An adjustable orthopedic back support includes a posterior panel assembly, a circumferential rail strap having ends attached to the posterior panel assembly, and at least one selectively positioned anterior panel assembly. The rail strap has an unattached intermediate length extending between its attached ends. The anterior panel assembly is carried on the unattached intermediate length of the rail strap, and is adapted for sliding linear adjustment along the rail strap relative to the posterior panel assembly. The anterior panel assembly overlaps a portion of the posterior panel assembly, and has a extension portion selectively linearly extending from the posterior panel assembly such that the back support is custom adjusted to circumferentially fit around a lumbar region of the wearer.

In some embodiments, a system and/or method may include an external spinal brace system. The system may include a plurality of support mechanisms including at least first and second support mechanisms. The first support mechanism may be coupled, during use, to the second support mechanism such that the first and second support mechanisms are inhibited from decoupling. In some embodiments, the system may include a coupling system. The coupling system may couple the plurality of support mechanisms to a subject such that the plurality of support mechanisms are positioned, during use, along at least a portion of the subject's spine. In some embodiments, the external brace system applies a posterior distraction force to the subject.

A back plate of a waist support includes a supporting section and two wings. The supporting section has a valley portion for receiving a wearer's spine. The two wings are symmetrically connected to the supporting section from two widthwise opposite sides thereof and each have plural lengthwise grooves, for making the wings of the back plate bendable. Thereby, the waist support is endurable and supportive and can effectively distribute the load that is focused on of the wearer's lumbar vertebrae.

The present invention relates to a bottom wear having at least a waist-encircling section (2), wherein the waist-encircling section (2) at least has a first hole (3) and a second hole (4). The present invention provides a bottom wear assuring easy adjustment of the waist fastening position which varies from person to person; practicability saving time and labor in maintenance such as laundering; and easy adjustment of an abdominal pressure enabling a waist portion to be tightened and loosened easily.

Described embodiments provide a shape memory alloy (SMA) cartridge for use in providing controllable compression. The SMA cartridge includes first and second end caps, each of the first and second end caps being coupled to a passive material. One or more SMA coils extend between the first and second end caps. The SMA coils have a trained state and a deformed state, where the SMA coils are in the deformed state when a stimulus is provided thereto and the SMA coils are in the trained state when the stimulus is removed therefrom. The first end cap and the second end cap include a locking mechanism to automatically lock the first and second end caps in a fixed position relative to one another when the SMA coils are contracted.

A spine support device includes a support plate having front and rear faces, a central opening, and a pair of stabilizing stirrups formed on the rear face of the support plate in spaced parallel relationship to augment the support provided by the support plate when positioned at its front face in contact with a portion of a person's back surrounding a region of spinal vertebra visible through the central opening in the support plate. The support plate has opposing inner side edge portions at opposing sides of the central opening and opposite peripheral side edge portions spaced outwardly therefrom with the stabilizing stirrups therebetween. The opposing inner side edge portions and the opposite peripheral side edge portions of the support plate have respective alternating peak and valley shapes for accommodating interconnecting facets of the spinal vertebra region visible through the central opening in the support plate.

According to an embodiment, a device for tightening an article includes a housing, a spool rotatably positioned within the housing, a knob operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing, and a stop mechanism. The device is configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a first direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool within the housing that incrementally tensions a tension member and thereby tightens the article. The device is also configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a second direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool that incrementally loosens the tension member's tension. The stop mechanism is configured to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction when the tension member's tension achieves or falls below a tension threshold.

A skin adhesive member that helps a user maintain an appropriate posture while supporting muscles on the abdominal side. The skin adhesive member extends in a length direction and is adhered from an abdominal side to a back side across a side abdomen of the user, the skin adhesive member having a foundation portion, a first extension portion extending in the length direction from one end of the foundation portion and adhered to the back side, a second extension portion extending from another end of the foundation portion and adhered to the abdominal side, wherein the first extension portion includes at least a pair of belt portions.

A hinge assembly for use in an orthopedic or prosthetic system includes first and second connection members arranged to rotate relative to one another about at least one pivot point. At least one shaft member is rotatably attached to the first connection member. A translating member is attached to the at least one shaft member and is operatively connected to or meshes with the second connection member. Rotation of the at least one shaft member drives translation of the translating member along a length of the at least one shaft member. Translation of the translating member along the shaft member drives rotation of the second connection member relative to the first connection member.

The application discloses a conformable support structure for use in fiber composite precursor; a resin impregnated conformable fiber composite precursor, which may surround the support structure, for being manually manipulated and plastically deformed into a desired shape before being cured into a final product having the desired shape; the corresponding final product, which may be an orthosis or other product; and methods of making the final product or orthosis. The support structure is typically plastically deformable by hand to form the desired shape, may be substantially planar and may have various voids to promote controlled plastic deformation of the frame in one or more desired directions. The core may comprise a wire or tube and may include packing or filler material. The precursor includes a fiber layer impregnated with a thermoset resin and includes a compressor around the fiber layer. The fiber layer is supported internally or externally by the conformable support member. The precursor may be custom fitted to match the shape of an object and then thermally cured into a strong rigid product. The cured precursor can then be used to make a custom finished product.