Cuff assembly

Abstract

A cuff assembly includes a frame assembly configured to be positioned about a limb of a user and support a functional electrical stimulation system, and an over center closure mechanism coupled to the frame assembly and configured to secure the frame assembly relative to the limb, the over center closure mechanism being located on a medial side of the limb when the frame assembly is positioned about the limb.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A functional electrical stimulation system comprising:
 a frame assembly configured to be positioned about a lower leg of a user;   a liner coupled to an inner surface of the frame assembly, the liner including a locating guide configured to align with a tibial crest of the lower leg of the user when the frame assembly is positioned about the lower leg of the user;   an electrode assembly positioned on an inner surface of the liner; and   a control unit supported by the frame assembly, the control unit configured to provide functional electrical stimulation to a neuromuscular system of the user through the electrode assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode assembly is repositionable along the inner surface of the liner. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the inner surface of the liner and a surface of the electrode assembly comprise at least one of hook and loop material to facilitate securing the electrode assembly to the inner surface of the liner in a repositionable manner. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the locating guide is positioned along a top edge of the liner. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the locating guide is formed of a material having a different color than the liner. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame assembly is symmetric about a line of symmetry extending along a length of the frame assembly such that the system can be used on a left leg or a right leg of the user. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a closure mechanism coupled to the frame assembly and configured to secure the frame assembly relative to the lower leg of the user, wherein the closure mechanism includes a strap assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the strap assembly includes a control unit cover that forms a recess to receive the control unit. 
     
     
         9 . A cuff assembly comprising:
 a frame assembly configured to be positioned about a lower leg of a user and to support a control unit, the frame assembly is symmetric about a line of symmetry extending along a length of the frame assembly such that the frame assembly can be used on a left leg or a right leg of the user;   a liner coupled to an inner surface of the frame assembly, the liner including a locating guide configured to align with a tibial crest of the lower leg of the user when the frame assembly is positioned about the lower leg of the user; and   an electrode assembly positioned on an inner surface of the liner.   
     
     
         10 . The cuff assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the electrode assembly is repositionable along the inner surface of the liner. 
     
     
         11 . The cuff assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the inner surface of the liner and a surface of the electrode assembly comprise at least one of hook and loop material to facilitate securing the electrode assembly to the inner surface of the liner in a repositionable manner. 
     
     
         12 . The cuff assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the locating guide is positioned along a top edge of the liner. 
     
     
         13 . The cuff assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the locating guide is formed of a material having a different color than the liner. 
     
     
         14 . The cuff assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a closure mechanism coupled to the frame assembly and configured to secure the frame assembly relative to the lower leg of the user, wherein the closure mechanism includes a strap assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the strap assembly includes a control unit cover that forms a recess to receive the control unit. 
     
     
         16 . A liner assembly for a cuff assembly comprising:
 a liner having configured to be positioned about a lower leg of a user, the liner including an inner surface, an outer surface, and a top edge;   a locating guide positioned along the top edge of the liner and configured to align with a tibial crest of the lower leg of the user when the liner is positioned about the lower leg of the user;   an electrode locator removably coupled to the inner surface of the liner;   
     
     
         17 . The liner assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the outer surface of the liner comprises at least one of hook and loop material. 
     
     
         18 . The liner assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the liner includes a grove or a notch located to align with the tibial crest of the lower leg of the user when the liner assembly is positioned about the lower leg of the user. 
     
     
         19 . The liner assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the locating guide is formed of a material having a different color than the liner. 
     
     
         20 . The liner assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the inner surface of the liner and a surface of the electrode locator comprise at least one of hook and loop material to facilitate removably securing the electrode locator to the inner surface of the liner in a repositionable manner.