External apparatus for motor handicaps of at least one upper limb

Claim 1

An external apparatus for overcoming motor handicaps of at least one upper limb of a human subject, to allow the said subject to move his handicapped limb, such apparatus comprising, for each handicapped limb: (a) a thoraco-scapular structure constituted by first and second thoraco-scapular sub-assemblies; (b) said first thoraco-scapular sub-assembly being in the form of shoulder brace means comprising (b1) at least three semi-rigid shells, (b2) means interconnecting said semi-rigid shells in a flexible manner, with said first semi-rigid shell disposed over the upper angle of the pectoral muscle and passing over the upper edge of the trapezius of the subject, said second semi-rigid shell disposed over the claviculo-trapezoidal zone at the top of the shoulder of the subject, and said third semi-rigid shell disposed opposite the scapula of the subject; and (b3) elastic tensioner means between said second semi-rigid shell and each of said first and third semi-rigid shells; (c) said second thoraco-scapular sub-assembly being in the form of an attachment sub-assembly to be disposed around the torso of the subject and connected to the shoulder brace at at least two attachment points distributed on either side of the shoulder of the subject; (d) said apparatus comprising, in addition to said first and second thoraco-scapular sub-assemblies, a para-skeleton for the upper limb and for the hand of the subject, said para-skeleton comprising: (d1) first connection means to connect to the said limb of the subject and at the upper humeral part thereof, (d2) second connection means to connect to the limb of the subject at the lower humeral part thereof, (d3) third connection means to connect to the limb of the subject at the upper cubito-radial part thereof, (d4) fourth connection means to connect to said limb of the subject at the lower cubito-radial part thereof, and (d5) fifth connection means to connect to the hand of the subject; wherein said first connection means comprises said second shell of the shoulder brace means and a peripheral strap which surrounds the said limb of the subject, and wherein each of the said first, second, third and fourth connection means comprises a semi-rigid shell each made of at least one piece, and at least one peripheral strap which surrounds the said limb; and (d6) elastic means disposed between two of said first, second, third, fourth and fifth connection means; (e) wherein said elastic means comprises: (e1) a first spring lever operating in the flexural and torsional modes, (e2) means fixing said first spring lever between the second shell of the shoulder brace means and the said semi-rigid shell of the second connection means with said first spring lever substantially parallel to the humerus along the outer edge of the limb of the subject; (e3) a second spring lever analogous to said first spring lever, (e4) means fixing said second spring lever between said shell of the third connection means and the shell of the fifth connection means with said second spring lever substantially parallel to the cubitus along the inner edge of the limb of the subject; (e5) two elastic tensioners disposed over the outer and inner edges of the arm of the subject, between said second and third connection means; and (e6) two elastic tensioners disposed between said fourth and fifth connection means.