Orthosis for range of motion
In one aspect, an orthosis for increasing range of motion of a body joint generally includes first and second dynamic force mechanisms for simultaneously applying a dynamic force to body portions on opposite sides of a body joint.
1 . An orthosis for increasing range of motion of a body joint, the orthosis comprising:
first and second dynamic force mechanisms for simultaneously applying a dynamic force to body portions on opposite sides of a body joint; and
first and second linkage mechanisms operably connected to the corresponding one of the first and second dynamic force mechanisms,
wherein the first and second dynamic force mechanisms each comprise a lever arm and a force element, the lever arms being pivotably connected to corresponding bell cranks by lever pivot pins, the force elements being configured to apply torques to respective lever arms to pivot the lever arms about the lever pivot pins and relative to the respective bell crank links in a biased direction.
2 . The orthosis of claim 1 , wherein the first and second linkage mechanisms comprise first and second bell crank links and first and second yoke links, the first and second bell crank links operatively connected to the corresponding yoke link.
3 . The orthosis of claim 2 , wherein the first and second dynamic force mechanisms are configured to adjust position by translating along the corresponding bell crank links.
4 . The orthosis of claim 1 , wherein rotation in the biased direction of the first and second bell crank links adjusts an angular position of first and second cuffs relative to one another to facilitate extension or flexion of the body joint.
5 . The orthosis of claim 1 , wherein the first and second linkage mechanisms are operatively connected to an output gear of a transmission assembly.
6 . The orthosis of claim 5 , comprising the transmission assembly and a drive assembly, the drive assembly comprises an input shaft, a knob, and a clutch mechanism, the transmission assembly comprising an input gear connected to the input shaft, a reduction gear, an output shaft, and the output gear.
7 . The orthosis of claim 6 , wherein the input gear is rotatable about an input axis, while each of the reduction gear, output shaft, and output gear are rotatable about an output axis, the input gear is operatively connected to the reduction gear for driving rotation of the reduction gear about the output axis.
8 . The orthosis of claim 7 , wherein the output axis is generally parallel to the input axis.
9 . The orthosis of claim 7 , wherein the reduction gear is configured to reduce rotational speed transmitted from the input gear to the output gear while increasing torque transmitted from the input gear to the output gear.
10 . The orthosis of claim 1 , comprising an actuator mechanism operatively connected to first and second linkage mechanism for transmitting force to respective first and second dynamic force mechanisms and loading the first and second dynamic force mechanisms for applying the dynamic force to the body portions.
11 . The orthosis of claim 1 , wherein the first and second linkage mechanism is at least one of a bell crank mechanism and a slider crank mechanism.
12 . An orthosis for increasing range of motion of a body joint, the orthosis comprising:
an actuator mechanism;
first and second linkage mechanisms operatively connected to the actuator mechanism, the first and second linkage mechanisms being crank mechanisms comprising first and second bell crank links;
first and second cuffs operatively connected to the first and second linkage mechanisms, wherein the first and second linkage mechanisms are configured to transmit force from the actuator mechanism to the respective first and second cuffs to impart movement of the first and second cuffs relative to one another;
first and second dynamic force mechanisms operably connected to the first and second bell crank links and comprising levers corresponding to the first and second cuffs,
wherein the first and second dynamic force mechanisms comprise a lever arm and a force element, the lever arms being pivotably connected to corresponding bell crank links by lever pivot pins, the force elements being configured to apply torques to respective lever arms to pivot the lever arms about the lever pivot pins and relative to the respective bell crank links in a biased direction.
13 . The orthosis of claim 12 , wherein the first and second dynamic force mechanisms dynamically stretch respective first and second body portions on opposite sides of the body joint, the first and second cuffs being on the opposite sides of a body joint.
14 . The orthosis of claim 12 , wherein rotation in the biased direction of the first and second bell crank links adjusts an angular position of the first and second cuffs relative to one another to facilitate movement of the body joint.
15 . The orthosis of claim 14 , wherein the movement of the body joint is at least one of extension, flexion, adduction, abduction, pronation, or supination.
16 . The orthosis of claim 14 , wherein operation of the actuator mechanism imparts rotation of the first and second bell crank links about the to adjust an angular position of the first and second cuffs relative to one another.
17 . The orthosis of claim 12 , wherein the actuator mechanism is a linear actuator mechanism configured to convert rotational movement into linear movement of at least a portion of the first and second linkage mechanisms.
18 . An orthosis for increasing range of motion of a body joint, the orthosis comprising:
first and second dynamic force mechanisms for simultaneously applying a dynamic force to body portions on opposite sides of a body joint; and
first and second linkage mechanisms operably connected to the corresponding one of the first and second dynamic force mechanisms;
a transmission assembly, wherein the first and second linkage mechanisms are operatively connected to an output gear of a transmission assembly;
a drive assembly, the drive assembly comprises an input shaft, a knob, and a clutch mechanism,
wherein the transmission assembly comprises an input gear connected to the input shaft, a reduction gear, an output shaft, and the output gear,
wherein the input gear is rotatable about an input axis, while each of the reduction gear, output shaft, and output gear are rotatable about an output axis, the input gear is operatively connected to the reduction gear for driving rotation of the reduction gear about the output axis,
wherein the output axis is generally parallel to the input axis.