Continuous hip-joint motion machine

Claim 2

A machine for applying passive exercise to the hip-joint of a patient lying in a supine position on a hospital bed or like support, said machine comprising, in combination: (a) a traction frame capable of overlying the support and being detachably secured thereto; (b) a leg cradle for holding the leg connected with the hip-joint to be exercised; (c) means for suspending said leg cradle from said traction frame; (d) a prime mover assembly capable of being detachably secured to the support; and (e) said prime mover assembly having a plurality of tensile members connected to said leg cradle and power driven means simultaneously engaging said tensile members in order to impart continuous compound swivel movement to said leg cradle and the leg thereon, such movement taking place about three orthogonal axes centered at the socket of the hip-joint.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said prime mover assembly further comprises: (a) a housing; (b) a drive motor mounted on said housing; (c) said power driven tensile members each being connected between said housing and said leg cradle; and (d) said power driven means engaging the tensile members being driven by said motor for simultaneously changing the relative effective lengths of said tensile members and thereby imparting said continuous compound swivel movement to said leg cradle and the leg thereon.

Claim 4

The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein said drive motor has a shaft in said housing; and said motor driven means comprises a rotor bar disposed radially on said motor shaft and a drive sheave on said rotor bar simultaneously engaged with each said power driven tensile member.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 3, wherein the radial position of said driven sheave on said rotor bar may be adjusted radially to vary the relative amplitude of motion imparted by each said tensile memeber to said leg cradle and the leg thereon.

Claim 6

The combination set forth in claim 4, wherein said drive sheave has three grooves permitting simultaneous engagement with all three power driven tensile members.

Claim 7

The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said prime mover assembly further comprises: (a) a generally cylindrical housing; (b) an extension fixed to said housing; (c) a base adapted to be detachably secured to the spring frame of the bed; (d) means detachably securing said extension to said base and to the cross frame of the bed; and (e) a floating swing arm pivotally connected to said housing through bracket means fixed to said housing, said swing arm facilitating connection of said power driven tensile members to said leg cradle.

Claim 8

A machine for applying passive exercise to the hip-joint of a patient reclining on a support and comprising, in combination: (a) a leg cradle for supporting the patient's leg thereon; (b) means for suspending said leg cradle so that it overlies the support; (c) a first power driven tensile member connected to said leg cradle; (d) a second power driven tensile member connected to said leg cradle and to said first power driven tensile member in opposing relation thereto; (e) a third power driven tensile member connected to said leg cradle and to said first and second power driven tensile members; and (f) power driven means simultaneously engaged with all said power driven tensile members for imparting continuous compound swivel movement to said leg cradle and the leg thereon, said movement taking place about three orthogonal axes centered at the socket of the hip joint.

Claim 9

A machine for applying passive exercise to the hip-joint of a patient reclining on a support and comprising, in combination: (a) a leg cradle for supporting the patient's leg thereon; (b) means for suspending said leg cradle so that it overlies the support; (c) a first power driven tensile member connected to said leg cradle; (d) a second power driven tensile member connected to said leg cradle and to said first power driven tensile member in opposing relation thereto; (e) a third power driven tensile member connected to said leg cradle and to said first and second power driven tensile members; and (f) power driven means simultaneously engaged with all said power driven tensile members for imparting continuous compound swivel movement to said leg cradle and the leg thereon, said movement taking place about three orthogonal axes centered at the socket of the hip joint.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 7, which further comprises: (a) a lower support bracket on said leg cradle connected to a fixed support member; (b) an upper support bracket on said leg cradle connected to a movable support member; (c) said first, second and third power driven tensile members being connected to said upper support bracket of said leg cradle.

Claim 11

The combination recited in claim 8, wherein said first and second power driven tensile members impart lateral components to the compound motion of said leg cradle and said third power driven tensile member imparts vertical components to the compound motion of said leg cradle.

Claim 12

The combination set forth in claim 8, wherein a resilient tensioning means is interposed between said first and second power driven tensile members and functions to tension both the first and second tensile members, and said third power driven tensile member is tensioned by said power drive means and the weight of said leg cradle and the patient's leg thereon.

Claim 13

The combination set forth in claim 8, wherein said leg cradle further comprises: (a) a pair of laterally spaced main side rails; (b) a pair of generally U-shaped cross bars fixed across said main side rails; (c) a leg support plate disposed transversely of said cross bars in between said main side rails.

Claim 14

The combination set forth in claim 8, wherein said leg cradle further comprises: (a) a first swivel train incorporated in said upper support bracket; (b) a coupling link fixed to said first swivel train and connected to said first, second and third power driven tensile members; (c) a second swivel train incorporated in said lower support bracket; (d) said second swivel train being connected to said fixed support member.

Claim 15

The combination recited in claim 11, wherein said cross bars may be adjustably positioned along said side rails to accommodate legs of different lengths.

Claim 16

The combination set forth in claim 11, wherein said leg cradle includes a pair of short side rails and connecting member pivotally attached to said main side rails to engage the patient's leg above the knee, and said upper support bracket is attached to said main side rails by common pivot attachment means.

Claim 17

The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein said drive motor has a detached control unit and the latter includes a pendant with an emergency cut-off switch for use by the patient.

Claim 18

The combination recited in claim 1, wherein said prime mover assembly further comprises: (a) a generally cylindrical housing; (b) a drive motor mounted on said housing and having a drive shaft situated in said housing; (c) a rotor bar drivingly fixed to said drive shaft; (d) a drive sheave pivotally mounted on said rotor bar for orbital movement about the axis of said drive shaft; (e) said leg cradle having upper and lower support brackets; (f) a first tensile member connected at one end to said housing, trained around said drive sheave and connected at its opposite end to said upper support bracket; (g) a second tensile member connected at one end to said housing, trained around said drive sheave and connected at its opposite end to said upper support bracket; (h) and a third tensile member connected at one end to said housing, trained around said drive sheave and connected at its opposite end to said upper support bracket.