Shoulder extension control device

An apparatus for manipulating the arm of a user while seated in a substantially upright position, said arm including an upper arm and a forearm, said apparatus comprising:

• a frame having a power unit mounting location;
• a seat for a user to sit in such that said user can sit in said seat in said substantially upright sitting position while facing a direction substantially along a first axis, said axis being substantially horizontal;
• an upper arm assembly pivotably mounted relative to said frame about a second axis, said second axis being substantially parallel to said first axis, said upper arm assembly also including an upper arm assembly power unit attachment location;
• a forearm assembly pivotably mounted relative to said upper arm assembly about a third axis and configured to capture the forearm of the user during manipulation of the arm of the user, said third axis being substantially orthogonal to said second axis, said forearm assembly also including a forearm assembly power unit attachment location;
• a power unit mounted to said frame at said power unit mounting location and including two opposing actuator ends capable of being moved alternately apart or together, said power unit configured to apply a linear force between said two actuator ends, said power unit further configured to have one of said actuator ends attached relative to said frame through the attachment of said power unit to said frame at said power unit mounting location, and to have the other of said actuator ends selectively attached to either said upper arm assembly power unit attachment location or to said forearm assembly power unit attachment location, such that when said other of said power unit actuator ends is selectively attached to said upper arm assembly power unit attachment location, application of said linear force by said power unit causes said upper arm assembly to pivot relative to said frame, and when said other of said power unit actuator ends is selectively attached to said forearm assembly power unit attachment location, application of said linear force by said power unit causes said forearm assembly to pivot relative to said upper arm assembly and to said frame;
• and
• at least one locking mechanism configured to discourage pivoting of said forearm assembly relative to said upper arm assembly when said other of said power unit actuator ends is attached to said upper arm assembly power unit attachment location and further configured to discourage pivoting of said upper arm assembly relative to said frame when said other of said power unit actuator ends is attached to said forearm assembly power unit attachment location.

An apparatus for manipulating the shoulder joint of a human user, said apparatus comprising:

• a frame including spaced apart first and second mounting locations;
• an arm carriage configured to manipulate said shoulder joint of said user, said arm carriage configured to be mounted to one of said first and said second mounting locations of said frame;
• and
• a power unit configured to provide power upon control by said user, said power unit configured to be mounted to the other of said first and said second mounting locations of said frame, said power unit including opposing first and second power unit actuator ends capable of being moved alternately apart or together, said power unit configured to apply a linear force between said first and second power unit actuator ends, said power unit further configured to connect the first of said power unit actuator ends at a first location relative to said frame while said power unit is attached at said first mounting location of said frame, and further configured to connect said first of said power unit actuator ends at a second location relative to said frame while said power unit is attached at said second mounting location of said frame,
• said arm carriage, said power unit, and said frame configured to be selectively connected together to allow said arm carriage and said power unit to be switched between said first and second mounting locations and operated in alternating first and second modes,
• such that in said first operating mode said power unit is attached to said frame at said first mounting location, and said second power unit actuator end is attached to said arm carriage such that said power unit and said arm carriage can manipulate the right arm of said user, and
• such that in said second operating mode said power unit is attached to said frame at said second mounting location, and said second power unit actuator end is attached to said arm carriage such that said power unit and said arm carriage can manipulate the left arm of said user.

A method of manipulating the shoulder of a user while seated in a substantially upright position, said user having an upper arm and a forearm, said method comprising the steps of:

• A) providing an apparatus itself comprising:
• 1) a frame;
• 2) a seat for a user to sit in such that said user can sit in said seat in said substantially upright sitting position while facing a direction substantially along a first axis, said axis being substantially horizontal;
• 3) an upper arm assembly pivotably mounted relative to said frame about a second axis, said second axis being substantially parallel to said first axis;
• and
• 4) a forearm assembly pivotably mounted relative to said upper arm assembly about a third axis and configured to capture the forearm of the user during manipulation of the arm of the user, said third axis being substantially orthogonal to said second axis;
• B) securing the forearm of a user to said forearm assembly;
• C) selectively discouraging relative movement of said forearm assembly with respect to said upper arm assembly while at the same time allowing said upper arm assembly and said forearm assembly to both pivot together relative to said frame about said second axis;
• D) pivoting said upper arm assembly about said second axis relative to said frame while at the same time said relative movement of said forearm assembly with respect to said upper arm assembly is discouraged such that abduction/adduction of the shoulder is created;
• E) selectively discouraging relative movement of said upper arm assembly with respect to said frame while at the same time allowing relative movement of said forearm assembly relative to said upper arm assembly and said frame about said third axis;
• and
• F) pivoting said forearm assembly about said third axis with respect to said upper arm assembly and with respect to said frame while at the same time said relative movement of said upper arm assembly with respect to said frame is discouraged such that external rotation is created at said shoulder.