Abstract: A torso orthosis including a chest support securable to a patient. The chest support includes a sternal plate securable in a substantially fixed position with respect to the patient's chest. The chest support also includes a sternal bar and a connection between the sternal plate and the sternal bar. The connection allows the sternal bar to move longitudinally with respect to the sternal plate so that the sternal plate remains in the substantially fixed position with respect to the patient's chest as the patient's torso flexes. The connection can also allow the sternal bar to pivot with respect to the sternal plate as the patient's torso flexes.

Abstract: A pylon includes a first end portion connected to a patient's leg stump and a second end portion connected to a prosthetic foot. The second end portion includes a piston, and the first end portion includes a piston chamber receiving the piston. The second end portion is thus rotatable and axially movable relative to the first end portion about and along a longitudinal axis of the pylon, respectively. The piston chamber encloses a compressible volume of fluid through which substantially all of the patient's weight applied through the patient's leg stump is supported. The compressible volume of fluid is sealed so that it can be pressurized. Also, a torsional spring couples the piston and piston chamber and resists relative rotation between the piston and piston chamber without supporting any substantial portion of the patient's weight applied through the patient's leg stump to the piston.

Abstract: A shuttle lock for a below-knee prosthesis comprising a body portion having a vertically extending hole for receipt of a pin from a roll-on suction suspension sleeve located within a socket, and a cup-shaped flange positioned on a upper surface of the body portion for receipt of the socket to provide on-axis alignment of the pin to the shuttle lock. The shuttle lock further includes a sprag clutch for engagement and disengagement of the pin.

Abstract: A multi-axis prosthetic ankle joint comprising a housing having a bottom portion and a top portion having a front bumper and rear bumper positioned within the housing between the bottom portion and the top portion. The front and rear bumpers and the top and bottom portions of the housing each contain at least one flange which are overlapping and include an axially aligned hole for receipt of a pin. The holes in the upper housing flanges are elongated to provide multiple axes of motion for the ankle joint. The ankle joint is adapted to be rigidly connected between a lower leg component and a foot component.

Abstract: A stance phase flexion device for a prosthesis comprises a composite C-shaped spring member formed from a plurality of thermoset synthetic resin-impregnated high strength carbon filament sheets molded together in a compression mold. The spring member includes a standard hole pattern located in an upper leg of the spring and a standard hole pattern on the lower leg of the spring, for connecting the spring between adjacent prosthetic components for simulating normal flexion between the adjacent components. The C-shaped member is normally rigid in a rest position maintaining its C-shaped configuration. The C-shaped member has spaced apart upper and lower legs that elastically flex with energy absorbing compliance under a load tending to move the upper and lower legs together. The C-shaped member essentially resists elastic flexion in lateral directions and resists torsion loads.

Abstract: A prosthetic knee component for an above knee prosthesis having a frame member and a bracket member pivotally connected to the frame member, thereby creating a center of rotation for the knee component. The knee component further including a gait control unit pivotally positioned between the frame member and the bracket member by flanges extending from a rear portion of the bracket member. A flexion bumper is positioned through the frame member away from the center of rotation and is sufficiently compressible in a flexion phase of the knee component to provide controlled energy absorbing compliance under force exerted on the bumper by the rear flanges. The knee component further includes an optional running gait flexion limiter positioned on an interior surface of the frame member for limiting flexion and providing inertia to the lower leg component during a running gait.

Abstract: A hyperextension brace includes an upright support frame and a sternum pad positioned at one end of the upright support frame and a pubic pad positioned at the opposite end of the upright support frame. The brace further includes self-adjusting connectors for pivotally attaching the pads to the ends of the vertical support frame. The self-adjusting connectors comprise a one-piece structure having a generally flat web section integrally molded with an elongated, narrow recessed portion projecting from and reinforcing the web section. The recessed portion has an open end opening into an internal cavity for slidably receiving the end portions of the upright support frame. The one-piece connector further includes a U-shaped flange section integrally molded with and extending away from an end of the recessed portion opposite from its open end.

Abstract: A prosthetic limb and alignment adapter includes an elongated straight, flat bar that elastically flexes in fore and aft directions while being resistant to flexion in the lateral directions. A separate adjustable prosthetic link is fastened to each end of the straight, flat, flexible bar. Each prosthetic link includes a two-component, male/female adapter in which a socket having an integral bracket is affixed to an end portion of the flat bar so the axis of the socket is aligned generally with the axis of the flat, flexible bar. A cooperating angular adjustment component of the link comprises a frustopyramidal, four-sided boss divergingly projecting from a spherically convex base which slidably engages a correspondingly concave surface of the annular socket surrounding the boss. Two pairs of set screws set 90.degree.

Abstract: A cervical traction collar capable of ambulatory use by a patient comprises a pair of elongated overlying semi-rigid flexible upper and lower support members secured at their ends to encircle the neck, with releasable attachment means such as Velcro fasteners securing the overlying upper and lower support members for adjusting the height of the collar. A tubular, flexible, air-inflatable bladder is secured to the collar so as to project downwardly away from a bottom edge of the lower support member continuously around the bottom of the collar. The bladder is filled with air under pressure from a manually operated air pump to inflate the bladder so that it presses downwardly against the shoulder region of the patient continuously around the lower neck region.

Abstract: A knee brace includes a cage-type frame formed as a rigid unit and having upper lateral and medial uprights, lower lateral and medial uprights, and a generally U-shaped fixed posterior brace that extends behind the knee. The pairs of upper and lower uprights extend along upper and lower lateral and medial sides of the upper and lower leg, respectively, above and below the knee joint. Long lateral and medial pivot arms are hinged to the upper lateral and medial uprights, respectively, and these pivot arms hold upper and intermediate flexible straps releasably securing the upper portion of the brace to the thigh well above the knee joint. A flexible lower strap affixed to the lower uprights releasably secures the lower portion of the brace to the patient's lower leg. A flexible U-shaped posterior strap affixed adjacent the knee joint extends behind the knee joint to controllably restrict hyperextension.

Abstract: A valve housing for a prosthetic socket has a secure leak-free mechanical interlock formed between the valve housing and the socket. A valve housing has an opening for receiving a removable relief valve. A plug separate from the relief valve is first removably secured in the opening in the valve housing, followed by fastening the valve housing and the plug to a model defining the shape of the finished socket. The fastened plug closes off the opening through the valve housing. The exterior wall of the valve housing has a mechanical interlock, preferably a pair of O-rings extending circumferentially around the body of the valve housing. A thermoplastic material is drawn down over the plugged valve housing and around the interlock device to cover the valve housing and the model. In one embodiment, a releasable pressure clamp is applied to the softened plastic that extends circumferentially around the exterior of the valve housing.

Abstract: A releasable controlled-motion ankle-foot orthosis includes an elongated shell adapted for releasable attachment to the lower leg above the ankle joint, a foot support adapted for releasable attachment to the foot, and lateral and medial controlled-motion ankle joint assemblies attached to the shell and to the foot support in alignment with the axis of rotation through the ankle joint. Each ankle joint assembly includes a rigid support plate affixed at one end to the shell, extending across the ankle joint, and affixed at the other end to the foot support. Sets of cam members in matching pairs are used interchangeably for controlling range of motion in plantar flexion and dorsiflexion. Each individualy selectable cam member is rotatably mounted to the support plate for contact with a stop on the support plate to control angular motion.

Abstract: A universal modular frame for use as a component in an above-knee endoskeletal prosthesis comprises a one-piece rigid outer frame of closed configuration having an upper sleeve extending between lateral and medial sides of the frame and adapted for connection to a linkage and socket for an above knee amputation, rigid lateral and medial side arms rigidly affixed to and extending downwardly from the sleeve, the lateral and medial side arms having recessed lightening recesses therein for reducing the weight of the frame, and a lower base extending between and rigidly affixed to bottom portions of the lateral and medial side arms. The outer frame forms the perimeter of an open central region for mounting a knee motion and gait control unit. The lower base has a flat bottom face and a pattern of spaced apart holes extending through the lower base for use in receiving corresponding fastening means for rigidly but releasably affixing an upper connecting portion of a lower leg pylon to the bottom of the outer frame.

Abstract: A link between members of a prosthetic limb, such as a connector between a knee joint and an elongated artificial leg member, has a frustopyramidal four-sided boss divergingly projecting from a spherically convex base which slidably engages a correspondingly concave annular socket surrounding the boss. Two pairs of set screws set 90.degree. apart in the annular socket are tightened against the sides of the frustopyramidal boss to enable its adjustment within a swing angle in two mutually orthogonal planes defining posterior-anterior positioning and lateral-medial positioning of the component parts of the prosthetic joint. The joint includes indexing means on a portion of one part visible for comparison of its angular position relative to the other part. The indexing means indicate relative position of the component parts in a plane that sets posterior-anterior position and in a separate plane that sets the lateral-medial position of the device.

Abstract: A controlled motion ankle fracture walker includes a foot supporting rocker to which the foot of a patient is releasably secured, and a leg support wrapped around the patient's lower leg above the ankle joint. The foot support includes a rigid shell with a curved bottom forming a rocker for rolling contact with the ground to provide a rocking heel to toe motion of the patient's foot during weight bearing. Rigid lateral and medial uprights are rigidly affixed alongside the leg support, and adjustable double action ankle joints pivotly interconnect the bottoms of the uprights with the rigid support arms on the lateral and medial sides of the foot supporting shell. The ankle joints permit adjustable range of motion of the uprights in dorsiflexion or plantar flexion.

Abstract: A tibia/ankle orthosis includes a flexible jacket shaped to fit around the lower leg of a patient. The jacket has a continuous resilient front section for extending along the front of the tibia and across the width of the tibia. A pair of semi-rigid uprights extend along lateral and medial sides of the jacket. The jacket terminates in lateral and medial flaps that overlap one another at the rear of the patient's lower leg. A footplate is rotatably secured adjacent the lower portion of the jacket for supporting the foot while the jacket is wrapped around the tibia. A narrow slotted opening at the lower front portion of the jacket permits the jacket to be applied from front to rear when wrapping the jacket around the lower leg while the patient's foot is held against rotation when placing the patient's foot on the footplate. The lateral and medial end portions of the jacket overlap uniformly around the patient's calf.

Abstract: A cervical collar has a mandibular plate for supporting a patient's chin, an occipital plate for supporting the occipital region of the patient's head, flexible front and rear neck supports extending around the opposite sides of the patient's neck from the mandibular support plate and the occipital support plate, and releasable fastening means on the front and rear supports for providing circumferential support around the patient's neck. A sternal plate rests on the patient's sternum, a scapular plate on the scapular region of the patient's back, and lower front and rear flexible shoulder supports extend over the right and left shoulders of the patient. Releasable fastening means adjust the circumferential size of the shoulder supports. An elongated rigid front support bar extends from the mandibular plate to the sternal plate. Cooperating fasteners on the front support bar and on the sternal plate releasably adjust the height of the mandibular plate independently of the the sternal plate.

Abstract: A knee brace comprises generally U-shaped semi-rigid upper and lower cuffs for extending around the upper and lower leg above and below the knee joint; two pairs of upper and lower support arms extending downwardly and upwardly, respectively, from the upper and lower cuff along opposite sides of the patient's leg; and hinges for pivoting the upper support arms to the lower support arms adjacent lateral and medial sides of the knee joint. The upper and lower cuffs encircle the upper and lower legs above and below the knee joint when the brace is fastened to the leg by upper and lower straps located on the brace remote from the knee joint. The upper cuff has downwardly projecting and inwardly movable leg gripping members for contact with the lateral and medial sides of the upper leg immediately above the bony prominences at the lateral and medial sides of the knee joint.

Abstract: A composite orthosis immobilizes an injured joint such as the ankle, wrist, elbow or knee joint. Generally, the orthosis has lateral and medial support members extending along opposite sides of a limb adjacent the injured joint, a brace secured to the limb on the opposite side of the injured joint, and pivot means hinging the lateral and medial support members to the brace. In one form of the invention, an ankle brace is provided by lateral and medial support members extending along lateral and medial sides of the lower leg above the ankle, a shell which fits around the foot, and a separate pivot for hinging each support member to the shell in the vicinity of the ankle axis of rotation. With the user's foot in the shell and the support members extending alongside the lateral and medial sides of the lower leg, a bandage is wrapped tightly around the support members above the ankle joint for tightly securing the lateral support members to the sides of the lower leg above the ankle joint.