Patent EP-0095396-A1 (EP)
Inventor: SALORT GUY
IPC: A61F5/01
Filed: 1983-05-03
Abstract: 1. An external apparatus for the vertical stance and walking for persons with motor handicaps in one or both lower limbs, the said apparatus comprising in combination : - a single shell corser disposed at the level of the pelvic girdle ; - a brace associated with each limb to be equipped, the said brace comprising ; - on the one hand, an external femoral element disposed parallel to the external side of the femur and substantially over all its length, the said element having its upper end joined to the corset near the iliac crest by a means which is disposed substantially in the extension of the element and which is fixed to the said corset ; - and, on the other hand, a tibial element disposed on the internal side of the tibia and substantially over all its length, the said element being joined to the femoral element, at the level of the knee, by a connecting member allowing their relative movements ; wherein - the external femoral element is a spring lever comprising a strip of flexible metal capable of absorbing and restoring the flexural and torsional stresses ; - the tibial element is an antero-internal spring lever comprising a strip of flexible metal capable of absorbing and restoring the flexural and torsional stresses - the connecting member is a knee cap capable of maintaining the relative movement between the thigh and leg in slight flexion and slight valgus, within the narrow limits of the physiological articular play, thanks to elastic elements disposed on the internal side and on the external side of the knee, between the zones of the knee cap situated above and below the articulation, both on its frontal side and on its posterior side ; - the means joining the femoral spring lever to the corset is a first elastic strap, the said femoral spring lever being additionally joinded to the corset by a second elastic strap which extends transversely whilst being slightly inclined towards the top to be fixed on the corset towards or in the direction of the iliac spines, the said second strap thus substantially crossing the public symphisis ; - the knee cap is rigidly joined, on the one hand, in its upper zone, to the lower end of the femoral spring lever and, on the other hand, in its lower zone to the upper end of the tibial spring lever ; - the lower end of the tibial spring lever is rigidly joined to an element limiting the articular play of the tibial-tarsal articulation, the said element (7) being an orthopaedic shoe which comprises ; - a semi-rigid shell (70) surrounding the foot and the lower tibial conus, this shell comprising an opening (71) which extends opposite the antero-external loculus of the tibila conus and opposite the external edge of the foot, above the cuboid and at least one metatarsal zone, the said shell carrying in the zone of the internal malleolus an attachment point (72) for the lower end (6b) of the tibial spring lever (6) ; - an elastic brace comprising on the one hand, a spring lever (73) joined to the shell (70) and disposed vertically opposite the fibula from the external side of the calcaneus as far as the zone of the upper edge (702) of the shell (70) and, on the other hand, regulating elastic means (74, 75, 77) fitted outside the shell firstly, from the internal edge (701a) of the sole (701) of the shell (70) toward the upper portion (703) of the vamp and towards the upper edge (702) of the trunk of shell (70) and secondly, from the attachment point (72) of the tibial spring lever (6), as far as the postero external zone (701c) of the heel of sole (701) ; - and closing means (76, 76a, 78) for the shell (70) of the shoe.