EP0361405A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Improved multiaxis controlled motion knee orthosis
Assignee: Townsend Industries Inc
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Filing: 1989-09-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-09-26
Abstract
Abstract An improved multiaxis controlled motion knee orthosis in the form of a knee brace appliance wherein a joint mechanism is provided that utilizes two camming slots (13a,13b) and cam pin followers (A,B) to achieve an arthrokinematic movement comprised of an anterior motion of a femoral link (11) relative to a tibial link (13) during an initial phase of flexion followed by a unicentric phase of movement. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, during the initial range of motion, pivoting occurs through a short transverse arc segment about an upper one (B) of the cam pin followers that is disposed within a longitudinally extending arcuate slot (13b) forming one of the two camming slots, while the unicentric movement is produced, after a lower one (A) of the cam pin followers reaches the anterior end of a transverse slot (13a) forming the other of the two camming slots, the lower cam pin follower serves as the axis of rotation or pivot point for movement of the upper cam pin follower along the longitudinally extending arcuate slot. Additionally, an internal range of motion limiter comprised of one or more pins that can be selectively interconnected between the femoral link and a joint cover plate provide a selective control of extension and/or flexion over a wide range. Furthermore, a femoral cuff is provided that is comprised of a pair of side wings interconnected, solely at an upper end thereof, by a narrow bridge, thereby giving the cuff a generally n-shaped appearance and providing increased comfort for the wearer.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey H. Townsend
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:35
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/01; A61F5/0102; A61F5/0123; A61F2005/0132; A61F2005/0165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
375 words
An appliance for stabilizing a knee joint in sagittal, coronal and transverse planes, having leg grasping means for clasping the appliance to the wearer's leg above and below the knee, means defining a mechanical joint (7) at the medial and lateral sides of the knee, each comprising a pair of depending opposed femoral links (11), each said link terminating in an end portion, a pair of opposed upwardly extending tibial links (13) terminating in an end portion, each said end portion of said tibial links (13) being disposed in overlapping relation to a respective said end portion of said femoral links (11), cam means (13a, 13b, A, B) interconnecting each said end portion of said femoral links (11) to a respective said end portion of said tibial links (13), said cam means being disposed at lateral and medial sides of the knee, each said cam means comprising a first and a second cam pin follower means (A, B) and a first and a second camming slot means (13a, 13b), each said cam pin follower means (A, B) being fixedly poitioned relative to a link (11) of one of said pairs of femoral and tibial links and being relatively displaceable with respect to a link (13) of the other of said pairs of femoral and tibial links within a respective camming slot means (13a, 13b), said first and second cam pin follower means and first and second camming slot means forming a means for constraining the tibia to slide rearwardly relative to the femur for a predetermined distance, during an initial range of flexion of the knee from a straight leg position, characterized by said sliding rearwardly being provided by a pivotal movement of one (11) of said femoral and tibial links relative the other (13) of said femoral and tibial links about said second cam pin follower means (B), and said first and second cam pin follower means (A, B) and said first and second camming slot means (13a, 13b) forming a means for constraining, beyond said initial range of flexion, one (13) of said femoral and tibial links to rotate relative to the other (11) of said femoral and tibial links in a predetermined arcuate path about said first cam pin follower means (A).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
375 words
An appliance for stabilizing a knee joint in sagittal, coronal and transverse planes, having leg grasping means for clasping the appliance to the wearer's leg above and below the knee, means defining a mechanical joint (7) at the medial and lateral sides of the knee, each comprising a pair of depending opposed femoral links (11), each said link terminating in an end portion, a pair of opposed upwardly extending tibial links (13) terminating in an end portion, each said end portion of said tibial links (13) being disposed in overlapping relation to a respective said end portion of said femoral links (11), cam means (13a, 13b, A, B) interconnecting each said end portion of said femoral links (11) to a respective said end portion of said tibial links (13), said cam means being disposed at lateral and medial sides of the knee, each said cam means comprising a first and a second cam pin follower means (A, B) and a first and a second camming slot means (13a, 13b), each said cam pin follower means (A, B) being fixedly poitioned relative to a link (11) of one of said pairs of femoral and tibial links and being relatively displaceable with respect to a link (13) of the other of said pairs of femoral and tibial links within a respective camming slot means (13a, 13b), said first and second cam pin follower means and first and second camming slot means forming a means for constraining the tibia to slide rearwardly relative to the femur for a predetermined distance, during an initial range of flexion of the knee from a straight leg position, characterized by said sliding rearwardly being provided by a pivotal movement of one (11) of said femoral and tibial links relative the other (13) of said femoral and tibial links about said second cam pin follower means (B), and said first and second cam pin follower means (A, B) and said first and second camming slot means (13a, 13b) forming a means for constraining, beyond said initial range of flexion, one (13) of said femoral and tibial links to rotate relative to the other (11) of said femoral and tibial links in a predetermined arcuate path about said first cam pin follower means (A).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said initial range of flexion is about 25°.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
An appliance according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said arcuate path is a circular segment having a center of curvature located at a position corresponding to the location reached by said first cam pin follower means (A) after relative displacement thereof during said initial range of flexion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
An applicance according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said first camming slot means comprises a relatively short, lineal slot (13a) and said second camming slot means comprises a relatively long, arcuate slot (13b).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
An applicance according to claim 4, wherein said first camming slot means (13a) extends in a transverse direction relative to a longitudinal extent of said links (11, 13) and said second camming slot means (13b) extends in a generally longitudinal direction relative thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
An appliance according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said arcuate path is a circular segment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
An appliance according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein both of said first and second cam pin follower means (A, B) are carried by the same one (11) of said femoral and tibial links and said first and second camming slot means (13a, 13b) are formed in the same other one (13) of said femoral and tibial links.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
An appliance according to anyone of the preceding claims, further comprising motion limiter means having adjustable abutment means (13d, 11d, 17) for limiting the extent to which said mechanical joint is able to permit the leg of a wearer to extend.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
An appliance according to claim 8, wherein the adjustable abutment means of said motion limiter means comprises stop pin means (17) caried by one (11) of said femoral and tibial links and an extension stop surface (13d) formed on the other (13) of said femoral and tibial links, and means (11d) for permitting the position of said stop pin means (17) relative to said extension stop surface (13c) to be changed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
An appliance according to claim 9, wherein said motion limiter means further comprises flexion limiting means (13c, 11c, 17) for limiting the extent to which said mechanical joint is able to permit the leg of a wearer to flex.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
An appliance according to claim 10, wherein said flexion limiting means also comprises stop pin means (17) carried by one (11) of said femoral and tibial links and a flexion stop surface (13c) formed on the other of said femoral and tibial links, and means (11c) for permitting the position of said stop pin means relative to said extension stop surface to be changed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
An appliance according to anyone of the claims 1 to 8, further comprising motion limiter means having adjustable abutment means (13c, 11c, 17) for limiting the extent to which said mechanical joint is able to permit the leg of a wearer to flex.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
An appliance according to claim 12, wherein the adjustable abutment means of said motion limiter means comprises stop pin means (17) carried by one (11) of said femoral and tibial links and a flexion stop surface (13c) formed on the other of said femoral and tibial links, and means (11c) for permitting the position of said stop pin means relative to said flexion stop surface to be changed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
88 words
An appliance according to claim 9 or 13, wherein said change permitting means comprises at least one annular washer (19) that is removably mountable on the stop pin means (17) for changing the diameter of a portion of the stop pin means that is disposed between a cover disk (15) covering said overlapping end portions of said femoral and tibial links (11, 13), and said end portion of that one (13) of said tibial and femoral links that will abut the stop pin means upon motion or flexion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
An appliance according to claim 9 or 13, wherein said change permitting means comprises a plurality of holes (11d; 15d), at differing angular positions relative to abutment stop means (13c, 13d), for selective interchangeable mounting of said stop pin means (17).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
89 words
An appliance according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said leg grasping means comprises a femoral cuff (5) and a tibial cuff (3) to which said femoral and tibial links (11, 13) are connected, respectively, and wherein said femoral cuff is n shaped, having a pair of wings 5a) for laterally engaging against an upper leg area of the wearer, said wings being connected only at a top portion of a frontal edge thereof by a connecting bridge (5b) for preventing binding of the quadriceps of the wearer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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