Patent ID: 8252054

Claim:
An orthopedic mechanical support device having a longitudinal axis comprising: a first hollow member having a slot through the first hollow member, wherein the slot is defined by a first stop at a first terminal end of the slot and a second stop at the second terminal end of the slot; a second hollow member positioned radially inside of the first hollow member, the second hollow member configured to rotate with respect to the first hollow member; a rotationally limiting element radially extending from the second hollow member, wherein the rotationally limiting element is received by the slot, and wherein the rotationally limiting element and slot are configured to abut at the first stop to limit rotation of the second hollow member with respect to the first hollow member in a first direction, and wherein the rotationally limiting element and the slot are configured to abut at the second stop to limit the rotation of the second hollow member with respect to the second hollow member in the second direction; and a first longitudinally extending member configured to longitudinally slide with respect to the first hollow member in a first direction away from the first hollow member when the first hollow member is in a first rotational position with respect to the first longitudinally extending member, and wherein the first longitudinally extending member is configured to be longitudinally fixed with respect to the first hollow member when the first hollow member is in a second rotational position with respect to the first longitudinally extending member, and wherein the first longitudinally extending member is configured to be longitudinally slidable along and rotationally fixed to the second hollow member.