VRB Cantilever-Based Unloader Brace Assembly

摘要

An Unloader assembly to control load distribution about a joint is disclosed. The assembly comprises an upper collar attachable above the joint and a lower collar attached below the joint, and a hinge positioned between the upper attachment and the lower attachment. The Unloader further including a compression assembly includes an arm attached at one end to the hinge and a housing into which the arm is slidable. The housing further including a bushing and a variable resistance beam positioned between the arm and the bushing. The variable resistance beam provides a variable degree of rigidity to provide different levels of resistance to compression.

主权项

1. An exoskeleton brace for supporting a joint, said brace comprising:
an upper brace assembly positionable above said joint, said upper brace assembly including an upper attachment mechanism; a lower brace assembly positionable below said joint, said lower brace assembly including a lower attachment mechanism; a hinge positioned between a lower end of said upper attachment mechanism and a upper end of said lower attachment mechanism, said hinge allowing rotation of said upper brace assembly with respect to said lower brace assembly; a compression assembly comprising:
a piston assembly incorporated into one of said upper attachment mechanism and said lower attachment mechanisms;an arm attached on a first end to said hinge and slidable within said piston assembly;a bushing positioned at an end of said piston assembly; anda variable resistance beam positioned between said bushing and said arm, said variable resistance beam having a minimum diameter substantially perpendicular to a maximum diameter; and a gear mechanism comprising:
a gear having a known thread pitch, said gear engaging a geared head of said variable resistance beam having a comparable thread pitch, andan indentation incorporated into said gear, said gear mechanism altering an orientation of said variable resistance beam from said minimum diameter to said maximum diameter with respect to said bushing as said gear rotates.