108 results about "Orthopedic braces" patented technology

An orthopedic brace designed to immobilize the knee by preventing flexion / extension and limiting medial / lateral movement. The brace includes a main support structure embodied in a unitary, rigid stay member with slidable, semi-rigid cuffs at one or both ends to provide length adjustability. The stay member has no popliteal articulation in order to immobilize the knee joint, and further provides attachment for a Velcro strapping system for easy application to the posterior of the leg. A breathable foam softgood insulates the leg and knee from the main support structure and strapping system yet is completely detachable from the brace so it can be trimmed to any desired length or width, and washed as necessary.

A strap connector assembly for an orthopedic brace has a retention post, which has a post cross-sectional dimension, and a chamber, which has a retention aperture. The retention aperture is bounded at least in part by a flexible segment and has an aperture cross-sectional dimension less than the post cross-sectional dimension when the flexible segment is unstressed. However, the aperture cross-sectional dimension is substantially equal to the post cross-sectional dimension when the flexible segment is stressed by the retention post. The retention aperture, flexible segment and retention post cooperatively enable a user to selectively connect or disconnect a strap to or from the orthopedic brace while maintaining the adjustment of the strap.

An orthopedic brace is provided with an adjustable support assembly having a support arm, a housing and a locking mechanism. The housing includes a travel track which slidably receives the support arm. The locking mechanism includes a lock lever which selectively applies a sufficient force to the support arm to prevent slidable displacement of the support arm in the travel track. The orthopedic brace is further provided with a hinge having a first rotation plate, a second rotation plate, a pivotal connector connecting the first and second rotation plates, a rotation limiting mechanism, and a rotation locking mechanism.

A hinge is provided for an orthopedic brace having a first rotation plate, a second rotation plate, a pivotal connector connecting the first and second rotation plates, a rotation limiting mechanism, and a rotation locking mechanism. The rotation limiting mechanism includes a rotation limiting face formed in the peripheral edge of the second rotation plate and a rotation limiting assembly selectively positionable in a fixed position relative to the first rotation plate. The rotation limiting assembly has a stop face engageable with the rotation limiting face upon rotation of the first and second rotation plates, which limits further rotation in a first rotation direction. The rotation locking mechanism includes a rotation lock pin and a series of lock notches formed in the peripheral edge of the second rotation plate. The rotation lock pin is selectively positionable within one of the series of lock notches, which substantially locks the first and second rotation plates against rotation in the first rotation direction or in a second rotation direction opposite the first.

The vacuum orthopedic brace and method include the use of an inner sleeve or liner, first and second cuffs, and a hinge connecting the cuffs. The cuffs includes a fabric liner or other porous material to act as a wick, and a gasket surrounding the wick material. A valve is preferably provided in the cuff for drawing air from between the cuff and the liner, i.e. to create a vacuum. Furthermore, an external, internal or integrated chamber or rigid reservoir is preferably included, and in communication with the wick filled area between the cuff and liner, to hold a vacuum.

An articulating joint for an orthopedic brace wherein a moveable plate is rotatably connected with respect to a fixed plate. The moveable plate includes a plurality of adjustment apertures positioned around a first axis of rotation wherein one or more coarse limit screws are positioned within the adjustment apertures to limit the range of motion between the moveable plate and the fixed plate within a predetermined arc of rotation. Fine adjustment means are preferably positioned with respect to the fixed plate and obstruct a range of motion of the coarse limit screws. In addition, interchangeable struts are attached to the moveable plate and / or the fixed plate to facilitate connection to the orthopedic brace and custom sizing wherein at least one of the struts is moveable around a second axis of rotation.

A lockable hinge for use in orthopedic braces is provided. When used in a knee brace, the present hinge provides a knee-immobilizing brace that assists persons with standing and / or walking. The hinge is easily converted from a locked mode to a free range of motion mode and vice versa. When the hinge is in the locked mode, patients are better able to stand and walk. With the push of a button, the patient can bend his or her knee to sit or lie down more comfortably. When the hinge is in the free range of motion mode, patients are better able to participate in physical therapy activities without the hinge locking.

An articulating joint for an orthopedic brace wherein a moveable plate is rotatably connected with respect to a fixed plate. The moveable plate includes a plurality of adjustment apertures positioned around a first axis of rotation wherein one or more coarse limit screws are positioned within the adjustment apertures to limit the range of motion between the moveable plate and the fixed plate within a predetermined arc of rotation. Fine adjustment means are preferably positioned with respect to the fixed plate and obstruct a range of motion of the coarse limit screws. In addition, a brake is positioned to fix motion of moveable plate relative to fixed plate.

A frame is provided for an orthopedic brace having a frame assembly and an opposing frame assembly. The frame assembly includes a first longitudinal support and a second longitudinal support rotatably connected by a rotational hinge. The opposing frame assembly includes a first opposing longitudinal support and a second opposing longitudinal support rotatably connected by an opposing rotational hinge. The first longitudinal support has a greater degree of flexibility than the first opposing longitudinal support and / or the second longitudinal support has a greater degree of flexibility than the second opposing longitudinal support to enhance the fit of the frame with the body of a user.

A lightweight orthopedic brace having no rigid structural elements is constructed from flexible material and is designed primarily to provide for restriction of rotational movement and translation about the target joint by providing flexible bracing members which wind in a circumferentially spiraling manner about a target joint to provide active resistance to axial rotation and translation in the joint. The embodiments of the invention disclosed here provide improved means for placing the invention on the body about a joint, improved means for attachment of bracing members to bracing member supports and improved means for adjusting the length of bracing member to selectively provide for restriction of rotational movement about the target joint.

An orthopedic brace designed to immobilize the knee by preventing flexion / extension and limiting medial / lateral movement. The brace includes a main support structure embodied in a unitary, rigid stay member with slidable, semi-rigid cuffs at one or both ends to provide length adjustability. The stay member has no popliteal articulation in order to immobilize the knee joint, and further provides attachment for a Velcro strapping system for easy application to the posterior of the leg. A breathable foam softgood insulates the leg and knee from the main support structure and strapping system yet is completely detachable from the brace so it can be trimmed to any desired length or width, and washed as necessary.

A motion controlling hinge for an orthopedic brace is provided. The hinge includes an actuator secured to one arm, and at least one spring member. As the arm with the actuator pivots in a first direction, at a predetermined flexion angle the actuator applies a force to the spring member, causing the spring member to flex. The spring member exerts a force on the actuator tending to bias the actuator away from the spring member, and tending to bias the arm in a second direction opposite the first direction. In a preferred embodiment, the spring member comprises a plurality of flat bar leaf springs. A movable fulcrum enables adjustment of a force exerted by the spring member on the actuator. A variety of differently sized adapters are securable to the actuator. The size of the adapter determines the flexion angle at which the spring member first exerts force on the actuator.

A sacroiliac belt with a non-elastic inner belt to wrap around the user's hips and an elastic outer belt to wrap from the back to opposite sides of the inner belt. Non-cinchable hook and loop fastener construction is used to secure the inner and outer belts in position. The inner belt includes an inside urethane foam layer with open-cell frictional gripping surface, a non-elastic outside layer of loop material, and a hook tab for engaging the loop material to close the belt. The inner belt may be established with a non-elastic composite foam-fabric structure comprising a bi-laminate of the foam and elastic fabric, and a strip of loop material secured lengthwise onto the fabric side of the bi-laminate. The outer belt includes an elastic strip and hook tabs for connecting to the strip of loop material. The non-elastic composite foam-fabric may be used in other orthopedic braces and supports.

A motion controlling hinge for an orthopedic brace is provided. The hinge includes an actuator secured to one arm, and at least one spring member. As the arm with the actuator pivots in a first direction, at a predetermined flexion angle the actuator applies a force to the spring member, causing the spring member to flex. The spring member exerts a force on the actuator tending to bias the actuator away from the spring member, and tending to bias the arm in a second direction opposite the first direction. In one embodiment, the spring member comprises a plurality of flat bar leaf springs. A movable fulcrum enables adjustment of a force exerted by the spring member on the actuator. A variety of differently sized adapters are securable to the actuator. The size of the adapter determines the flexion angle at which the spring member first exerts force on the actuator. In some embodiments, the hinge includes an “ON” / “OFF” switch that enables a user to disengage biasing force provided by the spring member. When the switch occupies the “OFF” position, the hinge is freely pivotable to a maximum extension angle.

A lockable hinge for use in orthopedic braces is provided. When used in a knee brace, the present hinge provides a knee-immobilizing brace that assists persons with standing and / or walking. The hinge is easily converted from a locked mode to a free range of motion mode and vice versa. When the hinge is in the locked mode, patients are better able to stand and walk. With the push of a button, the patient can bend his or her knee to sit or lie down more comfortably. When the hinge is in the free range of motion mode, patients are better able to participate in physical therapy activities without the hinge locking.

A heating pad system comprises a pad formed of layers of flexible material, a heating element applied to or embedded within a layer of the pad and including conductive yarn, a temperature sensor associated with the pad to generate a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the pad, and a battery-powered control module removably connected to the heating element and the temperature sensor. The control module is operable to supply current to the heating element to generate heat, wherein the current supplied to the heating element is regulated in response to the temperature signal from the temperature sensor to maintain the pad at a substantially constant temperature. The pad layers, heating element, and temperature sensor are machine-washable as a unit. The pad may be worn under an orthopedic or athletic brace.

A frame is provided for an orthopedic brace having a frame assembly and an opposing frame assembly. The frame assembly includes a first longitudinal support and a second longitudinal support rotatably connected by a rotational hinge. The opposing frame assembly includes a first opposing longitudinal support and a second opposing longitudinal support rotatably connected by an opposing rotational hinge. The first longitudinal support has a greater degree of flexibility than the first opposing longitudinal support and / or the second longitudinal support has a greater degree of flexibility than the second opposing longitudinal support to enhance the fit of the frame with the body of a user.

The present flexion and / or extension stop includes a body portion constructed of a hard and durable material and at least one bumper portion constructed of a soft and resilient material. The stop provides quiet operation and non-jarring motion termination for the wearer. The stop also provides positive range of motion control, strength and durability. Also disclosed is an orthopedic brace incorporating the present flexion and / or extension stop.

The invention comprises an elastomeric athletic or orthopedic brace, support for a joint complex and is an elastomeric sleeve having a distal portion and a proximal portion that surrounds and supports one or more joints and with fenestrations or cut-outs and optional supplemental supports or framework so as to provide an external anatomically configured network which augments the effects of the ligaments. The brace can be used prophylactically or therapeutically.

An orthopedic brace of a knee joint is disclosed. The orthopedic brace including a hinge assembly connecting a lower support member and an upper support member to have a certain relative angle, wherein the hinge assembly includes a first link hinged to an upper portion of the lower support member and a lower portion of the upper support member, a second link hinged to the lower support member at a position spaced from the first link and having a linear slit and a curved slit spaced from the linear slit, a first hinge connecting the lower support member to the second link, a second hinge connecting the lower support member to the first link, a third hinge connecting the upper support member to the first link and slidably coupled to the linear slit, and a rotation connector coupled to the upper support member and slidably coupled to the curved slit.

An orthopedic brace is provided with an adjustable support assembly having a support arm, a housing and a locking mechanism. The housing includes a travel track which slidably receives the support arm. The locking mechanism includes a lock lever which selectively applies a sufficient force to the support arm to prevent slidable displacement of the support arm in the travel track. The orthopedic brace is further provided with a hinge having a first rotation plate, a second rotation plate, a pivotal connector connecting the first and second rotation plates, a rotation limiting mechanism, and a rotation locking mechanism.

The embodiment of the invention discloses a preparation method of an orthopedic brace. The preparation method comprises the steps of collecting X-ray images of deformed parts; obtaining bone data of the deformed parts according to the X-ray images; collecting three-dimensional infrared scanning images of the deformed parts; obtaining deformed skin data according to the three-dimensional infrared scanning images, matching the bone data with the skin data, rebuilding a bone model and a skin model of the deformed parts, loading an initial model of the brace to the bone model and the skin model, acquiring the pressure of the initial model of the brace to the skin model and the orthopedic amplitude of the bone model through the finite element analysis, through adjusting the pressure of the initial model of the brace to the skin model, changing the orthopedic amplitude of the bone model, enabling the pressure to be less than the threshold pressure, obtaining the final model of the brace, and printing the final model of the brace by utilizing the 3D (three-dimensional) printing technology. According to the preparation method of the orthopedic brace, through the finite element analysis, the orthopedic amplitude of the brace is predicted and improved, the orthopedic comfort is balanced, and the practicability is high.

A hinge for an orthopedic brace includes: a pivot shaft; a lower leg plate pivoted to the pivot shaft; an upper leg plate; a catch plate having a toothed peripheral edge; and two position adjusting units, each of which includes a rotatable limiting seat, a limiting pin, and a slider body. The rotatable limiting seat defines a housing chamber therein, and is formed with a wall slot. The slider body is slidably disposed in the housing chamber. The limiting pin extends from the slider body through the wall slot for engaging and disengaging the toothed peripheral edge. The catch plate is formed with a guiding groove. The rotatable limiting seat has a tongue protruding into the guiding groove.

A hinge for orthopedic braces includes a pair of support arms, a pair of pivot pins and a hinge plate. The arms are coupled to the hinge plate through the pivot pins and are rotateable between an extension position and a flexion position. The hinge plate has a plurality of adjustment apertures for selective reception of an extension limit pin and a flexion limit pin to selectively restrain rotation of the arms beyond an extension limit and a flexion limit. The pins are retained on the hinge by flexible retainers and are individually positionable among the apertures to adjust the range of motion of the arms. A pair of cover elements pivotally moveable in a plane parallel to the hinge plate provide an open position accommodating access to the pins and a closed position preventing inadvertent displacement of the pins from the apertures