Active pivot joint device

An enhancement for a rehabilitative pivot joint brace having an upper and lower frame section and a pivot joint assembly comprising:

• a) tension control means for selectively imparting desired levels of resistance to the flexing and extending of a body joint;
• b) equilibrium control means for selectively determining the ratio between the degree of flexion and the degree of extension to be applied to said resistive force;
• c) means for mounting said tension control means on the frame sections of the pivot joint device;
• d) means for mounting said equilibrium control means on the pivot joint assembly in approximate alignment with a pivot axis coinciding with the pivot axis of the body joint;
• and
• e) means for connecting said tension control means and said equilibrium control means whereby said connecting means transmits the relative rotational movement of the pivot joint device to said tension control means to actuate said tension control means to generate a resistive load to the relative pivotal movement of the pivot joint device.

An addition to a rehabilitative pivot joint brace containing any number of pivot joint devices each having an upper and lower frame section and a pivot joint assembly comprising:

• a) tension control means disposed in a housing for selectively imparting desired levels of resistance to the flexing and extending of a body joint;
• b) equilibrium control means for selectively varying the angle at which the pivot joint device is in equilibrium where no resistance to rotational movement in either pivotal direction exists;
• c) means for mounting said tension control means housing on the lower frame section of the pivot joint device;
• d) means for mounting said equilibrium control means on the pivot joint assembly in approximate alignment with a pivot axis coinciding with the pivot axis of the body joint;
• and
• e) means for connecting said tension control means and said equilibrium control means whereby said connecting means transmits the relative rotational movement of the pivot joint device to said tension control means to actuate said tension control means to generate a resistive load to the relative pivotal movement of the pivot joint device.

An augmentation for a pivot joint device having an upper and lower frame section and a pivot joint assembly comprising:

• a) tension control means for selectively imparting desired levels of resistance to the rotational movement of the pivot joint device;
• b) an equilibrium control means for selectively varying the angle at which the pivot joint device is in equilibrium where no resistance to rotational movement in either pivotal direction exists;
• c) a housing containing said tension control means and mountable on the lower frame section of the pivot joint device;
• d) means for mounting said equilibrium control means on the pivot joint assembly in approximate alignment with a pivot axis coinciding with the pivot axis of the pivot joint assembly;
• and
• e) means for connecting said tension control means and said equilibrium control means whereby the efforts of said tension control means and said equilibrium control means combine to bias the rotational movement of the pivot joint device in either pivotal direction.