Claims
- 1. A control system for use in association with a therapeutic motion and splinting device for a patient, the device having at least one component, comprising the steps of:
defining a first maximum limit of range of motion in a first direction for the device; defining a second maximum limit of range of motion in a second direction for the device; defining a maximum reverse on load for the device; monitoring a reverse on load on the at least one component of the device including monitoring the deformation of the at least one component and interpreting the load created between the patient and the at least one component; first moving the device in the first direction of travel to a first position defined by one of the first maximum limit and the maximum reverse on load; second moving the device in the second direction of travel to a second position defined by the second maximum limit and the maximum reverse on load; and repeating the first and second moving steps.
- 2. A control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first moving step further includes pausing at the first position for a predetermined length of time and wherein the second moving step further includes pausing at the second position for a predetermined length of time.
- 3. A control system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first moving step further includes moving the device in the first direction to an extended first position defined by one of the first maximum limit and the maximum reverse on load and wherein the second moving step further includes moving the device in the second direction to an extended second position defined by one of the second maximum limit and the maximum reverse on load.
- 4. A control system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first moving step and second moving step include sequentially moving the device and pausing a predetermined number of times.
- 5. A control system as claimed in claim 1 further including the step of monitoring the deformation of a plurality of components of the device.
- 6. A control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the load that is monitored is torque.
- 7. A control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the load that is monitored is force.
- 8. A control system as claimed in claim I wherein the load that is monitored is both force and torque.
- 9. A control system as claimed in claim 1 further including the step of adjusting the monitored load to compensate for variance in position of the device.
- 10. A control system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the load is monitored using a strain gauge chassis having a bases a top portion, and first and second spaced apart side walls extending therebetween; a first pair of strain gauges attached to the opposing sides of the first side wall and defining a first bridge; and a second pair of strain gauges attached to opposing sides of the second side wall and defining a second bridge and wherein the load is monitored by interpreting the first and second bridges to determine the force and interpreting the difference between the first and second bridges to determine the torque.
- 11. A control system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the chassis further including a third pair of strain gauges including one attached to one side of the first side wall and one attached to the opposing side of the second side wall and defining a third bridge wherein the load is monitored by further interpreting the third bridge and adjusting the load to compensate for the position of the device.
- 12. A strain gauge chassis for use in a control system for a therapeutic motion device comprising:
a chassis adapted to be attached to at least one component of the therapeutic motion device, the chassis having a base, a top portion, and first and second spaced apart side walls extending therebetween; and a first pair of strain gauges attached to opposing sides of the first side wall and defining a first bridge whereby the reverse on load of the at least one component of the therapeutic motion device is determined by monitoring the strain gauges and determining the deformation of the component and interpreting the load created between the patient and the component.
- 13. A strain gauge chassis as claimed in claim 12 further including a second pair of strain gauges attached to opposing sides of the second side wall defining a second bridge.
- 14. A strain gauge chassis as claimed in claim 13 further including a third pair of strain gauges including one attached to one side of the first side wall and one attached to the opposing side of the second side wall defining a third bridge.
- 15. A strain gauge chassis for use in a control system for a therapeutic motion device comprising;
at least one pair of strain gauges adapted to be attached to at least one component of the therapeutic motion device, the pair of strain gauges defining a first bridge whereby the reverse on load of the at least one component is determined by monitoring the strain gauges and determining the deformation of the component and interpreting the loads created between the patient and the component.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION
[0001] This patent application relates to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/189,030 filed on Mar. 14, 2000 entitled CONTROL DEVICE FOR THE THERAPEUTIC MOBILIZATION OF JOINTS.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60189030 |
Mar 2000 |
US |