Articulated ankle foot orthosis

A method of adjusting an ankle foot orthosis to a patient, the orthosis having a hinge functionally interposed between a lower leg connector and a foot connector, and having at least a first digit moveable between a first stop and a second stop, the method comprising:

• separating a first hinge member and a second hinge member of the hinge;
• inserting a first spacer between the first digit and the first stop, and a second spacer between the first digit and the second stop;
• and
• assembling the first hinge member and the second hinge member,
• wherein the second hinge member includes a first recessed area and a second recessed area, the first recessed area is configured to retain at least the first spacer being a first dampener adapted to resist against excessive plantarflexion or dorsiflexion of a foot of a patient and the second recessed area is configured to retain the second spacer being a composite spring positioned between a second side of the first digit and the first stop while the first dampener is positioned on a first side of the first digit, and
• wherein the composite spring is compressed and opened in response to movement of the first digit in a second direction opposite a first direction and is configured to provide return energy in response to movement of the first digit back in the first direction in response to a push-off of the foot of the patient.

An ankle foot orthosis comprising:

• a lower leg connector;
• a foot connector;
• and
• a hinge functionally interposed between the lower leg connector and the foot connector, the hinge including a first hinge member interlocked with a second hinge member,
• wherein the first hinge member includes at least a first digit moveable between at least a first stop formed as part of the second hinge member, and
• wherein the second hinge member further includes (i) a first recessed area configured to retain at least a first dampener positioned adjacent to the first digit and a second dampener and (ii) a second recessed area configured to retain a third dampener and a fourth dampener and a second digit is interposed between the third dampener and the fourth dampener.

An ankle foot orthosis comprising:

• a lower leg connector;
• a foot connector;
• and
• a hinge functionally interposed between the lower leg connector and the foot connector, the hinge including a first hinge member interlocked with a second hinge member, wherein the first hinge member includes at least a first digit moveable between at least a first stop formed as part of the second hinge member, and
• a first resiliently compressible material that provides at least 1 degree of play when the first digit is juxtaposed against the first stop, and a second resiliently compressible material that provides at least 1 degree of play when the first digit is juxtaposed against a second stop formed as part of the second hinge member, and the first resiliently compressible material has a different amount of play than the second resiliently compressible material for the same force.