Extension Assist Device for an Anatomic Joint Brace

摘要

An orthotic brace for an anatomic joint includes an upper brace portion for securement about an upper limb portion of the joint and a lower brace portion pivotally coupled to the upper brace portion for securement about a lower limb portion of the joint. A cable guide is pivotal relative to the lower brace portion and is operative between a working condition fixed for rotation with the upper brace portion relative to the lower brace portion and a released condition in which the upper brace portion pivots independently. A spring is coupled between the lower brace portion and a cable about the cable guide to bias towards an extended position in the working condition of the cable guide. Stops on the guide prescribe the range of biased motion in the working condition and independent stops on the brace portions prescribe the range of unbiased motion in the released condition.

主权项

1. An orthotic brace for an anatomic joint having an upper limb portion and a lower limb portion which flex relative to one another about a joint axis, the orthotic brace comprising:
an upper brace portion for securement relative to the upper limb portion of the joint; a lower brace portion for securement relative to the lower limb portion of the joint; a pivotal coupling assembly connecting the upper brace portion to the lower brace portion for pivotal movement about a pivot axis for alignment with the joint axis between an extended position corresponding to an extended condition of the joint and a flexed position corresponding to a flexed condition of the joint; and a biasing assembly for biasing the pivotal coupling assembly towards the extended position, the biasing assembly comprising:
a cable guide adapted to be fixed to a first one of the brace portions in a working condition of the cable guide;a spring member having a first portion anchored relative to a second one of the brace portions;a cable coupled at a first portion of the cable to a second portion of the spring member and supported at a second portion of the cable along a guide surface of the cable guide such that pivotal movement of the cable guide with the first one of the brace portions relative to the second one of the brace portions from the extended position towards the flexed position causes the cable to be flexed about the guide surface of the cable guide so as to resiliently deform the spring member and bias the brace portions to return to the extended position.