| 摘要 |
A physiologically designed improved knee orthosis in which the lateral and medial hinges are articulated asymmetrically. The improved knee orthosis has a thigh cuff with a medial portion, a lateral portion and an anterior portion, a shank cuff with a medial portion, a lateral portion and an anterior portion, a medial hinge for linking the medial portion of the thigh cuff to the medial portion of the shank cuff, a lateral hinge for linking the lateral portion of the thigh cuff to the lateral portion of the shank cuff, means to strap the thigh cuff to a wearer's thigh, and means to strap the shank cuff to a wearer's shank. The medial hinge, having a first variable axis of rotation, has a first pair of parallel, concentric spherical shells defining a first opening between them, fastened to the medial portion of the thigh cuff, and three rivets, forming a first equilateral triangle having a center coincident with the first variable axis of rotation, fastened to each shell. The medial hinge also has a first spherical shell designed to be inserted into the first opening, fastened to the medial portion of the shank cuff and three grooves to receive the three rivets. The lateral hinge, having a second variable axis of rotation, has a second pair of parallel, concentric spherical shells defining a second opening between the shells, fastened to the lateral portions of the thigh cuff, and three rivets, forming a second equilateral triangle having a center coincident with the second variable axis of rotation, fastened to each shell. The lateral hinge also has a second spherical shell designed to be inserted into the second opening, fastened to the lateral portion of the shank cuff and three grooves to receive the three rivets. The medial hinge and the lateral hinge have concavities opposite each other in order to account for the variable axis of rotation of the knee joint within the anatomical boundaries of the knee. In use, when the wearer's leg is extended, the first variable axis of rotation and the second variable axis of rotation are coincident and in alignment with the wearer's epicondyles, and when the wearer's leg flexes and extends, the first variable axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are coincident throughout the range of motion, thereby accurately mimicking the instantaneous axis of rotation of the wearer's knee throughout flexion and extension, abduction and abduction and anterior/posterior translation. The improved knee orthosis is adjustable and has a slidable lower shin cuff to prevent migration of the orthosis along the wearer's leg.
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