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US 11,896,538 B2Granted
Device with therapeutic features
AssigneeERMI, Inc.
InventorsThomas P. Branch, Edward S. Dittmar, Timothy James Shary, Shaun Kevin Stinton, Nathaniel K. DeJarnette
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a therapeutic stretching apparatus, which in particular provides a user with a system for providing an assist to increase knee extension as well as for maintaining stability of the knee after surgery. This device can not only act as a therapeutic stretching apparatus but also can act as a primary post-op knee brace with locks/limits on hinge to prevent user from further injuring the joint.
Claims13
A therapeutic device for use on a length of a leg of a user, said length including an upper leg portion, a lower leg portion, a knee intermediate the upper leg portion and the lower leg portion, said leg length also defining opposing medial and lateral sides each extending the length of said leg length, said leg having an anterior, said device comprising:
- (a) a proximal framework portion configured for directly or indirectly supporting the upper leg portion, said proximal framework portion including a leg facing portion configured to be directed towards and generally facing said upper leg portion;
- (b) a distal framework portion configured for operatively engaging the lower leg portion, said distal framework portion including a leg facing portion configured to be directed towards and generally facing said lower leg portion, the distal framework portion including a first end proximate said knee and a second end more distal to said knee than the first end;
- (c) one or more distal framework engaging members operatively coupled to the distal framework portion, said one or more distal framework engaging members configured for operatively engaging the distal framework portion with the lower leg portion;
- (d) at least one operative connection intermediate to and operatively connecting said proximal and distal framework portions, said at least one operative connection configured to facilitate manipulation of said distal framework portion relative to said proximal framework portion in device flexion when said device is directly or indirectly supporting said leg and when said leg is in flexion;
- and
- (e) an extension assistor directly or indirectly attached, at one end, to the proximal framework portion and, at the other end, operatively coupled to the distal framework portion at a position closer to the first end of the distal framework portion than to the second end, thereby forming a bridging framework between the proximal framework portion and the distal framework portion such that at least a portion of the extension assistor is suspended above at least a portion of the proximal framework portion, the extension assistor configured to provide an urging force to the distal framework portion at a position closer to the at least one operative connection than to any of the one or more distal framework engaging members, wherein said extension assistor is configured to selectively discourage device flexion of said proximal and distal framework portions relative to one another, and, when activated, said extension assistor selectively encourages device extension of said proximal and distal framework portions relative to one another, thereby causing said leg to be urged into extension.
3 more elements
A method of therapeutic treatment of a knee comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a therapeutic device for use on a length of a leg of a user, the therapeutic device having:
- (i) a proximal framework portion configured for directly or indirectly supporting the upper leg portion, said proximal framework portion including a leg facing portion configured to be directed towards and generally facing said upper leg portion;
- (ii) a distal framework portion configured for operatively engaging the lower leg portion, said distal framework portion including a leg facing portion configured to be directed towards and generally facing said lower leg portion, the distal framework portion including a first and proximate said knee and a second end more distal to said knee than the first end;
- (iii) one or more distal framework engaging members operatively coupled to the distal framework portion, said one or more distal framework engaging members configured for operatively engaging the distal framework portion with the lower leg portion;
- (iv) at least one operative connection intermediate to and operatively connecting said proximal and distal framework portions, said at least one operative connection configured to facilitate manipulation of said proximal and distal framework portions in device flexion when said device is engaging said leg and when said leg is in flexion;
- and
- (v) an extension assistor directly or indirectly attached, at one end, to the proximal framework portion and, at the other end, operatively coupled to the distal framework portion at a position closer to the first end of the distal framework portion than to the second end, thereby forming a bridging framework between the proximal framework portion and the distal framework portion, such that at least a portion of the extension assistor is suspended above at least a portion of the proximal framework portion, the extension assistor configured to provide an urging force to the distal framework portion at a position closer to the at least one operative connection than to any of the one or more distal framework engaging members, wherein said extension assistor is configured to selectively discourage device flexion of said proximal and distal framework portions relative to one another, and, when activated, said extension assistor selectively encourages device extension of said proximal and distal framework portions relative to one another, thereby causing said leg to be urged into extension;
- (b) attaching the lower leg portion of the user with the distal framework portion using one or more distal framework engaging members;
- and
- (c) urging the leg into extension by activating the extension assistor to encourage extension of the proximal and distal framework portions relative to one another.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.