# US 2014/0155235 A1 · System for Knee Extension Therapy

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- Number: US 2014/0155235 A1
- Document ID: US20140155235A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/895,175
- Filed: 2013-05-15
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-05-25
- Inventors: Robert E. Tennant
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155235A1

## CPC

- A63B 23/0482: {primarily by articulating the hip joints (A63B23/0211, A63B23/0405, A63B23/0476 take precedence)}
- A61H 1/024: {Knee (A61H1/0255 takes precedence)}
- A61H 1/0244: {Hip (A61H1/0255 takes precedence)}
- A61H 2201/0161: Size reducing arrangements when not in use, for stowing or transport
- A61H 2201/1238: with hydraulic or pneumatic drive
- A61H 2201/1642: Holding means therefor
- A61H 2201/1676: Pivoting
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)

## Abstract

The present invention concerns a system that is useful to apply controlled, gradual muscular stretching, and is particularly useful for knee extension therapy.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An system for knee extension therapy, comprising:
an elongated base;
a thigh strap configured for strapping a patient's thigh to the base
a boot member;
an expandable member connected to the boot member and supported by the base away from the thigh strap and configured so that expansion of the expandable member causes movement of the boot member away from the base, thereby forcing extension of the knee.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the expandable member is an inflatable bladder.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein system is configured so that expansion of the expandable member causes rotation of the boot member as the boot member moves away from the base and so that the thigh strap prevents the patient's thigh from moving away from the base.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3 wherein the expandable member is a bladder that is connected along a length of the boot member and is configured to expand between the boot member and the base by a varying amount along the length of the boot member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the boot member includes a strap for securing the user's foot within the boot member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 including a remote control for controlling expansion of the expandable member.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6 including a control for permitting contraction of the expandable member.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6 wherein the expandable member is an inflatable bladder and the remote control includes a pump for inflating the bladder.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8 wherein the remote control also includes valving that is operable for deflating the bladder.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7 wherein the remote control is manually operated by the user.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the base is hinged for reducing its length for storage.

### Claim 12

A method for knee extension therapy for a patient comprising the steps of:
securing to an elongated base a patient's thigh;
placing the patient's foot in a boot member on the base; and
gradually moving the boot member away from the base to thereby produce forces in the leg for extending the knee.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of gradually expanding an expandable member between the boot member and the base.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein the expanding step includes inflating an inflatable bladder; and
linking together the boot member with a plate, thereby to guide movement of the boot member.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein the expanding step comprises the step of manually pumping fluid into a bladder to inflate the bladder; and
manually controlling the occasional deflation of the bladder to allow the boot member to return toward the base, thereby to reduce the forces in the leg.