Patent ID: 7485103
Filing Date: 2009-02-03
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A hinge assembly for a knee brace comprising: first and second screw seats, wherein each said screw seat has a bore and an internal thread in said bore; first and second screw seat gears having first and second rotary seat gear teeth respectively, wherein said first screw seat gear is fixably connected to an end of said first screw seat and said second screw seat gear is fixably connected to an end of said second screw seat and further wherein said first screw seat rotates in with rotation of said first screw seat gear and said second screw seat rotates in with rotation of said second screw seat gear such that said first and second screw seats and said first and second screw seat gears are rotationally static with respect to one another; an adjustment actuator gear having rotary actuator gear teeth engaging said first and second rotary seat gear teeth, thereby enabling said first and second screw seat gears to rotate in response to rotation of said adjustment actuator gear; first and second adjustment screws, wherein each said adjustment screw has an external thread and further wherein said first adjustment screw is positioned in said bore of said first screw seat with said external thread threaded into said internal thread of said bore and said second adjustment screw is positioned in said bore of said second screw seat with said external thread threaded into said internal thread of said bore, thereby enabling outward or inward telescoping of said first and second adjustment screws within said bores of said first and second screw seats, respectively, in response to rotation of said adjustment actuator gear, further wherein said first and second adjustment screws are rotationally dynamic with respect to said first and second screw seats and said first and second screw seat gear; and a condyle engagement member, wherein said first and second adjustment screws are connected to said condyle engagement member, thereby enabling proximal displacement of said condyle engagement member in response to outward telescoping of said first and second adjustment screws and enabling distal displacement of said condyle engagement member in response to inward telescoping of said first and second adjustment screws.