Abstract: Disclosed is a therapeutic stretching apparatus, which in particular provides a user with a system for providing an assist to increase knee extension as well as for maintaining stability of the knee after surgery. This device can not only act as a therapeutic stretching apparatus but also can act as a primary post-op knee brace with locks/limits on hinge to prevent user from further injuring the joint.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to devices and methods for providing shoulder forward flexion, abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation stretch assistance. A device for manipulating an arm of a user, thereby providing abduction or flexion assistance to a shoulder of the user includes an engagement mechanism configured to operatively couple with the user's arm and configured to pivot about an axis defined by the gleno-humeral joint of the shoulder as the shoulder abducts or flexes; a scapular restriction mechanism restricts movement of a scapula of the user's shoulder during a first phase of abduction or flexion and to move in an anatomically correct ratio with gleno-humeral motion during a second phase of abduction or flexion; and a force application system operatively coupled with the engagement mechanism, and configured to apply a force to the engagement mechanism, providing the abduction or flexion assistance to the arm about the shoulder.

Abstract: Disclosed are a joint manipulation device and system for increasing the range of motion of a joint of a user, and monitoring the compliance of the user's operation of the joint manipulation device to standards or guidelines set by a monitoring entity. Certain sensors associated with the joint manipulation device may cause an indicator to transmit an alert to the user based on whether or not the device is sufficiently engaged with a limb or joint of the user to be considered in compliance. Additionally, progress data associated with the range of motion of the user's joint may be obtained by a sensor assembly and transmitted to one or more systems associated with the device system. Progress data obtained during a period of non-compliant use of the device may be excluded from the transmitted data, thereby generating a set of compliant progress data for accurate analysis of device effectiveness.

Abstract: A knee examination method includes situating a patient on a patient support adjacent a robotic knee testing apparatus, the apparatus having a motion tracking system. The robotic knee testing apparatus is set up including defining a world coordinate system based on a fixed location of a transmitter of the motion tracking system. The patient is set up including determining one or more local coordinate systems each based on setting up the patient and on one or more robot based points. The robotic knee testing apparatus is operable to manipulate a leg of the patient.

Abstract: Disclosed is a therapeutic stretching apparatus, which in particular provides a user with a system for providing an assist to increase knee extension as well as for maintaining stability of the knee after surgery. This device can not only act as a therapeutic stretching apparatus but also can act as a primary post-op knee brace with locks/limits on hinge to prevent user from further injuring the joint.

Abstract: Disclosed are a joint manipulation device and system for increasing the range of motion of a joint of a user, and monitoring the compliance of the user's operation of the joint manipulation device to standards or guidelines set by a monitoring entity. Certain sensors associated with the joint manipulation device may cause an indicator to transmit an alert to the user based on whether or not the device is sufficiently engaged with a limb or joint of the user to be considered in compliance. Additionally, progress data associated with the range of motion of the user's joint may be obtained by a sensor assembly and transmitted to one or more systems associated with the device system. Progress data obtained during a period of non-compliant use of the device may be excluded from the transmitted data, thereby generating a set of compliant progress data for accurate analysis of device effectiveness.

Abstract: A device for manipulating a user's hand a wrist portion and forearm portion, each having proximal and distal ends. A pivoting connection is operatively coupled with the proximal end of the wrist portion and distal end of the forearm portions such that the wrist portion is pivotally coupled to the forearm portion. The device has a first actuator operatively coupled to the wrist portion and a second actuator operatively coupled to the pivoting connection. The first actuator is configured to apply a rotational force to a hand support coupled to the wrist portion, thereby producing either supination or pronation of a user's wrist. The second actuator is configured to apply a rotational force to the pivoting connection, thereby producing either flexion, extension, abduction, or adduction of a user's wrist, depending upon whether the user's hand is palm-side down or in a thumb's up position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a therapeutic stretching apparatus, which in particular provides a user with a system for providing an assist to increase knee extension as well as for maintaining stability of the knee after surgery. This device can not only act as a therapeutic stretching apparatus but also can act as a primary post-op knee brace with locks/limits on hinge to prevent user from further injuring the joint.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to devices and methods for providing extension and flexion assistance about a joint of a user. In some cases, a device may manipulate an arm of a user, thereby providing extension or flexion assistance to the arm about an elbow. In other cases, a device may manipulate a hand of a user to provide palmar flexion or dorsiflexion assistance about a wrist of the user.

Abstract: A device performs a flexion process or an extension process with respect to a knee joint. The device includes a support frame extending in a longitudinal direction. A flexion system includes a foot support assembly configured to translate relative to the support frame in the longitudinal direction thereof and a flexion linear actuator configured to cause the translation of the foot support assembly. The extension system an extension pad assembly including a first expansion pad configured to engage an upper surface of the leg at a position above the knee joint and a second expansion pad configured to engage the upper surface of the leg at a position below the knee joint. An extension linear actuator is configured to translate the extension pad assembly with respect to the transverse direction. A power system is configured to selectively actuate each of the flexion linear actuator and the extension linear actuator.

Abstract: An apparatus for manipulation and evaluation of a joint includes a frame to support the joint and to facilitate an application of force away from the joint for the evaluation of the joint, a bracket assembly supported by, and moveable relative to, the frame, the bracket assembly being configured to engage the joint, and a sensor coupled to the bracket assembly such that the sensor is moved by displacement of the bracket assembly relative to the frame during the evaluation of the joint, the sensor being configured to generate a signal indicative of the displacement.

Abstract: A therapeutic stretching apparatus, which, in particular, provides a user with a system for providing assistance to increase knee extension as well as for maintaining stability of the knee after surgery. This device can not only act as a therapeutic stretching apparatus but also can act as a primary post-op knee brace with locks/limits on hinge to prevent user from further injuring the joint.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to devices and methods for providing extension and flexion assistance. A device manipulates a foot of a user, thereby providing extension or flexion assistance to an ankle of the user, and includes a footplate positioned at a pre-determined distance from the user and adapted to pivot about an axis defined by the ankle as the foot extends or flexes about the ankle; and a force application system comprising a force applicator connected to the footplate, and a force application mechanism, wherein the force application mechanism is configured to apply a force to the force applicator, thereby providing the extension or flexion assistance to the foot about the ankle.

Abstract: Devices manipulate a hand of a user to provide pronation or supination assistance. Embodiments include an anchor; a hand engagement member operatively attached to the anchor and configured to receive and engage the hand of the user; a force applicator having a member portion and an anchor portion opposite the member portion, the force applicator attached to the hand engagement member proximate its member portion and attached to the anchor proximate its anchor portion; and a force application mechanism attached to the anchor and configured to cause a force to be applied to the force applicator causing the hand engagement member to manipulate the hand of the user to provide pronation or supination assistance. In some embodiments, the force application mechanism includes a non-incremental rotary mechanism. In some embodiments, a flexible tethering member attaches the anchor to the hand engagement member.

Abstract: A method of evaluating a joint includes obtaining test data indicative of movement of the joint during a test of the joint, generating visualization data for a three-dimensional representation of the joint to be rendered via a display, generating plane data for a representation of a plane to be rendered via the display with the three-dimensional representation of the joint, the plane having a position and an orientation fixed relative to a bone of the joint, adjusting the visualization data to animate the three-dimensional representation to depict, via the display, the movement of the joint during the test, and adjusting the plane data to update the position and the orientation of the plane in accordance with the movement of the joint.

Abstract: A joint manipulation and evaluation apparatus has a mechanism configured to manipulate a first bone of a joint relative to a second bone of the joint. The apparatus has a joint stabilizer arranged to engage the joint and hold the second bone in place as the first bone is manipulated. A sensor is coupled to the joint stabilizer and is configured and arranged to detect residual movement of a clamped portion of the joint relative to the joint stabilizer as the first bone is manipulated.

Abstract: A device is provided for manipulating an arm of a user, thereby providing extension or flexion assistance to the arm about an elbow. The device has an arm engagement system, having an upper arm member with an upper arm frame having a pivot end and a distal end, a posterior elbow pad, a forearm member with a forearm frame having a pivot end and a distal end and a distal wrist pad, and a pivoting connection operatively coupled with the pivot end of the upper arm frame and the pivot end of the forearm frame. A force application system having a force applicator is connected between the distal end and the pivot end of the forearm frame. A force application mechanism is connected at or near the distal end of the upper arm frame.

Abstract: Disclosed are a joint manipulation device and system for increasing the range of motion of a joint of a user, and monitoring the compliance of the user's operation of the joint manipulation device to standards or guidelines set by a monitoring entity. Certain sensors associated with the joint manipulation device may cause an indicator to transmit an alert to the user based on whether or not the device is sufficiently engaged with a limb or joint of the user to be considered in compliance. Additionally, progress data associated with the range of motion of the user's joint may be obtained by a sensor assembly and transmitted to one or more systems associated with the device system. Progress data obtained during a period of non-compliant use of the device may be excluded from the transmitted data, thereby generating a set of compliant progress data for accurate analysis of device effectiveness.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to devices and methods for providing extension and flexion assistance. A device manipulates a foot of a user, thereby providing extension or flexion assistance to an ankle of the user, and includes a footplate positioned at a pre-determined distance from the user and adapted to pivot about an axis defined by the ankle as the foot extends or flexes about the ankle; and a force application system comprising a force applicator connected to the footplate, and a force application mechanism, wherein the force application mechanism is configured to apply a force to the force applicator, thereby providing the extension or flexion assistance to the foot about the ankle.

Abstract: A knee examination method includes situating a patient on a patient support adjacent a robotic knee testing apparatus, the apparatus having a motion tracking system. The robotic knee testing apparatus is set up including defining a world coordinate system based on a fixed location of a transmitter of the motion tracking system. The patient is set up including determining one or more local coordinate systems each based on setting up the patient and on one or more robot based points. The robotic knee testing apparatus is operable to manipulate a leg of the patient.