Therapeutic multiple joint exerciser
OwnerDonald E. Barthlomeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cyclical therapeutic joint exerciser is provided; it alternatively imparts a straightening and bending motion to a desired joint of a patient, e.g., a finger, elbow or knee. The device primarily consists of an inflatable pouch to which a spring steel member is removably attached. The spring or springs maintain the body portion in a flexed, non-extended position when the pouch remains uninflated. As the pouch is inflated, the springs mounted on the pouch, which are normally in a bent position, are extended along with the joint. When the pouch is deflated, the inherent biasing action of the springs causes the pouch and springs to bend, which brings the joint back to the flexed position.
Claims21
A exerciser for manipulating a selected body part, said exerciser comprising:
- (a) a flexible, inflatable pouch having a tubular shape and an exterior surface, said pouch having two ends which are sealed and an upper surface;
- (b) means for attaching said inflatable pouch to said body part;
- (c) means for resiliently biasing said selected body part into a first, non-extended position when said pouch is non-inflated, said biasing means comprising at least one spring which is positioned adjacent to an upper surface of said inflatable pouch and which has a natural generally curved central configuration when said inflatable pouch is not inflated;
- (d) pneumatic means for inflating said pouch and for overcoming the bias of said resilient means to move said body part into a second, extended position when said pouch is inflated;
- and
- (e) means for mounting said biasing means on the exterior surface of said pouch.
An exerciser for manipulating a selected body part, said exerciser comprising:
- (a) a flexible, inflatable pouch having a tubular shape and an exterior surface;
- (b) means for attaching said inflatable pouch to said body part;
- (c) means for resiliently biasing said selected body part into a first, non-extended position when said pouch is non-inflated;
- (d) pneumatic means for inflating said pouch and for overcoming the bias of said resilient means to move said body part into a second, extended position when said pouch is inflated;
- (e) means for mounting said biasing means on the exterior surface of said pouch;
- (f) said biasing means comprising at least one spring which occupies a naturally curved generally central configuration when said inflatable pouch is not inflated, said spring thus comprising means for biasing both the body part and the pouch into said non-extended position;
- (g) said mounting means comprising means for detachably mounting said biasing means to said exterior surface of said pouch, said means for detachably mounting comprising a pocket attached to said exterior surface of said pouch, said biasing means being inserted into said pocket;
- and
- (h) said pneumatic means comprising a pneumatic fluid supply tube attached to said pouch via a valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.