Cuff device

Claim 2

A dynamic support for first and second body parts which are articulated to each other comprising cuff components adapted to snugly engage the first and second body parts when the first and second body parts are in a resting position; the cuff components engaging the first and second body parts at locations spaced from the body area where the parts are articulated; arms attached to and extending from each of the cuff components and terminating in end regions, said end regions being movably attached to each other at a point adjacent the area where the body parts are articulated remote from the cuff components.

Claim 3

A dynamic support according to claim 1 wherein the tightening means comprises movable means.

Claim 4

A dynamic support according to claim 3 wherein the tightening means comprises a cable and gear assembly operatively coupling the cuff components with the arms.

Claim 5

A dynamic support according to claim 2 wherein the tightening means comprises means responsive to a predetermined movement from the resting position in more than one direction of one body part relative to the other body part.

Claim 6

A dynamic support according to claim 2 wherein the tightening means responsive to a predetermined relative movement is responsive to a predetermined flexion and extension of one body part relative to the other body part.

Claim 7

A dynamic support according to claim 2 wherein the tightening means responsive to a predetermined relative movement is responsive to a predetermined flexion of one body part relative to the other body part.

Claim 8

A dynamic support according to claim 2 wherein the tightening means responsive to a predetermined relative movement is responsive to a predetermined extension of one body part relative to the other body part.

Claim 9

A dynamic support according to claim 2 wherein the tightening means responsive to a predetermined relative movement is responsive to a predetermined sliding motion of one body part relative to the other body part.

Claim 10

A dynamic support according to claim 2 wherein the tightening means responsive to a predetermined relative movement is responsive to rotation of one body part relative to the other body part.

Claim 11

A dynamic support according to claim 2 wherein the tightening means responsive to a predetermined relative movement is responsive to a predetermined movement of the patient's leg relative to the patient's thigh.

Claim 12

A dynamic support according to claim 2 wherein the tightness increasing means temporarily increases the tightness of the fit between the cuff components and the patient's leg.

Claim 13

A dynamic support according to claim 2 wherein the tightness increasing means momentarily increases the tightness of the fit between the cuff components and the thigh.

Claim 14

A dynamic support according to claim 2 wherein the tightness increasing means increases the tightness of the fit in a direction generally transverse to a long axis of the body part.

Claim 15

A dynamic support according to claim 2 wherein the tightness increasing means adjusts the amount of tightening of at least one of the cuff components.

Claim 16

A dynamic support according to claim 3 wherein the tightening means comprises an adjustable cam and cable assembly operatively coupling the cuff components with the arms.

Claim 17

A dynamic support according to claim 15 wherein the cam and cable assembly comprises means for operatively coupling the cam and cable assembly to the end regions.

Claim 18

A dynamic support according to claim 16 wherein the cam and cable assembly further comprises a plate with multiple guide member holes.

Claim 19

A dynamic support according to claim 17 wherein the guide member holes releasably receive guide member pins.

Claim 20

A dynamic support according to claim 15 wherein the cam and cable assembly comprises means for adjusting the relative position of the arms when the first and second body parts are in their resting positions.

Claim 21

A dynamic support according to claim 15 wherein the cam and cable assembly comprises means for limiting the extent of movement of the arms.

Claim 22

A dynamic support according to claim 20 wherein the means for limiting the extent of movement of the arms comprises stop members on the arms.

Claim 23

A dynamic support according to claim 21 wherein the stop members comprise a slot end in one arm and and a screw member in the other arm.

Claim 24

A dynamic support according to claim 1 wherein the tightening means comprises a cable and lever assembly operatively coupling at least one of the cuff components with the arms attached thereto.

Claim 25

A dynamic support according to claim 23 wherein the tightening means further comprises a cam mechanism.

Claim 26

A support according to claim 1 wherein the body parts are movable in opposite directions from the resting position and said tightness increasing means temporarily increases the tightness with which at least one of the cuff components engages at least one of the body parts when said at least one of the body parts moves in either one of the opposite directions.

Claim 27

A dynamic support according to claim 1 wherein the cuff components comprise means for varying the tightness with which the cuff components engage the body parts when in the resting position.

Claim 28

A support according to claim 1 wherein the tightness increasing means temporarily increases the tightness with which at least one of the cuff components engages at least one of the body parts.

Claim 29

A dynamic support according to claim 1 wherein the arms comprise means for pivoting one arm relative to the other arm.

Claim 30

A dynamic support for first and second body parts of a patient articulated to each other by a joint permitting generally pivotal movements of the parts about a pivot axis with respect to each other from a resting position in which the parts are in an angular inclination relative to each other to a temporary position in which the parts are in a different angular inclination relative to each other, the support comprising: cuff means engaging the first and second body parts in their resting position with a predetermined tightness, the cuff means being constructed so as to have a component on each side and spaced from the joint when applied to the first and second body parts of the patient, arms connected with the cuff means and having end regions, said arms in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axes of the body parts; means pivotally securing the end regions of the arms to each other substantially coaxially with the pivot axis, tightening means attached to the cuff means and the end regions of the arms for increasing the tightness with which the cuff means engages at least one of the body parts when they are moved away from the resting position towards the temporary position.

Claim 31

A dynamic support for first and second body parts of a patient articulated to each other by a joint permitting generally pivotal movements of the parts about a pivot axis with respect to each other from a resting position in which the parts are in an angular inclination relative to each other to a temporary position in which the parts are in a different angular inclination relative to each other, the support comprising: cuff means engaging the first and second body parts in their resting position with a predetermined tightness, the cuff means being constructed so as to have a component on each side and spaced from the joint when applied to the first and second body parts of the patient, arms connected with the cuff means and having end regions, said arms in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axes of the body parts; means pivotally securing the end regions of the arms to each other substantially coaxially with the pivot axis, tightening means attached to the cuff means and the end regions of the arms for increasing the tightness with which the cuff means engages at least one of the body parts when they are moved away from the resting position towards the temporary position.

Claim 32

A dynamic support according to claim 29 including means for varying the rate at which the tightening means increases the tightness with which the cuff means engages at least one of the body parts.

Claim 33

A dynamic support according to claim 30 wherein the means for varying the rate includes an adjustable cam assembly.

Claim 34

A dynamic support for first and second body parts which are articulated to each other comprising: cuff components adapted to snugly engage the first and second body parts when the first and second parts are in a resting position; the cuff components engaging the first and second body parts at locations spaced from the body area where the parts are articulated; arms attached to and extending from each of the cuff components and terminating in end regions, said end regions being movably attached to each other at a point adjacent the area where the body parts are articulated remote from the cuff components; tightening means attached to at least one of the cuff components and at least one arm; and the tightening means including means responsive to a predetermined relative movement between the body parts in extension from the resting position for increasing the tightness with which at least one of the cuff components engages at least one of the body parts.

Claim 35

A dynamic support for first and second body parts which are articulated to each other comprising: cuff components adapted to snugly engage the first and second body parts when the first and second parts are in a resting position; the cuff components engaging the first and second body parts at locations spaced from the body area where the parts are articulated; arms attached to and extending from each of the cuff components and terminating in end regions, said end regions being movably attached to each other at a point adjacent the area where the body parts are articulated remote from the cuff components; tightening means attached to at least one of the cuff components and at least one arm; and the tightening means including means responsive to a predetermined relative movement between the body parts in extension from the resting position for increasing the tightness with which at least one of the cuff components engages at least one of the body parts.