Brace hinge with telescoping condyle pad
AssigneeDJ Orthopedics, LLC
InventorsScott Seligman, Emee Villegas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A brace hinge is provided having an adjustable pressure-applying assembly mounted to an inside of the hinge. A brace including the hinge can apply pressure to a joint in a medial or lateral direction. The hinge includes anterior and posterior apertures containing anterior and posterior adjustment members that control a position and orientation of the pressure-applying assembly relative to the hinge. Through selective adjustment of the adjustment members, the hinge can apply greater pressure to an anterior portion of the joint than to a posterior portion of the joint, and vice versa. A method of treating a joint using a brace including such a hinge is also provided.
Claims17
A brace hinge comprising:
- a first hinge plate including an anterior aperture and a posterior aperture;
- a lateral/medial force application assembly;
- an anterior adjustment member;
- and
- a posterior adjustment member;
- wherein
- the adjustment members are connected at a medial end of each to the force application assembly, and the anterior adjustment member telescopingly engages the anterior aperture and the posterior adjustment member telescopingly engages the posterior aperture, such that manipulation of the adjustment members enables adjustment of a distance between the first hinge plate and the force application assembly.
A method of treating a knee, the method comprising the steps of:
- applying a brace to a leg including the knee;
- and
- applying pressure to a medial or lateral side of the knee;
- wherein
- more of the pressure is applied to an anterior portion of the knee than is applied to a posterior portion of the knee.
A method of treating a knee, the method comprising the steps of:
- applying a brace to a leg including the knee;
- and
- applying pressure to a medial or lateral side of the knee;
- wherein
- more of the pressure is applied to a posterior portion of the knee than is applied to an anterior portion of the knee.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.