Abstract: An orthosis for the upper body is provided for controlling the shoulder and the arm. The orthosis employs a connection between the waist band and the upper part of the orthosis, specifically a lateral upright, which has two linked joints. Preferably, the lower joint is attached centrally to the waist band and is a spherical zone joint which accommodates bending at the waist and variation in the shape of the torso. The second joint is a pivot joint which accommodates rotation about an axis parallel to the long axis of the lateral upright upon the lower end of which, preferably, it is mounted.

Abstract: A limb brace or immobilizer having at least two relatively rigid support arms extending medially and laterally along opposite sides of a wearer's limb, each support arm having a limb-contacting plate of arcuate cross-sectional configuration and a traction plate connected to or formed integrally with the limb-contacting plate. Each traction plate has a pair of wing portions extending anteriorly and posteriorly in relation to the limb-support arm and spaced outwardly from the limb-contacting plate, with the span of the wing portions being substantially less than the anterior-posterior dimensions of the associated limb-contacting plate. Attachment straps are adjustably secured to the wing portions and join corresponding wing portions of the traction plates on opposite sides of a wearer's limb to secure the assembly in limb-bracing or limb-immobilizing condition.

Abstract: An orthopaedic brace having an adjustable control mechanism for controlling in a continuously variable manner the limits of pivotal movement of a body support member. The mechanism includes a threaded guide rod with a longitudinal slot, a collar slidably carried by the rod and equipped with an insert element projecting into the slot for preventing relative rotation of the collar and rod, and a pair of stop members disposed on opposite sides of the collar for controlling the extent of the collar's sliding movement. At least one of the stop members is in the form of a nut threadedly mounted upon the rod.

Abstract: A true bipivotal hinge for orthopaedic use having a hinge body and a pair of hinge arms with adjacent end portions pivotally connected to the side walls of the body for independent pivotal movement of each arm. A T-shaped insert element is removably secured within the hinge body and has a pair of stop portions with abutment surfaces engagable with the end portions of the arms for limiting the degree of extension of such arms. In a system for accommodating such a hinge to a patient's needs, a plurality of insert elements are provided, each being of substantially the same size and shape but having distinctive angularity of their abutment surfaces so that by interchanging one insert element for another, the hinge may be adjusted to provide the required degree of maximum arm extension.

Abstract: An orthopedic and orthotic hinge having a hinge body that includes two spaced, parallel plates with two hinge arm carriers having end portions pivotally mounted between the plates for movement in directions of flexion and extension. The end portions of the hinge arm carriers have peripheral teeth that respectively engage two toothed slide members. Such members are slidably disposed between the plates, preferably carried in grooves formed therein, and are independently movable with respect to each other when the hinge arm carriers are pivoted. First and second variable stops are provided by the hinge for limiting the extent of sliding movement in opposite directions of the two slide members, thereby restricting extension and flexion of the hinge arm carriers while at the same time permitting true bi-pivotal operation of the hinge. In one embodiment, the variable stops are offset from the midplane of the hinge body and the toothed slide members have extensions engageable with such stops.

Abstract: An orthopaedic brace for the upper limb comprising a mounting member adapted to be fastened to the torso of a patient, an arm support pivotally mounted on the mounting member for movement about vertical and horizontal axes, and an adjustment mechanism for raising and lowering the arm support about the horizontal axis to enable the shoulder joint of the patient to be abducted over a continuous range from a low abduction angle to a high adduction angle and adducted over a continuous range from a high abduction angle to a low abduction angle.

Abstract: An orthopedic and orthotic bipivotal hinge assembly having a hinge body and a pair of coplanar and independently-pivotal hinge arms. The proximal end portions of the hinge arms are disposed within the hinge body and have at least one set of interdigitating end plates defining an arrangement of abutment surfaces that are coplanar with each other, face generally in the same direction, and are disposed in side-by-side relation, when the arms are in first positions of adjustment (e.g., extension). In one embodiment, a single set of interdigitating plates with one such arrangement of abutment surfaces is provided; in a second embodiment two sets of interdigitating plates with two arrangements of abutment surfaces for controlling both extension and flexion are provided. Continuously variable extension and/or flexion control is achieved by an adjusting screw, or a pair of adjusting screws, carried by the hinge body.

Abstract: A surgical dressing adapted for fastening around orthopaedic fixator pins and similarly shaped surgical devices adjacent their sites of entry to and exit from the body, comprises a pad of resilient and absorbent material adapted to be folded around one or more fixator pins in apposition to the sites of entry and/or exit from the body; a friction member to be interposed between the pad and the fixator pins to inhibit movement of the pad along the fixator pins; and a clip adapted to be fastened around the fixator pins and at least a part of the resilient pad to clamp the pad in position around the pins.

Abstract: An orthopaedic body jacket including a semi-rigid thermoplastic shell adapted to be fitted and fastened around the abdomen of a patient. The shell has a constricted waist portion and outwardly flared upper and lower portions. An integrally moulded lateral portion extends upwardly from the flared lower portion and has an upper end protruding outwardly a substantial distance from the constricted waist portion. The lateral portion has a vertically-extending externally-facing channel that opens laterally outwardly from the shell and provides a straight, outwardly-facing planar surface for mounting an orthotic component in any of a plurality of positions of vertical adjustment.

Abstract: An orthopaedic hinge mechanism has a body with at least one pivot and at least one hinge arm mounted thereon and having two cam abutment stops which arise from the said hinge arm either side of and close to the pivot.Screw adjustment means are housed in threaded holes in the hinge body in the plane of the hinge arms and may be driven down to impinge on the cam abutment stops. The plane of the operating surfaces of the cam abutment stops is at right angles to the axis of the motion limiting screws. The mechanism provides limiting and locking possibilities over a clinically useful range.

Abstract: The head plate has a rectangular body with a central portion. The connecting portion of the flexible hinge part is integral with the central portion or the central portion is provided with a recess or slot into which the connecting portion is received. The upper and lower surfaces of the central portion of the body are substantially continuous and uninterrupted so as to provide maximum surface area for bonding to the casting material layers. The upper and lower surfaces may be provided with teeth or splines to increase the area of the bonding surfaces. In one embodiment, the head plate is provided with parallel spaced grooves on either side of the central portion to permit the head plate to move accurately to conform to the contours of the body of the patient.

Abstract: The catheter includes an inner tubular member and an outer sleeve member into which the inner tubular member is freely movably received. The inner tubular member has a section with calibrated markings. The calibrated section is spaced from the end adapted to be received in the urethra, by a distance equal to the length of the outer sleeve member. The outer sleeve member has an outwardly flared end adapted to be situated adjacent the external urethral meatus. The non-flared end of the sleeve member is used as a pointer against the calibrated markings to determine the length of the urethra.

Abstract: The head plate has a rectangular body with a central portion. The connecting portion of the flexible hinge part is integral with the central portion or the central portion is provided with a recess or slot into which the connecting portion is received. The upper and lower surfaces of the central portion of the body are substantially continuous and uninterrupted so as to provide maximum surface area for bonding to the casting material layers. The upper and lower surfaces may be provided with teeth or splines to increase the area of the bonding surfaces.