Patent ID: 8679042

Claim:
A method of using a wedge for an orthotic brace comprising: disposing a hinge device adjacent a limb of a patient, said hinge device including a first longitudinal member and a second longitudinal member mutually pivotally coupled to one another at respective proximal ends by a hinge feature, said first and second longitudinal members having respective first and second longitudinal axes, said first longitudinal axes disposed generally coplanar to a third longitudinal axis of a first bone of said limb, said second longitudinal axis disposed generally coplanar to a fourth longitudinal axes of a second bone of said limb, said first and second bones mutually pivotally coupled at a joint of said limb such that said joint and said hinge feature are generally aligned to rotate about a mutual axis of rotation, said first longitudinal axis arranged to approach said third longitudinal axis in a direction along said first longitudinal member away from said hinge feature and said second longitudinal axis arranged to approach said fourth longitudinal axis in a direction along said second longitudinal member away from said hinge feature; disposing said wedge between an inner surface of said first member and an outer surface of said limb, said wedge arranged to have a relatively wide end proximal to said hinge feature and a relatively narrow end distal to said hinge feature, said wedge diverging monotonically from said relatively narrow end to said relatively wide end; and placing said wedge in compression by coupling said hinge device to said limb.