Adjustable hinge for orthopedic brace

#Various known orthopedic braces for the knee or elbow include devices for adjusting the range of motion of the joint. Some of these devices use removable stops or have large hinges operable by pressing buttons or moving sliders.

#The present teachings provide a compact adjustable hinge for a brace that can also be used for pediatric applications.

#The present teachings provide a medical device that includes an adjustable hinge for an orthopedic brace. The adjustable hinge includes a housing, and first and second members rotatably supported by the housing. The first member has a first gear portion pivotable about a first axis, a first plurality of teeth, and first and second cam surfaces. The second member has a second gear portion pivotable about a second axis, and a second plurality of teeth engageable with the first plurality of teeth. The second axis is parallel and spaced apart from the first axis. The adjustable hinge also includes first and second control devices rotatably supported by the housing. The first control device has a third cam surface, the third cam surface selectively rotatable in and out of engagement with the first cam surface of the first gear portion and controlling a range of motion of the first and second gear portions in a first rotational direction. The second control device has a fourth cam surface, the fourth cam surface selectively rotatable in and out of engagement with the second cam surface of the first gear portion and controlling a range of motion of the first and second gear portions in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction.

#The present teachings will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is an environmental view of an adjustable hinge according to the present teachings, the adjustable hinge shown with an orthopedic brace;

#FIG. 2A is a perspective front view of an adjustable hinge according to the present teachings;

#The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present teachings, applications, or uses. For example, although the present teachings are illustrated for leg braces, the present teachings can be used for elbow or other braces in both adult and pediatric applications.

#Referring to FIG. 1, an adjustable hinge 100 according to the present teachings is illustrated with an orthopedic brace 90. The adjustable hinge 100 can be used with any brace 90 that permits a range of motion for an anatomic joint 80 between two bones 82, 84, such as a knee brace or an elbow brace. The adjustable hinge 100 can be sized for adult or pediatric applications while retaining control of the entire range of motion of the joint for each application. The adjustable hinge 100 can be compact in size and can allow the patient, physician or other healthcare professional to have an unlimited amount of adjustment in the range of motion for a knee or elbow brace 90.

#Referring to FIGS. 2A-10, the adjustable hinge 100 can include a housing 105 having a front cover 102 with a front outer surface 102a and a back cover 104 with a back outer surface 104a. The housing 105 can support first and second members 109, 111 for pivotable motion about respective first and second axes A, B. The first and second axes A, B can be parallel and spaced apart relative to one another. The first and second axes A, B can perpendicular to a plane defined by the plate-like housing 105. The first and second axes A, B can be centered in corresponding rivets or other pivot members 106 which pass through the housing 105 and through corresponding openings 147 of the first and second members 109, 111. The pivot members 106 can be fastened or otherwise attached to a supporting pad 96 or a portion of the orthopedic brace 90. It will be appreciated that the housing 105 is merely exemplary, and a housing 105 of different shape and size can also be used depending on the application and/or the orthopedic brace 90.