United States Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Wayne R Janke

Dan J Edwards

A knee brace includes a cage-type frame formed as a rigid unit and having upper lateral and medial uprights, lower lateral and medial uprights, and a generally U-shaped fixed posterior brace that extends behind the knee. The pairs of upper and lower uprights extend along upper and lower lateral and medial sides of the upper and lower leg, respectively, above and below the knee joint. Long lateral and medial pivot arms are hinged to the upper lateral and medial uprights, respectively, and these pivot arms hold upper and intermediate flexible straps releasably securing the upper portion of the brace to the thigh well above the knee joint. A flexible lower strap affixed to the lower uprights releasably secures the lower portion of the brace to the patient's lower leg. A flexible U-shaped posterior strap affixed adjacent the knee joint extends behind the knee joint to controllably restrict hyperextension. The hinged connection of each pivot arm to its corresponding upright allows the upper portion of the brace with its upper and intermediate straps to be releasably secured to the thigh so that the upper portion of the brace rotates with a normal walking gait. Rotational stops at the lateral and medial pivot joints limit rotation to restrict hyperextension. These pivot joints include noise-free bushings. The pivot joints are spaced a short distance above the knee joint axis to improve cosmetics. The hinged portions of the brace functionally distribute thigh forces as well as avoiding slippage of the brace during use.

Hinged cage-type knee brace

A releasable controlled-motion ankle-foot orthosis includes an elongated shell adapted for releasable attachment to the lower leg above the ankle joint, a foot support adapted for releasable attachment to the foot, and lateral and medial controlled-motion ankle joint assemblies attached to the shell and to the foot support in alignment with the axis of rotation through the ankle joint. Each ankle joint assembly includes a rigid support plate affixed at one end to the shell, extending across the ankle joint, and affixed at the other end to the foot support. Sets of cam members in matching pairs are used interchangeably for controlling range of motion in plantar flexion and dorsiflexion. Each individualy selectable cam member is rotatably mounted to the support plate for contact with a stop on the support plate to control angular motion. Each cam member has a unique combination of anterior and posterior cam surfaces that contact or rotate into contact with corresponding anterior and posterior portions of the stop to provide different selective angles of rotation in plantar flexion and dorsiflexion, including extended range of motion in plantar flexion and dorsiflexion, a stop in dorsiflexion combined with controlled angular motion in plantar flexion, and vice versa, no motion in either plantar flexion or dorsiflexion, and a (+) (-) cam to accommodate alterations to lessen angular motion control.

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Pasadena, CA, United States of America

Wayne R Janke