| 摘要 |
A joint support device is disclosed that protects a joint from hyperextension. The device allows substantially unrestricted joint movement within a first range of joint movements, which is within a normal range of joint movement. However, when there is joint flexure beyond the first range, the device resists such flexure. In particular, the device can progressively increase its resistance with increased joint flexure in a second range of joint movement until a predetermined upper limit on the flexure is reached wherein substantially no further joint flexure is possible. Such an upper limit may be near but not at a flexure of the joint that could cause hyperextension. The device includes rigid elements that attach on opposite sides of the joint, and includes extensible assemblies extending between the rigid elements for providing the functionality recited above. Such an assembly may be columns of spacers threaded together with an extensible cable, or a plurality of chains having links with a high a tensile modulus and high failure stress.
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