Finger orthosis
First Claim
1. A method of moving a joint between first and second portions of a finger with a first cuff and a second cuff of an orthosis, said method comprising:
- contacting the first cuff to the first portion of the finger and the second cuff to the second portion of the finger;
applying force to an actuator member, the actuator member rotationally coupled to the first and second cuffs; and
rotating the first and second cuffs with respect to the actuator member to move the first and second portions of the finger, wherein rotating the first and second cuffs comprises effecting relative rotation between the first and second cuffs about an axis extending through the joint.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The same orthosis can be used to sequentially move joints of different fingers of a hand. A hand cuff of the orthosis is mounted on the hand. Mechanisms operable to move the joints are connected to the hand cuff at locations aligned with the fingers. The mechanisms are connected with the fingers. The joints of the fingers are moved by operating the mechanisms. The joints and first and second portions of the fingers define on one side of the joints outer sectors which decrease in angle as the joints are extended. Force is applied to the first and second portions of the fingers to move the joints by providing relative rotation between internally and externally threaded members disposed in the outer sectors. Actuator members connected with the internally or externally threaded members are moved along paths that extend through the joints.
-
Citations
60 Claims
-
1. A method of moving a joint between first and second portions of a finger with a first cuff and a second cuff of an orthosis, said method comprising:
-
contacting the first cuff to the first portion of the finger and the second cuff to the second portion of the finger; applying force to an actuator member, the actuator member rotationally coupled to the first and second cuffs; and rotating the first and second cuffs with respect to the actuator member to move the first and second portions of the finger, wherein rotating the first and second cuffs comprises effecting relative rotation between the first and second cuffs about an axis extending through the joint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method of moving a joint between first and second portions of a finger, wherein the joint and first and second portions of the finger define on a first side of the joint an outer sector which decreases in angle as the joint is extended, said method comprising:
-
operatively coupling a first cuff arm of an orthosis with the first portion of the finger and operatively coupling a second cuff arm of the orthosis with the second portion of the finger; and providing relative rotation of the first and second cuff arms by an actuator member in the outer sector to transmit force to the first cuff arm to pivot the first cuff arm about a first axis which is offset distally from the joint and to transmit force to the second cuff arm to pivot the second cuff arm about a second axis which is offset proximally from the joint. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
-
21. A method of moving a joint between first and second portions of a finger, said method comprising:
-
coupling an orthosis including a first cuff and a second cuff to the finger including the joint; and providing relative rotation between the first and second portions of the finger connected to the orthosis along a path which extends through the joint by transmitting a force to the first and second cuffs. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A method of moving a joint between first and second portions of a finger, wherein the joint and first and second portions of the finger define on a first side of the joint an outer sector which decreases in angle as the joint is extended, said method comprising:
-
connecting a first cuff to a first cuff arm of an orthosis with the first portion of the finger connected to the first cuff and connecting a second cuff to a second cuff arm of the orthosis with a second portion of the finger connected to the second cuff; providing relative rotation between the first and second portions of the finger; transmitting force from an actuator member to the first and second portions of the finger, wherein actuating the actuator member in a first direction causes flexion of the joint and actuating the actuator member in a second direction causes extension of the joint; and moving one of the first and second cuffs along one of the first and second cuff arms. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
-
37. A method of moving a joint of a finger, said method comprising:
-
connecting an orthosis including a first cuff and a second cuff to the finger including the joint; and moving the joint using the first and second cuffs while allowing the joint to rotate about an instantaneous axis of rotation, wherein at least one of an orientation and a position of the instantaneous axis of rotation changes during the moving operation. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
-
-
44. A method of moving a joint, said method comprising:
-
connecting an orthosis including a first cuff and a second cuff to a finger including the joint; and moving the joint using the first and second cuffs of the orthosis, wherein the orthosis does not include one or more hinges positioned generally along an axis of rotation associated with the joint. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48)
-
-
49. A method of moving a joint, said method comprising:
-
affixing a first cuff of an orthosis to a first portion of a finger and a second cuff of the orthosis to a second portion of the finger, wherein the first portion and the second portion are interposed by the finger joint; and moving the first cuff with respect to the second cuff using the orthosis to provide one of flexion and extension of the finger joint while allowing the finger joint to move about an instantaneous axis of rotation that varies with a relative angular position of the first portion with respect to the second portion. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
-
-
56. A method of stretching tissue about a joint of a finger, said method comprising:
-
connecting a first cuff of an orthosis to a first portion of a finger and a second cuff of the orthosis to a second portion of the finger, the first portion of the finger and the second portion of the finger interposed by a joint; and moving the first portion of the finger relative to the second portion of the finger about an instantaneous axis of rotation of the joint by applying a force in a single plane to the first cuff and the second cuff using a frame, the frame connecting the first cuff and the second cuff, wherein the instantaneous axis of rotation of the joint changes relative to an axis of rotation of the orthosis across a range of motion associated with the joint. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58)
-
-
59. A method of moving a joint, said method comprising:
-
coupling an orthosis to a finger by engaging a first cuff of the orthosis with a first portion of the finger and a second cuff of the orthosis with a second portion of the finger, a joint of the finger interposing the first portion and the second portion; and moving the joint using the orthosis by pivoting the first cuff and the second cuff about a first axis spaced apart from an instantaneous axis of rotation of the joint. - View Dependent Claims (60)
-
Specification