The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 17, 1989
Filed:
Mar. 10, 1987
Robert H Nippoldt, Newport, MN (US);
Gary A Rocheleau, Maple Grove, MN (US);
Thomas C Wright, Longmont, CO (US);
Empi, Inc., Fridley, MN (US);
Abstract
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.