Empi Corp.

Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.

Thomas C Wright

Robert H Nippoldt

Gary A Rocheleau

Perry A Mills

Stephen H Ober

Richard E Stindt

Robert C Rust

Thomas G Wallner

Terrence R Hudrlik

Continuous passive motion system control unit

A live display apparatus for setting extension and flexion limits in a continuous passive motion (CPM) system. The CPM system includes a carriage for supporting a patient's limb through a range of reciprocal angular movement, a drive motor for driving the carriage, a carriage state sensor for providing a signal representative of carriage state and a control unit responsive to the carriage state sensor for controlling the drive motor. The live display apparatus includes an operator controlled extension limit select switch which is operatively coupled to the control unit. The select switch causes the carriage to be driven through its range of movement to a desired extension limit when actuated during an extension limit select mode. Data representative of the selected extension limit is stored in extension memory. An extension limit display is responsive to the control unit and provides a visual display indicative of the extension limit selected. An operator controlled flexion limit select switch is operatively coupled to the control unit, and causes the carriage to be driven through its range of movement to a desired flexion limit when actuated during a flexion limit select mode. Data representative of the selected flexion limit is stored in flexion memory. A flexion limit display provides a visual display indicative of the selected flexion limit.

Live display appartus for setting extenson and flexion limits in

Safety features for a continuous motion therapy system of the type including a carriage for supporting a patient's limb, a drive unit for driving the carriage through a range of reciprocal angular movement, first and second channel neuromuscular stimulators for applying electrical stimulation to muscles of a patient's limb, and a controller for controlling the drive unit and stimulators. Both stimulator channels must be turned OFF after the controller is powered up before either stimulator channel will operate. The drive unit is enclosed by a cover. When pressure on the cover is sensed, the controller stops and reverses the direction of the carriage. The drive unit includes a drive motor which is coupled to the carriage by a linkage. Limit switches provide limit signals when the linkage reaches predetermined limit positions. In response, the controller stops and reverses direction of the carriage. A remote patient controller which is coupled to the controller by a multiconductor cable permits the patient to control motion of the carriage from a remote location. Should the cable be disconnected from the controller, or should any lead therein become open or short circuited, the controller causes motion of the carriage to stop either immediately or after the remote patient controller is again actuated.

Safety features for continuous motion therapy system

Foot support pad for a continuous passive motion carriage

Thigh support pad for a continuous passive motion carriage

A continuous passive motion (CPM) apparatus mobilizes the knee joint of a patient's leg. In order to achieve total extension of the leg, the CPM apparatus pauses each time the extension end position is reached. A neuro-muscular stimulator (NMS) is enabled to provide stimulation to the patient's quadriceps muscle to effect a total extension of the leg. At the end of the pause interval, the NMS turns off, and the CPM resumes motion.

NMS aided continuous passive motion apparatus

An electronic switching circuit for use in a demand-type cardiac pacer for (1) allowing the amplitude of the stimulating pulses to be selected, (2) ensuring a high input impedance for the heartbeat sensing amplifier, and (3) ensuring a low recovery time following the generation of a pacer pulse. Disposed between the heart contacting electrodes and the sensing amplifier is an electronic switch which is closed during a predetermined period (the sensing interval), but which is opened when the pulse generator is producing a pacer pulse. Thus, the sensing amplifier is shielded from receiving the high voltage surge occasioned by the application of a pacer pulse to the heart. Similarly, an electronic switching device is interposed between the pulse generator and the heart contacting electrodes, which device is closed during a pacing interval, but open during the aforesaid sensing interval, thus isolating the sensing amplifier from the pacer circuitry. Included in the system is a voltage doubler and associated switches which can selectively double or not double the amplitude of the stimulating pacer pulse. In either event, the charge on the voltage doubling capacitor is recovered through the heart in a relatively short time following the cessation of a pacer pulse.

Cardiac pacer circuit

An electrical pacer device which responds to cardiac demand so as to alter the cardiac output in a fashion to satisfy that demand. Changes in the fundamental period of the atrial electrical cycle are detected and averaged over a predetermined time interval and the resulting control signal is used to raise and lower the ventricular heart rate to increase and decrease the aforesaid cardiac output. At the same time, means are provided for continuously driving the ventricular rate toward a predetermined lower rate (the at rest rate) on a time cycle which is significantly longer than the above-mentioned predetermined time interval.

Growing community of inventors

New Brighton, MN, United States of America

Thomas C Wright