Variously adjustable night splint with adjustable spacers and lock-out hinge

An ankle-foot orthosis comprising:

• a foldable orthotic having an upper portion selectively pivotally connected to a lower portion the upper and lower portions each having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration, said upper and lower portions configured to fold upon one another in a first position and to extend to a second position, said lower portion attached to and extending away from said upper portion said lower portion having a foot bed and a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration, said lower portion containing a heel cup portion, said upper portion defining a ridge, said ridge configured to interlock with said heel cup portion such that when said foldable orthotic is in said second position, said heel cup portion and said ridge are statically interlocked such that said upper portion and said lower portion are statically held in said second position and such that said upper portion is prohibited from pivoting further away from said lower portion;
• at least one spacer configured for insertion between said upper and lower portions so that said ridge and said heel cup are statically held in relation to one another in a spacer-locked position in which said upper portion extends from said lower portion at an angle less than that of said second position and so that said upper portion is prohibited from pivoting further away from said lower portion and prohibited from pivoting nearer to said lower portion;
• and
• a removable wedge foot bed insert configured for placement onto said foot bed of said lower portion, said removable wedge foot bed insert, when placed on said lower portion, presents an inclined foot bed in which the medial side of said inclined foot bed is lower than the lateral side of said inclined foot bed, and the cross-section of said inclined foot bed from one side to the other shows a top surface angle of between 0° and 15° .

An ankle-foot orthosis comprising:

• a foldable shell, having an upper portion pivotally connected to a lower portion, both upper and lower portions having generally U-shaped cross-sections configured to extend at an angle of less than 90° from said upper portion when the upper and lower portions are fully extended in a first locked extended position, the lower portions also having a generally flat foot bed portion, said generally flat foot bed portion having a heel portion and a toe portion, said heel portion narrower than said toe portion and designed for close anatomical fit with a heel of a human patient, said upper portion configured for close and anatomically conforming shape with a lower posterior portion of a human leg, said upper portion also having a concavity which conforms to said human leg and maintains a human heel in a floated position from said flat foot bed, said upper portion extending along a length to a location below the thickest portion of the gastroc-soleus muscles of a patient, the lower portion being configured to receive a removable wedge foot bed insert, and said foldable shell being shaped to define an opening around a medial and a lateral prominence of a human ankle, said lower portion containing a heel cup portion, said upper portion defining a ridge, said ridge configured to interlock with said heel cup portion such that when said foldable shell is in said first locked extended position, said heel cup portion and said ridge are statically interlocked such that said upper portion and said lower portion are statically held in said first locked extended position and such that said upper portion is prohibited from pivoting further away from said lower portion;
• at least one spacer configured for insertion between said upper and lower portions so that said ridge and said heel cup are statically held in relation to one another in a spacer-locked position in which said upper portion extends from said lower portion at an angle less than that of said first locked extended position and so that said upper portion is prohibited from pivoting further away from said lower portion and prohibited from pivoting nearer to said lower portion;
• and
• a removable wedge foot bed insert, said insert shaped and sized to be received in said foot bed portion, said wedge being inclined from said heel portion of the foot bed to a toe portion of the foot bed thereby forming an inclined foot bed which prevents plantar flexion, said the removable wedge foot bed insert made of a semi-rigid material and having a cushioning top surface;
• a soft jacket having a securing means attached, said soft jacket configured to cover said inside and outside surfaces of said upper and lower portions, and to connect with a securing means;
• and
• a securing mechanism for securing said foldable shell to the lower posterior portion of the leg and foot, said securing mechanism being flexible in at least one area above said foot bed to allow for adjustable degrees of dorsiflexion while preventing plantar flexion past the inclined foot bed.