Human self-powered joint exerciser apparatus
AssigneeTherapEase Innovation, LLC
InventorsJeffrey R. Besendorfer, Charles M. Andersen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for exercising a joint, the apparatus includes a movable platform for supporting a portion of a patient's body including the joint, and a manually-powered system for moving at least a portion of the platform to flex the joint, wherein the patient selectively operates the manually-powered system to control the flexing of the joint.
Claims29
An apparatus for exercising a knee joint, said apparatus comprising:
- a first platform for supporting at least a portion of a patient's upper leg above the patient's knee joint;
- a movable platform for supporting at least portion of a patient's lower leg below the patient's knee joint;
- and
- a manually-powered system for moving said movable platform relative to said first platform to flex said knee joint, wherein said movable platform is movable with respect to said first platform such that said lower leg can be moved through a full range of motion of said knee joint;
- wherein said apparatus allows for the patient to selectively operate said manually-powered system to control said flexing of said joint;
- and
- wherein said manually-powered system includes a hand crank assembly, said hand crank assembly being coupled to said movable platform such that said patient is enabled to manually drive said movable platform to flex said knee joint.
An apparatus for exercising a knee joint, said apparatus comprising:
- a movable platform for supporting a portion of a patient's body including a knee joint;
- and
- a manually powered system for moving at least a portion of said platform to flex said knee joint;
- wherein said apparatus allows for the patient to selectively operate said manually powered system to control said flexing of said knee joint;
- and
- wherein said manually powered system includes a worm gear, such that operation of a patient control device, through a gear ratio, drives movement of said movable platform to flex said knee joint.
The apparatus of clam 13, wherein said first and second spaced apart structures are configured to be folded with respect to said first platform to facilitate portability of said apparatus.
A method of exercising a knee joint for rehabilitation, comprising:
- supporting at least a portion of a patient's upper leg or body above the knee joint with a first platform;
- supporting at least a portion of a patient's lower leg or foot below the knee with a movable platform;
- and
- manually controlling a geared system to move said movable platform with respect to said first platform to flex and extend said knee joint wherein said patient selectively operates said manually-controlled system to control said flexing and extending of said joint, such that operation of a patient control device, through a gear ratio, drives movement of said movable platform to flex and extend said knee joint repeatedly for rehabilitation.
The apparatus of clam 27, wherein said first and second spaced apart structures are configured to be folded to facilitate portability of said apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.