US 12,390,389 B2
Apparatus for treating knee abnormalities
J. T. Anderson, Conroe, TX (US)
Assigned to Ergo-Flex Technologies, LLC, Conroe, TX (US)
Filed by ERGO-FLEX Technologies, LLC, Conroe, TX (US)
Filed on Sep. 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/481,149.
Application 17/481,149 is a continuation of application No. 15/449,674, filed on Mar. 3, 2017, granted, now 11,123,253, issued on Sep. 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0000697 A1, Jan. 6, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61H 1/02 (2006.01); A63B 23/04 (2006.01)
CPC A61H 1/024 (2013.01) [A61H 1/02 (2013.01); A61H 1/0237 (2013.01); A63B 23/04 (2013.01); A63B 23/0494 (2013.01); A61H 2201/0103 (2013.01); A61H 2201/0149 (2013.01); A61H 2201/0192 (2013.01); A61H 2201/1207 (2013.01); A61H 2201/1623 (2013.01); A61H 2201/1633 (2013.01); A61H 2201/1642 (2013.01); A61H 2201/1664 (2013.01); A61H 2201/50 (2013.01); A61H 2201/5061 (2013.01); A61H 2203/0437 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of treating an injury in a knee of a human, comprising:
a) securing a portion of a leg above the knee to a stationary object, wherein the stationary object comprises a support frame, a back rest, a seating surface, a u-shaped cut-out section, and two straps, wherein the support frame includes a laterally extending rod and two strap guiding bars secured to the support frame, and further wherein the support frame includes two support bars, wherein each of the two support bars is positioned on opposite sides of the support frame, and further wherein the u-shaped cut-out section is positioned in a middle portion of the seating surface accommodating the two strap guide bars, and further wherein a first end of each of the two straps is secured to one of the support bars, and further wherein a portion of one of the two straps is placed over the leg above the knee and through one of the guiding bars;
b) securing a portion of a leg below the knee and above an ankle to a support member by a securing mechanism, wherein the support member is axially movable with respect to the stationary object, and wherein the securing mechanism is axially movable with respect to the support member, and further wherein the support member includes a first guide housing, wherein the first guide housing includes a tubular bearing that slides laterally on the laterally extending rod, and further wherein the support member includes a main housing member, wherein the main housing member comprises ground-engaging rollers, and further wherein the main housing member is slideably attached to the first guide housing by side tracks; and
c) applying a tension force to the knee via one or more linear actuators and the support member, whereby adjacent bone surfaces of the knee are stretched in an axial direction, wherein an amount of tension force, a duration of the tension force, and a plurality of intervals between the application of the tension force is varied by a control module, wherein the control module is attached to the main housing member, and further wherein the control module receives data and controls the movement of the one or more linear actuators.