Patent ID: 7682322

Claim:
An articulated orthosis having a first and a second hinged shell parts, the orthosis having an inner and outer surfaces, and at least one joint for hinging the first and second shell parts, the orthosis comprising: a tension element having a first anchor point coupled to the first hinged shell part and a second anchor point coupled to the second hinged shell part, the tension element having at least one generally flat outer surface which is substantially co-planar to the inner surface of the orthosis adjacent to the tension element; a first and a second compression surfaces coupled to the first and second shell respectively; a compression element comprising a first block of resilient material, disposed between the compression surfaces; wherein the compression surfaces are located so as to transmit forces to the compression element as a result of angular motion between the first and second hinged shell parts, the forces being operable to compress the compression element; wherein the compression element and tension elements form a joint which is located posteriorly and superiorly to an anatomical joint.