Orthotic joint with radial hydraulic force transfer
First Claim
1. An orthotic joint for providing extension assist for the radial movement of a rotating member relative to a stationary member in a device requiring pivotal movement, said orthotic joint comprising:
- a proximal joint member having a partially arcuate race extending longitudinally therethrough, a pivoting end, and an opposed attachment end;
a distal joint member having a pivoting end, and an opposed attachment end;
pivotal connection means for attaching said pivoting ends of said proximal joint member and said distal joint member to one another at a pivot point for free rotation of said distal joint member relative to said proximal joint member between a position of maximum flexion and a position of maximum extension;
a plurality of ball bearings positioned within said race, said ball bearings dimensioned slightly smaller than said race for free movement within said race; and
hydraulic force introduction means adapted for applying selected variable amounts of linear hydraulic force against said ball bearings in said race so that said applied linear hydraulic force becomes radially transferred, and when the rotating member in a device requiring pivotal movement is connected to said attachment end of said distal joint member and the stationary member in the device requiring pivotal movement is connected to said attachment end of said proximal joint member, said radially transferred hydraulic force provides the rotating member with extension assist as it moves toward said position of maximum extension.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A joint using a combination of hydraulics and ball bearings to convert liner motion into a radial motion and thereby provide both variable extension assist, as well as an infinite number of flexion stops for controlled flexion flow. Applications may include, but are not limited to, orthotic devices which facilitate the extension and flexion of human joint, such as a knee. The compact configuration of the present invention would provide the cosmetic advantage of allowing such orthotic devices to fit more easily under clothing wherein they would be less noticeable during use.
63 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An orthotic joint for providing extension assist for the radial movement of a rotating member relative to a stationary member in a device requiring pivotal movement, said orthotic joint comprising:
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a proximal joint member having a partially arcuate race extending longitudinally therethrough, a pivoting end, and an opposed attachment end; a distal joint member having a pivoting end, and an opposed attachment end; pivotal connection means for attaching said pivoting ends of said proximal joint member and said distal joint member to one another at a pivot point for free rotation of said distal joint member relative to said proximal joint member between a position of maximum flexion and a position of maximum extension; a plurality of ball bearings positioned within said race, said ball bearings dimensioned slightly smaller than said race for free movement within said race; and hydraulic force introduction means adapted for applying selected variable amounts of linear hydraulic force against said ball bearings in said race so that said applied linear hydraulic force becomes radially transferred, and when the rotating member in a device requiring pivotal movement is connected to said attachment end of said distal joint member and the stationary member in the device requiring pivotal movement is connected to said attachment end of said proximal joint member, said radially transferred hydraulic force provides the rotating member with extension assist as it moves toward said position of maximum extension. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An orthotic joint which is compact in configuration and dimension, and which can be used alone or in combination to discretely provide both variable extension assist and controlled flexion flow with an infinite number of flexion stops to a first object requiring pivotal movement relative to a stationary second object, said orthotic joint comprising:
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a compactly configured proximal joint member having an open-ended race with an arcuate end and a linear end; a compactly configured distal joint member rotationally connected to said proximal joint member at a pivot point; pivotal connection means attached between said proximal joint member and said distal joint member, said pivotal connection means being adapted to permit free movement of said distal joint member relative to said proximal joint member between positions of maximum extension and maximum flexion; a plurality of ball bearings configured and dimensioned for aligned movement within said race, said ball bearings being moved toward said arcuate end of said race when said distal joint member is caused to move toward said position of maximum extension; and a compactly configured hydraulic force introduction means adapted for easily and discretely providing varying amounts of linear hydraulic force against said ball bearings so that when at least one of said distal joint members is connected to a first object requiring pivotal movement, an identical number of said proximal joint members are connected to a stationary second object, said ball bearings are positioned within each of said races, and said hydraulic force introduction means is connected for communication with said linear ends of each of said races being used, said hydraulic force introduction means may be adjusted by a user to introduce an essentially identical selected amount of linear hydraulic force into each of said races wherein said linear hydraulic force is caused to be radially transferred through all of said ball bearings for assisted extension of the first object relative to the second object between said position of maximum flexion and said position of maximum extension, and so that adjustment of said hydraulic force introduction means also provides the first object with controlled flexion flow between said position of maximum extension and said position of maximum flexion as well as an infinite number of flexion stops. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for providing radial hydraulic force transfer which allows both variable extension assist and controlled flexion flow with an infinite number of flexion stops between two cooperating parts of a device requiring pivoting movement, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one orthotic joint with each of said orthotic joints provided having a pivoting distal joint member with a substantially linear configuration and a stationary proximal joint member with a partially arcuate race longitudinally therethrough; also providing a plurality of ball bearings, a number of proximal fluid tubes identical to the number of orthotic joints provided, a number of plungers identical to the number of orthotic joints provided, a hydraulic intensifier with spring means capable of providing hydraulic force which comprises a valve and a valve control, a first object requiring pivotal movement, and a stationary second object; attaching each of said orthotic joints between said first object and said second object so that each of said distal joint members is connected to said first object and each of said proximal joint members is connected to said stationary second object; attaching said hydraulic intensifier in a position on said second object so that said valve control is easily accessible to a user for adjustment of the amount of hydraulic force leaving said hydraulic intensifier and being introduced into all of said races provided; inserting each of said proximal fluid tubes into a different one of said races; inserting an equivalent number of said ball bearings into each one of said races provided so that said ball bearings can move into said proximal fluid tubes during flexion movement of said distal joint members; inserting each of said plungers into a different one of said proximal fluid tubes so that said plungers are in contact with said ball bearings, said plungers being configured so that said plungers each provide a fluid-tight hydraulic seal during movement within one of said proximal fluid tubes; placing said hydraulic intensifier in hydraulic communication with each of said proximal fluid tubes; and using said valve control to adjust the amount of said linear hydraulic force flowing into each of said proximal fluid tubes and allowing all of said plungers provided to simultaneously move said ball bearings toward said arcuate ends of said races to cause radial hydraulic force transfer and extension assist when said first object is moved toward a position of maximum extension relative to said second object, and during flexion flow of said distal joint member to cause adjustable amounts of pressure return as well as an infinite number of flexion stops. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification