Device for imparting continuous passive motion to human joints

Claim 2

A portable continuous passive motion apparatus for treating a human joint, comprising, a support (A), harness means (B,D) for connecting the support to a carrier, travelling means (25) held by the support for reciprocating movement relative thereto, connecting means (15, 17, 19, 21, 23) for connecting said travelling means (25) to an extremity of a limb whereby a joint of the limb forms a link intervening the harness means (B,D) and the extremity, motor means (31) for driving said travelling means (25) back and forth through a predetermined stroke in a slow rhythmic cycle whereby the joint is continually in motion.

Claim 3

An apparatus, as defined in claim 1, in which the stroke is from one-third to two cycles per minute.

Claim 4

An apparatus, as defined in claim 1, in which, the support (A) includes an outer elongate tubular housing (41), an inner tubular housing (42) mounted concentrically to the outer housing (41), each housing (41, 42) being provided with a longitudinally extending slot (43, 45), a drive screw (33) concentrically mounted within the inner housing (42), a geared motor (31) connected to one end of the drive screw (33) and a recirculating ball nut (32) connected to the other end of the drive screw (33), an annular travelling member (35) mounted to travel between the inner and outer housing (41, 42) and held to said ball nut (32) by connecting means (46) extending through the slot (45) in the inner housing member (42), a connecting plate (25) mounted on the travelling member (35) by connecting means (48) extendin.g through the slot (43) in the outer housing (41), a pair of spaced-apart terminal stops (37, 39) fixed to the outer housing (41) to limit the travel of the travelling member (35), the motor being (31) reversible whereby it drives the drive screw first (33) in one direction then in the other to cause reciprocating movement of the travelling member (25).

Claim 5

An apparatus, as defined in claim 3, in which the change in direction of the motor is caused by predetermined resistance of the screw (33) to rotation.

Claim 6

An apparatus, as defined in claim 1, which includes an elongated housing, a traveller mounted for reciprocal movement relative to said housing, and means for moving said traveller back and forth in a slow rhythmic movement.

Claim 7

In a device of the type described for treating the elbow in which the carrier is the shoulder of a patient, means connectable to the wrist for covering elbow flexion to wrist rotation thereby to cause supination and pronation of the wrist.

Claim 8

In a device of the type described for treating the elbow in which the carrier is the shoulder of a patient, means connectable to the wrist for covering elbow flexion to wrist rotation thereby to cause supination and pronation of the wrist.

Claim 9

A device, as defined in claim 6, which includes means connectable to the wrist including a bracket (15) rotatably motmting a pinion (21) and a traveller plate (25) on the support carrying a bevel gear (19) meshing with the pinion (21) whereby flexion of the arm at the elbow causes rotation of the wrist about its axis.

Claim 10

An apparatus, as defined in claim 1, in which the harness is a handcuff (B 4 ) connecting the support structure (A4) to the hand and in which the actuating means is a wire (425) running through a guide tube (441), a geared motor (447) and means (432, 433, 435) driven by the motor (447) to impart reciprocating movement to the wire (425), an extremity of the wire (425) being connected to at least one hand digit.

Claim 11

An apparatus, as defined in claim 8, in which the motor drives an endless chain (433) and the wire (425) is connected to said chain (433) to move therewith to describe a reciprocating movement.

Claim 12

An apparatus, as defined in claim 1, in which the support is elongated, a screw rotatably carried by the support, the travelling means including a traveller actuated by the screw, and means for connecting the traveller to an extremity of a limb to be exercised.

Claim 13

An apparatus, as defined in claim 1, in which the limb to be exercised is an elbow joint and the connecting means is connected to the wrist.

Claim 14

An apparatus, as defined in claim 1, in which the limb to be exercised is a knee and the harness means is for connecting to the waist and the travelling means is for connecting to the foot or ankle.

Claim 15

A portable apparatus for imparting continuous passive motion to a human joint, comprising, a support (A) for harnessing to a part of the body at one side of a joint, traveller means (25) movable relative to the support (A) for connection to a part of the body at the other side of the joint whereby the latter forms a movable link which is flexed as the conveyor means moves back and forth relative to the support, drive means (31) imparting to the traveller means (25) substantially continuous slow rhythmic reciprocating movement.

Claim 16

A portable apparatus for imparting continuous passive motion to a human joint, comprising, a support (A) for harnessing to a part of the body at one side of a joint, traveller means (25) movable relative to the support (A) for connection to a part of the body at the other side of the joint whereby the latter forms a movable link which is flexed as the conveyor means moves back and forth relative to the support, drive means (31) imparting to the traveller means (25) substantially continuous slow rhythmic reciprocating movement.