Orthosis with joint distraction

An apparatus for establishing extremes of motion by stretching tissue around a joint between first and second relatively pivotable body portions, the joint and the first and second body portions defining on one side of the joint an inner sector which decreases in angle as the joint is flexed and defining on the opposite side of the joint an outer sector which decreases in angle as the joint is extended, comprising:

• a first arm, and first clamping means on said first arm for clamping said first arm to the first body portion;
• a second arm, and second clamping means on said second arm for clamping said second arm to the second body portion;
• means for pivotally connecting said first and second arms with each other at a pivot axis intermediate said first and second clamping means;
• and
• actuator means connected to said first and second arms for applying force to said first and second arms to pivot said first and second arms relative to each other to move the joint;
• said first and second clamping means exerting a force upon at least one of said first and second body portions in a direction outwardly along said at least one body portion and away from said means for pivotally connecting said first and second arms with each other to distract the joint upon pivoting movement of said first and second arms from a relatively flexed position to a relatively extended position;
• wherein said actuator means comprises winch means rotatable in winding and unwinding directions for winding and unwinding a cable connected with said arms and ratchet means for selectively blocking rotating movement of said winch means in a selected direction, said winch means and said ratchet means being selectively operable to provide incremental winding of said cable between a plurality of locking positions.

An apparatus for establishing extremes of motion by stretching tissue around a joint between first and second relatively pivotable body portions, the joint and the first and second body portions defining on one side of the joint an inner sector which decreases in angle as the joint is flexed and defining on the opposite side of the joint an outer sector which decreases in angle as the joint is extended, comprising:

• a first arm, and first clamping means on said first arm for clamping said first arm to the first body portion;
• a second arm, and second clamping means on said second arm for clamping said second arm to the second body portion;
• means for pivotally connecting said first and second arms with each other at a pivot axis intermediate said first and second clamping means;
• and
• actuator means connected to said first and second arms for applying force to said first and second arms to pivot said first and second arms relative to each other to move the joint;
• said first and second clamping means exerting a force upon at least one of said first and second body portions in a direction outwardly along said at least one body portion and away from said means for pivotally connecting said first and second arms with each other to distract the joint upon pivoting movement of said first and second arms from a relatively flexed position to a relatively extended position;
• said actuator means comprising drive means mounted on one of said first and second arms, said drive means comprising winch means rotatable in winding and unwinding directions for winding and unwinding said cable and ratchet means for selectively blocking rotating movement of said winch means in a selected direction, said winch means and said ratchet means being selectively operable to provide incremental winding of said cable between a plurality of locking positions.

A orthosis for stretching tissue around a joint between first and second relatively pivotable body portions, the joint and the first and second body portions defining on one side of the joint an inner sector which decreases in angle as the joint is flexed and defining on the opposite side of the joint an outer sector which decreases in angle as the joint is extended, comprising:

• a first arm, and first clamping means on said first arm for clamping said first arm to the first body portion;
• a second arm, and second clamping means on said second arm for clamping said second arm to the second body portion;
• means for pivotally connecting said first and second arms with each other at a pivot axis intermediate said first and second clamping means;
• and
• actuator means connected to said first and second arms for receiving force not generated by relative pivotal movement of said first and second body portions and for applying force to said first and second arms to pivot said first and second arms relative to each other to move the joint;
• wherein said pivot axis of said arms is spaced apart from the axis of rotation of the joint and disposed in the outer sector to effect distraction of the joint upon pivoting movement of said first and second arms from a relatively flexed position to a relatively extended position.

An orthosis for stretching tissue around a joint between first and second relatively pivotable body portions, comprising:

• an elongate first cuff arm having proximal and distal end portions;
• an elongate second cuff arm having proximal and distal end portions and movably connected to said first cuff arm;
• a first cuff on said first cuff arm for connecting said first cuff arm to the first body portion;
• a second cuff on said second cuff arm for connecting said second cuff arm to the second body portion;
• and
• said first and second cuff arms having portions cooperating to force said proximal end portions of said first and second arms longitudinally apart from each other upon pivoting movement of said first and second arms from a relatively flexed position to a relatively extended position, to thereby exert a force upon at least one of said first and second body portions to distract the joint;
• and
• actuator means for moving said first cuff arm relative to said second cuff arm, said actuator means being selectively operable to provide incremental movement of said first cuff arm relative to said second cuff arm between a plurality of positions and to lock said arms at said positions.