Device with therapeutic features
AssigneeERMI, Inc.
InventorThomas P. Branch
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.
Claims19
A therapeutic device for use on a length of a user's leg, said length including an upper leg portion, a lower leg portion, and a knee intermediate the two, said leg length also defining opposing proximal and distal sides each extending the length of said leg length, said device comprising:
- a proximal framework portion configured for attachment relative to the upper leg portion, said proximal framework portion including a leg facing portion configured to be directed towards and generally facing said proximal side of said upper leg;
- a distal framework portion configured for attachment relative to the lower leg portion, said proximal framework portion including a leg facing portion configured to be directed towards and generally facing said proximal side of said upper leg;
- at least one pivoting connection intermediate and connecting said proximal and distal framework portions, said pivoting connection configured to facilitate pivoting of said proximal and distal framework portions in device flexion such as when said device is attached to said leg and leg is in flexion and said proximal and distal framework portions can pivot relative to each other;
- a connector configured to selectively connect said proximal and distal framework portions so as to selectively discourage device flexion of said proximal and distal framework upper frame member relative to said lower frame member;
- and
- at least one selectively inflatable bladder between said proximal side of said leg and one of said proximal and distal framework portions, in particular between said proximal side of said leg and said corresponding leg facing portion of said one of said proximal and distal framework portions,
- said elements above configured to interact such that inflation of said bladder while said connector is connected causes said leg to be urged into extension due to the pushing of said bladder against said proximal side of said leg.
A therapeutic device for use on a length of a user's leg, said length including an upper leg portion, a lower leg portion, and a knee intermediate the two, said leg length also defining opposing proximal and distal sides each extending the length of said leg length, said device comprising:
- A) a proximal device portion itself comprising:
- 1) a proximal framework portion configured for attachment relative to the upper leg portion, said proximal framework portion including a leg facing portion configured to be directed towards and generally facing said proximal side of said upper leg;
- and
- 2) an inflatable proximal bladder between said proximal side of said leg and said proximal framework portion, in particular between said proximal side of said leg and said corresponding leg facing portion of said proximal framework portion;
- B) a distal device portion itself comprising:
- 1) a distal framework portion configured for attachment relative to the lower leg, said proximal framework portion including a leg facing portion configured to be directed towards and generally facing said proximal side of said upper leg;
- and
- 2) an inflatable distal bladder between said distal side of said leg and said distal framework portion, in particular between said proximal side of said leg and said corresponding leg facing portion of said distal framework portion;
- C) at least one pivoting connection intermediate and connecting said proximal and distal device portions, said pivoting connection configured to facilitate pivoting of said proximal and distal device portions in device flexion such as when said device is attached to said leg and leg is in flexion and said proximal and distal device portions can pivot relative to each other;
- and
- D) a connector configured to selectively connect said proximal and distal framework portions so as to selectively discourage device flexion of said proximal and distal device members relative to each other,
- said elements above configured to interact such that inflation of said proximal and distal bladders while said connector is connected causes said leg to be urged into extension due to the pushing of said bladders against said proximal side of said leg.
A method for providing therapeutic motion to a length of a user's leg, said length including an upper leg portion, a lower leg portion, and a knee intermediate the two, said leg length also defining opposing proximal and distal sides each extending the length of said leg length, said method comprising:
- A) providing a device which will tend to immobilize said length of a user's leg so as to discourage extension;
- B) selectively modifying said device such that said length of a user's leg moves in extension to a first predetermined limit;
- C) urging a portion of said length of said user's leg relative to a portion of said device via an inflatable bladder pushing against said proximal side of said leg, such that said length of said user's leg moves in further extension past said first predetermined limit;
- D) deflating said inflatable bladder such that said length of said user's leg moves in flexion back to approximately said first predetermined limit;
- and
- E) again urging said portion of said length of said user's leg relative to a portion of said device via an inflatable bladder such that said length of said user's leg moves in further extension past said first predetermined limit a second time.
A method for providing therapeutic motion to a length of a user's leg, said length including an upper leg portion, a lower leg portion, and a knee intermediate the two, said leg length also defining opposing proximal and distal sides each extending the length of said leg length, said method comprising:
- A) providing a pivoting brace having two parts, and upper part and a lower part, said upper and lower parts being pivotably connected and configured to move in flexion and extension along with the movement of said length of said user's leg in corresponding flexion and extension;
- B) moving said user's leg in extension to a first extended position such that said brace moves in extension along with said leg, with said upper part of brace moving in extension relative to said lower part of said brace;
- C) preventing further extension of said upper part of brace relative to said lower part of said brace;
- D) urging a portion of said length of said user's leg relative to a portion of said device such that said length of said user's leg moves in further extension past said first predetermined limit;
- D) deflating said inflatable bladder such that said length of said user's leg moves in flexion back to approximately said first predetermined limit;
- and
- E) again urging said portion of said length of said user's leg relative to a portion of said device via an inflatable bladder such that said length of said user's leg moves in further extension past said first predetermined limit a second time.
A method for providing therapeutic motion to a length of a user's extremity, said length including an upper extremity portion, a lower extremity portion, and a joint intermediate the two, said extremity length also defining opposing proximal and distal sides each extending the length of said extremity, said method comprising:
- A) providing a pivoting brace having two parts, and upper part and a lower part, said upper and lower parts being pivotably connected and configured to move in flexion and extension along with the movement of said length of said user's extremity in corresponding flexion and extension;
- B) moving said user's extremity in extension to a first extended position such that said brace moves in extension along with said extremity, with said upper part of brace moving in extension relative to said lower part of said brace;
- C) preventing further extension of said upper part of brace relative to said lower part of said brace;
- D) urging a portion of said length of said user's extremity relative to a portion of said device such that said length of said user's extremity moves in further extension past said first predetermined limit;
- D) deflating said inflatable bladder such that said length of said user's extremity moves in flexion back to approximately said first predetermined limit;
- and
- E) again urging said portion of said length of said user's extremity relative to a portion of said device via an inflatable bladder such that said length of said user's extremity moves in further extension past said first predetermined limit a second time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.