Orthosis apparatus and method of using an orthosis apparatus
First Claim
1. An orthosis apparatus for rotating a medial bone of an appendage relative to a proximal bone of the appendage about a longitudinal axis of the distal bone, the appendage having a distal bone connected to the medial bone, said apparatus comprising:
- an arcuate member being rotatable about a central axis;
an array of gear teeth disposed about said arcuate member;
a lower cuff connected to said arcuate member and being configured to secure the distal bone and to align the medial bone along said central axis; and
a drive gear mechanically communicating with said gear teeth such that rotating said drive gear causes said arcuate member to rotate circumferentially about said central axis thereby pronating and supinating the medial bone.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a new and improved orthosis for use in effecting relative movement between bones in an arm of a patient. The apparatus includes a lower cuff gripping distal bone, such as a wrist, and an upper cuff gripping a proximal bone, such as an upper arm. The lower cuff is secured in a rotatable drive assembly substantially coincident to a longitudinal axis of a medial bone, such as the forearm, during rotational distal adjustment. The angle between the forearm and the upper arm is adjustable and can be securely fixed at a desired angle. The rotation of the rotatable drive assembly effectuates the pronation and supination of the hand and wrist relative to the patient'"'"'s forearm. The orthosis of the present invention can be disassembled with interchanging parts substituted depending on the patient'"'"'s needs.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. An orthosis apparatus for rotating a medial bone of an appendage relative to a proximal bone of the appendage about a longitudinal axis of the distal bone, the appendage having a distal bone connected to the medial bone, said apparatus comprising:
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an arcuate member being rotatable about a central axis; an array of gear teeth disposed about said arcuate member; a lower cuff connected to said arcuate member and being configured to secure the distal bone and to align the medial bone along said central axis; and a drive gear mechanically communicating with said gear teeth such that rotating said drive gear causes said arcuate member to rotate circumferentially about said central axis thereby pronating and supinating the medial bone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An orthosis apparatus for rotating a bone about a bone axis, comprising:
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an arcuate member configured to at least partially surround the forearm axis, said arcuate member being configured to be connected to the forearm; a means for rotating said arcuate member about an arcuate member axis, said arcuate member axis being circumscribed by said arcuate member; and a means for aligning said arcuate member axis with the forearm axis. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An orthosis apparatus for rotating a forearm about a forearm axis, the forearm being connected to a wrist an elbow, the orthosis apparatus comprising:
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an arcuate member rotatable about an arcuate member axis substantially coincident to a forearm axis defined by a line extending along the forearm from the wrist to the elbow; an array of gear teeth disposed about said arcuate member; a drive gear mechanically communicating with said gear teeth and configured to rotate said arcuate member about said arcuate member axis whenever said drive gear is rotated; a knob operably connected to said drive gear; and a protective plate connected to said arcuate member and providing clearance for said knob to be rotated.
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40. An orthosis apparatus for rotating a forearm about a forearm axis, comprising
an arcuate member rotatable about an arcuate member axis; -
an array of gear teeth disposed about said arcuate member; a drive gear mechanically communicating with said gear teeth and configured to rotate said arcuate member about said arcuate member axis whenever said drive gear is rotated, said drive gear having an axle; and a spring disposed on said axle of said drive gear to provide tension against said drive gear rotating in at least one direction. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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43. In an orthosis apparatus for rotating a forearm about a forearm axis including an arcuate member rotatable about an arcuate member axis, an array of gear teeth disposed about said arcuate member, a drive gear mechanically communicating with said gear teeth and configured to rotate said arcuate member about said arcuate member axis whenever said drive gear is rotated, said drive gear having an axle, the improvement comprising:
a spring disposed on said axle of said drive gear to provide tension against rotating of said drive gear.
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44. A method for performing an orthosis on an appendage having a distal bone, a medial bone, and a proximal bone, which comprises:
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providing an arcuate member having a central arcuate member axis; securing the proximal bone with an upper cuff; aligning said arcuate member axis with a medial-bone axis by moving said arcuate member in relation to said upper cuff; fixing a hand of the patient to said arcuate member; and rotating said arcuate member about said arcuate member axis. - View Dependent Claims (45)
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46. A method of preventing an orthosis apparatus from unintentionally rotating, which comprises:
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providing an orthosis apparatus for rotating a forearm about a forearm axis, the orthosis including an arcuate member rotatable about an arcuate member axis; and retarding a rotation of said orthosis apparatus in at least one direction an array of gear teeth disposed about said arcuate member and a drive gear mechanically communicating with said gear teeth and configured to rotate said arcuate member about said arcuate member axis whenever, said drive gear is rotated, said drive gear having an axle. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
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Specification