Elbow Orthosis

Abstract

An orthosis for stretching tissue around a joint of a patient between first and second relatively pivotable body portions. The orthosis includes a first arm member affixable to the first body portion and including a first extension member extending therefrom. A second arm member affixable to the second body portion is also included and has a second extension member having an arcuate shape extending therefrom. A third arm member including a third extension member having an arcuate shape extending therefrom is interposed between the first and second arm members. The third arm member is operatively connected to the first and second arm members, such that the first and third arm members travel along an arcuate path defined by the second extension member when the third arm member is moved from a first position to a second position relative to the second arm member. Furthermore, the first arm member can slide along the third extension member as the third arm member is moved from the first position to the second position relative to the second arm member.

1 . An orthosis for stretching tissue around a joint of a patient between first and second relatively pivotable body portions, comprising:
 a first arm member affixable to the first body portion;   a second arm member affixable to the second body portion; and   a third arm member interposed between the first and second arm members, wherein the first arm member is slidingly connected to the third arm member and the third arm member is operatively connected to the second arm member such that the first and third arm members are movable from a first position to a second position relative to the second arm member.   
     
     
         2 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a first cuff attached to the first arm member. 
     
     
         3 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the first cuff is fastenable about the first body portion tightly enough that the first arm member may apply a force to the first body portion without having the first cuff slide along the first body portion. 
     
     
         4 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the first cuff is slidably mounted to the first arm member. 
     
     
         5 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a second cuff attached to the second arm member. 
     
     
         6 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the second cuff is fastenable about the second body portion tightly enough that the second arm member may apply a force to the second body portion without having the second cuff slide along the second body portion. 
     
     
         7 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the second cuff is slidably mounted to the second arm member. 
     
     
         8 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a drive assembly on the third arm member, the drive assembly engaging the second arm member for selectively moving the third arm member with respect to the second arm member. 
     
     
         9 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 8  wherein the drive assembly includes a gear rotatably mounted in the third arm member. 
     
     
         10 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the second arm member includes a plurality of teeth for engaging the gear. 
     
     
         11 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 10  wherein the gear is manually rotatable for selectively moving the third arm member with respect to the second arm member. 
     
     
         12 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 9  further comprising a motor operatively connected to the gear for selectively moving the third arm member with respect to the second arm member. 
     
     
         13 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 8  wherein the drive assembly includes a locking assembly. 
     
     
         14 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the second arm member includes a second extension member having an arcuate shape extending therefrom; and the third arm member includes a third extension member having an arcuate shape extending therefrom, wherein the first arm member is slidingly connected to the third extension member and the third arm member is operatively connected to the second extension member and travels along an arcuate path defined by the second extension member when the third arm member is moved from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         15 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the first arm member slides along an arcuate path defined by the third extension member as the third arm member is moved from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         16 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the joint defines a first plane substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the second arm member and a second plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second arm member. 
     
     
         17 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the second extension member extends from the second arm member, such that the operative connections of the first, second, and third arm members lie in the first plane. 
     
     
         18 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a locking pin removable positionable through the first and third arm members, such that the first arm member moves with the third arm member when the third arm member is moved from the first position to the second position relative to the second arm member. 
     
     
         19 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the joint and the first and second body portions define on one side of the joint an inner sector which decreases in angle as the joint is flexed and define on the opposite side of the joint an outer sector which decreases in angle as the joint is extended, such that the operative connections of the first, second, and third arm members are located in the outer sector. 
     
     
         20 . An orthosis for stretching tissue around a joint of a patient between first and second relatively pivotable body portions, the joint and the first and second body portions defining on one side of the joint an inner sector which decreases in angle as the joint is flexed and defining on the opposite side of the joint an outer sector which decreases in angle as the joint is extended, comprising:
 a first arm member affixable to the first body portion;   a second arm member affixable to the second body portion and including a second extension member having an arcuate shape extending therefrom;   a third arm member interposed between the first and second arm members, wherein the first arm member is slidingly connected to the third arm member and the third arm member is operatively connected to the second extension member and travels along an arcuate path defined by the second extension member when the third arm member is moved from a first position to a second position relative to the second arm member; and a drive assembly on the third arm member, the drive assembly engaging the second extension member for selectively moving the first and third arm members with respect to the second arm member.   
     
     
         21 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 20  wherein the third arm member includes a third extension member having an arcuate shape extending therefrom. 
     
     
         22 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 21  wherein the first arm member slides along an arcuate path defined by the third extension member as the third arm member is moved from the first position to the second position relative to the second arm member. 
     
     
         23 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 22  further comprising a locking pin removable positionable through the first and third arm members, such that the first arm member moves with the third arm member when the third arm member is moved from the first position to the second position relative to the second arm member. 
     
     
         24 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 20  wherein the drive assembly includes a gear rotatably mounted in the third arm member. 
     
     
         25 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 24  wherein the second arm member includes a plurality of teeth for engaging the gear. 
     
     
         26 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 24  wherein the gear is manually rotatable for selectively moving the third arm member with respect to the second arm member. 
     
     
         27 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 24  further comprising a motor operatively connected to the gear for selectively moving the third arm member with respect to the second arm member. 
     
     
         28 . An orthosis as set forth in  claim 20  wherein the drive assembly includes a locking assembly.