Patent ID: 6599263
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: A61F,A61H

Abstract:
A method of effecting relative movement between bones in a patient's body, said method comprising the steps of connecting an orthosis with the arm of the patient said step of connecting an orthosis with an arm of the patient includes connecting an upper arm section of the orthosis with an upper portion of the arm of the patient, transmitting force from the orthosis to a lower portion of the arm of the patient, rotating the lower portion of the arm of the patient in a first direction relative to a shoulder of the patient about an axis extending through opposite ends of the upper portion of the arm of the patient and through the shoulder of the patient under the influence of force transmitted from the orthosis to the lower portion of the arm of the patient, said step of rotating the lower portion of the arm of the patient includes moving the lower portion of the arm of the patient in the first direction relative to the upper arm section to a first position, stretching viscoelastic tissue connected with the arm of the patient to a maximum extent compatible with comfort of the patient during rotation of the lower portion of the arm of the patient in the first direction to the first position, maintaining the lower portion of the arm of the patient in the first position for a first period of time to allow the viscoelastic tissue connected with the arm of the patient to at least partially relax, thereafter, rotating the lower portion of the arm of the patient in the first direction relative to the shoulder of the patient from the first position to a second position, said step of rotating the lower portion of the arm of the patient from the first position to the second position includes rotating the lower portion of the arm of the patient about the axis extending through opposite ends of the upper portion of the arm of the patient and through the shoulder of the patient under the influence of force transmitted from the orthosis to the lower portion of the arm of the patient, stretching the viscoelastic tissue connected with the arm of the patient to a maximum extent compatible with comfort of the patient during rotation of the lower portion of the arm of the patient in the first direction from the first position to the second position, and maintaining the lower portion of the arm of the patient in the second position for a second period of time to allow the viscoelastic tissue connected with the arm of the patient to at least partially relax.