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Joint brace hinges
| Details |
Inventors: Tillinghast, Theodore V.; Bastyr, Charles A.; Simmons, Kevin D.;
Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc. (Memphis, TN)
Primary Examiner: Dvorak; Linda C.M.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Ewing, IV; James L., Sutcliffe; Geoff L. Kilpatrick Stockton LLP
Hinges for orthopedic and rehabilitation braces allow intuitive, convenient and positive control and adjustment of the limits to which the braces may extend or flex. Such hinges also allow convenient locking of such braces. A flexion switch and an extension switch allow convenient repositioning of stops or limits which limit flexion and extension of the brace. Such switches may be repositioned, however, only with repositioning pressure for moving the switch to a new position combined with safety pressure for unlocking the switch. A brace locking switch may also be included. Such hinges promote more effective post-operative and rehabilitation results because they among other things allow users easily to change the flexion, extension and fixation limitations of their braces conveniently and in real time such as during post-operative and physical therapy sessions and workouts. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION Braces according to the present invention feature hinges which allow intuitive, convenient and positive control of flexion, extension and fixation of the knee or other joint.
Such hinges include a number of switches which may be conveniently positioned by the user in order to adjust and control knee flexion, extension and, if desired, fixation of the braces at various angular positions.
Despite their convenience, the switches require no sacrifice in positive locking of the brace at the selected limits of flexion and extension; instead, they reduce or virtually eliminate the possibility that inadvertent repositioning and adjustment of flexion and extension limits could occur.
In a preferred embodiment, such switches require downward pressure, combined with simultaneous sliding pressure relative to the brace, in order for unlocking and repositioning to occur.
As a result, contact of the brace with nearby objects such as therapy equipment, for instance, does not generally cause repositioning of the switches and concomitant inadvertent change of flexion or extension limits.
Similar switching mechanisms may be employed to lock the thigh and calf bars of braces in position relative to one another for various purposes as described more fully herein below.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide orthopedic and rehabilitation braces with hinges which allow intuitive, convenient and positive control and adjustment of flexion, extension and fixation limits of the braces and the joints on which they are used.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide orthopedic and rehabilitation braces whose flexion, extension and fixation limits may be adjusted easily and conveniently during therapy using one hand.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide orthopedic and rehabilitation braces which allow convenient repositioning of flexion, extension and fixation limits via structure which requires deliberate manual pressure in order for repositioning and adjustment of flexion, extension and/or fixation limits to occur
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Exercise Devices 
