Patent ID: 6010474
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A medical brace, comprising:a below ankle attachment for securing said brace to a patient below the patient's ankle, said below ankle attachment including a support shoe for the patient's foot and a heel bridge spanning the shoe and connecting to each of a pair of strut assemblies;a thigh cuff for securing said brace to said patient above the patient's knee, said thigh cuff having a rear portion extending upwardly for engagement with soft tissue surrounding the patient's ischium and an outer side portion extending to the patient's greater trochanter region; and,a mechanism connecting said below ankle attachment and said thigh cuff for transferring loads past the patient's knee during walking, said mechanism permitting bending of the patient's knee for sitting, said mechanism including:said pair of strut assemblies for extending along the patient's leg on opposite sides of the leg, each strut assembly sized and configured to be pivotable proximate the knee to permit bending of the knee during walking,each of said strut assemblies including a hinge pivotally connecting an upper and a lower strut, said hinge located and configured for permitting bending proximate the knee,each of said strut assemblies further including a spring mechanism for resisting bending of said strut assembly, said spring mechanism having an adjustable resistance,each of said strut assemblies further including a second hinge for permitting bending proximate the patient's knee and a sliding lock for selectively permitting pivoting about the second hinge for substantial knee bend during sitting.