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 base member;
• an upper arm member connected to the base member, the upper arm member having a pivot end and a distal end, the upper arm member being connected to the base member at a location between the pivot end and distal end;
• a forearm member pivotally connected to the upper arm member, the forearm member having a pivot end and a distal end, the pivot end of the forearm member being pivotally connected to the pivot end of the upper arm member;
• and
• a force application system connected between the upper arm member and the forearm member, the force application system including:
• a force applicator;
• and
• a force application mechanism configured to move the force applicator between an extended position and a retracted position to provide extension or flexion assistance to the arm about the elbow, wherein a distal end of the force application mechanism is connected at or near the distal end of the upper arm member and a distal end of the force applicator is connected between the distal end and the pivot end of the forearm member.

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 base member;
• an upper arm member connected to the base member, the upper arm member having a pivot end and a distal end, the upper arm member being connected to the base member at a location between the pivot end and distal end, the upper arm member including a user facing elongate member and an outwardly facing elongate member spaced from the user facing elongate member;
• a forearm member pivotally connected to the upper arm member, the forearm member having a pivot end and a distal end, the pivot end of the forearm member being pivotally connected to the pivot end of the upper arm member, the forearm member including a user facing elongate member and an outwardly facing elongate member spaced from the user facing elongate member;
• and
• a force application system connected between the upper arm member and the forearm member, the force application system including:
• a force applicator;
• and
• a force application mechanism configured to move the force applicator between an extended position and a retracted position to provide extension or flexion assistance to the arm about the elbow, wherein a distal end of the force application mechanism is connected at or near the distal end of the upper arm member and a distal end of the force applicator is connected between the distal end and the pivot end of the forearm member.

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

• providing a device for manipulating an arm of a user, the device including:
• a base member;
• an upper arm member connected to the base member;
• a forearm member pivotally connected to the upper arm member;
• and
• a force application system connected between the upper arm member and the forearm member;
• placing an upper arm of the user in engagement with the upper arm member;
• placing a forearm of the user in engagement with the forearm member;
• and
• actuating the force application system to move the forearm member relative to the upper arm member about the elbow joint of the user to move the user's arm into extension or flexion.