Rotational hinge assembly for a knee brace having an osteoarthritis treatment function
Inventors
Mason, Bradley R. • Al-Jadda, Aadel
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-7485103-B2
Publication Date
2009-02-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
A hinge assembly for a knee brace includes a screw seat, a screw seat gear, an adjustment screw, a condyle engagement member, and an adjustment actuator gear. The screw seat has a bore with an internal thread. The screw seat gear is positioned at an end of the screw seat and the screw seat rotates in response to rotation of the screw seat gear. The adjustment actuator gear engages the screw seat gear and the screw seat gear rotates in response to rotation of the adjustment actuator gear. The adjustment screw has an external thread that is threaded into the internal thread of the screw seat, thereby enabling outward or inward telescoping of the adjustment screw within the bore in response to rotation of the adjustment actuator gear. The adjustment screw is connected to the condyle engagement member, thereby enabling proximal displacement of the condyle engagement member in response to outward telescoping of the adjustment screw and enabling distal displacement of the condyle engagement member in response to inward telescoping of the adjustment screw.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a hinge assembly for a knee brace intended for osteoarthritis treatment. The hinge assembly includes first and second screw seats with respective bores and internal thread, and first and second screw seat gears with first and second rotary seat gear teeth, wherein the screw seats and their gears are rotationally static with respect to one another.
An adjustment actuator gear has rotary actuator gear teeth that engage the rotary seat gear teeth, enabling the first and second screw seat gears to rotate in response to rotation of the adjustment actuator gear. First and second adjustment screws include external thread threaded into the internal thread of the bores of the screw seats, thereby enabling outward or inward telescoping of the adjustment screws within the bores in response to rotation of the adjustment actuator gear, and the adjustment screws are rotationally dynamic with respect to the screw seats and the screw seat gears.
A condyle engagement member is connected to the adjustment screws so that proximal displacement is enabled in response to outward telescoping of the adjustment screws, and distal displacement is enabled in response to inward telescoping of the adjustment screws. The hinge assembly further includes a displacement indicator using a rotary display gear with position reference markings visible through a window, and hinge support plates and a hinge cover plate arranged to cooperate with the adjustment actuator gear.
Claims Coverage
The provided material identifies three independent claims for a knee-brace hinge assembly, centered on a rotational actuator gear driving rotationally static screw-seat gears, which drive linearly telescoping adjustment screws connected to a condyle engagement member with proximal and distal displacement. One claim further includes a displacement indicator showing degree of proximal or distal displacement.
Rotationally static screw seats driven by an adjustment actuator gear
A hinge assembly for a knee brace comprising first and second screw seats with bores and internal thread; first and second screw seat gears with rotary seat gear teeth fixably connected to ends of the screw seats such that the first and second screw seats and the first and second screw seat gears are rotationally static with respect to one another; and an adjustment actuator gear with rotary actuator gear teeth engaging the first and second rotary seat gear teeth thereby enabling the first and second screw seat gears to rotate in response to rotation of the adjustment actuator gear.
Telescoping adjustment screws coupled to proximal and distal condyle displacement
First and second adjustment screws with external thread threaded into the internal thread of the bores of the first and second screw seats thereby enabling outward or inward telescoping of the adjustment screws within the bores in response to rotation of the adjustment actuator gear, wherein the first and second adjustment screws are rotationally dynamic with respect to the first and second screw seats and the first and second screw seat gear; and a condyle engagement member connected to the first and second adjustment screws, thereby enabling proximal displacement of the condyle engagement member in response to outward telescoping and enabling distal displacement in response to inward telescoping.
Rotationally static screw seat gear and rotationally dynamic adjustment screw for linear displacement
A hinge assembly comprising a screw seat having a screw seat thread; a screw seat gear fixably connected to the screw seat wherein the screw seat and the screw seat gear are rotationally static with respect to one another such that the screw seat rotates in with rotation of the screw seat gear; and an adjustment screw with an adjustment screw thread engaging the screw seat thread thereby enabling inward or outward linear displacement of the adjustment screw relative to the screw seat in response to rotation of the screw seat gear, wherein the adjustment screw is rotationally dynamic with respect to the screw seat and the screw seat gear.
Condyle engagement member displacement indicated by degree
A hinge assembly comprising a screw seat and screw seat gear rotationally static with respect to one another; an adjustment screw engaging a screw seat thread thereby enabling inward or outward linear displacement of the adjustment screw relative to the screw seat in response to rotation of the screw seat gear, wherein the adjustment screw is rotationally dynamic; a condyle engagement member connected to the adjustment screw thereby enabling proximal displacement in response to outward displacement of the adjustment screw and enabling distal displacement in response to inward displacement; and a displacement indicator displaying a degree of proximal or distal displacement of the condyle engagement member.
Across the independent claims, the claim coverage centers on rotationally static screw seat and screw seat gear relationships driven by an adjustment actuator gear or screw seat gear, and rotationally dynamic adjustment screws that translate rotation into inward and outward linear displacement connected to a condyle engagement member for proximal and distal displacement. One independent claim further requires a displacement indicator displaying the degree of proximal or distal displacement of the condyle engagement member.
Stated Advantages
Enables proximal displacement of the condyle engagement member in response to outward telescoping or displacement of the adjustment screws or screw.
Enables distal displacement of the condyle engagement member in response to inward telescoping or displacement of the adjustment screws or screw.
Displays a degree of proximal or distal displacement of the condyle engagement member.
Documented Applications
Osteoarthritis treatment function for a rotational hinge knee brace.
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