Abstract: The present invention is a simple, adaptable orthotic device that can correct and/or prevent deformational posterior plagiocephaly, especially if used before the infant is 4 months of age. The manufactured article provides an anatomically correcting, adjustable, concave-shaped resting surface for an infant's head in a manner that effectively eliminates uneven pressure on the infant's occiput. The orthotic device has a modular design which permits easy adjustments of the devices' head cavity to accommodate differences in individual infant head size and shape, thereby providing the infant's head with a custom fit. Also, as the infant continues to grow in size, the adjustable head cavity and torso recess features of the orthotic device allow the contoured spatial volume and dimensions of the molded supporting surfaces to expand as the infant's calvaria grow; and thereby facilitate a progressive, normalization and rounding of the infant's occiput.

Abstract: The present invention is a simple, adaptable orthotic device that can correct and/or prevent deformational posterior plagiocephaly, especially if used before the infant is 4 months of age. The manufactured article provides an anatomically correcting, adjustable, concave-shaped resting surface for an infant's head in a manner that effectively eliminates uneven pressure on the infant's occiput. The orthotic device has a modular design which permits easy adjustments of the devices' head cavity to accommodate differences in individual infant head size and shape, thereby providing the infant's head with a custom fit. Also, as the infant continues to grow in size, the adjustable head cavity and torso recess features of the orthotic device allow the contoured spatial volume and dimensions of the molded supporting surfaces to expand as the infant's calvaria grow; and thereby facilitate a progressive, normalization and rounding of the infant's occiput.

Abstract: The present invention is a simple, adaptable orthotic device that can correct and/or prevent deformational posterior plagiocephaly, especially if used before the infant is 4 months of age. The manufactured article provides an anatomically correcting, adjustable, concave-shaped resting surface for an infant's head in a manner that effectively eliminates uneven pressure on the infant's occiput. The orthotic device has a module design which permits easy adjustments of the devices' head cavity to accommodate differences in individual infant head size and shape, thereby providing the infant's head with a custom fit. Also, as the infant continues to grow in size, the adjustable head cavity and torso recess features of the orthotic device allow the contoured spatial volume and dimensions of the molded supporting surfaces to expand as the infant's calvaria grow; and thereby facilitate a progressive, normalization and rounding of the infant's occiput.

Abstract: An adjustable, removable, interlocking iliac crest belt for a body brace is disclosed. The belt can be secured to the inside of a posterior portion of the body brace, and is secured about the patient's waist and upper hip region, engaging the iliac crests of the patient and providing additional pressure and stabilization force. Adjustable hook and loop fastening elements can be used to fasten the iliac crest belt. The belt is intended for use in body braces of the type for immobilizing or stabilizing a patient's spine in a post-surgical therapeutic application, or for treating abnormal spinal curvature, which brace may include body-conforming front and back shell elements molded from plastic, and adjustable strap elements affixed thereto for attaching the shells together around the torso of the patient with a selected compressive force.

Abstract: A support belt to be worn around the waist of a person includes an elongated multi-layer strip. The elongated multi-layer strip includes a center portion and a pair of ends. The elongated multi-layer strip is sized and shaped so as to encircle the waist of the person with the center portion positioned against the back of the person and the pair of ends positioned against the front of the person, the pair of ends being releasably fastenable together to secure the support belt around the waist of the person. The center portion of the elongated multi-layer strip is shaped to define an angle of lordosis of approximately 15 degrees in the lumbar spinal region. A pair of inwardly curved sections sized and shaped so as to urge against the iliac crests of the person wearing the support belt are mounted on the multi-layer strip. The multi-layer strip may comprise a layer of rigid plastic and a pair of layers of a soft compressible plastic.

Abstract: A soft ankle/foot orthosis for protecting the ankle and foot of a person. In a preferred embodiment, the soft ankle/foot orthosis comprises an outer layer of soft compressible plastic material and an inner layer of soft compressible plastic material. The inner layer of soft compressible plastic material is bonded to the inside of the outer layer of soft compressible plastic material, the inner layer and the outer layer together defining a split shell. The shell is sized and has a molded shape corresponding generally to the lower leg and foot of the person on whom it is to be worn, the lower leg portion and the foot portion of the shell being oriented generally perpendicular to one another to properly position the ankle so as to prevent fractures to the foot and/or ankle. To protect an ulcerative heel and/or ulcerative toes from contact with potentially irritating items, the shell is enlarged in the back and bottom of the heel region and is sized to extend beyond the toes of the person.

Abstract: A support belt to be worn around the waist of a person includes an elongated strip of rigid material constructed of a low density material such as polyethylene. The elongated strip of rigid material includes a center portion and a pair of ends. The elongated strip of rigid material is sized and shaped so as to encircle the waist of the person with the center portion positioned against the back of the person and the pair of ends positioned against the front of the person, the pair of ends being releasably fastenable together to secure the support belt around the waist of the person. The center portion of the elongated strip of rigid material is shaped to define an angle of lordosis of approximately 15 degrees in the lumbar spinal region. The elongated strip of rigid material includes a plurality of inwardly curved sections sized and shaped so as to urge against the iliac crests of the person.

Abstract: A knee brace comprises an anterior femoral shell conforming to the shape of the upper leg of a person, an anterior tibial shell conforming to the shape of the lower leg of the person, and a posterior calf cuff conforming to the shape of the lower leg of the person. The knee brace further includes first and second mechanical hinges positioned on the medial and lateral sides of the knee of the person, respectively. The first mechanical hinge comprises an upper bar having an upper end fixedly mounted to the femoral shell and a lower end, a center link member pivotally mounted on the lower end of the femoral shell, and a lower bar having a lower end fixedly mounted to the tibial shell and an upper end pivotally mounted on the center link member.

Abstract: A body brace for use in the treatment of scoliosis and other spinal abnormalities includes a bottom shell sized and shaped to be fitted around a patient's pelvis, a middle shell sized and shaped to be fitted around the patient's abdomen and a top shell sized and shaped to be fitted around the back and the sides of the patient's rib cage. The top shell is made up of a left segment and a right segment. The middle shell is connected to the bottom shell by first and second lockable swivel mechanisms which provide for lateral, front and back, and rotational movement of the middle shell relative to the bottom shell. The left segment of the top shell is connected to the middle shell by a third lockable swivel mechanism which provides for lateral, front and back, and rotational movement of the left segment of the top shell relative to the middle shell independent of the right segment of the top shell.

Abstract: A hard body brace for treating scoliosis in a patient while preventing hypokyphosis in the patient's thoracic spine. As preferably envisioned by the present invention, the hard body brace may be fabricated by the manufacturer as an unfinished brace and may then be finished on site by an orthotist to meet the exact size and shape of the intended wearer. In a preferred embodiment, the unfinished hard body brace comprises a shell shaped to surround the torso of a person in such a way as to correct scoliosis, the shell having an outer layer of hard plastic material and an inner layer of compressible plastic material bonded to the outer layer. The shell is preferably made from a single section and has a vertically extending split portion. To prevent hypokyphosis, the shell is shaped to define a kyphotic angle in the thoracic spine of approximately 20 to 25 degrees.