Continuous passive motion device for hand rehabilitation

Prototypes have been designed and manufactured for a lightweight portable device which continually moves all the joints of the hand passively through a range of motion. Inflatable bag modules in the palm of the hand are ganged together to create the required range of motion. A battery-operated air pump cycles compressed air to the modules. Initial clinical experience with patients who have flexion contractures caused by burns, trauma, and Dupuytren's contractures has shown the device to be well tolerated and effective.