Patent ID: 6666837
Filing Date: 2003-12-23
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
An orthosis joint (7) for orthoses for two parts of a body which can be bent and stretched against each other, namely one of a knee or an arm orthoses, wherein the orthosis joint (7) rotationally connects two splints (4, 5) that are each connected, respectively, to upper and lower holding parts (2 and 3) adapted to be fastened, respectively, to a respective part of the body by extending the holding part (2, 3) around that part of the body and wherein each splint (4, 5) is fixed at one end to the holding part (2 or 3) and meshes at a second end in the orthosis joint (7) with the second end of the other splint (5, 4) by means of one of pins or teeth (23, 23â€²) provided at each second end of each splint (4, 5) in the orthosis joint (7) and wherein end stops (20) for limiting extension and flexion are provided, fixed in a cover plate 13, characterized in that a braking mechanism is provided in a housing (10) in the orthosis joint (7) and includes an intermediate shoe member (18) supported on a base plate (8) in the housing (10) and at least one of a circular disk (17) for constant braking or an eccentric disk (17â€²) for gradual or dynamic braking which is positioned adjacent said intermediate shoe member (18) in said housing (10â€²), said at least one disk (17 or 17â€²) being mounted to rotate about an axis of rotation of one of said second ends of said splints (4, 5) and against said intermediate shoe member (18) to provide a constant or gradual braking force and in that said end stops (20) are received in one of several arcuate slots 24 in one of said second ends of said splints (4, 5), said arcuate slots 24 allowing movement of the splints (4, 5) until an end stop (20) engages an end of an arcuate slot (24) and over a limited range of motion established by the end stops (20) and defined by an angular range &dgr; which is between &dgr;1, extension, of 0Â° and &dgr;2, flexion, of 90Â° and that extension and flexion, respectively, in the orthosis joint (7) undergoes one of constant or dynamic braking within a certain angular range of (&dgr;, flexionâˆ’&agr;) or (&dgr;, extension+&agr;), where a represents an angle between 3Â° and 25Â° so that a non-braking range of 84Â° maximum ((&dgr;flexion=90Â°)âˆ’(&agr;=3Â°))âˆ’((&dgr; extension=0Â°)+(&agr;=3Â°)) can be established and a non-braking range at 40Â° minimum ((&dgr; flexion=90Â°)âˆ’(&agr;=25Â°))âˆ’((&dgr; extension=0Â°)+(&agr;=25Â°)) can be established.