FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rehabilitation apparatus and method and in particular to an arm support apparatus for use by a patient during rehabilitation treatment.

The invention has been developed primarily for use as an arm support apparatus, and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field.

There is a need in the art for an improved or alternative rehabilitation apparatus.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

It is an object of the invention in its preferred form to provide an improved or alternative rehabilitation apparatus.

Substitute Sheet

(Rule 26) RO/AU SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a device for use as a rehabilitation aid when treating a patient, the device including:

a support element for assisting a patient engage with the device;

an elongate extension element that is coupled to the support element at a first end of the extension element; and

a fixing element (or means) that is coupled to a second end of the extension element, wherein the fixing element releasably couples the device to a surface.

Preferably, when the device is releasably coupled to a floor surface, the elongate extension element is biased into a substantially vertical configuration. More preferably, the support element is movable by the patient.

Preferably, when the device is releasably coupled to a wall surface, the elongate extension element is biased into a substantially horizontal configuration. More preferably, the support element is movable by the patient.

Preferably, the fixing element is formed of a resilient material to provide the bias. More preferably, the fixing element is formed of (or has a body comprising) silicone or rubber.

Preferably, the elongate extension element is releasably coupled to the support element.

Preferably, the elongate extension element is releasably coupled to the fixing element.

Preferably, the elongate extension element is length extendable.

Preferably, the fixing element includes a suction cup fixing for coupling the device to the surface. Alternative fixing element can be used, as known in the art.

Preferably, the support element is in the form of a "U" shaped channel for receiving an arm or a leg of the patient. Attentively, the support element may be in the form of a grip element located about the first end of the extension element. A "U" shaped channel may extend to provide an attachment that supports the wrist of a patient.

Preferably, the device is a dynamic arm support system for use as a rehabilitation aid when treating a patient. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an embodiment device; FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the device of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 shows a front view o a device of FIG. 1 , when attached to a wall; FIG. 4 shows a side view of an embodiment device;

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment device according to FIG. 4, as used in a reach exercise about a table surface;

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment device, having an alternative fixing element;

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment device, having an alternative fixing element;

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a device 100 for use as a rehabilitation or physiotherapy aid when treating a patient (not shown). The device 100 includes a support element 1 10 for assisting a patient hold or engagement with the device (e.g. directly supporting an arm or a leg of the patient), an elongate extension element (or pole) 120 that has coupling 1 1 1 to the support element at one end 121 of the extension element; and a fixing element (or means) 130 that is has a coupling 131 to the other end 122 of the extension element, wherein the fixing element can releasably couple the device to a surface 140 (such as a floor or a wall).

The support element 110 can be sized and configured to suit a patient. It will be appreciated that the support element can be formed from a mouldable material such as thermoplastics, and sized for fitting the patients arm or leg. The support element can also be removable, such that a replacement or new sized support elements can be attached. The grip portion may optionally be moulded and/or padded.

The coupling 1 1 1 of the support element 1 10 to the elongate extension element 120 may be a rotatable or pivotal coupling that enables relative movement between the support element and the elongate extension element. For example, the support element may be rotatable about the axis of the elongate extension element.

The support element 110, depending on use or patient ability, may comprise a grip portion that assists a patient's engagement with the device (or use of the device). Alternatively, a grip portion 112 may optionally be included about the extrusion element. A "U" shaped channel may extend to provide an attachment that supports the wrist of a patient.

It will be appreciated that the support element may comprise one or more known suitable materials that can be formed or constructed to function as described.

The elongate extension element (or pole) 120, may be length extendable to suit a preferred operating height or length for the patient. For example, the extension element may be telescopically extendable with a locking element 124 (or means) for releasably configuring a height or length. For example, the extension element may comprise a plurality of couplable section, where the sections can be selected from a set of sections having a range of lengths.

The fixing element 130 may include a suction cup portion that can releasably provide suction on to the surface 140. Use of a flexible suction cup portion provides a resilient pivot-like coupling to the extension element (at 132). The suction cup portion also provides some cushioning, which can provide the patient proprioceptive feedback for limited vertical movement of the device during use.

The fixing element 130 can provide a resilient bias for supporting the extension element in a substantially vertical position. It will be appreciated that the fixing element can be formed of a silicone or rubber portion for providing flexibility and resilience.

The fixing element or means 130 provides a flexible or pivotal movement of the extension element about the location that the device is releasably coupled to the surface. This can provide a 360° lateral movement of the support element.

The support element 110 and/or the fixing element 130 can be removable for assisting with packing and travelling with the device.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view that indicates the device 100, when coupled by the fixing element 130 to a surface, enables lateral 360° movement of the support element 1 10. FIG. 3 shows the device 102 coupled to a wall 142 by a fixing element 130. In this embodiment, a grip portion 112 is used about the extension element (or pole) 120 for assisting a patient with extension and flexion exercises. It will be appreciated that the device, while coupled to a wall provides additional support to a patient undertaking extension and flexion exercises.

The device extension element 120 is preferably biased to generally (or substantially) vertical orientation when coupled to the floor, or a generally (or substantially) horizontal orientation when coupled to a wall. In an embodiment bias of the extension element 120 is provided by the resilience of the fixing element.

It would also be appreciated that the grip portion can be used with the device in a vertical configuration for patients that do not require a fully supporting element. A "U" shaped channel may extend to provide an attachment that supports the wrist of a patient.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment 200, wherein an extension element 220 is bent/curved or has a goose-neck like portion 226. Other features of this device may be the same as those disclosed with reference to the device 100 (for example as shown in FIG. 1).

FIG. 5 shows that the bent/curved portion (or goose-neck like portion) 226 can enable the device to be used for reach exercise/therapy about a table surface 240, while enabling the support element to reach closer to the table surface.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative fixing element 330 for use on a carpet or pile surface 340. In this example embodiment, the fixing element 330 uses a hook-and-loop fasteners (or hook-and- pile fasteners, or touch fasteners) 335 for releasably fixing the device to the surface 340. It will be appreciated that these fastenings comprise a first component featuring tiny hooks and a second component featuring loops. One of the components is provided on the fixing element and the other component provided by or on the surface. When the two components are pressed together, the hooks catch in the loops and the two pieces fasten or bind temporarily during the time that they are pressed together.

The fixing element 330 can include a body 336 that supports a fastener 335 and couples to an extension element 120. The body may be formed of a resilient material to provide support and bias to the extension element 120. FIG. 7 shows an alternative fixing element 430 for use on surface 440. In this example embodiment, the fixing element 300 uses a pivotal coupling 435 for releasably fixing the device to a coupling element 445 in the surface 440. It will be appreciated that these couplings comprise two components. One of the components is provided on the fixing element and the other component provided by or on the surface. When the two components are engaged, the device is temporarily engaged to the surface.

The fixing element 430 can include a body 436 that supports a coupling components (132 and 335) for engaging an extension element 120 and the surface 440. The coupling engagement may provide pivotal movement of the extension element 120. Alternatively, the coupling engagement may provide a fixed coupling between the body and the surface, whereby the body may be formed of a resilient material to provide support and bias to the extension element 120.

Alternatively resilience and bias can be provide though use of a flexible elongate extension element (or pole portion) 120

It will be appreciated that each of the illustrated devices provide an improved or alternative arm support apparatus or system.

For example, a device (100,102, 200, 300, 400) is disclosed for use as a physiotherapy or rehabilitation aid when treating a patient. The device including: a support element (1 10) and/or a grip portion (121) for assisting a patient engage with the device;

an elongate extension element (120), wherein a first coupling (1 1 1) couples the support element at a first end of the extension element; and

a fixing element (130) or fixing means, wherein a second coupling (131) couples the fixing element to a second end of the extension element, wherein the fixing element releasably couples the device to a surface (140).

The elongate extension element (120) can be length extendable with a locking element 124 or locking means. Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

In the claims below and the description herein, any one of the terms comprising, comprised of or which comprises is an open term that means including at least the elements/features that follow, but not excluding others. Thus, the term comprising, when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limitative to the means or elements or steps listed thereafter. For example, the scope of the expression a device comprising A and B should not be limited to devices consisting only of elements A and B. Any one of the terms including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.

Similarly, it is to be noticed that the term coupled, when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limitative to direct connections only. The terms "coupled" and

"connected", along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Thus, the scope of the expression a device A coupled to a device B should not be limited to devices or systems wherein an output of device A is directly connected to an input of device B. It means that there exists a path between an output of A and an input of B which may be a path including other devices or means. "Coupled" may mean that two or more elements are either in direct physical, or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but yet still co-operate or interact with each other. As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives "first", "second", "third", etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of terms "horizontal", "vertical", "left", "right", "up" and "down", as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., "horizontally", "rightwardly", "upwardly", etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader, or with reference to the orientation of the structure during nominal use, as appropriate. Similarly, the terms

"inwardly" and "outwardly" generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate.

Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

Furthermore, an element described herein of an apparatus embodiment is an example of a means for carrying out the function performed by the element for the purpose of carrying out the invention. In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used.

Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.

It will be appreciated that an embodiment of the invention can consist essentially of features disclosed herein. Alternatively, an embodiment of the invention can consist of features disclosed herein. The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.