Frame for an orthopedic brace including offset hinges
Inventors
Ceriani, Dylann D. • Mason, Bradley R.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-7479122-B2
Publication Date
2009-01-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
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.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a frame for an orthopedic brace that includes a frame assembly and an opposing frame assembly connected by hinge structures. A rotational hinge rotatably connects first and second longitudinal supports, while offset hinges connect frame members and provide a greater degree of flexibility than adjacent frame members.
In one configuration, a medial frame assembly and a lateral frame assembly are included, where the medial upper longitudinal support and medial lower longitudinal support are connected by a medial central joint. The lateral frame assembly includes upper and lower longitudinal supports connected by a lateral central joint and has a rigid unitary structure, with the lateral frame assembly being more rigid than the medial frame assembly.
The frame further includes an upper cuff and a lower cuff that connect the medial frame assembly and the lateral frame assembly, with rigid fixed attachment of the lateral longitudinal supports to the cuffs and flexible connection of the medial longitudinal supports to the cuffs. By using offset hinges with greater flexibility and defined rigidity relationships between medial and lateral assemblies, the brace frame supports precise fit and conformance of the orthopedic brace relative to a user's leg.
Claims Coverage
The partial set includes four independent claims. Across these claims, the inventive coverage is centered on relative flexibility of offset hinges versus adjacent frame members, defined rigidity of opposing assemblies, and specific connectivity between longitudinal supports and cuffs or frame assembly members.
Flexible offset hinge relative to adjacent frame members
A frame for an orthopedic brace comprising a frame assembly including a first longitudinal support and a second longitudinal support rotatably connected by a rotational hinge, where an offset hinge connects first and second frame members and has a greater degree of flexibility than the frame members; and a second offset hinge connects a frame assembly member to the first longitudinal support, with greater flexibility than the second frame member and the frame assembly member.
Rigid opposing longitudinal supports with more rigid lateral frame assembly
A frame for an orthopedic brace comprising a medial frame assembly including a medial upper longitudinal support and a medial lower longitudinal support connected by a medial central joint, and a lateral frame assembly including a lateral upper longitudinal support and a lateral lower longitudinal support connected by a lateral central joint; where the lateral frame assembly is more rigid than the medial frame assembly.
Offset hinge provides greater flexibility in mediolateral direction
A frame for an orthopedic brace comprising an upper longitudinal support and a lower longitudinal support rotatably connected by a rotational hinge essentially rigid in a mediolateral direction, where upper and lower offset hinges connect frame members and have a greater degree of flexibility than adjacent frame members in the mediolateral direction.
Precisely fitting a knee brace by strap tension to bendably deform offset-hinge regions
A method for precisely fitting a knee brace with a leg of a user, comprising providing a knee brace having a frame assembly, an opposing frame assembly, an upper cuff and a lower cuff, and connecting at least one strap with sufficient tension to bendably deform the upper longitudinal support and/or the lower longitudinal support at offset-hinge regions into close fitting conformance with the upper leg and/or the lower leg.
Across the independent claims, the principal structural concept is to use offset hinges that have a greater degree of flexibility than adjacent frame members, while maintaining rotatable hinge connections and rigid fixed attachment on the opposing side. The method claim builds on these relationships by using strap tension to bendably deform the offset-hinge-connected regions into close fitting conformance with a user's leg.
Stated Advantages
Improved/adjustable conformance to a user's leg
Enhanced suspension with reduced migration
Precise fit without loss of support
Improved intimate contact
Force-neutral vs force-bias configuration prior to tightening straps
Documented Applications
Orthopedic brace application including a knee brace for a user's leg (upper leg, lower leg, and knee) requiring close fitting conformance.
Method of precisely fitting a knee brace on a leg by placing the brace and connecting at least one strap with sufficient tension to deform offset-hinge regions into close fitting conformance.
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