Abstract: A hinge assembly is provided for an orthopedic knee brace. The knee brace includes upper and lower support arms. The hinge assembly includes a hinge plate and first and second gear members pivotally connected to the hinge plate. The first gear member is coupled for rotation with the upper support arm and has an articulation surface adjacent a surface of the upper support arm. The second gear member is coupled for rotation with the lower support arm and has an articulation surface adjacent a surface of the lower support arm. The hinge assembly allows medial/lateral articulation of the upper and lower support arms in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane of rotation of the first and second gear members.

Abstract: A hinge assembly is provided for an orthopedic knee brace. The knee brace includes upper and lower support arms. The hinge assembly includes a hinge plate and first and second gear members pivotally connected to the hinge plate. The first gear member is coupled for rotation with the upper support arm and has an articulation surface adjacent a surface of the upper support arm. The second gear member is coupled for rotation with the lower support arm and has an articulation surface adjacent a surface of the lower support arm. The hinge assembly allows medial/lateral articulation of the upper and lower support arms in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane of rotation of the first and second gear members.

Abstract: A lockable hinge for use in orthopedic braces is provided. When used in a knee brace, the present hinge provides a knee-immobilizing brace that assists persons with standing and/or walking. The hinge is easily converted from a locked mode to a free range of motion mode and vice versa. When the hinge is in the locked mode, patients are better able to stand and walk. With the push of a button, the patient can bend his or her knee to sit or lie down more comfortably. When the hinge is in the free range of motion mode, patients are better able to participate in physical therapy activities without the hinge locking.

Abstract: A lockable hinge for use in orthopedic braces is provided. When used in a knee brace, the present hinge provides a knee-immobilizing brace that assists persons with standing and/or walking. The hinge is easily converted from a locked mode to a free range of motion mode and vice versa. When the hinge is in the locked mode, patients are better able to stand and walk. With the push of a button, the patient can bend his or her knee to sit or lie down more comfortably. When the hinge is in the free range of motion mode, patients are better able to participate in physical therapy activities without the hinge locking.

Abstract: A hinge assembly is provided for an orthopedic knee brace. The knee brace includes upper and lower support arms. The hinge assembly includes a hinge plate and first and second gear members pivotally connected to the hinge plate. The first gear member is coupled for rotation with the upper support arm and has an articulation surface adjacent a surface of the upper support arm. The second gear member is coupled for rotation with the lower support arm and has an articulation surface adjacent a surface of the lower support arm. The hinge assembly allows medial/lateral articulation of the upper and lower support arms in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane of rotation of the first and second gear members.

Abstract: A hinge assembly is provided for an orthopedic knee brace. The knee brace includes upper and lower support arms. The hinge assembly includes a hinge plate and first and second gear members pivotally connected to the hinge plate. The first gear member is coupled for rotation with the upper support arm and has an articulation surface adjacent a surface of the upper support arm. The second gear member is coupled for rotation with the lower support arm and has an articulation surface adjacent a surface of the lower support arm. The hinge assembly allows medial/lateral articulation of the upper and lower support arms in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane of rotation of the first and second gear members.

Abstract: Braces for loading and/or unloading knees, elbows and other joints. Such braces feature a stiffener which may be substantially permanently configured in shape to cooperate with the brace in applying tension to locations on the limb proximal and distal to the joint being loaded and/or unloaded, which counteract forces applied by the stiffener to the joint. A bending tool which may be accompanied by use of a goniometer may be employed for proper configuration of the stiffener using the wearer's limb geometry as a reference. Such braces are particularly effective for treating conditions such as compartmental osteoarthritis.

Abstract: Braces for loading and/or unloading knees, elbows and other joints. Such braces feature a stiffener which may be substantially permanently configured in shape to cooperate with the brace in applying tension to locations on the limb proximal and distal to the joint being loaded and/or unloaded, which counteract forces applied by the stiffener to the joint. A bending tool which may be accompanied by use of a goniometer may be employed for proper configuration of the stiffener using the wearer's limb geometry as a reference. Such braces are particularly effective for treating conditions such as compartmental osteoarthritis.

Abstract: A method for sublimating graphics onto a three-dimensional object, such as an orthopedic brace, includes pre-treating the device if needed. The device may require a coating that is able to receive sublimated inks and capture those inks. Sublimation papers are cut to the appropriate size, placed on the device with re-positional adhesive, and wrapped around the object. Shrink tubing and clamps may also be used to ensure continuous contact between the sublimation paper and the device during sublimation. After the sublimation paper has been placed against the desired surfaces of the device, the paper and the device are heated to sublimate the inks into the device. After the device and paper are heated and allowed to cool, the sublimation paper is removed with a lubricant or solvent. Orthopedic devices and other three-dimensional objects having a complexity in their geometric profile can therefore be provided with sophisticated graphics.

Abstract: Braces for loading and/or unloading knees, elbows and other joints. Such braces feature a stiffener which may be substantially permanently configured in shape to cooperate with the brace in applying tension to locations on the limb proximal and distal to the joint being loaded and/or unloaded, which counteract forces applied by the stiffener to the joint. A bending tool which may be accompanied by use of a goniometer may be employed for proper configuration of the stiffener using the wearer's limb geometry as a reference. Such braces are particularly effective for treating conditions such as compartmental osteoarthritis.

Abstract: Braces for loading and/or unloading knees, elbows and other joints. Such braces feature a stiffener which may be substantially permanently configured in shape to cooperate with the brace in applying tension to locations on the limb proximal and distal to the joint being loaded and/or unloaded, which counteract forces applied by the stiffener to the joint. A bending tool which may be accompanied by use of a goniometer may be employed for proper configuration of the stiffener using the wearer's limb geometry as a reference. Such braces are particularly effective for treating conditions such as compartmental osteoarthritis.

Abstract: A knee brace is provided that is mountable over the knee joint of a user. The brace has a compliant sleeve and a compliant cover overlying an anterior portion of the sleeve. The sleeve and cover preferably have corresponding anterior openings aligned to receive the patella when the brace is mounted over the knee joint. The sleeve and cover are joined around the perimeter of the cover to form a pocket therebetween enclosing an inflatable pad having a medial chamber and a lateral chamber in fluid isolation from each other. The chambers are provided with associated pumps and valves, rendering them selectively inflatable or deflatable. In operation, the brace is positioned over the knee joint such that the pad circumscribes a portion of the patella and one or both of the chambers are inflated as desired to stabilize the patella.

Abstract: An angular compensation hinge for a human joint brace, as well as the brace into which the hinge is incorporated, are described. The hinge's hinge pin and leaves cooperate with an arch bar through guide pins and a bi-threaded screw to provide angular compensation adjustment of the brace. The hinge can be easily operated by the user without assistance and by rotation of a single screw, either with a simple tool or through a knob, and provides for infinite angular adjustment over the entire adjustment range. Adjustments can be easily made while the user is wearing the brace. There is positive locking of the hinge at any angle within the range of adjustment. A few standard sizes of the brace will be sufficient to provide essentially customized fitting braces for virtually any person because of the "fine tuning" capability provided. The hinge may be used with many different types of braces, including those intended for knee, wrist, elbow, ankle, hip and shoulder joints.

Abstract: A hinged knee brace has a system of inflatable pads mounted thereon to adjustably provide secure and comfortable support for the brace against the leg. Each pad is a pneumatic bladder having a valve enabling selective inflation or deflation of the bladder with a fluid to systematically adjust the fit of the brace to the leg in accordance with the needs of the user.

Abstract: A hinged orthopedic knee brace has a structural frame and at least one knee condyle pad attachable thereto. The frame has a plurality of rigid or stiffened support components dynamically connected by one or more hinges. The knee condyle pad is attachable to the frame proximal to the hinge and is configured to conform to the surface of the body overlying the lateral or medial knee condyle. The knee condyle pad has a fluid-containing primary bladder with a loop configuration encircling a depressed interior opening of the pad. The primary bladder is sized to circumscribe the periphery of the knee condyle and the interior opening is sized to receive the apex of the knee condyle. The distal portion of the primary bladder has a reduced volume and reduced surface area relative to the proximal portion thereof.

Abstract: A hinged orthopedic knee brace has a structural frame made up of a plurality of rigid or stiffened support components dynamically connected by one or more hinges. A plurality of pneumatic pads are attached to the inside faces of the frame to effectively grip the body of the user and simultaneously cushion the body from the frame. Each pad is connected in selective fluid communication with a pump and a fluid release valve enabling the user to instantaneously inflate or deflate the pads whenever desired to enhance the fit of the brace on the body of the user.

Abstract: An osteoarthritic knee brace is provided having flexible upper and lower arm members rotatably connected to each other by a rotary hinge assembly. A selectively inflatable or deflatable fluid-containing pad is positionable between the hinge assembly and a side of the knee joint. In operation, the brace is mounted on the leg with the pad engaging both the hinge assembly and the side of the knee joint, the hinge assembly aligned with the knee joint, and the upper and lower arm members aligned with the upper and lower legs, respectively. The upper and lower arm members are stressed away from the knee joint, thereby applying a restoring force to the knee joint across the hinge assembly and the pad that effectively treats the osteoarthritic knee joint. The restoring force is adjustable by selective inflation or deflation of the pad.

Abstract: A splint and a kit from which the splint is assembled include a plurality of components having a planar configuration for compact storage when in the kit, but having a three-dimensional configuration conforming to the desired body contours when the splint is assembled. The individual planar kit components include a rigid support member, a pad for cushioning the support member against the body, a plurality of belts for securing the support member to the body, a pair of flexion members for fixedly retaining the flexion angle of the support member, and one or more straps flexibly connecting the flexion members to the support member. The support member is an elongated surface having two longitudinal grooves formed therein that act as contour joints, and two slits formed therethrough perpendicular to the grooves that act as flexion joints.

Abstract: A hinged knee brace has a system of inflatable pads mounted thereon to adjustably provide secure and comfortable support for the brace against the leg. Each pad is a pneumatic bladder having a valve enabling selective inflation or deflation of the bladder with a fluid to systematically adjust the fit of the brace to the leg in accordance with the needs of the user.

Abstract: An orthopedic brace is provided having one or more pads mounted thereon to provide secure and comfortable support for the brace when positioned against the body of a user. Each pad includes at least one pneumatic bladder, formed from a flexible skin permanently sealed to enclose a volume of gas therein. In a first embodiment, the brace has a point pad mounted thereon which is configured to conform to a surface of the body overlying a skeletal protrusion. The point pad contains a bladder having a substantially closed-loop configuration circumscribing the skeletal protrusion and having an interior opening to receive the protrusion. In a second embodiment, the brace has an areal pad mounted thereon which is configured to conform to a surface of the body overlying a curved, but relatively level, skeletal structure or soft tissue. The areal pad is a plurality of interconnected gas-inflated chambers that are maintained in fluid isolation from one another by flexible seams positioned between adjacent chambers.