| 摘要 |
There is disclosed herein a hinge means for an orthopedic brace having proximal and distal sections. The hinge means includes a rotatable, substantially circular, double-tooth pawl which is slidably encased within a cylindrical housing. This housing integrally depends from the proximal section of the orthopedic brace. There is also provided a ratchet which depends integrally from the pivot area of the distal section of the brace in which the ratchet exhibits a plurality of teeth which extend into a circular opening within said cylindrical housing. There is also included release means for pivotally disengaging the two teeth of the pawl from the ratchet, thereupon permitting free, non-engaged movement of the distal section relative to the proximal section of the brace. The hinge means also includes biasing means for selectively urging, in a first mode, an engagement between the teeth of said pawl in said ratchet into an extension-only rotational step-advance of the ratchet relative to the proximal section of the brace, such rotational step-advance being also relative to joint center between the proximal and distal sections and, in a second mode, the biasing means urging the non-engagement of the teeth of the pawl and the teeth of the ratchet after the release means has actuated said biasing means into its second mode. |
