Abstract: An orthopedic knee brace provides an apparatus for accurately prescribing the anatomical motion of the human knee. The orthopedic knee brace is used for treatment and rehabilitation following surgery to the knee, protection for a surgically repaired knee, and protection for an uninjured knee, among other applications. The orthopedic knee brace actively prescribes asymmetric three-dimensional anatomic motion in six degrees of freedom of the wearer's knee. The rigid connections between the thigh and calf engaging members and the medial and lateral hinges provide the ability of the orthopedic knee brace to prescribe asymmetric three-dimensional anatomic motion in six degrees of freedom by actively prescribing flexion and extension, abduction and adduction, internal/external rotation, anterior/posterior translation, medial/lateral translation, and proximal/distal translation between a femur and a tibia of a wearer's leg.

Abstract: A back brace has left, right and back panels that substantially overlap to form a tubular back brace when worn. Leverage multiples tightening force during tightening. After each successive tightening by the lever, retaining bands retain the back brace in position. Pressure spreading layers have a secondary adjustment mechanism comprising a plurality of notches extending inward from upper and lower edges, and at least one hole aligned with each of the plurality of notches. The back panel has a window overlying the sacrum. The orthopedist can observe the engagement of the back brace in this area through the window. A malleable bar is attached to the back panel adjacent the window so that the orthopedist can adjust the malleable bar for proper fit. After the initial fitting, including adjustment of the back panel over the sacrum, the back brace may be readily donned and doffed by the patient.

Abstract: A simple tibial distraction device includes a simple height-adjustable limb support triangle for positioning a patient's knee during surgery. The triangle includes a slidable support plate for carrying a Steinman pin, as well as a foot support strap to apply traction to the patient's lower leg and/or ankle.

Abstract: A patient contacting assembly comprising a patient contacting member that secures to the surface of a patient by means of an adhesive disposed between the patient contacting member and the patient. A channel is defined through the patient contacting member to enable a release fluid to be injected between the patient contacting member that the patient. Providing the release fluid between the patient contacting member and the patient at least partially reduces the bonding strength of the adhesive, making it easier to remove the patient contacting member from the patient and provides a pneumatic lift, urging the patient contacting member off of the surface of the patient.

Abstract: A custom-made ankle/foot orthosis for the treatment of patients having plantar ulcers is disclosed, which comprises a rigid L-shaped support member and a rigid anterior support shell hingedly articulated to the L-shaped support member. The plantar portion of the L-shaped member further comprises at least one ulcer-protecting hollow spatially located for fitted placement in inferior adjacency to a user's plantar ulcer, thus allowing the user to transfer the user's weight away from the plantar ulcer and facilitating plantar ulcer treatment. The anterior support shell is designed for lateral hinged attachment to the L-shaped member to take advantage of medial tibial flare structure for enhancing the weight-bearing properties of the disclosed orthosis. A flexible, polyethylene hinge member hingedly attaches the anterior support shell to the L-shaped member and securing straps securely attach the anterior support shell in fixed, weight-bearing relation about the proximal, anterior portion of the user's lower leg.

Abstract: A device for limiting movement of a joint. Once prepared, the device includes two tubular openings for encircling phalanxes on either side of the joint. The tubular sides are attached by a portion of the device that can cover either the top portion of the joint or the underside of the joint. This configuration allows an individual to flex the joint in a limited manner.

Abstract: An ankle brace for comfortably supporting an ankle of a wearer by inhibiting motion between a foot and lower leg of the wearer. The ankle brace employs a laminated, moisture-wicking material for leg and foot portions that improves wearability during athletic activities. The leg and foot portions are combined with medial and lateral stays that are supported within pockets of the leg portion so as to provide medial and lateral stability for the ankle. A strapping unit is used to further improve stability with a pair of straps that are formed of the same piece of laminate material as the foot portion and extend upwards from the foot portion to cross over the ankle and attach to the leg portion. Advantageously, constructing the straps from the same piece of material as the foot portion eliminates fasteners and overlapping material and allows the ankle brace to be used with off-the-shelf footwear.

Abstract: A device for support and elevation of a limb. More specifically, the invention is a system for elevating a limb, comprising an adjustable sling assembly that can be attached by a hook to a support member that provides the elevation, which in turn can be inserted into either a freestanding base or a base designed for placement between a mattress and box spring. Thus, the elevator system can be used effectively when a person is in both a sitting and a supine position. The elevator system is vertically adjustable by varying the distance between the hook and the sling or by adjusting the telescoping support sections of the support assembly. The elevator system is lightweight, easily disinfected, and can be disassembled or collapsed for ease in transport and storage. The elevator system is also relatively inexpensive to manufacture and is intended both for hospital and home use.

Abstract: A knee brace hinge deflector is provided for preventing interference and/or locking of the medial hinges of bilateral knee braces. The hinge deflector includes a shell having rounded surfaces for encasing a first medial hinge assembly and deflecting a second medial hinge assembly of bilaterally worn knee braces.

Abstract: The D-DAFO (DeRoos-Dynamic Ankle Foot Orthosis) invention is a dynamic support system designed to maintain the correct alignment of the bones in the foot and ankle. The D-DAFO's dynamic stability allows the patient's tibia to rotate forward anteriorly and yet supported, while continuously providing the support to hold the patient in sub-talar neutral, and/or improved alignment for function, while simultaneously maintaining tone and extension synergy.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive adhesive tape for fixing a joint portion includes a support of a generally rectangular shape having a longer side and a shorter side and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer on one side of the support in at least a portion thereof. The support is provided with a non-adherent portion or a weakly adherent portion. The tape has a cut line extending from an end of the shorter side to near the non-adherent or weakly adherent portion.

Abstract: A body joint liner including at least one divergent channel such that when in use on a persons body, tissue fluid flow is encouraged. A body joint liner including a first pressure gradient for tissue fluid flow when in use on a persons body. A body joint liner including a pressure gradient including a pattern of projections with a spacing that increases along the length of the liner.

Abstract: An orthosis device generally includes two limb sections pivotably attached to each other in at least one degree of freedom and adapted for insertion of or attachment to adjacent portions of a limb of a user. Each limb section further includes a four-bar linkage and a spring member adapted to provide an equilibrium-inducing force corresponding to a combined weight of the limb section and the limb inserted therein or attached thereto. The equilibrium-inducing force allows every point in three-dimensional space to be a balanced position, such that a user with muscular abnormalities can move his or her limbs and hold them in place. A pivotable shoulder bracket for attaching the orthosis device to a wheelchair may also be provided. Furthermore, the orthosis device can be adapted to accommodate individuals of varying weight or with varying levels of disability by adjusting the spring member or providing powered actuators and force sensors.

Abstract: An anatomical brace for stabilizing and supporting a uniting pivoting joint such as a knee joint disposed between a first limb structure and a second limb structure. The brace includes first and second cuffs and a pivotable brace joint there between with two opposing pivoting assemblies. Each assembly includes forward and rearward arm members in tandem and a frame structure having a first end attached to the first cuff and a second end attached to the second cuff. Extending between the cuffs is an adjustable joint extension limiter for regulating pivotable distance of the cuffs in relation to each other. Spherical sockets movably positioned within the frame structure permit naturally-occurring multi-planar joint movement such that the brace here defined effectively limits pivotal extension distance, yet permits normal joint bendability with multi planar movability up to such limit, thereby stabilizing and supporting joint-controlled limb unions.

Abstract: A pelvic splint for immobilizing and maintaining the annular integrity of the pelvis in the event of a pelvic ring fracture. The pelvic splint extends from about 5-10 cm above the iliac crest down to about the middle third of the thighs and substantially encircles the pelvis of the victim. The splint is then secured about the pelvis of the victim with two or more adjustable straps. The splint comprises a flexible casing having at least one pliable padding layer disposed therein and a plurality of flexible members individually disposed in pockets spaced apart about the casing. Once tightly secured around the pelvis by the adjustable straps, the splint conforms to the contours of the victim's pelvic area and stabilizes the pelvis by preventing lateral movement and constraining the pelvis in such a manner to preserve the annular integrity thereof. An associated method of stabilizing a pelvis is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hyperextension back brace system is a cruciform structure with an upper and lower vertical arms, left and right horizontal arms, and an extender arm for each of the arms. A pubic pad has an inwardly facing resilient foam fixedly coupled to the lower end of the extender arm of the lower vertical arm. A V-shaped intermediate plate is secured at its central extent to the upper end of the extender arm of the upper vertical arm with a pair of pectoral pads. The V-shaped plate has upwardly extending arms. A pair of rigid side pads have an inwardly facing resilient foam fixedly coupled to the exterior end of the horizontal extender arms. A belt of a pile material is attached at one end of one of the side pads.

Abstract: Health equipment for dragging the lumbar with the trunk of the human body securely supported is provided. The trunk support is bendable only inwardly, and holds and supports the trunk of the human body. Since the trunk support is placed around the human body and enfolds from the area below the costae to above the pelvis, the human body is securely supported, whereby lumbago treatment can be carried out with the patient suspended in the air. Since the lumbar is dragged with the weight of the lower part of the patient's body, there is no possibility that the lumbar is dragged with excessive weight The leg hanging unit is a device to hang the legs of the patient. By using this leg hanging unit, so called mobilization may be carried out with the lower back portion suspended in the air, thereby increasing effectiveness of lumbago treatment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a splint that may be telescopically extendable, coarsely and finely adjustable, and providing a mechanical advantage while being readily transportable. The splint may have two to three telescoping members that nest inside one another when not in use, and may be triangular, rectangular, or circular in cross section. The present invention also provides a single member adjustable splint.

Abstract: A trochanter belt with an elastic front portion 10 comprised of a soft inner surface which conforms to the body of the wearer. Right and left elastic side portions 12 connect to the right and left sides of the inelastic front portion 10. The right and left elastic portions 12 also connect to the right and left side of the inelastic back portion 14 to create a continuous band of support which does not require disassembly to remove. Right and left adjustable straps 16 are attached to the continuous belt on the right and left sides, respectively.

Abstract: A device for treating pain in a shin of a user, including a first substantially elastic strap member having a pair of opposite ends and an inner and outer surface and conformable to be wrapped in a state of tension around the shin of the user and securable in the state of tension and wrapped configuration by a first fastener operatively associated with one of the ends of the first strap member, a second substantially elastic strap member having a first end securable adjacent the outer surface of the first strap member and a plurality of fingers extending outwardly from the first end and conformable to be tensioned about the outer surface of the first strap member, and one or more second fasteners for securing the tensioned fingers to the outer surface of the first strap member.