Orthopedic Technology, Inc.

Alexis G Daneman

Jean-Paul Nielsen

Robert D Polsky

A malleable, handed, wrist brace extending between the forearm and hand for immobilizing the wrist is disclosed. The brace includes a bendable and cut work hardened aluminum sheet cut with a central volar extension ending in a palmar support. The volar extension includes paired transversely extending forearm gripping arms and paired transversely extending wrist joint gripping arms. At the hand end of the brace, paired transversely extending palm gripping arms extend to opposite sides of the palm from just above the palmar support. The cut aluminum sheet has a molded exterior and liner interior bonded to opposite side with the gripper arms bent to confront the liner to the limb to be immobilized. The palmar support portion of the brace confronts a convex portion of the palmar support to the palm to provide preferred anatomical positioning of the hand with respect to the forearm (roughly 5.degree. of dorsi-flexion at the wrist). The brace is virtually self directing in its installation and requires minimum dexterity in such installation so that even a partially disabled user can install the disposable brace.

Wrist brace

An activity knee brace is disclosed in which the hinge axis of the brace articulates to overlie during knee flexure the moving center of pivot of the condylar of the femur with respect to the plateau of the fibula tibia. The brace consists of a thigh portion, a lower leg portion, and a hinge axis therebetween. The thigh portion supports the brace in the thigh. The lower leg portion supports the brace to the lower leg. The hinge axis is designed to overlie the point of pivot of the knee. Articulating of the activity brace hinge axis occurs from the thigh portion. The thigh portion is braced at the upper end to the thigh. The thigh portion is braced at the lower end at the medial supracondylar area by pad and adjustable strap system contacting and locating on the supracondylar hollow on the inside of the upper leg. The pads at the lower thigh portion of the brace are mounted at a pivotal axis. This pivotal axis is offset with respect to the hinge axis at a distance approximately 11/8 th inches. During movement of the brace knee between extension and flexion, the pivotal movement of the supracondylar pads causes the hinge axis of the brace to articulate. The disclosed articulation imparted to the hinge axis of the brace tracks in large the moving point of pivot of the knee. Consequently, an activity brace is disclosed having improved reinforcement of the knee at a simple hinge axis.

Knee brace with articulating brace hinge axis

The disclosed invention is an improved semi-rigid, ankle support generally conforming to the instep, ankle, and lower leg, and wearable inside a shoe, said support being comprised of one or more non-elastic panels and one or more elastic panels extending at least part of the length of said support, whereby the ankle is largely supported and immobilized, yet the support conforms to the foot, ankle, and lower leg and does not significantly reduce ankle function. Preferably, the support is comprised of a largely sock-shaped unit closable at the front, defining apertures through which the heel and the toes extend, and sometimes including stays to improve the support given the ankle. This unit is formed of panels of non-elastic material and at least one panel of elastic material, preferably three such elastic panels. One elastic panel is usually located on each side of the unit and extends substantially the length of the entire unit, and one elastic panel is located in the center back of the unit and extends the length thereof. The side elastic panels are preferably comprised of sequentially overlapping sections of elastic material, each section aligned so that the direction of elastic stretch is generally normal to the axis of the leg or foot adjacent the section, and the back elastic panel is preferably comprised of one double-thick section of elastic material similarly aligned.

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Danville, CA, United States of America

Alexis G Daneman