Orthopedic Technology, Inc.

Gary Stafford

John C Morris

Michael Nash

An ankle pivot cap for the capture of a dorsiflexion detent pin and a plantar flexion detent pin is disclosed. Each respective pin is captured at its head with the flat pin head exposed to a resilient washer and the pin shank protruding from a restrictive track. Each path has shank capturing turns arrayed in a continuous 'W' shaped path. Each of the shank capturing turns corresponds to a dorsiflexion limiting aperture or a plantar flexion limiting aperture. This correspondence allows shank protrusion with the respective dorsiflexion detent pin and plantar flexion detent pin held in spaced relation to the ankle pivot cap in precise relationship for insertion to corresponding dorsiflexion limiting apertures or plantar flexion limiting apertures on the orthotic. Consequently, adjustment of the orthotic is limited to cap removal, pin setting by movement to a pin capturing turn, followed by reinsertion of the cap to the ankle pivot. An adjustment protocol results allowing either patient or provider to rapidly set and easily adjust the disclosed range of motion appliance.

Range of motion cap for range of motion orthotic

An activity knee brace is disclosed in which the structural hinge axis of the brace moves to overlie the changing center of pivot of the condyle 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 structural hinge axis therebetween. The thigh portion supports the brace in the thigh; the lower leg portion supports the brace to the lower leg. The thigh portion is braced at the lower end at the medial supracondylar area by lateral and medial condylar pads in conjunction with an adjustable strap system. Provision is made to differentially adjust the lateral and medial condylar pads towards one another over the supracondylar hollow to affix and track the relative movement of the supracondylar hollow of the femur relative to the plateau of the fibula tibia. A pivot for the lateral and medial condylar pads is provided off axis with respect to the structural hinge of the brace. This pivot mates with a lineal cam on the pad, allowing towards and away movement of the condylar pads from the structural pivot of the brace. The towards and away movement of the condylar pads is in turn limited by arcuate cam which acts at approximate right angles to the lineal cam. Accordingly, dependent upon the angle of the condylar pads with respect to the thigh brace, dynamic adjustment of the structural hinge axis to overly the center of pivot of the knee occurs.

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Hayward, CA, United States of America

Gary Stafford