Patent ID: 7204818

Claim:
An orthopedic device, in particular a prosthesis or an orthesis, for the purpose of replacing respectively supporting the function of at least one part of a human limb with a pivotable joint, for example a leg with a knee or an arm with an elbow, on either side of which joint there extend respective limb parts, such as a lower leg and an upper leg respectively a lower arm and an upper arm, which device comprises: a structure comprising two substantially rigid parts, for instance two rods, which parts are coupled to each other by means of hinge means and each comprise fastening means for optional temporary fastening to a limb part, wherein a pivot axis of the hinge means extends at least more or less in the region and in the direction of the pivot axis zone of the relevant joint, said fastening means being at least partly provided with friction-reducing means on at least the side to be brought into contact with the relevant limb part, wherein the friction-reducing means comprise a number of freely rotatable elements.