Patent Publication Number: US-2004049139-A1

Title: Therapeutic lower extremity device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001] PPA Ser. No. 60/408,912 Filed Sep. 5, 2002  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] This invention relates to therapeutic portable exercise devices and braces for conditioning and strengthening the muscles and tendons in the lower extremity of a person.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] Lower extremity injuries and other types of debilitating illnesses frequently require prolonged immobilization which tends to cause general weakening of the muscles in the human body. The use of lower extremity therapeutic devices of known design and configuration is known in prior art.  
       [0004] Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,409,393 B1; 6,296,595B1 and 6,336,909B2. While these devices fulfill their respective particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents are limited in the therapeutic applications of the lower extremity.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] The general purpose of the present invention is to provide the rehabilitation professionals with a versatile simple and inexpensive device for rehabilitation of an affected lower extremity. A person may exercise with this device in a supine or sitting position.  
       [0006] To attain this preferably the present invention comprises a pair of coupling members or braces for positioning around the lower extremities of a person above the knees. A tensioner structure which includes a goniometer arrangement is extended between and connected to each of the braces or coupling members. Each coupling member typically includes a plurality of inflatable elements positioned in such a manner as to restrict an unwanted displacement of the lower extremity when the affected muscle groups are contracted. In addition, a plurality of hook and loop fasteners are positioned to secure a comfortable fit of the coupling members around the lower extremities.  
       [0007] Also this device may be employed in the therapeutic rehabilitation of the upper extremities.  
       [0008] Alternatively, the present invention may be employed as a brace arrangement to assist in decreasing of lower or upper extremities contractures in the rehabilitation process.  
       OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES  
       [0009] Accordingly, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new more versatile lower extremity therapeutic device which is versatile and easy to handle in the process of human rehabilitation.  
       [0010] Therefore, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:  
       [0011] a. To provide a therapeutic device for strengthening of the affected lower extremity in an isometric manner. It is known that muscles should be exercised to maintain strength. It is also known that there are circumstances where specific joints are restricted to move due to surgical procedures or healing fractures. In most of these cases the physician restricts the joint movement but allows active muscle contractures. Therefore, when a muscle contracture takes place without a corresponding joint movement an isometric muscle contraction takes place.  
       [0012] b. To provide an easy to handle lower extremity therapeutic device, that can be comfortable used in a supine or in a sitting position.  
       [0013] c. To provide a brace arrangement to assist in decreasing of lower extremities contractures. With the present invention, decreased hands on therapy is needed since the patient will be able to perform the prescribed exercises with less supervision. Furthermore, both the patient and therapist will benefit from an accurate feed back of the muscles contraction strength by reading the included air pressure gauges. Especially in the therapeutic rehabilitation of a stroke patient when a lower extremity is weaker than the other, it will be appreciated that the muscular activity may be measured in a very accurate manner and the therapeutic progress may be objectively recorded. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
     [0014]FIG. 1 is a front view of a therapeutic lower extremity device in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0015]FIG. 2 illustrates a longitudinal top view of the tensioner structure in combination with a goniometer arrangement.  
     [0016]FIG. 2A shows a longitudinal side view of the tensioner structure in combination with a goniometer arrangement.  
     [0017]FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the air pressure arrangement included in the present invention  
     [0018]FIG. 4 is a lateral side view of the present invention 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0019]FIG. 1 illustrates the front view of the present invention. It mainly consists of a pair of spaced apart coupling members or braces  10  and  12  constructed to be removably positioned around the lower extremities of a person.  
     [0020] Each of the coupling members  10  and  12  may include any combination of components such as fully-, non-, or partially stretchable fabric, soft foam, hook and loop fasteners, and any other suitable elements. The coupling members  10  and  12  are interconnected by a tensioner arrangement  14 .  
     [0021] As FIGS. 2 and 2A in conjunction shows, the tensioner arrangement  14  comprises mainly of a goniometer  16  attached to a pair of cylindrical members  18  and  20 . The goniometer  16  consists of a pair of discs  16 A and  16 B which are engageable to each other by such means as a fastener screw  40  in conjunction with a securing knob  42 .  
     [0022] Furthermore, the goniometer&#39;s disc  16 B includes a plurality of non removable engaging pins  44 , which are matchable and correspond with a plurality of cylindrical holes  46  provided in the goniometer&#39;s disc  16 A.  
     [0023] As best seen in FIG. 2A a coil spring  48  is provided between the goniometer&#39;s discs  16 A and  16 B which are constructed in such a manner as to facilitate angle readings between the coupling members  10  and  12 . Alternatively, the goniometer  16  may not be used at all if not needed. As seen in FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 2A the cylindrical member  18  is constructed in such a manner as to have one of its longitudinal end attached to goniometer&#39;s disc  16 A while the opposite longitudinal end receives an accommodating male clockwise threaded member  22 . The threaded member  22  is pivotably connected by an end bracket  22 A to a medial elongated restraining bar or stiffener  24 A.  
     [0024] Furthermore, the cylindrical member  20  is constructed in such a manner as to have one of its longitudinal end attached to the goniometer disc  16 B while the opposite longitudinal end receives an accommodating male counter clock wise threaded member  26 . The male threaded member  26  is pivotably connected with the end bracket  22 A to the medial stiffener  24 A. The tensioner arrangement  14 , the goniometer  16 , the stiffener  26  and  26 A may be constructed of any suitable material such as metal, plastic or combination of these materials.  
     [0025] As will be apparent on examining FIG. 1 in conjunction with FIG. 3 an inflatable cushion or element  30 M is interposed between the medial stiffeners  24 A and the corresponding surface of the lower extremity. The inflatable element  30 M is contained in a pocket included in the coupling member structures  10  and  12 . Furthermore, a similar inflatable element  30  is interposed between the lateral stiffener  24  and the corresponding surface of the lower extremity.  
     [0026] The stiffeners  24  and  24 A are shaped in such a manner as to accommodate the functional size and shape of the element  30 . The inflatable elements  30  and  30 M include each an air flow directional check valve  30 A which allows to be pressurized by a conventional inflation device.  
     [0027] Furthermore, each of the inflatable elements  30  and  30 M may include air pressure control means such as air pressure gauges  36 , with the purpose to avoid over inflation and to provide accurate readings of the muscular energy contraction.  
     [0028] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 in conjunction, each of the coupling members or braces  10  and  12  are constructed in such a manner as to include a pair of half sleeves  40  and  40 A. The half sleeve  40  is configured to be applied on the lower extremity in apposition to the half sleeve  40 A. In addition as FIG. 3 indicates the half sleeves  40  and  40 A are attached posteriorly to each other by such means as a plurality of elastic straps  60 .  
     [0029] The elastic straps  60  allow a proper positioning of the lateral half sleeve  40  in apposition to the medial half sleeve  40 A when the device is applied on the lower extremity.  
     [0030] An arrangement of hook and loop fasteners  52  is included in order to assist the coupling members  10  and  12  to be secured around the lower extremities of a person.  
     [0031] As FIG. 1 shows the present device is removably applied on the lower extremities of a person in a circumscribed manner.  
     [0032] The hook and loop fasteners  52  may be employed in securing the coupling members  10  and  12  comfortably around the lower extremities. By using a conventional inflation device the inflatable elements  30  and  30 M may be inflated through the directional check valve  30 A to a predetermined air pressure. The present device may be employed in the rehabilitation process of the lower extremities in an essentially isometric manner.  
     [0033] Alternatively FIG. 1 in conjunction with FIG. 4 indicates that the present device may be employed as a brace arrangement, to assist in decreasing contractures of the lower extremities in the rehabilitation process.  
     [0034] The goniometer arrangement  16  may be set to a desired angle. Also by rotating the cylindrical members  18  and  20  either clockwise or counterclockwise, will enable a linear movement of the associated male screw member  22  attached to the brace  10  and the corresponding male screw member  26  attached to the brace  12 . Consequently a desired therapeutic position of the lower extremities may be facilitated.  
     [0035] Furthermore as the brace configuration shows in FIG. 4, and similarly to the operation process described above, the present device may be employed for exercising the flexors and extensors muscle of an affected lower extremity in an isometric manner. In addition, it is understood that the present invention may be adopted to fit other body parts such as the upper extremities of a person. Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but merely as providing illustrators of the preferred embodiment of this invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.