# US 5,346,463 A · Dynamic variable torque long bone torsion reducer

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- Number: US 5,346,463 A
- Document ID: US5346463A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/893,174
- Filed: 1992-06-03
- Granted: 1994-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 1992-06-03
- Inventors: Mark F. Devens
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5346463A

## CPC

- A61F 5/0193: {Apparatus specially adapted for treating hip dislocation; Abduction splints}
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

An orthopedic appliance which when attached to the distal ends of the extremities of a user, applies a dynamic corrective torque or force to the long bones of those extremities. A pair of torque applying members, each of which is attached to a distal end of one of the pair of long bones, are supported for rotation on an elongated spacing member, a pair of dynamic force applying members create a torque between each of the torque applying members and the elongated spacing member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An orthopedic appliance for applying a dynamic corrective force or torque to the long bones of a user, said orthopedic device comprising,
A. an elongated spacing member having first and second ends,
B. first and second torque applying members, said first and second torque applying members being supported for rotation on said first and second ends respectively of said elongated spacing member,
C. first and second attachment means for securing the feet of a user to said first and second torque applying members for rotation therewith,
D. first and second torque generating means,
E. means for supporting said first and second torque generating means such that said first torque generating means applies a torque between said elongated spacing member and said first torque applying member, and said second torque generating means applies a torque between said elongated spacing member and said second torque applying member, whereby a dynamic torque is continuously applied to the long bones of a user.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 1, wherein said first and second torque generating means are first and second coil springs.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 2, wherein said first and second coil springs are forms of round spring wire.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 3, wherein said first and second coil springs each have first and second ends, the first ends of said coil springs being anchored on said elongated spacing member, and the second ends of said coil springs being anchored on said first and second torque applying members respectively.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 4, wherein two or more anchor means are provided on said elongated spacing member for each of said coil springs, preselecting the torque applied to said torque applying members by preselecting one of said anchor means for each of said coil springs, for anchoring said first ends of said coil springs.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 5, wherein said anchor means are projections extending from said elongated spacing member which are engaged by said coil spring.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 5, wherein said anchor means are projections extending from said torque applying members which are engaged by said coil spring.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 4, wherein two or more anchor means are provided on each of said torque applying members for each of said coil springs, preselecting the torque applied to said torque applying members by preselecting one of said anchor means for each of said coil springs, for anchoring said second ends of said coil springs.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 8, wherein first and second tension adjusting means are provided to adjust the torque applied by said first and second coil springs to said first and second torque applying members.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 9, wherein said first and second springs are wound around first and second spools, with said inner ends of said first and second springs being anchored to said first and second spools respectively, said first and second spools being keyed to said first and second pins respectively, first and second pockets being provided in said elongated spacing member, first and second spring covers being received in said first and second pockets, said outer ends of said first and second springs being anchored to said first and second spring covers respectively, and said first and second spring covers being adjustable secured to said elongated spacing member so as to provide for adjustment of the torque applied by said first and second springs to said first and second torque applying members.

### Claim 11 (depends on 4)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 4, wherein two or more first anchor means are provided on said elongated spacing member for each of said coil springs, and two or more second anchor means are provided on each of said torque applying members for each of said coil springs, preselecting the torque applied to said torque applying members by preselecting one of said first anchor means for each of said coil springs, for anchoring said first ends of said coil springs and by preselecting one of said second anchor means for each of said coil springs, for anchoring said second ends of said coil springs.

### Claim 12 (depends on 3)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 3, wherein said first and second torque applying members are supported for rotation on said elongated spacing member by first and second pivot pins respectively, and said first and second coil springs are coiled around said first and second pivot pins respectively.

### Claim 13 (depends on 2)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 2, wherein said first and second coil springs each having an inner end and an outer end are formed from an elongated strip of flat spring material.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 13, wherein first and second housings are provided for receiving said first and second coil springs.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 13, wherein said first and second torque applying members are supported for rotation on said elongated spacing member by first and second pivot means.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 15, wherein said first and second pivot means include first and second pins secured to and projecting from said first and second torque applying members respectively.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 16, wherein first and second inner anchor means are provided to anchor said inner ends of said first and second springs to said first and second pins respectively, and first and second outer anchor means are provided to anchor said outer ends of said first and second springs to said elongated spacing member.

### Claim 18

An orthopedic appliance for applying a dynamic corrective face or torque to the distal ends of the long bones of a user, said orthopedic device comprising,
A. an elongated spacing member having first and second ends,
B. first and second torque applying members, said first torque applying member being supported for rotation on said first end of said elongated spacing member, said second torque applying member being supported in a fixed position on said second end of said elongated spacing member,
C. first and second attachment means for securing the feet of a user to said first and second torque applying members for rotation therewith,
D. a torque generating means,
E. means for supporting said torque generating means to apply a torque between said elongated spacing member and said first torque applying member, whereby a dynamic torque is continuously applied to the long bones of a user.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 18, wherein said torque generating means is a coil spring.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 19, wherein said coil spring is formed of round spring wire.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 20, wherein said coil spring has first and second ends, said first end of said coil spring being anchored on said elongated spacing member, and the second end of said coil spring being anchored on said first torque applying member.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 21, wherein two or more anchor means are provided on said elongated spacing member for said first end of said coil spring, preselecting the torque applied to said torque applying members by preselecting one of said anchor means for anchoring said first end of said coil spring.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 22, wherein said anchor means are projections extending from said elongated spacing member which are engaged by said first end of said coil spring.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 21, wherein two or more anchor means are provided on said torque applying member for anchoring said second end of said coil spring, preselecting the torque applied to said torque applying members by preselecting one of said anchor means for anchoring said second end of said coil spring.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 24, wherein said anchor means are projections extending from said torque applying member which are engaged by said second end of said coil spring.

### Claim 26 (depends on 21)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 21, wherein two or more first anchor means are provided on said elongated spacing member for anchoring the first end of said coil spring, and two or more second anchor means are provided on said torque applying member for anchoring said second end of said coil spring, preselecting the torque applied to said torque applying members by preselecting one of said first anchor means for anchoring said first end of said coil spring, and by preselecting one of said second anchor means for anchoring said second end of said coil spring.

### Claim 27 (depends on 20)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 20, wherein said first torque applying member is supported for rotation on said elongated spacing member by a pivot pin, said coil spring being coiled around said pivot pin.

### Claim 28 (depends on 19)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 19, wherein said coil spring is formed from an elongated strip of flat spring material having inner and outer ends.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 28, wherein a housing is provided for receiving said coil spring.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 28, wherein said first torque applying member is supported for rotation on said elongated spacing member by a pivot means.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 30, wherein said pivot means includes a pin secured to and projecting from said first torque applying member.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 31, wherein an inner anchor means is provided to anchor said inner end of said spring to said pin, an outer anchor means being provided to anchor said outer end of said spring to said elongated spacing member.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 32, wherein a tension adjusting means is provided to adjust the torque applied by said coil spring to said first torque applying member.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The orthopedic appliance of claim 33, wherein said spring is wound around a spool, with said inner end being anchored to said spool, said spool being keyed to said pin, a pocket being provided in said elongated spacing member, a spring cover being received in said pocket, said outer end of said spring being anchored to said spring cover, and said spring cover being adjustable secured to said elongated spacing member so as to provide for adjustment of the torque applied by said spring to said first torque applying member.