Orthotic device for a joint of the human body
First Claim
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1. An orthotic device for a joint formed between adjacent human body parts, wherein the joint is flexed by tissue extending across the joint, said device comprising:
- an elongated element having at least a portion thereof that is elastic, such that the elongated element is resiliently extendable; and
structure operable to mount the element on the body so that the element extends across the joint in a mimicking relationship with the tissue,said structure including a pair of anchors operable to anchor the element to respective ones of the body, parts, and a retainer located between the anchors and configured to prevent substantially all movement of the element in the vicinity of the joint other than generally longitudinal shifting of the element relative to the retainer,said retainer presenting a pair of opposed side margins defining therebetween a width and overlying a portion of said elongated element and presenting through passageway extending the entire width of said retainer between said opposed side margins,said element extending through said passageway and being longitudinally shiftable relative to the retainer.
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Abstract
An orthotic device for a joint of the human body includes an elongated element having an elastic portion, and structure for mounting the element on the body in a mimicking relationship with one of the muscles and the associated tendons collectively extending across the joint. The structure is operable to secure the element to the body in such a manner that the element extends across the joint and is retained in the vicinity of the joint against substantially all movement other than linear extension and retraction.
75 Citations
53 Claims
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1. An orthotic device for a joint formed between adjacent human body parts, wherein the joint is flexed by tissue extending across the joint, said device comprising:
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an elongated element having at least a portion thereof that is elastic, such that the elongated element is resiliently extendable; and structure operable to mount the element on the body so that the element extends across the joint in a mimicking relationship with the tissue, said structure including a pair of anchors operable to anchor the element to respective ones of the body, parts, and a retainer located between the anchors and configured to prevent substantially all movement of the element in the vicinity of the joint other than generally longitudinal shifting of the element relative to the retainer, said retainer presenting a pair of opposed side margins defining therebetween a width and overlying a portion of said elongated element and presenting through passageway extending the entire width of said retainer between said opposed side margins, said element extending through said passageway and being longitudinally shiftable relative to the retainer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 21, 22, 23)
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11. An orthotic device for a joint formed between adjacent human body parts, wherein the joint is flexed by tissue extending across the joint, said device comprising:
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an elongated element including an elastic portion; and structure operable to mount the element on the body so that the element extends across the joint in a mimicking relationship with the tissue, said structure including a pair of anchors operable to anchor the element to respective ones of the body parts, and a retainer located between the anchors and configured to prevent substantially all movement of the element in the vicinity of the joint other than generally longitudinal shifting of the element relative to the retainer, said retainer presenting a pair of opposed side margins defining therebetween a width and overlying a portion of said elongated element and presenting a through passageway extending the entire width of said retainer between said opposed side margins, said element extending through said passageway and being longitudinally shiftable relative to the retainer, one of said anchors including tensioning means for adjusting the tension of the elastic portion, said anchors each including a cuff configured to be releasably secured about the respective body part, said retainer including a band positioned over the element in the vicinity of the joint so that the element is shiftably disposed between the body and the band. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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17. An orthotic device for a joint formed between adjacent human body parts, wherein the joint is flexed by tissue extending across the joint, said device comprising:
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an elongated element including an elastic portion; and structure operable to mount the element on the body so that the element extends across the joint in a mimicking relationship with the tissue, said structure including a pair of anchors operable to anchor the element to respective ones of the body parts, and a retainer located between the anchors and configured to prevent substantially all movement of the element in the vicinity of the joint other than generally longitudinal shifting of the element relative to the retainer, said retainer presenting a pair of opposed side margins defining therebetween a width and overlying a portion of said elongated element and presenting a through passageway extending the entire width of said retainer between said opposed side margins, said element extending through said passageway and being longitudinally shiftable relative to the retainer, said retainer including a band positioned over the element in the vicinity of the joint so that the element is shiftably disposed between the body and the band. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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24. An ankle orthotic comprising:
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an elongated element having at least a portion thereof that is elastic, such that the elongated element is resiliently extendable; and structure for securing the element on the body to extend across the ankle in a mimicking relationship with one of the muscles and the associated tendons collectively extending a cross the ankle, said structure including a leg anchor for anchoring the element adjacent one end thereof to the leg, a foot anchor for anchoring the element adjacent an opposite end thereof to the foot, and a retainer located between the anchors and configured to prevent substantially all movement of the element in the vicinity of the ankle joint other than generally longitudinal shifting of the element relative to the retainer, said retainer presenting a pair of opposed side margins defining therebetween a width and overlying a portion of said elongated element and presenting a through passageway extending the entire width of said retainer between said opposed side margins, said element extending through said passageway and being longitudinally shiftable relative to the retainer. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 33, 38, 39)
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31. An ankle orthotic comprising:
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an elongated element including an elastic portion; and structure for securing the element on the body to extend across the ankle in a mimicking relationship with one of the muscles and the associated tendons collectively extending across the ankle, said stricture including a leg anchor for anchoring the element adjacent one end thereof to the leg, a foot anchor for anchoring the element adjacent an opposite end thereof to the foot, and a retainer located between the anchors and configured to prevent substantially all movement of the element in the vicinity of the ankle joint other than generally longitudinal shifting of the element relative to the retainer, said retainer presenting a pair of opposed side margins defining there between a width and overlying a portion of said elongated element and presenting a through passageway extending the entire width of said retainer between said opposed side margins, said element extending through said passageway and being longitudinally shiftable relative to the retainer, said leg anchor or said foot anchor including tensioning means for adjusting the tension of the elastic portion, said leg anchor including a leg cuff configured to be releasably secured about the leg, and said foot anchor including a foot cuff configured to be releasably secured about the foot, said structure including a pliable casing conforming generally to the shape of the ankle and adjacent portions of the leg and foot for removable placement thereon, said retainer including a band secured to the casing in the vicinity of the ankle in a manner to form a loop that defines the passageway through which the element extends. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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34. An ankle orthotic comprising
an elongated element including an elastic portion; - and
structure for securing the element on the body to extend across the ankle in a mimicking relationship with one of the muscles and the associated tendons collectively extending across the ankle, said structure including a leg anchor for anchoring the element adjacent one end thereof to the leg, a foot anchor for anchoring the element adjacent an opposite end thereof to the foot, and a retainer located between the anchors and configured to prevent substantially all movement of the clement in the vicinity of the ankle joint other than generally longitudinal shifting of the element relative to the retainer, said retainer presenting a pair of opposed side margins defining therebetween a width and overlying a portion of said elongated element and presenting a though passageway extending the entire width of said retainer between said opposed side margins, said element extending through said passageway and being longitudinally shiftable relative to the retainer, said retainer including a band positioned over the element in the vicinity of the ankle so that the element is shiftably disposed between the body and the band. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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40. A wrist orthotic comprising:
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an elongated element having at least a portion thereof that is elastic, such that the elongated element is resiliently extendable; and structure for securing the element on the body to extend across the wrist in a mimicking relationship with one of the muscles and the associated tendons collectively extending across the wrist, said structure including an arm anchor for anchoring the element adjacent one end thereof to the arm, a hand anchor for anchoring the element adjacent an opposite end thereof to the hand, and a retainer located between the anchors and configured to prevent substantially all movement of the element in the vicinity of the wrist joint other than generally longitudinal shifting of the element relative to the retainer, said retainer presenting a pair of opposed side margins defining therebetween a width and overlying a portion of said elongated element and presenting a through passageway extending the entire width of said retainer between said opposed side margins, said element extending through said passageway and being longitudinally shiftable relative to the retainer. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification