Range of motion improvement device

• US 9,669,249 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2015
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Rex Investment, Inc.
• Original Assignee: T-Rex Investment, Inc.
• Inventors: Marti, Eduardo M., Kaiser, Robert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Andrew S
• Application Number:
  US14/730,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20150352394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 482139, 601 5
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/22 Ergometry; Measuring muscular strength or the force of a muscular blow exercising apparatus A63B21/00 ; measuring of work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4585 Evaluating the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6828 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6835 Supports or holders, e.g., articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6894 Wheel chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6895 Sport equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/024 Knee A61H1/0255 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0244 Hip A61H1/0255 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0149 Seat or chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0176 By stopping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0192 Specific means for adjusting dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1215 Rotary drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1642 Holding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1676 Pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/501 connected to external computer devices or networks
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5061 : Force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5069 : Angle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5076 : Frequency sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 : wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0431 : in 90°/90°-position, like on a chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/102 : Knee
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/006 : for stretching exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 : Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0018 : for wheelchair users
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0081 : Stopping the operation of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 : Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 : Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 : Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00178 : for active exercising, the apparatus being also usable for passive exercising
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00181 : comprising additional means assisting the user to overcome part of the resisting force, i.e. assisted-active exercising
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0023 : for isometric exercising, i.e. substantial force variation without substantial muscle motion
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4011 : to the lower limbs means for physically limiting movements of body parts A63B69/0057
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4031 : with parts of the bench moving against a resistance during exercise
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4047 : Pivoting movement weight pivoting A63B21/0615
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0233 : in 90/90 position, like on a chair
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 : Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 : Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 : Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 : Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03508 : For a single arm or leg, A63B21/0726 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0405 : involving a bending of the knee and hip joints simultaneously A63B23/0476 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0482 : primarily by articulating the hip joints A63B23/0211, A63B23/0405, A63B23/0476 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0494 : primarily by articulating the knee joints A63B23/0405, A63B23/0476 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 : the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 : Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network

Abstract

An end range of motion improving device is disclosed including, first and second link members to independently rotate an upper leg and a lower leg of a patient, having a controller to selectively rotate the link members, and a networked computing system to facilitate communication between the controller and other networked devices.

Claims

1. An end range of motion improving device comprising:

a frame;

a linkage, the linkage including;

a first link member pivotably mounted to the frame at a first link member axis;

a second link member supported on the first link member, the second link member configured for being secured to a lower leg of the patient and being rotatable about a second link member axis for rotating the lower leg of the patient about a knee axis of the patient through a lower leg range of motion, the first link member being pivotable about the first link member axis for pivoting the second link member axis into a selectable fixed position aligned with the knee axis and the first link member maintaining the second link member axis in the fixed position during rotation of the second link member;

an actuator for rotating the second link member about the second link member axis; and

a controller controlling the actuator for selectively rotating the second link member about the second link member axis through the lower leg range of motion.

2. The end range of motion improving device according to claim 1, wherein the first link member is configured for being secured to an upper leg of the patient and is rotatable about the first link member axis for rotating the upper leg of the patient about a hip axis of the patient through an upper leg range of motion.

3. The end range of motion improving device according to claim 1, wherein the second link member includes a lower leg support for supporting the lower leg on the second link member.

4. The end range of motion improving device according to claim 1, wherein the second link member axis is provided by a gear system.

5. The end range of motion improving device according to claim 2, wherein the linkage includes one or more adjustment mechanisms to anatomically match the first link member axis to the hip axis of the patient and the second link member axis to the knee axis of the patient.

6. The end range of motion improving device according to claim 4, wherein the gear system includes a polycentric gear system.

7. The end range of motion improving device according to claim 1, wherein the controller registers time that the second link member has spent at a particular position.

8. The end range of motion improving device according to claim 1, wherein the controller registers force data from forces applied to the second link member.

9. The end range of motion improving device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to automatically hold the second link member at a particular position for a predetermined pause time.

10. The end range of motion improving device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to automatically rotationally cycle the second link member between a first position and a second position.

11. The end range of motion improving device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to automatically rotationally cycle the first link member between a first position and a second position.

12. An end range of motion improving device comprising:

a linkage, the linkage including;

a first link member;

a second link member supported on the first link member, the second link member configured for being secured to a lower leg of the patient and being rotatable about a second link axis for rotating the lower leg of the patient about a knee axis of the patient through a lower leg range of motion, the second link axis being displaceable into a selectable fixed position aligned with the knee axis and maintaining the fixed position during rotation of the second link member;

the first link member being independently rotatable about a first link member axis without causing the second link member to rotate about the second link axis, and the second link member being independently rotatable about the second link member axis without causing the first link member to rotate about the first link member axis;

an actuator for rotating the second link member about the second link axis; and

a controller controlling the actuator for selectively rotating the second link member about the second link axis through the lower leg range of motion.

13. An end range of motion improving system, comprising:

a frame, a first link member pivotably mounted to the frame at a first link member axis, a second link member supported on the first link member, the second link member configured for being secured to a lower leg of a patient and being rotatable about a second link member axis for rotating the lower leg of the patient about a knee axis of the patient through a lower leg range of motion, the first link member being pivotable about the first link member axis for pivoting the second link member axis into a selectable fixed position aligned with the knee axis and the first link member maintaining the second link member axis in the fixed position during rotation of the second link member, an actuator for rotating the second link member about the second link member axis, a controller controlling the actuator for selectively rotating the second link member about the second link member axis through the lower leg range of motion;

one or more storage machines holding instructions executable by one or more logic machines configured for;

receiving a set of parameters;

rotating the second link member based on the set of parameters;

recording report data; and

sending the report data to a database.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the set of parameters includes a maximum angle and a minimum angle.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the set of parameters includes a maximum force.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the set of parameters includes time that the second link member is to hold a particular position.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein the instructions are executable to rotate the first link member independently about a first link axis without causing the second link member to rotate about the second link axis, or to independently rotate the second link member about the second link axis without causing the first link member to rotate about the first link axis.

18. A method of providing end range of motion therapy, the method comprising:

providing an end range of motion improving device, the end range of motion improving device including a first link member pivotably mounted to a frame at a first link member axis, a second link member supported on the first link member, the second link member configured for being secured to a lower leg of a patient and being rotatable about a second link member axis for rotating the lower leg of the patient about a knee axis of the patient through a lower leg range of motion, the first link member being pivotable about the first link member axis for pivoting the second link member axis into a selectable fixed position aligned with the knee axis and the first link member maintaining the second link member axis in the fixed position during rotation of the second link member, an actuator for rotating the second link member about the second link member axis, and a controller controlling the actuator for selectively rotating the second link member about the second link member axis through the lower leg range of motion;

providing a user input to the controller for rotating the second link member;

providing a user input to the controller for indicating therapy parameters; and

rotating the lower leg with the second link member according to the user inputs.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

configuring the first link member to be secured to an upper leg of the patient and to be rotatable about a first link member axis for rotating the upper leg of the patient about a hip axis of the patient through an upper leg range of motion;

providing a user input to the controller for rotating the first link member; and

rotating the upper leg with the first link member according to the user input and the therapy parameters.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

registering data from usage of the end range of motion improving device.