Back to results
US 6,146,344 AGranted
Lower limb orthotic brace
OwnerWade Baderinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
OwnerWade Baderinventor
Estimating the term…
A lower limb orthotic brace to control the movement of the lower limb of a patient comprising a contoured orthotic contact shell and an integral load-bearing frame, the contoured orthotic contact shell comprises at least one layer of fabric impregnated with a hardened structural resin forming an inner orthotic contact surface conforming to the outer surface of the lower limb of the patient and the integral load-bearing frame comprises at least one reinforcing member extending along the contoured orthotic contact shell including a plurality of bundled continuous composite fibers woven in a multidirectional tubular braid impregnated with a hardened structural resin with at least one side of the braid in contact with the contoured orthotic contact shell along the entire length of the braid such that the hardened resins impregnating the fabric of the contoured orthotic contact shell combine with the resins impregnating the braid thereby forming a continuous integral structural matrix encapsulating both the braid and the contoured orthotic contact shell.
A lower limb orthotic brace to control the movement of the lower limb of a patient comprising a contoured orthotic contact shell and an integral load-bearing frame, said contoured orthotic contact shell comprises at least one layer of fabric impregnated with a hardened structural resin forming an inner orthotic contact surface conforming to the outer surface of the lower limb of the patient and the integral load-bearing frame comprises at least one reinforcing member extending along said contoured orthotic contact shell including a plurality of bundled continuous composite fibers woven in a multidirectional tubular braid impregnated with a hardened structural resin with at least one side of said braid in contact with said contoured orthotic contact shell along the entire length of the braid such that the hardened resins impregnating said fabric of said contoured orthotic contact shell combine with the resins impregnating said braid thereby forming a continuous integral structural matrix encapsulating both said braid and said contoured orthotic contact shell.
A lower limb orthotic brace comprising a contoured orthotic contact shell including an upper calf support section, an intermediate support section, and a lower foot support section, the contoured orthotic contact shell having at least one opening positioned in a non load-bearing area thereof and an integral load-bearing frame comprising at least one reinforcing member comprising multiple composite fibers impregnated with a hardened structural resin with at least one side of the reinforcing member being in contact with the contoured orthotic contact shell along the entire length of the reinforcing member thereby forming a continuous structural matrix encompassing both the integral load-bearing frame and the contoured orthotic contact shell where the reinforcing members of the integral load bearing frame are positioned and aligned such that forces are transmitted between the ground and the lower limb of the wearer through the contoured orthotic contact shell and load bearing frame thereby isolating or immobilizing selected portions of the lower limb where the degree of isolation or immobilization is a function of the flexure of the contoured orthotic contact shell in reaction to the forces transmitted therein, the magnitude and distribution of flexure being modulated by the selective orientation, position and number of reinforcing members within the load-bearing frame in combination with the selective orientation, position and number of openings in the contoured orthotic contact shell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.