Merchant, Gould, Smith, Edell, Welter & Schmidt
Paralytic lower limb rehabilitation apparatus
 The present invention is related to a rehabilitation apparatus to alleviate the stiffness for patients suffering from lower limb paralysis caused by acute cerebral vascular impairment or vertebra impairment. The essential mechanisms of the rehabilitation apparatus include a transversely movable slider mechanism which makes use of a transverse slider capable of moving in a predetermined direction and for a predetermined distance to provide the thigh with reciprocal motion of inward retraction and outward expansion by means of a spherical joint which drives the rotation of a longitudinal slide rail, the outward expansion or inward retraction having an angular range between 0.degree.-35.degree.; a thigh supporting/moving mechanism which is suitable for a thigh length of 20-60 cm is adjustable and is free to slide when the hip joint is rotated so as to eliminate the upward pulling force and downward pressing force acting upon the thigh, thus reducing the risk of a second injury; and a sole supporting/moving mechanism wherein the support for the sole has slide rails which are inclined within the range of 12.degree.-18.degree. and therefore suitable for patients of different shank lengths. When the hip joint is rotated upward, the sole that is held on a holder causes the ankle joint to rotate inward, the rotating angle being up to 5.degree.-15.degree.. 
Oriental Institute of Technology
A A
A61H A61H
inventional additional
Jia-Wine Ann-Shing Yeu-Shuun
Chen Chang Kou