The present invention relates generally to devices for physical training and rehabilitation. More particularly the present invention relates to a device that controls multiple motions and ranges of motions for the purposes of physical training and/or rehabilitation of a body part or joints of the body part.
After many types of injuries, physical therapy is required to restore an injured member to previous capability. Commonly, various exercise devices or activities may be used by the therapist to achieve this restored functionality.
Shoulder injuries are common injuries treated by therapy. The shoulder joint is very complex and subject to a number of motions, actions, and activities that can cause injury. Because of the complexity of the shoulder and its myriad movements, rehabilitation in a controlled, isolated, and specific manner can often be quite difficult. Further, when rehabilitating the shoulder, specific limited movement ranges are generally desired. However, existing treatments at best only estimate these movement ranges.
Therefore, what is needed is a limb rehabilitation device that can specifically control movement ranges in a number of different movement direction.
The subject matter of this application may involve, in some cases, interrelated products, alternative solutions to a particular problem, and/or a plurality of different uses of a single system or article.
In one aspect, a device for guided limb movement is provided. The device comprises a limb movement board. On this board are a plurality of track apertures along one or more movement ranges of the limb. A blocker is positionable on the board to limit movement along one or more of the plurality of track apertures. A limb rest/stabilizer is connected to the board and is movable along one of the plurality of movement ranges. As such, a limb may be positioned on the limb rest/stabilizer, and may be moved along the one of the plurality of tracks that define the movement ranges. In this manner, a controlled movement of the limb and/or joint being trained or rehabilitated can be achieved.
In another aspect, a device for guided shoulder training is provided. The device has a limb movement board over which an arm may move for controlled and guided shoulder training and/or rehabilitation. An arm stabilizer configured to receive an arm of the user is connected to the board and is movable along at least one of a plurality of movement ranges. A blocker is positionable on the board. This blocker is positioned to limit a motion of the arm stabilizer by blocking the arm stabilizer path when moving along the at least one of the plurality of movement ranges. In a particular embodiment, the arm stabilizer is pivotally movable along a top surface of the board, and is pivotally connected to the board at a proximal end such that a swiveling motion of the arm stabilizer is provided.
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention and does not represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments.
Generally, the present invention concerns an adjustable board that allows controlled and customizable ranges of motion of a limb along a top surface of the board. In further embodiments, an axial rotation track may be provided to provide controlled and customizable axial ranges of motion of the limb. In varying embodiments, the board may utilize pegs or similar blockers to limit movement of the limb on the board. Further, tracks may be provided in the board to guide and control proper movement of the limb. During use, the limb may be positioned on a stabilizer which may be connected to the board directly, via one or more of the tracks, in a pivotable manner, or connected to the axial rotation track, among other options.
In a particular embodiment, the present invention may be used as a shoulder rehabilitation device. In this embodiment, the board, along with controlling blockers and tracks, may be used to aid and strengthen shoulder adduction and abduction. An arm stabilizer may be movable in limited or free motion on this board. Further, the axial track may be utilized to aid and strengthen internal and external shoulder rotation in a guided fashion along this track. Further, the track may be adjusted to be at various angles of shoulder adduction or abduction so that rotation may be aided and strengthened at these various angles.
In some embodiments, a goniometer may be utilized on parts of the present invention to control movement and identify appropriate movement ranges. Further, the goniometer may be controllable to program or set the ranges of motions through which the limb is allowed to move.
In certain embodiments, the goniometer may comprise an electronic alerting mechanism that provides an indication (such as audible, tactile, or visual) when a desired angle has been achieved or reached. Such a goniometer may be programmable depending on a user's training or rehabilitation needs, in some embodiments.
The shoulder-applied embodiment of the present invention may be used when a user is lying flat, standing up, sitting, or in any position in between. Further, the board typically may be parallel to a user's back, but in some embodiments, the board may be angled (+/−90 degrees) towards a user's front or back to adjust an angle of the arm when being trained on the machine. This angling may be achieved by, for example, a hinged or pivoting structure.
As such, the present invention provides a highly customizable tool to guide training or rehabilitation limb movement in a controlled manner. The device is highly customizable to allow for various limb motions, and ranges of motion.
In one embodiment, the limb movement system having a controlled movement may be used for controlled movement during surgical operations. For example, during a surgical procedure, surgeons may require that a limb or limbs be moved in a precise manner. In the prior art, operators or support staff had to gently and slowly move the limb manually. This is uncontrolled and can lead to jerky and damaging motions. Using the subject of the present disclosure however, a very slow, controlled and precise movement of a limb or body part may be achieved. A locking structure may be used to hold the limb stabilizer in place such as a threaded knob which can tighten the limb stabilizer in place. Or similarly friction of the limb stabilizer may hold it in place during surgery allowing it to rest in place. Further still, a blocker or blockers may hold the limb stabilizer in place against movement. In a particular embodiment, the system may be configured such one or more limbs and/or one or more portions of a torso may all be positioned on a base which is movable via a limb movement system disclosed herein. In a specific embodiment, each limb and at least one part of the torso may be positioned on a movement base. Such a configuration need not be limited to a surgical procedure, and may be used in any therapeutic, exercise, medical, or training procedure, as well as other situations without limitation. For example, in a shoulder surgery application, a patient may lie on or adjacent to the slide board with the palm up and the arm straight. The surgeon could then slide the arm out to the side up and down towards the hip-like a snow angel movement, and/or could rotate the shoulder in internal or external rotation motions, among any other possible movement of the limb. The upper arm may be supported on the limb stabilizer which may also allow for internal and external rotation of the shoulder as discussed herein. Similarly, the board and/or limb cradle may be moved and secured in various planes of the shoulder or other limb movement. For example, the board and/or limb cradle may be elevated into a scapular or horizontal adduction plane for a shoulder embodiment.
For example, a limb of a patient may be placed on the limb stabilizer while one or more surgical operations are performed. This may include but is not limited to cutting, connecting, stitching, suturing, cleaning, scraping, cauterizing, repairing, and the like. The limb of the patient may then be moved in a controlled manner to a second different position and another one or more surgical operations are performed. This may continue until the surgical procedure has completed. Further, immediately after the surgical procedure has completed, the limb may be moved in a controlled manner to bring it to a resting position for optimal healing and/or comfort to the patient.
In one embodiment particularly helpful for surgical applications, the slide board may have a removable section that detaches so a surgeon is able to access an area of the patient that is blocked by the slide board. For example, in a shoulder surgery embodiment, the removable section may be in the posterior glenohumeral joint region. The surgeon may remove the section making it easier to pull the sutures through while the sedated patient is supported. In some embodiments, it may be preferable to roll the patient to their non-involved side partially to be able to directly operate on the lateral and posterior shoulder complex and surrounding structures.
In further embodiments, the surgical unit for patient positioning may be small, light and easy to use and sits on the side of the operating table. In certain embodiments, the board may have a support(s) that extends to the floor.
The surgical embodiments disclosed may, in a shoulder and arm embodiment, support the elbow and forearm in a bent or straight position. As configured, the device offers proper glenohumeral anatomical alignment without distracting the joint, improving surgical outcomes due to proper positioning of the body during the operation and immediately after. Similar embodiments for other areas of the body may also be used without straying from the scope of this invention.
A discussed herein, the board is disclosed as being adjustable in angle to allow for different positioning of the shoulder or other joint. However, it should also be understood that in other embodiments, the limb stabilizer which pivots along the board may have an adjustable angle upward relative to the board. This allows the limb stabilizer to elevate the limb in addition to or instead of the board adjusting its angle to elevate the limb. In one embodiment, the limb stabilizer may comprise a base for connection to the slide board and a support pad to receive the limb of the user. In one embodiment, the base may pivot upward to adjust an angle relative to the slide board. In another embodiment, the support pad may pivot upward away from both the base and the slide board to adjust an angle of the limb on the support pad relative to the slide board.
For example, in one embodiment, the limb stabilizer may be pivotally or hingedly connected to the board allowing it to be angled upwardly away from the board. In a shoulder application, this could move the upper arm into a scapular plane, adduction plane, and the like. The limb stabilizer in such an embodiment may have a locking structure such as a pin, knob, frictional catch or bolt, and the like to hold it in place once moved into the desired position.
Turning now to
In many cases of training or rehabilitation, a limited range of motion is desired so as to not over extend a healing or training joint and corresponding muscles. To limit motion of the arm stabilizer 24, a peg 23 or series of pegs 23 (or similar blocking structures) may be placed in various peg holes 22 on the board 10. The peg holes 22 are apertures formed in the board to allow a peg 23 to rest within. Peg holes 22 are arranged at multiple various angles and places on the board. To limit and customize motion of a training user's shoulder and arm, the pegs 23 can be selectively placed on the board 10. In the embodiment shown, pegs 23 are placed to allow an approximately 30 degree range of motion in both the abducting and adducting direction.
An axial rotation track 12 is configured to allow customizable and controlled internal and external rotation on the arm and shoulder. This track 12 can be connected to the board at varying positions to adjust the angle of the rotation. In this view, the track is positioned to guide shoulder rotation when the arm is straight out. In some embodiments, the track 12 may be slideable in its connection to the board 10, allowing a user's arm to abduct or adduct, and then rotate at various positions and angles.
Connector 27 can slide within slot 26. In operation of this embodiment, a user can move their arm towards a top and bottom end of the board 10 as limited by pegs 23. Further, the user can perform a full 180 degrees of internal and external rotation guided by track 12 along the full range of the slot 26. In some embodiments, blockers (not shown) may be positioned on slot 26 to limit this rotational movement.
To account for differently sized arms, the width of the arm stabilizer 24 is adjustable. The length may be adjustable via length adjuster 33. For example, in the embodiment shown, length adjuster 33 can be set to move the shaft closer or further from the base 30. A pin 32 holds the length adjusting mechanism in place.
While several variations of the present invention have been illustrated by way of example in preferred or particular embodiments, it is apparent that further embodiments could be developed within the spirit and scope of the present invention, or the inventive concept thereof. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and are inclusive, but not limited to the following appended claims as set forth.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16531994 | Aug 2019 | US |
Child | 17844862 | US | |
Parent | 15351013 | Nov 2016 | US |
Child | 16531994 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17844862 | Jun 2022 | US |
Child | 17865468 | US |