Orthotic/electrotherapy for treating contractures due to immobility

• US 6,064,912 A
• Filed: 03/25/1998
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John P. Kenney
• Original Assignee: John P. Kenney
• Inventors: Kenney, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAYDAH, JAYNE M
• Application Number:
  US09/048,324
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 602/20, 602/23, 602/26, 602/16, 602/1, 607/48, 607/49, 607/77, 607/149, 607/98, 607/108-111, 607/112, 607/114, 601/23, 601/33
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0111 for the feet or ankles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0118 for the arms, hands or fingers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/013 for the arms, hands or fingers A61F5/0118 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/055 Cervical collars
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells

Abstract

A therapeutic system comprising an orthotic device adapted to extend the range of angular movement between adjacent first and second skeletal body parts which have been drawn to and involuntarily held in a limited angular range of motion position relative to one another by contraction of muscle fibers and connective tissue due to immobility of one or both of said skeletal body parts and an electrode component positioned to be effective to conduct an electrical current to at least one of said body parts.

Claims

1. An orthotic device useful for extending the range of angular movement between adjacent first and second skeletal body parts which have been drawn to and involuntarily held in a limited angular range of motion (LROM) position relative to one another by contraction of muscle fibers and connective tissue due to immobility of one or both of said skeletal body parts, said orthotic device comprising:

a. a thermal setting, flexible member having first and second regions;

b. a bend line between said first and second member regions, a bend at said bend line being set by heating, bending and cooling said member at said bend line, said bend line permitting angular movement and enabling the setting of a selected angle between said first and second member regions;

c. means for applying or attaching said first member region to said first body part and said second orthotic device portion to said second body part after the second body part has been moved against contracture forces away from said LROM position to an initial extended range of motion (EROM) angular position relative to said first body part, said first and second member regions being then set at said initial extended range of motion position relative to one another;

d. spring means associated with said first and second member regions for urging said second member region to return to said EROM position in response to the second member region being pulled by the applied or attached first body part through at least one of muscle fiber contraction and the elastic properties of the muscle fibers and connective tissue away from said EROM position and toward said LROM position, thereby causing a cycling movement of said second body part between said EROM and said LROM angular positions and a gradual loosening of said second body part relative to said first body part and an ultimate extending of the range of angular motion of said second body part relative to said first body part at said EROM position without additional external intervention; and

e. an electrode component positioned to be effective to conduct an electrical current to at least one of said body parts.

2. The orthotic device as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises an electrotherapy unit in electrical communication with said electrode component.

3. The orthotic device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrode component comprises a plurality of individual electrodes.

4. The orthotic device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrode component includes peel and stick gel adhesive electrodes.

5. The orthotic device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrode component comprises electrically conductive material.

6. The orthotic device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrode component comprises electro-mesh material.