Patent · US Expired

Constant torque range-of-motion splint

US5399154A · kind A · utility

66Cited by
31References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 30, 1993
Grant dateMar 21, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 30, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61F2005/0179
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A range-of-motion splint for applying constant torque across a joint undergoing rehabilitative therapy. The splint includes a first brace section configured to engage a portion of a patient's body on a first side of a joint, and a second brace section configured to engage a portion of the patient's body on a second side of the joint. A first arm extends from the first brace section and a second arm extends from the second brace section. The first and second brace section arms are pivotally connected about a splint pivot axis by a pivot mechanism. A driven pulley is mounted to the second arm about the splint pivot axis. A drive pulley is rotatably mounted to the first arm about a drive axis which is spaced from the splint pivot axis. Torque is applied to the drive pulley with respect to the first arm by a spiral spring positioned about the drive axis. A belt couples the drive pulley and the driven pulley to transfer the rotation of the drive pulley to the driven pulley and apply torque between the first and second brace sections. The amount of torque applied between the brace sections can be adjusted by a torque adjusting mechanism which winds and unwinds the spring. An adjustable s…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.