Dynamic brace joint
First Claim
1. A dynamic brace joint for use in orthotic devices comprising:
- an upper brace support member;
a lower brace support member;
means for pivotally interconnecting said upper and lower members at their proximal ends;
means for incrementally adjusting a range of pivotal motion of said interconnected upper and lower members;
an elastic member for exerting a continuously applied dynamic force relative to said pivotal motion on said interconnected upper and lower members;
means for adjusting the continuously applied force exerted by said elastic member;
means for securely maintaining said dynamic force and said range of motion at a predetermined adjustment setting;
wherein the means for adjusting the range of pivotal motion comprise a rotatable cap member; and
wherein the means for securely maintaining comprise a spring mounted axially to said interconnected upper and lower members, said spring biasing said rotatable cap member toward the interconnected upper and lower members.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dynamic brace joint for use in orthotic devices which adjustably restrains and limits the flexion and extension range of a limb joint while promoting and assisting joint extension or flexion using a continuously applied, adjustable, dynamic force. The dynamic brace joint includes an upper brace support member and a lower brace support member, which are pivotally interconnected at their proximal ends. The joint may be incrementally adjusted to provide a range of pivotal motion between the interconnected upper and lower members. A tensioning, elastic, or resilient member exerts a continuously applied adjustable dynamic force on the interconnected upper and lower members. The terminal end of the brace support members may be incorporated into a splint or brace to accommodate limb parts associated with the limb joint.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A dynamic brace joint for use in orthotic devices comprising:
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an upper brace support member; a lower brace support member; means for pivotally interconnecting said upper and lower members at their proximal ends; means for incrementally adjusting a range of pivotal motion of said interconnected upper and lower members; an elastic member for exerting a continuously applied dynamic force relative to said pivotal motion on said interconnected upper and lower members; means for adjusting the continuously applied force exerted by said elastic member; means for securely maintaining said dynamic force and said range of motion at a predetermined adjustment setting; wherein the means for adjusting the range of pivotal motion comprise a rotatable cap member; and wherein the means for securely maintaining comprise a spring mounted axially to said interconnected upper and lower members, said spring biasing said rotatable cap member toward the interconnected upper and lower members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A dynamic brace joint for use in orthotic devices comprising:
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an upper brace support member; a lower brace support member; means for pivotally interconnecting said upper and lower members at their proximal ends; means for incrementally adjusting a range of pivotal motion of said interconnected upper and lower members; an elastic member for exerting a continuously applied dynamic force relative to said pivotal motion on said interconnected upper and lower members; and means for adjusting the continuously applied force exerted by said elastic member; wherein said force adjusting means releasably engages one of said brace members for applying a predetermined dynamic force on said upper and lower member, said force adjusting means axially disengaging from said one member for modifying the force; and wherein said force adjusting means comprising an elastic member located on the periphery of a rotatable cap member, said elastic member wrapping around the periphery of said cap member to increase its tension as said cap member is rotated in one direction, and the tension in said cap member being decreased as it unwraps from the periphery of said cap member as said cap member is rotated in the opposite direction. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A dynamic brace joint for use in orthotic devices on a patient'"'"'s limb comprising:
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an upper brace support member; a lower brace support member; means for pivotally interconnecting said upper and lower members at their proximal ends; means for incrementally adjusting the range of pivotal motion of said interconnected upper and lower members; a tensioning member for exerting a continuously applied dynamic force on said interconnected upper and lower members; means for adjusting the continuously applied force exerted by said tensioning member; means for securely maintaining said dynamic force and said range of motion at a predetermined setting; and means for mounting said brace joint on a patient'"'"'s limb; wherein the adjusting means comprises a first cap rotatably mounted relative to said interconnected members, said first cap being displaceable axially away from said interconnected members and having a peripheral groove around the circumference thereof, said tensioning member being aligned with and at least partially received in the groove; a spring mounted against said first cap to bias said first cap against said one of said interconnected members; whereby more or less of the tensioning member is received in said groove when the spring is compressed and the first cap is axially displaced and rotated, thereby adjusting the continuously applied force. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A dynamic brace joint for use in orthotic devices on a patient'"'"'s limb comprising:
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an upper brace support member; a lower brace support member; means for pivotally interconnecting said upper and lower members at their proximal ends; means for incrementally adjusting the range of pivotal motion of said interconnected upper and lower members; a tensioning member for exerting a continuously applied dynamic force on said interconnected upper and lower members; means for adjusting the continuously applied force exerted by said tensioning member; means for securely maintaining said dynamic force and said range of motion at a predetermined setting; and means for mounting said brace joint on a patient'"'"'s limb; wherein each of said upper and lower brace support member is an elongated arm having a first pivot mount in said proximal end in order to partially form said pivotal interconnecting means, a circular pattern formed by one of equi-spaced slots or teeth, said circular pattern being centered on said first pivot mount, a pair of caps having second pivot mounts cooperating with said first pivot mounts in order to further form said pivotal interconnecting means, each of said caps having a circular pattern formed by the other of said equi-spaced slots or teeth, said circular pattern on said caps being centered on said second pivot mount, whereby each of said caps may be connected in a selected angular orientation to an associated one of said support member by pressing said teeth into said slots; wherein one of said caps has an arcuate slot with an effective length selected by the angular orientation selected when said cap and an associated first of said support members are connected together, and means associated with said arcuate slot for limiting motion of said first pivot mount at the effective length of said arcuate slot; and wherein the other of said caps has a peripheral groove around the circumference thereof, said other cap being associated with a second of said support members, an elongated elastic member having one end attached to said first support member, the other end of said elongated elastic member being attached to lie in said peripheral groove and wrap around at least part of the circumference of said other cap whereby the tension in said elastic member is selected by pre-wrapping said elastic member around a selected arcuate portion of said circumference before said other cap is connected to said second support member.
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18. A dynamic brace joint for use in orthotic devices comprising:
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an upper brace support member; a lower brace support member; means for pivotally interconnecting said upper and lower members at their proximal ends; means for incrementally adjusting a range of pivotal motion of said interconnected upper and lower members; an elastic member for exerting a continuously applied dynamic force relative to said pivotal motion on said interconnected upper and lower members; and means for adjusting the continuously applied force exerted by said elastic member; means for securely maintaining said dynamic force and said range of motion at a predetermined adjustment setting; wherein the means for adjusting the range of pivotal motion comprise a rotatable cap; and wherein the means for securely maintaining comprise means for displaceably biasing said rotatable cap toward the interconnected upper and lower members.
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19. A dynamic brace joint for use in orthotic devices on a patient'"'"'s limb comprising:
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an upper brace support member; a lower brace support member; means for pivotally interconnecting said upper and lower members at their proximal ends; means for incrementally adjusting the range of pivotal motion of said interconnected upper and lower members; a tensioning member for exerting a continuously applied dynamic force on said interconnected upper and lower members; means for adjusting the continuously applied force exerted by said tensioning member; means for securely maintaining said dynamic force and said range of motion at a predetermined setting; and means for mounting said brace joint on a patient'"'"'s limb;
wherein the adjusting means comprisesa first cap rotatably mounted relative to said interconnected members, said first cap being displaceable axially away from said interconnected members and having a peripheral groove around the circumference thereof, said tensioning member being aligned with and at least partially received in the groove; means for displaceably biasing said first cap against said one of said interconnected members; whereby more or less of the tensioning member is received in said groove when the first cap is axially displaced and rotated, thereby adjusting the continuously applied force.
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20. A dynamic brace joint comprising:
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(a) a pair of members pivotally connected to each other to form a pivot axis; (b) a rotatable member having a peripheral groove around the edge thereof, the rotatable member being mounted to and axially displaceable from the pivotally connected members; (c) means for releasably securing the rotatable member in a fixed angular position relative to the pivotally connected members; and (d) a tensioning member having one end connected to one of the pivotally connected members, the tensioning member being aligned with and partially received in the groove; the tensioning member being adjustable by axially displacing and rotating the rotatable member to receive more or less of the tensioning member. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A dynamic brace joint comprising:
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(a) a pair of members pivotally connected to each other to form a pivot axis; (b) a covering member having a peripheral groove around the edge thereof, the covering member being rotatably mounted to and axially displaceable from the pivotally connected members; (c) means for releasably securing the covering member in a fixed angular position relative to the pivotally connected members; and (d) a tensioning member having one end connected to one of the pivotally connected members, the tensioning member being aligned with and partially received in the groove; wherein the means for releasably securing include means for displaceably biasing said covering member toward the pivotally connected members.
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Specification