A CAM walker includes a removable collar assembly configured to engage a cast or other brace device being worn on a lower extremity received in the walker. The collar assembly includes portions, such as paddles, configured to be brought into engagement with the brace device sufficiently to inhibit anterior and posterior movement of the proximal end of the walker relative to the proximal end of the lower extremity received therein.

An exoskeleton configured to be coupled to a user includes a plurality of interconnected support elements constituted by rigid compression members interconnected through a tensegrity joint. The joint includes a tensile member having a first end and a second end coupled to first and second ones of the support elements respectively.

A method of forming a castless orthotic for a patient's foot in need thereof. The method comprises preparing an orthotic template for the foot wherein the template extends between a heel end and a toe end. In preparing the template the steps of attaching a three-quarter length or full length upper thermoplastic material to a or three-quarter length lower thermoplastic material, or providing a thermoplastic material having a variable thickness such that said thickness decreases from said heel end to said toe end is provided. Then attaching an outer lower layer to the lower thermoplastic material and attaching an outer upper layer to the upper thermoplastic material, or attaching an outer layer to each face of the variable thickness thermoplastic material and heating the prepared orthotic template for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature to soften the orthotic template. A wrap is then placed on top of the foot foam and the foot of the patient is placed on top of the wrap and foot foam. The patient's foot is lifted and the heated orthotic template is placed on top of the the wrap and then placing the patient's foot on top of the heated orthotic template. The wrap is placed about the longitudinal axis of the foot to retain the heated orthotic template intermediate the sole of the foot and the foot foam whereby the sides of the orthotic template are particularly supported by the wrap. The method further includes ensuring the foot is positioned over a cuboid support and a medial longitudinal arch support wherein the cuboid support is disposed on the outside of the bottom of the foot and the cuboid support is moved to push the foot upwardly until a resistance is felt, and where the foot is also positioned over the medial longitudinal arch support which is then pushed and pulled upwardly until the foot is moved into a neutral position or if it is unable to be translated or rotated due to until it reaches its end range of motion. At this time, the heel of the patient's foot is lifted to place their weight substantially on the front of their foot and a coolant is applied to at least the heel end of the orthotic template.

An orthotic device for treating plantar fasciitis includes a dorsal pad, an arch strap, and an Achilles strap. The arch strap releasably fastens to the dorsal pad. When the orthotic device is fitted to a human foot in an operative position, the dorsal pad covers the dorsal surface of the hind foot region and mid foot region, the arch strap is coupled to the dorsal pad with a releasable fastener and supports the plantar surface of the hind foot region and mid foot region, and the Achilles strap engages the Achilles tendon region above the heel of the foot.

An orthopedic device includes a base shell having ankle and foot receiving portions. The base shell forms an opening over a dorsal aspect of the base shell. A dorsal shell is contoured to generally correspond to the opening in the base shell. The dorsal shell includes a proximal member connected to distal member via a flexible or resilient connecting portion arranged to accommodate a portion of a user's lower leg or ankle. A first flexible edge portion is attached to a distal terminal end of the distal member. The first flexible edge portion is arranged to bend or flex relative to the distal member so as to reduce the likelihood of pressure points on the user's toes from the distal member.

Various implementations include an assistive hamstring device including a belt, knee sleeve, first elastic strap, second elastic strap, and third elastic strap. The first elastic strap extends between a first dorsal belt portion of the belt located adjacent a sagittal plane on a dorsal side of the person and a lateral knee portion of the knee sleeve located adjacent a lateral side of the knee. The second elastic strap extends between a side belt portion of the belt located adjacent a coronal plane of the person and a medial knee portion of the knee sleeve located adjacent a medial side of the knee. The third elastic strap extends between a second dorsal belt portion of the belt located between the first and side belt portion and an intermediate dorsal knee portion of the knee sleeve located between the lateral and medial knee portion, along the dorsal portion of the knee.

An orthopedic cast system, which includes: a padding layer configured to be disposed within the cast and support a portion of a patient's limb; a casting material configured to harden around the padding layer and form an outer shell of the cast surrounding the patient's limb; and a cutting wire configured to be disposed within the cast and extend along a longitudinal axis of the cast. A total contact cast including a cutting wire between the patient's skin and the casting material forming an outer shell of the cast, as described herein, allows for easy and safe removal of the cast by pulling at least one end of the cutting wire in a direction of the opposite end of the cutting wire so as to cut through the outer shell of the cast.

An ankle stabilizing apparatus for minimizing inversion and eversion of the foot includes a body member having at least one cuff member positioned against a cuff portion of the body member, wherein the cuff member defines at least one opening for receiving at least one stabilizing strap such that the cuff member and stabilizing strap dynamically apply a variable force against the body member and ankle. The apparatus promotes variable compression against the ankle upon application and during wear. The apparatus also resists distal migration during wear.

In an artificial limb system having an actuator coupled to a joint for applying a torque characteristic thereto, a control bandwidth of a motor controller for a motor included in the actuator can be increased by augmenting a current feedback loop in the motor controller with a feed forward of estimated back electromotive force (emf) voltage associated with, the motor. Alternatively, the current loop is eliminated and replaced with a voltage loop related to joint torque. The voltage loop may also be augmented with the feed forward of estimated back emf, to improve the robustness of the motor controller.

Various orthopaedic brace configurations and elements to be applied to the lower leg and foot are disclosed here, which include a rigid monocoque exoskeleton, foam padded interior, a plurality of retention devices, a plurality of stabilizers extendable through a spring loaded ratcheting mechanism, and a plurality of smaller stabilizer structures. This orthopaedic brace limits inversion, eversion and planterflexion of the ankle and limits flexion, extension, medial rotation and lateral rotation of the knee and hip joint.