuator mechanism in an outer sector adjacent to the back side of the hand. During operation of the orthosis, force is transmitted from an input member through an actuator mechanism to the cuff arms to pivot the cuff arms about spaced apart parallel axes. At the same time, force is transmitted from the actuator mechanism to the cuffs to move the cuffs along the cuff arms in a direction toward the wrist and axes about which the cuff arms are pivoted.
67 Citations
50 Claims
- 1. A method of using the same orthosis to sequentially bend different wrists, said method comprising the steps of mounting the orthosis on a first arm with the orthosis in a first orientation relative to a first wrist, bending the first wrist in flexion by operating a mechanism in the orthosis in a first direction while the orthosis is mounted on the first arm in the first orientation, mounting the orthosis on a second arm with the orthosis in a second orientation relative to a second wrist, said second orientation being different than the first orientation, and bending the second wrist in extension by operating the mechanism in the orthosis in the first direction while the orthosis is mounted on the second arm in the second orientation.
- 31. A method of using an orthosis to bend a wrist, said method comprising the steps of connecting a first cuff and a first cuff arm with a forearm which is connected with the wrist, said step of connecting a first cuff and a first cuff arm with the forearm includes connecting the first cuff arm with the forearm with an end portion of the first cuff arm adjacent to and offset to one side of the wrist, connecting a second cuff and a second cuff arm with a hand which is connected with the wrist, said step of connecting a second cuff and a second cuff arm with the hand includes connecting the second cuff arm with the hand with an end portion of the second cuff arm adjacent to and offset to the one side of the wrist and spaced from the end portion of the first cuff arm, and bending the wrist, said step of bending the wrist includes pivoting the first cuff arm about a first axis which is offset to the one side of the wrist and extends through the end portion of the first cuff arm, and pivoting the second cuff arm about a second axis which is spaced from the first axis and is offset to the one side of the wrist.
- 40. A method of using an orthosis to bend a wrist, said method comprising the steps of connecting a first cuff and a first cuff arm with a forearm which is connected with the wrist, connecting a second cuff and a second cuff arm with a hand which is connected with the wrist, and bending the wrist, said step of bending the wrist includes moving an actuator member away from the wrist along a path which extends through the wrist, transmitting force from the actuator member to the first cuff arm to pivot the first cuff arm as the actuator member moves away from the wrist, and transmitting force from the actuator member to pivot the second cuff arm as the actuator member moves away from the wrist.
- 47. A method of using an orthosis to bend a wrist, said method comprising the steps of connecting a first cuff and a first cuff arm with a forearm which is connected with the wrist, connecting a second cuff and a second cuff arm with a hand which is connected with the wrist, and bending the wrist, said step of bending the wrist includes moving the first cuff along the first cuff arm in a direction toward the wrist and moving the second cuff along the second cuff arm toward the wrist.
Specification