Patent ID: 8905950

Claim:
A device for stretching tissue of a joint in a body of a patient, said device comprising: a force application assembly comprising: a first hinge including a first hinge portion affixable to a first portion of the patient's body on a first side of the joint; a second hinge portion pivotally connected to said first hinge portion, affixable to a second portion of the patient's body on a second side of the joint; and a spool; a second hinge connected to said first hinge, operative to increase an angle of the first hinge thereby changing an angle of the joint to stretch tissue of the joint, when an angle of the second hinge is increased; a first pulley; a second pulley formed between said first hinge and said second hinge; a resilient cable operatively engaged with said spool, said first pulley, and said second pulley, wherein said spool is configured to apply a tension to said cable whereby tension on said cable applies a force to said first and second hinges in a direction of increasing an angle of said first and second hinges; wherein when said free end of said cable is affixed relative to said second pulley, said resilience of said cable is operative to impart a continuous force to said first and second hinges in a direction of increasing an angle of said first and second hinges; and a drive assembly coupled to the force application assembly, said drive assembly configured to move the second body portion with respect to the first body portion, wherein said drive assembly is further configured to maintain said spool in a position of applying tension to said cable; wherein said drive assembly further comprises: a first circular raceway; at least one rotatable element; a second raceway disposed in concentrically rotating conformity with said first circular raceway, having at least one curved surface operative to support said rotatable element between said first and second raceways, whereby when said first circular raceway is rotated in a first direction, said curved surface urges said rotatable element to a position in binding conformity between said first and second raceways, preventing rotation of said first raceway with respect to said second raceway; and a plurality of pins configured to prevent said rotatable element from moving to said position in binding conformity when said second raceway is rotated.