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US 12,714,590 B2Granted
Smart brace and hinge assemblies for same
AssigneeDjo, LLC
InventorRichard E. Gildersleeve
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A smart brace is configured to be worn on a limb over the joint and includes a sensor that gathers data related to motion. The sensor can be included in a hinge assembly of the smart brace. The hinge assembly can include a first gear and a first bar and a second gear and a second bar. The first gear can be meshingly engaged with the second gear such that rotation of one causes corresponding rotation of the other. The first bar and the second bar are configured in size and shape to be flexible in a frontal plane and rigid in a sagittal plane. An end of the first bar and an end of the second bar can be received within corresponding recesses of the first gear and the second gear.
Claims20
A smart brace comprising:
- a flexible compressive garment configured to be worn on a limb over a joint, the flexible compressive garment comprising:
- a sleeve,
- a rigid molded upper receptacle fixedly attached to an upper portion of the sleeve, and
- a rigid molded lower receptacle fixedly attached to a lower portion of the sleeve;
- and
- a smart hinge removably coupled to the flexible compressive garment, the smart hinge comprising:
- a first bar at least partially received within the rigid molded upper receptacle of the flexible compressive garment above the joint, the first bar configured to rotate about a first axis with flexion or extension of the joint, wherein:
- the rigid molded upper receptacle comprises an upper slot that removably receives a second end of the first bar to couple the first bar to the upper portion, and
- the first bar comprises a first insert overmolded on the first bar between a first end and the second end, the first insert configured to engage with the upper slot, thereby providing a tight fit between the first bar and the upper slot and distributing contact forces between the first bar and the upper slot over a larger surface area to substantially reduce wear therebetween;
- a second bar at least partially received within the rigid molded lower receptacle of the flexible compressive garment coupled to a lower portion of the flexible compressive garment below the joint, the second bar configured to rotate about a second axis with flexion or extension of the joint, wherein:
- the rigid molded lower receptacle comprises a lower slot that removably receives a second end of the second bar to couple the second bar to the lower portion, and
- the second bar comprises a second insert overmolded on the second bar between a first end and the second end, the second insert configured to engage with the lower slot, thereby providing a tight fit between the second bar and the lower slot and distributing contact forces between the second bar and the lower slot over a larger surface area to substantially reduce wear therebetween;
- and
- at least one sensor configured to gather data related to motion of the joint.
11 more elements
A hinge assembly for a smart brace, the hinge assembly comprising:
- a first geared arm assembly comprising a first gear and a first bar, a first end of the first bar received within a recess of the first gear;
- a second geared arm assembly comprising a second gear and a second bar, a first end of the second bar received within a recess of the second gear;
- and
- a hinge plate, the first geared arm assembly connected to the hinge plate for a rotation about a first axis and the second geared arm assembly connected to the hinge plate for a rotation about a second axis, and the first gear meshingly engaged with the second gear such that the rotation of the first geared arm assembly causes the rotation of the second geared arm assembly,
- wherein the hinge assembly is configured to be removably coupled to a flexible compressive garment comprising:
- a sleeve,
- a rigid molded upper receptacle fixedly attached to an upper portion of the sleeve, and
- a rigid molded lower receptacle fixedly attached to a lower portion of the sleeve;
- and
- wherein:
- the first bar comprises a first insert overmolded on the first bar between the first end and a second end of the first bar, the first insert configured to engage with an upper slot of the rigid molded upper receptacle that removably receives the second end of the first bar to couple the first bar to the upper portion of the sleeve, thereby providing a tight fit between the first bar and the upper slot and distributing contact forces between the first bar and the upper slot over a larger surface area to substantially reduce wear therebetween, and
- the second bar comprises a second insert overmolded on the second bar between the first end and a second end of the second bar, the second insert configured to engage with a lower slot of the rigid molded lower receptacle that removably receives the second end of the second bar to couple the second bar to the lower portion of the sleeve, thereby providing a tight fit between the second bar and the lower slot and distributing contact forces between the second bar and the lower slot over a larger surface area to substantially reduce wear therebetween.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.