Device for assisting with extension and/or flexion

A device for manipulating an arm of a user, thereby providing extension or flexion assistance to the arm about an elbow, the device comprising:

• (a) an arm engagement system comprising:
• i. an upper arm member comprising an upper arm frame having a pivot end and a distal end, and a posterior elbow pad configured to engage a back of the user's elbow, the upper arm member further including an anterior upper arm pad configured to engage an upper arm of the user, the anterior upper arm pad being adapted to rotate 180 degrees around an axis perpendicular to the upper arm of the user for use on an opposite arm of the user;
• ii. a forearm member comprising a forearm frame having a pivot end and a distal end and a distal wrist pad configured to engage a wrist of the user;
• and
• iii. a pivoting connection operatively coupled with the pivot end of the upper arm frame and the pivot end of the forearm frame, wherein the upper arm member and the forearm member are configured to pivot about the pivoting connection on an axis defined by the elbow as the arm of the user extends or flexes about the elbow;
• and
• (b) a force application system comprising:
• i. a force applicator connected between the distal end and the pivot end of the forearm frame;
• and
• ii. a force application mechanism connected at or near the distal end of the upper arm frame, wherein the force application mechanism is configured to apply a force to the force applicator, thereby providing the extension or flexion assistance to the arm about the elbow.

A device for manipulating an arm of a user, thereby providing extension or flexion assistance to the arm about an elbow, the device comprising:

• (a) an arm engagement system comprising:
• i. an upper arm member comprising an upper arm frame having a pivot end and a distal end, and a posterior elbow pad configured to engage a back of the user's elbow, wherein the posterior elbow pad is adapted to rotate 180 degrees around an axis perpendicular to an upper arm of the user for use on an opposite arm of the user;
• ii. a forearm member comprising a forearm frame having a pivot end and a distal end and a distal wrist pad configured to engage a wrist of the user;
• and
• iii. a pivoting connection operatively coupled with the pivot end of the upper arm frame and the pivot end of the forearm frame, wherein the upper arm member and the forearm member are configured to pivot about the pivoting connection on an axis defined by the elbow as the arm of the user extends or flexes about the elbow;
• and
• (b) a force application system comprising:
• i. a force applicator connected between the distal end and the pivot end of the forearm frame;
• and
• ii. a force application mechanism connected at or near the distal end of the upper arm frame, wherein the force application mechanism is configured to apply a force to the force applicator, thereby providing the extension or flexion assistance to the arm about the elbow.

A device for manipulating an arm of a user, thereby providing extension or flexion assistance to the arm about an elbow, the device comprising:

• (a) an arm engagement system comprising:
• i. an upper arm member comprising an upper arm frame having a pivot end and a distal end, and a posterior elbow pad configured to engage a back of the user's elbow, further including an anterior upper arm pad configured to engage an upper arm of the user, each of the anterior upper arm pad and the posterior elbow pad being adapted to rotate 180 degrees around an axis perpendicular to the upper arm of the user for use on an opposite arm of the user;
• ii. a forearm member comprising a forearm frame having a pivot end and a distal end and a distal wrist pad configured to engage a wrist of the user;
• and
• iii. a pivoting connection operatively coupled with the pivot end of the upper arm frame and the pivot end of the forearm frame, wherein the upper arm member and the forearm member are configured to pivot about the pivoting connection on an axis defined by the elbow as the arm of the user extends or flexes about the elbow;
• and
• (b) a force application system comprising:
• i. a force applicator connected between the distal end and the pivot end of the forearm frame;
• and
• ii. a force application mechanism connected at or near the distal end of the upper arm frame, wherein the force application mechanism is configured to apply a force to the force applicator, thereby providing the extension or flexion assistance to the arm about the elbow.

A device for manipulating an arm of a user, thereby providing extension or flexion assistance to the arm about an elbow, the device comprising:

• (a) an arm engagement system comprising:
• i. an upper arm member comprising an upper arm frame having a pivot end and a distal end, and a posterior elbow pad cantilevered outward in a perpendicular direction from the upper arm frame and configured to engage a back of the user's elbow, the upper arm member further including an anterior upper arm pad configured to engage an upper arm of the user, the anterior upper arm pad being adapted to rotate 180 degrees around an axis perpendicular to the upper arm of the user for use on an opposite arm of the user;
• ii. a forearm member comprising a forearm frame having a pivot end and a distal end and a distal wrist pad configured to engage a wrist of the user;
• and
• iii. a pivoting connection operatively coupled with the pivot end of the upper arm frame and the pivot end of the forearm frame, wherein the upper arm member and the forearm member are configured to pivot about the pivoting connection on an axis defined by the elbow as the arm of the user extends or flexes about the elbow;
• and
• (b) a force application system comprising:
• i. a force applicator connected between the distal end and the pivot end of the forearm frame;
• and
• ii. a force application mechanism connected at or near the distal end of the upper arm frame, wherein the force application mechanism is configured to apply a force to the force applicator, thereby providing the extension or flexion assistance to the arm about the elbow.

A device for manipulating an arm of a user, thereby providing extension or flexion assistance to the arm about an elbow, the device comprising:

• (a) an arm engagement system comprising:
• i. an upper arm member comprising an upper arm frame having a pivot end and a distal end, a posterior elbow pad cantilevered outward in a perpendicular direction from the upper arm frame and positioned proximate to the pivot end of the upper arm frame and configured to engage a back of the user's elbow, wherein the posterior elbow pad is adapted to rotate 180 degrees around an axis perpendicular to an upper arm of the user for use on an opposite arm of the user;
• ii. a forearm member comprising a forearm frame having a pivot end and a distal end and a distal wrist pad cantilevered outward in a perpendicular direction from the forearm frame and positioned proximate to the distal end of the forearm frame and configured to engage a wrist of the user;
• and
• iii. a pivoting connection operatively coupled with the pivot end of the upper arm frame and the pivot end of the forearm frame, wherein the upper arm member and the forearm member are configured to pivot about the pivoting connection on an axis defined by the elbow as the arm of the user extends or flexes about the elbow;
• and
• (b) a force application system comprising:
• i. a force applicator connected between the distal end and the pivot end of the forearm frame;
• and
• ii. a force application mechanism connected at or near the distal end of the upper arm frame, wherein the force application mechanism is configured to apply a force to the force applicator, thereby providing the extension or flexion assistance to the arm about the elbow.

A device for manipulating an arm of a user, thereby providing extension or flexion assistance to the arm about an elbow, the device comprising:

• (a) a frame having spaced apart first and second mounting locations;
• (b) an arm engagement system configured to be mounted to 1) the first mounting location or 2) the second mounting location, the arm engagement system comprising:
• i. an upper arm member comprising an upper arm frame having a pivot end and a distal end, and a posterior elbow pad configured to engage a back of the user's elbow, wherein the posterior elbow pad is adapted to rotate 180 degrees around an axis perpendicular to an upper arm of the user for use on an opposite arm of the user;
• ii. a forearm member comprising a forearm frame having a pivot end and a distal end and a distal wrist pad configured to engage a wrist of the user;
• and
• iii. a pivoting connection operatively coupled with the pivot end of the upper arm frame and the pivot end of the forearm frame, wherein the upper arm member and the forearm member are configured to pivot about the pivoting connection on an axis defined by the elbow as the arm of the user extends or flexes about the elbow;
• and
• (c) a force application system comprising:
• i. a force applicator connected between the distal end and the pivot end of the forearm frame;
• and
• ii. a force application mechanism connected at or near the distal end of the upper arm frame, wherein the force application mechanism is configured to apply a force to the force applicator, thereby providing the extension or flexion assistance to the arm about the elbow;
• and
• (d) a power unit configured to be mounted to 1) the second mounting location if the arm engagement system is mounted to the first mounting location or 2) the first mounting location if the arm engagement system is mounted to the second mounting location, and adapted to provide power to the force application mechanism.

A method for manipulating body parts of a user, thereby providing extension or flexion assistance to the arm of the user about an elbow joint of the user, the method comprising:

• (a) engaging an upper arm of the user with an upper arm member of an arm engagement system, the upper arm member including an anterior upper arm pad configured to engage the upper arm of the user, the anterior upper arm pad being adapted to rotate 180 degrees around an axis perpendicular to the upper arm member for use on an opposite arm of the user;
• (b) engaging a forearm of the user with a forearm member of the arm engagement system, wherein the forearm member is operatively coupled to the upper arm member at a pivoting connection, and wherein the upper arm member and the forearm member are configured to pivot about the pivoting connection on an axis defined by the elbow joint of the user;
• and
• (c) activating a force application mechanism to apply an incremental force to a first end of a force applicator, wherein a second end of the force applicator is operatively coupled to the body part engagement system, and wherein the applied incremental force causes a length between the first end of the force applicator and the second end of the force applicator to shorten, thereby causing extension or flexion of the arm engagement system and the arm of the user.