HINGE FOR ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE

• US 20200132113A1
• Filed: 12/30/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ossur Iceland ehf
• Original Assignee: Ossur Iceland ehf
• Inventors: GUNNSTEINSSON, Larus, OMARSSON, Bjorn, SIGURDSSON, Sindri Pall, HSU, Henry
• Granted Patent: US 11,098,510 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0102 specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0123 for the knees A61F5/0106 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0125 the device articulating around a single pivot-point
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 1/00 Pinless hinges; Substitutes for hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 1/02 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/12 incorporating flexible connections, e.g. leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2204/00 Metallic materials; Alloys alloys in general C22C; F16C2206/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2208/20 Thermoplastic resins
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2220/04 by injection-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2316/10 in medical appliances, e.g. in diagnosis, dentistry, instruments, prostheses, medical imaging appliances

Abstract

A hinge has a hinge body forming an articulating section extending between a first end and a second end of the hinge. The articulating section is adapted to bend from a neutral axis when the first and second ends are parallel to an angular range in which the first end is arranged among a plurality of angles within the angular range relative to the second end. The hinge body may define a receptacle along the articulating section, and an insert may be provided for insertion into the receptacle. The insert can modify the stiffness of the hinge in the angular range and is arranged parallel to the neutral axis.

Claims

1. A hinge, comprising:

a hinge body forming an articulating section extending between a first end and a second end of the hinge body and adapted to bend from a neutral axis when the first end and the second end are parallel to an angular range in which the first end is arranged among a plurality of angles within the angular range relative to the second end;

wherein at the articulating section the hinge body forms an anterior compartment defined as an anterior arcuate recess and a posterior compartment defined as a posterior arcuate recess and generally opposite the anterior compartment, the anterior and posterior arcuate recesses forming different shapes relative to one another such that the anterior arcuate recess extends deeper into a width of the hinge body than the posterior arcuate recess;

wherein the hinge body is continuously formed from a polymeric material from the first end to the second end of the hinge and forms a monolithic structure;

wherein the hinge body forms a first ring at the first end of the hinge body and a second ring at the second end of the hinge body, the first ring portion having a different shape than the second ring portion, the first ring defining a first ring portion on an anterior side of the hinge body, and a second ring portion on a posterior side of the hinge body, the first ring portion having a different shape than the second ring portion;

wherein the hinge body continuously extends without interruption from the first end to the second end of the hinge body in a longitudinal direction along the neutral axis;

wherein the hinge body tapers from a first width transverse to the neutral axis to a second width in the articulating section.

2. The hinge of claim 1, wherein the first ring portion defines a generally elongate bar, and the second ring portion forms a curvature.

3. The hinge of claim 1, wherein the hinge body forms a rib protruding from a base thickness of the hinge body at least along the articulating section in a longitudinal direction along the neutral axis.

4. The hinge of claim 3, wherein the rib forms a maximum thickness in a middle of the articulating section and resists articulation within the angular range.

5. The hinge of claim 3, wherein the rib tapers in height toward the first end and the second end to the base thickness.

6. The hinge of claim 1, wherein the hinge body includes a first strut and a second strut each arranged on opposed ends of the articulating section, the first strut and the second strut having a first width transverse to the neutral axis, and the articulating section having a second width more narrow than the first width.

7. The hinge of claim 6, wherein the hinge body tapers from the first width to the second width.

8. The hinge of claim 7, wherein the second width is located generally equidistant between the first end and the second end of the hinge body, and extends a length longitudinally along the neutral axis short of an entirety of the articulating section.

9. The hinge of claim 1, wherein a first section of the hinge body extending from a first side of the articulating section to the first end of the hinge body is symmetric with a second section of the hinge body extending from a second side of the articulating section to the second end of the hinge body.

10. The hinge of claim 1, wherein a first section of the hinge body extending from a first side of the articulating section to the first end of the hinge body is reversely arranged relative to a second section of the hinge body extending from a second side of the articulating section to the second end of the hinge body.

11. The hinge of claim 1, wherein the posterior compartment includes at least one notched hinge element.

12. The hinge of claim 11, wherein the at least one notched hinge element comprises two hinge elements arranged to geometrically interfere with one another according to a predetermined degree of bending of the articulating section.

13. The hinge of claim 12, wherein the two hinge elements are spaced apart from one another by a gap and are formed by the articulating section.

14. The hinge of claim 12, wherein each of the two hinge elements tapers in width posteriorly.

15. The hinge of claim 1, wherein the articulating section defines a minimal thickness on opposed ends of the articulating section with a greatest thickness of the hinge body located between the opposed ends of the articulating section.

16. A tubular support having at least one hinge corresponding to a medial or lateral side of the tubular support, the at least one hinge comprising:

a hinge body forming an articulating section extending between a first end and a second end of the hinge body and adapted to bend from a neutral axis when the first end and the second end are parallel to an angular range in which the first end is arranged among a plurality of angles within the angular range relative to the second end;

wherein at the articulating section the hinge body forms an anterior compartment defined as an anterior arcuate recess and a posterior compartment defined as a posterior arcuate recess and generally opposite the anterior compartment, the anterior and posterior arcuate recesses forming different shapes relative to one another such that the anterior arcuate recess extends deeper into a width of the hinge body than the posterior arcuate recess;

wherein the hinge body is continuously formed from a polymeric material from the first end to the second end of the hinge and forms a monolithic structure;

wherein the hinge body forms a first ring at the first end of the hinge body and a second ring at the second end of the hinge body, the first ring portion having a different shape than the second ring portion, the first ring defining a first ring portion on an anterior side of the hinge body, and a second ring portion on a posterior side of the hinge body, the first ring portion having a different shape than the second ring portion;

wherein the hinge body continuously extends without interruption from the first end to the second end of the hinge body in a longitudinal direction along the neutral axis;

wherein the hinge body tapers from a first width transverse to the neutral axis to a second width in the articulating section;

wherein the tubular support forms a retaining structure in which the at least one hinge extends longitudinally between first and second ends of the tubular support.

17. The tubular support of claim 16, wherein the first ring portion defines a generally elongate bar, and the second ring portion forms a curvature.

18. The tubular support of claim 16, wherein the hinge body forms a rib protruding from a base thickness of the hinge body at least along the articulating section in a longitudinal direction along the neutral axis.

19. The tubular support of claim 18, wherein the rib forms a maximum thickness in a middle of the articulating section and resists articulation within the angular range.

20. A hinge, comprising:

a hinge body forming an articulating section extending between a first end and a second end of the hinge body and adapted to bend from a neutral axis when the first end and the second end are parallel to an angular range in which the first end is arranged among a plurality of angles within the angular range relative to the second end;

wherein at the articulating section the hinge body forms an anterior compartment defined as an anterior arcuate recess and a posterior compartment defined as a posterior arcuate recess and generally opposite the anterior compartment, the anterior and posterior arcuate recesses forming different shapes relative to one another such that the anterior arcuate recess extends deeper into a width of the hinge body than the posterior arcuate recess;

wherein the hinge body is continuously formed from a polymeric material from the first end to the second end of the hinge and forms a monolithic structure;

wherein the hinge body forms a first ring at the first end of the hinge body and a second ring at the second end of the hinge body, the first ring portion having a different shape than the second ring portion, the first ring defining a first ring portion on an anterior side of the hinge body, and a second ring portion on a posterior side of the hinge body, the first ring portion having a different shape than the second ring portion;

wherein the hinge body continuously extends without interruption from the first end to the second end of the hinge in a longitudinal direction along the neutral axis;

wherein the hinge body tapers from a first width transverse to the neutral axis to a second width in the articulating section.

wherein the first ring portion defines a generally elongate bar, and the second ring portion forms a curvature;

wherein the posterior compartment includes two hinge elements arranged to geometrically interfere with one another according to a predetermined degree of bending, the two hinge elements spaced apart from one another by a gap and formed by the articulating section;

wherein each of the two hinge elements tapers in width posteriorly.