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US 5,453,075 AGranted
Orthosis with distraction through range of motion
AssigneePeter M. Bonutti
InventorsPeter M. Bonutti, Gary E. Zitzmann
Life of this patent
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AssigneePeter M. Bonutti
InventorsPeter M. Bonutti, Gary E. Zitzmann
Estimating the term…
An orthosis for stretching tissue that limits compressive forces on the soft tissue around a joint during movement of the joint. The orthosis includes two relatively pivotable cuff arms with a cuff on each arm. The cuffs clamp onto the body portions on either side of the joint. The pivot axis of the cuff arms is spaced from the pivot axis of the joint, so that movement of the cuff arms to extend the joint results in distractive forces being applied to the joint. The cuffs are selectively moved on the cuff arms, during extension and flexion, to provide the proper amount of distractive forces to the joint and to limit compressive forces on the joint. A mechanical advantage is gained through the use of a gear drive mechanism for transmitting to the joint the force applied by the patient. This allows the orthosis to be relatively small and light weight. The orthosis also provides a portable system for continuous passive motion therapy for a joint. The orthosis may be operated by a manual plus electric drive cycling it between extremes of motion. Provision is made for monitoring the range of motion or the force applied.
A method of effecting relative movement between first and second body portions interconnected by a joint, said method comprising the steps of connecting a first cuff and a first cuff arm with the first body portion, connecting a second cuff and a second cuff arm with the second body portion, bending the joint by transmitting force through the first and second cuffs to the first and second body portions, and moving the first cuff along the first cuff arm during bending of the joint.
A method of effecting relative movement between first and second body portions interconnected by a joint, said method comprising the steps of connecting a first cuff and a first cuff arm with the first body portion, connecting a second cuff and a second cuff arm with the second body portion with the first and second cuff arms interconnected by a base link, moving an actuator member along a path extending transverse to the base link, transmitting force from the actuator member through a first link to the first cuff arm to pivot the first cuff arm in a first direction of rotation about a pivot connection between the first cuff arm and the base link as the actuator member moves along the path, transmitting force from the actuator member through a second link to the second cuff arm to pivot the second cuff arm in a second direction of rotation about a pivot connection between the second cuff arm and the base link as the actuator member moves along the path, the second direction of rotation being opposite from the first direction of rotation, transmitting force from the first and second cuff arms to the first and second cuffs as the actuator member moves along the path, and bending the joint under the influence of the force transmitted from the first and second cuff arms to the first and second cuffs as the actuator member moves along the path.
A method of effecting relative movement between first and second body portions interconnected by a joint, said method comprising the steps of connecting a first cuff and a first cuff arm with the first body portion, connecting a second cuff and a second cuff arm with the second body portion, thereafter, moving an actuator member relative to the first and second cuff arms, pivoting the first cuff arm under the influence of force transmitted from the actuator member through a first link connected with the actuator member and first cuff arm during movement of the actuator member, moving the first cuff along the first cuff arm under the influence of force transmitted from the actuator member during movement of the actuator member, pivoting the second cuff arm under the influence of force transmitted from the actuator member through a second link connected with the actuator member and second cuff arm during movement of the actuator member, and moving the second cuff along the second cuff arm under the influence of force transmitted from the actuator member during movement of the actuator member.
A method for effecting relative movement between first and second body portions interconnected by a joint, said method comprising the steps of connecting a first cuff and cuff arm with the first body portion, connecting a second cuff and cuff arm with the second body portion, bending the joint by transmitting force through the first and second cuffs to the first and second body portions, moving the first cuff along the first cuff arm during bending of the joint, and moving the second cuff along the second cuff arm during bending of the joint.
A method of effecting relative movement between first and second body portions which are interconnected by a joint and which define on one side of the joint an inner sector which decreases in angle as the joint is flexed and define on the opposite side of the joint an outer sector which decreases in angle as the joint is extended, said method comprising the steps of connecting a first cuff and a first cuff arm with the first body portion, connecting a second cuff and a second cuff arm with the second body portion, moving an actuator member along a portion of a path disposed in the outer sector, transmitting force from the actuator member to the first cuff arm through a first force transmitting member disposed in the outer sector during movement of the actuator member along the portion of the path disposed in the outer sector, transmitting force from the actuator member to the second cuff arm through a second force transmitting member during movement of the actuator member along the portion of the path disposed in the outer sector and bending the joint under the influence of force transmitted from the actuator member to the first and second cuff arms through the first and second force transmitting members during movement of the actuator member along the portion of the path disposed in the outer sector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.