Instrumented orthopedic restraining device and method of use

A personal orthopedic restraining device for use to restrain flexibly connected body portions of an individual, said personal orthopedic restraining device comprising:

• (a) an ambulatory housing including first and second distal end portions, said respective end portions being configured to receive respective flexibly connected body portions of the individual, said housing further including restraining means for restraining movement of said first and second distal end portions relative to one another, said restraining means including at least one elongated restraining bar having first and second distal end sections, wherein said first and second distal end sections of said elongated restraining bar are fixedly secured to said first and second distal end portions of the housing, respectively, whereby movement of respective body portions relative to one another can be restrained by said housing;
• (b) an incrementally adjustable hinge interconnecting the respective distal end sections of said elongated restraining bar, wherein the angular position of the respective one of said first and second distal end sections can be adjusted relative to one another;
• wherein the incrementally adjustable hinge is an electromechanical hinge including position sensing means for sensing the relative angular position of said first and second distal end sections interconnected therewith and for providing outputs representative of the sensed position, the electromechanical hinge further including a brake mechanism for preventing incremental adjustment of the incrementally adjustable hinge when the brake is activated;
• (c) stress sensing means for sensing stress on the personal orthopedic restraining means and for providing outputs representative of the sensed stress, said stress sensing means including a plurality of strain gauges attached to said elongated restraining bar;
• and
• (d) control means including indicating means for indicating sensed stress based upon the outputs from said stress sensing means, recording means for recording the output or outputs from said stress sensing means, and program means and said position sensing means for processing outputs from said stress sensing means, said control means being interconnected with said stress sensing means for receiving outputs therefrom, wherein said restraining device is an ambulatory appliance which can be worn by the individual to restrains specific movements of respective body portions restrained thereby relative to one another, and wherein stress on said restraining means can be monitored with said indicating means.

A method of rehabilitating or conditioning flexibly connected body portions of an individual by using an orthopedic restraining device, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) engaging flexibly connected body portions of the individual in an orthopedic restraining device, said restraining device including an ambulatory housing having first and second distal end portions, said respective distal end portions being configured to receive respective flexibly connected body portions, said housing further including restraining means for restraining movement of said first and second distal end portions relative to one another, whereby movement of respective body portions relative to one another can be restrained by said housing, said orthopedic restraining device further including stress sensing means for sensing stress on said restraining means and for providing outputs representative of the sensed stress, and control means for indicating sensed stress based upon outputs from said stress sensing means, said stress sensing means being attached to said restraining means, and said control means being interconnected with said stress sensing means for receiving outputs therefrom, wherein said restraining means include at least one elongated restraining bar, said restraining bar having first and second distal end sections, wherein each first and second distal end section is secured to said first and second distal end portion of the housing, respectively, said stress sensing means including a plurality of strain gauges attached to said elongated restraining bar, said elongated restraining bar including an incrementally adjustable hinge pivotally interconnecting said respective first and second distal end sections;
• (b) exercising said flexibly connected body portions by applying measurable isometric force against said restraining means;
• (c) monitoring stress upon said restraining means by said exercising;
• said monitoring step including monitoring sensed stress indicated by said control means by monitoring said control means;
• and
• (d) adjusting said incrementally adjustable hinge so that the respective distal end sections pivot about the incrementally adjustable hinge in relation to one another so that an angular position of the respective distal end sections relative to one another is changed prior to repeating steps (b) and (c).

A method of monitoring an individual's exercise routine by using an orthopedic restraining device, said method including the steps of:

• (a) engaging first and second flexibly connected body portions of an individual in an orthopedic restraining device, said orthopedic restraining device including:
• an ambulatory housing including restraining means which can restrain movement of said first and second flexibly connected body portions relative to one another when engaged in said orthopedic restraining device;
• stress sensing means for sensing stress on said restraining means and for providing outputs representative of said sensed stress;
• and recording means for recording outputs from said stress sensing means;
• said stress sensing means being attached to said restraining means;
• and said recording means being interconnected with said stress sensing means for receiving outputs therefrom;
• (b) requesting the individual to exert measurable isometric force against said restraining means in a series of repetitive isometric exercise events;
• and
• (c) monitoring outputs representative of stress sensed during and in response to said series of isometric exercise events by accessing said recorded outputs with monitoring means for monitoring outputs recorded by said recording means, said monitoring means being interconnected with said recording means for accessing outputs recorded therein.

A personal orthopedic restraining device for use to restrain flexibly connected body portions of an individual, said person orthopedic restraining device comprising:

• (a) an ambulatory housing including first and second distal end portions, said respective end portions being configured to receive respective flexibly connected body portions of the individual, said housing further including restraining means including an electromechanical hinge having brake means for restraining pivotal movement of said first and second distal end portions relative to one another, wherein the electromechanical hinge pivotally interconnects the respective first and second end portions, whereby movement of respective body portions relative to one another can be restrained by said housing;
• (b) stress sensing means for sensing stress on said restraining means and for providing outputs representative of the sensed stress, said stress sensing means including at least one stress sensing device attached to said housing;
• and
• (c) control means including indication means for indication means for indicating sensed stress based upon outputs from said stress sensing means, said control means being interconnected with said stress sensing means for receiving outputs from said stress sensing means, wherein said personal orthopedic restraining device is an ambulatory appliance which can be worn by the individual to prevent specific movements of respective body portions restrained thereby relative to one another, and wherein stress on said restraining means can be monitored with said indication means.