Extension deceleration orthosis

• US 4,865,024 A
• Filed: 10/21/1988
• Issued: 09/12/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1988
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Bradley Kielman, Dvid E. Hensley
• Original Assignee: Bradley Kielman, Dvid E. Hensley
• Inventors: Kielman, Bradley, Hensley, Dvid E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lamb, Tonya
• Application Number:
  US07/260,943
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 128/78, 128/80 C, 128/80 F
• US Class Current: 602/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0137 with two parallel pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0179 with spring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0123 for the knees A61F5/0106 takes precedence

Abstract

An extension deceleration orthotic fulcrum for knee and elbow braces, which simulates performance of the function of those ligaments that control joint motion and provide anteroposterior joint stability, comprising a lightweight, external spring assembly, upper and lower elongated arms, and centric or polycentric fulcrum, which is adjustable for its range of motion, adaptable for use on many different style orthoses, and whose strength can be varied to suit corrective, preventive, anthropomorphic, environmental, and usage requirements, including means both for mechanically dampening the limb'"'"'s angular velocity on extension to prevent hyperextension and for accelerating the limb'"'"'s angular velocity on flexion to enable quicker, smoother, less stressful motion. In one embodiment spring rods are assembled medially and laterally to conventional pairs of elongated orthotic brace arms to span the joint fulcrum point by serpentinely engaging novel roller posts, the assemblage thus serving to decelerate the limb during the last 15 to 20 degrees of extension, to help prevent the striking of a stop with its attendant risk of hyperextension, and thus serving to use the stored energy of the spring to facilitate flexion of the limb.

Claims

1. An anatomical brace for applying a force for resisting extension having a hinge comprising:

a. a pair of elongated arms, of equal thickness, with geared ends engaging each other adjacently, said geared ends provided with stopping means to limit the range of motion of the arms on extension, said arms connected by inner and outer plates, said plates overlapping the geared ends, said plates and arms fastened together by at least one screw, said at least one screw passing through busings, which act as hinge pivot points,

b. a lock screw which simultaneously clamps both the said plate fastening screws into position so as to permit free extension and flexion of the hinge, the improvement comprising;

c. a lightweight spring rod, which is assembled to said outer plate with a pivot screw, said pivot screw having a shoulder, said shoulder clamping the spring rod to the plate, with said spring rod serpentinely engaging on one side said pivot screw, and engaging on said rod'"'"'s opposite side said at least one fastening screw,

d. said pivot scrw being assembled to the outer plate on a line tangential to the pitch diameter of the geared elongated arm ends by passing through first roller means which serve as a pivot center for the spring rod,

e. means for controlling the application of said force for resisting extension comprising a friction reduction roller post selectively positioned on each arm, each of said posts being engaged by said spring rod on said one side as the arms are extended so that said spring rod biases the post toward flexion and therefore the arms toward flexion until the arms are in a preselected flexed positioned wherein further bending of the arms results in no force being applied by the rod against the posts;

f. the said friction reduction roller posts each comprising a screw fastened to the said elongated arm and a bushing through which said screw passes and which serves as second roller means to reduce friction when engaged by the spring rod during extension and flexion.