Patent ID: 7785282

Claim:
A spinal orthosis comprising: a torso unit; a base member secured to the torso unit; a spring biased hinge having a center of rotation and being connected at a first end to the base member and connected at a second end to a sternal support, the spring biased hinge having a horizontal articulation and an anterior-posterior range of movement; one or more sternal pads connected to the sternal support, the sternal pads adapted to provide a posteriorly directed force based on a bias of the spring biased hinge, wherein the spring biased hinge includes at least one bump stop that limits the range of movement of the spring biased hinge and a receiving portion at least partially integrated in the spring biased hinge, said receiving portion including a first end and a second end and housing an adjustment mechanism at the first end and a spring to provide the bias for the spring biased hinge, wherein the adjustment mechanism is moveable through the receiving portion to adjust the bias provided for the spring biased hinge, the adjustment mechanism being movable toward the second end of the receiving portion to increase the posteriorly directed force and being movable away from the second end of the receiving portion to decrease the posteriorly directed force, wherein a force line associated with the bias of the spring is arranged at an angle with respect to the center of rotation of the spring biased hinge, and wherein the spring provides bias for the spring biased hinge at a position along the force line that is substantially directly anterior to the center of rotation, with anterior being defined with respect to the range of movement of the spring biased hinge.