Abstract: An orthotic joint device has an attachment member rotatably attached to the joint device for rotation in a first direction, a resistive element such as a spring, and a first lever for transmitting a first direction resistance force from the resistive element to the attachment member. The resistive element may also resist rotation in the second direction opposed to the first via a second lever. The orthotic joint device may be used in an orthosis and in a method of supporting an ankle of a human.

Abstract: Various orthotic joint devices, components, and methods are provided. These include orthotic joint alignment devices for adjusting a neutral or fixed angle of an orthotic joint device independently of other parameters, orthotic joint devices providing staged resistance through staged recruitment of separate springs or initiation of staged spring-rate behavior of a single spring retained in a joint body, adapters for converting non-staged resistance orthotic joint devices into orthotic joint devices, and low-noise orthotic joint devices with intermittent normal force-transmitting contact associated with resistive or assistive forces provided by the devices, and methods of using the devices and components.

Abstract: Configurable orthoses having a high degree of independent adjustability of various parameters are provided. In the example of a rehabilitation-evaluation ankle-foot orthosis (REAFO), these parameters may include calf band anteroposterior, height, width, sagittal tilt, coronal tilt, and mediolateral displacement adjustments; mediolateral displacement adjustments of a supramalleolar support; heel width/stirrup separation adjustment; and sagittal active joint resistance and neutral angle adjustments. Calf band mediolateral displacement adjustment may be provided by a lockable four-bar pivoting frame linkage of the REAFO. In one aspect, the configurable orthosis is used in conjunction with a plastically deformable precursor member to facilitate the design and manufacture of a definitive orthosis customized for a particular patient.

Abstract: Various orthotic joint devices, components, and methods are provided. These include orthotic joint alignment devices for adjusting a neutral or fixed angle of an orthotic joint device independently of other parameters, orthotic joint devices providing staged resistance through staged recruitment of separate springs or initiation of staged spring-rate behavior of a single spring retained in a joint body, adapters for converting non-staged resistance orthotic joint devices into orthotic joint devices, and low-noise orthotic joint devices with intermittent normal force-transmitting contact associated with resistive or assistive forces provided by the devices, and methods of using the devices and components.

Abstract: Various orthotic joint devices, components, and methods are provided. These include orthotic joint alignment devices for adjusting a neutral or fixed angle of an orthotic joint device independently of other parameters, orthotic joint devices providing staged resistance through staged recruitment of separate springs or initiation of staged spring-rate behavior of a single spring retained in a joint body, adapters for converting non-staged resistance orthotic joint devices into orthotic joint devices, and low-noise orthotic joint devices with intermittent normal force-transmitting contact associated with resistive or assistive forces provided by the devices, and methods of using the devices and components.

Abstract: Configurable orthoses having a high degree of independent adjustability of various parameters are provided. In the example of a rehabilitation-evaluation ankle-foot orthosis (REAFO), these parameters may include calf band anteroposterior, height, width, sagittal tilt, coronal tilt, and mediolateral displacement adjustments; mediolateral displacement adjustments of a supramalleolar support; heel width/stirrup separation adjustment; and sagittal active joint resistance and neutral angle adjustments. Calf band mediolateral displacement adjustment may be provided by a lockable four-bar pivoting frame linkage of the REAFO. In one aspect, the configurable orthosis is used in conjunction with a plastically deformable precursor member to facilitate the design and manufacture of a definitive orthosis customized for a particular patient.

Abstract: Configurable orthoses having a high degree of independent adjustability of various parameters are provided. In the example of a rehabilitation-evaluation ankle-foot orthosis (REAFO), these parameters may include calf band anteroposterior, height, width, sagittal tilt, coronal tilt, and mediolateral displacement adjustments; mediolateral displacement adjustments of a supramalleolar support; heel width/stirrup separation adjustment; and sagittal active joint resistance and neutral angle adjustments. Calf band mediolateral displacement adjustment may be provided by a lockable four-bar pivoting frame linkage of the REAFO. In one aspect, the configurable orthosis is used in conjunction with a plastically deformable precursor member to facilitate the design and manufacture of a definitive orthosis customized for a particular patient.

Abstract: The application discloses a conformable support structure for use in fiber composite precursor; a resin impregnated conformable fiber composite precursor, which may surround the support structure, for being manually manipulated and plastically deformed into a desired shape before being cured into a final product having the desired shape; the corresponding final product, which may be an orthosis or other product; and methods of making the final product or orthosis. The support structure is typically plastically deformable by hand to form the desired shape, may be substantially planar and may have various voids to promote controlled plastic deformation of the frame in one or more desired directions. The core may comprise a wire or tube and may include packing or filler material. The precursor includes a fiber layer impregnated with a thermoset resin and includes a compressor around the fiber layer. The fiber layer is supported internally or externally by the conformable support member.

Abstract: In one aspect, an improved ankle joint device provides two stages of dorsiflexion resistance biasing a first splint member (or other attachment member that follows the angular displacement of a wearer's lower leg or foot) against dorsiflexion movement within an active angular range of dorsiflexion, corresponding to second and third rocker phases of a wearer's gait; in addition to a phase of plantarflexion resistance biasing the first splint/attachment member against plantarflexion movement within an active angular range of plantarflexion, corresponding to a first rocker phase. In another aspect, an equilibrium or neutral angle between a wearer's foot and tibia at which the device applies no biasing forces is adjustable by adjusting the angle at which a second splint/attachment member is fixed relative to a joint body. Typically, the second splint member is secured to a wearer's lower leg, and the first splint member is secured to a wearer's foot.

Abstract: Configurable orthoses having a high degree of independent adjustability of various parameters are provided. In the example of a rehabilitation-evaluation ankle-foot orthosis (REAFO), these parameters may include calf band anteroposterior, height, width, sagittal tilt, coronal tilt, and mediolateral displacement adjustments; mediolateral displacement adjustments of a supramalleolar support; heel width/stirrup separation adjustment; and sagittal active joint resistance and neutral angle adjustments. Calf band mediolateral displacement adjustment may be provided by a lockable four-bar pivoting frame linkage of the REAFO. In one aspect, the configurable orthosis is used in conjunction with a plastically deformable precursor member to facilitate the design and manufacture of a definitive orthosis customized for a particular patient.

Abstract: The application discloses a conformable support structure for use in fiber composite precursor; a resin impregnated conformable fiber composite precursor, which may surround the support structure, for being manually manipulated and plastically deformed into a desired shape before being cured into a final product having the desired shape; the corresponding final product, which may be an orthosis or other product; and methods of making the final product or orthosis. The support structure is typically plastically deformable by hand to form the desired shape, may be substantially planar and may have various voids to promote controlled plastic deformation of the frame in one or more desired directions. The core may comprise a wire or tube and may include packing or filler material. The precursor includes a fiber layer impregnated with a thermoset resin and includes a compressor around the fiber layer. The fiber layer is supported internally or externally by the conformable support member.

Abstract: Various orthotic joint devices, components, and methods are provided. These include orthotic joint alignment devices for adjusting a neutral or fixed angle of an orthotic joint device independently of other parameters, orthotic joint devices providing staged resistance through staged recruitment of separate springs or initiation of staged spring-rate behavior of a single spring retained in a joint body, adapters for converting non-staged resistance orthotic joint devices into orthotic joint devices, and low-noise orthotic joint devices with intermittent normal force-transmitting contact associated with resistive or assistive forces provided by the devices, and methods of using the devices and components.

Abstract: An improved ankle joint device is provided. In one aspect, the device provides two stages of dorsiflexion resistance biasing a first splint member (or other attachment member that follows the angular displacement of a wearer's lower leg or foot) against dorsiflexion movement within an active angular range of dorsiflexion, corresponding to second and third rocker phases of a wearer's gait; in addition to a phase of plantarflexion resistance biasing the first splint/attachment member against plantarflexion movement within an active angular range of plantarflexion, corresponding to a first rocker phase. In another aspect, an equilibrium or neutral angle between a wearer's foot and tibia at which the device applies no biasing forces is adjustable by adjusting the angle at which a second splint/attachment member is fixed relative to a joint body. Typically, the second splint member is secured to a wearer's lower leg, and the first splint member is secured to a wearer's foot.

Abstract: A technique for providing a grid for a gate such as utilized in gating a stream of ions or other particles in a spectrometer instrument. The grid of wires may, for example, be a so-called Bradbury-Nielson Gate that consists of a set of two electrically isolated sets of equally spaced wires that lie substantially in the same plane and alternate in potential. The method utilized to provide is to first fabricate a frame of an insulating substrate having a hole and depositing metal film patterns such that conductive portions are formed on either side of the hole. Conductive portions on either side form a series of terminating pads on the portion of the substrate closest to the hole and a bus bar. Grid wires are then formed by stretching a section of wire with desired constant tension across the hole and bonding the ends of the wire to a respective one of the pads on one side and bus bar on the other side. The method provides a rapid, inexpensive way to fabricate such modulating devices.

Abstract: A technique for providing a grid for a gate such as utilized in gating a stream of ions or other particles in a spectrometer instrument. The grid of wires may, for example, be a so-called Bradbury-Nielson Gate that consists of a set of two electrically isolated sets of equally spaced wires that lie substantially in the same plane and alternate in potential. The method utilized to provide is to first fabricate a frame of an insulating substrate having a hole and depositing metal film patterns such that conductive portions are formed on either side of the hole. Conductive portions on either side form a series of terminating pads on the portion of the substrate closest to the hole and a bus bar. Grid wires are then formed by stretching a section of wire with desired constant tension across the hole and bonding the ends of the wire to a respective one of the pads on one side and bus bar on the other side. The method provides a rapid, inexpensive way to fabricate such modulating devices.

Abstract: A technique for providing a grid for a gate such as utilized in gating a stream of ions or other particles in a spectrometer instrument. The grid of wires may, for example, be a so-called Bradbury-Nielson Gate that consists of a set of two electrically isolated sets of equally spaced wires that lie substantially in the same plane and alternate in potential. The method utilized to provide is to first fabricate a frame of an insulating substrate having a hole and depositing metal film patterns such that conductive portions are formed on either side of the hole. Conductive portions on either side form a series of terminating pads on the portion of the substrate closest to the hole and a bus bar. Grid wires are then formed by stretching a section of wire with desired constant tension across the hole and bonding the ends of the wire to a respective one of the pads on one side and bus bar on the other side. The method provides a rapid, inexpensive way to fabricate such modulating devices.

Abstract: A technique for providing a grid for a gate such as utilized in gating a stream of ions or other particles in a spectrometer instrument. The grid of wires may, for example, be a so-called Bradbury-Nielson Gate that consists of a set of two electrically isolated sets of equally spaced wires that lie substantially in the same plane and alternate in potential. The method utilized to provide is to first fabricate a frame of an insulating substrate having a hole and depositing metal film patterns such that conductive portions are formed on either side of the hole. Conductive portions on either side form a series of terminating pads on the portion of the substrate closest to the hole and a bus bar. Grid wires are then formed by stretching a section of wire with desired constant tension across the hole and bonding the ends of the wire to a respective one of the pads on one side and bus bar on the other side. The method provides a rapid, inexpensive way to fabricate such modulating devices.