The present invention relates to a tensioning strap comprising a strap-shaped base body that is compressible and/or extensible in the longitudinal direction, and comprising at least one pull cable, wherein the pull cable runs at least once along the longitudinal direction of the base body, and wherein the pull cable is deflected at at least one end of the base body. The present invention also relates to various possible applications of the tensioning strap according to the invention—in particular, in the field of medical aids, orthopedic aids, or sports aids.

A brace including (i) two or more supports configured to contact body parts on opposite sides or ends of one or more joints when the brace is in use and (ii) one or more force application mechanisms that apply a controllable force to the supports in opposite directions to alleviate compression in the one or more joints is disclosed. Methods of manufacturing the brace and of alleviating compression in one or more joints using the brace are also disclosed.

An orthosis for the support of a joint, adapted to the thumb or wrist, comprising: sleeve-like main member made of an elastic material, adapted to envelop the joint and distal and proximal limb portions on either side of the joint, elastically deformable panel housed in a pocket formed in the main member, and non-elastic bracing device for bracing the main member and a proximal portion of the panel around the proximal limb portion, the panel being configured such that, over at least 50% of the length of the main member along the limb portions, including a limb portion covered by the bracing device, the panel has a cross-section occupying more than 30% of the perimeter of the underlying limb, the panel having a stiffness defined by a Young's modulus between 5 and 10 MPa, while the material forming the main member has a stiffness of a lower order of magnitude.

Implementations of an arm sleeve that provides external assistance to an arm and shoulder of a user during an arm motion are provided. In one implementation, the arm sleeve comprises a framework that includes a torso portion configured to be attached to the torso of the user and an arm portion configured to receive at least a portion of the arm of the user. The framework of the arm sleeve is a unitary construction of interconnected elastic members that define openings therebetween. The interconnected elastic members include a first elastic member configured to play an active part throughout an overhead throwing motion, a second elastic member configured to decrease the concentric contraction force necessary for shoulder abduction during the cocking phase of a throwing motion, and a third elastic member configured to assist eccentrically contracting muscles during the deceleration phase of a throwing motion. In another implementation, the framework of the arm sleeve is encased by an elastomeric cover.

An improved thermoformable orthosis apparatus for being selectively formed and applied and removed having offset zipper closures on two shell members for improved hinging and opening and access for initial application and forming when malleable and for removing and reinstalling when hardened.

A device for treating hand tremors and methods of using the device. In at least some embodiments, the device includes a glove covering and at least one Coulomb damping suspension assembly. In some embodiments, the Coulomb damping suspension assembly includes a flexible tube and a wire-tube assembly. In some embodiments, the wire-tube assembly includes a first length of a wire and a first tube.

A system is provided for supporting an arm of a user that includes a harness configured to be worn by the user, and an arm support coupled to the harness and including an arm rest to support an arm of the user. The arm support is configured to accommodate and follow movement of the arm without substantially interfering in such movement. The arm support may at least partially offset a gravitational force acting on the arm as the user moves and the arm support follows the movement of the user's arm. For example, the arm support may transfer at least a portion of the weight of the user's arm to the torso or other region of the user's body and/or may apply an opposing force to at least partially offset the gravitational force acting on the arm.

An anatomical brace for dynamically stabilizing the elbow during elbow articulation, the anatomical brace comprising: a brace body comprising a distal portion for fitting over the forearm of a user and a proximal portion for fitting over the upper arm of a user; a hinge mechanism comprising a distal segment, a proximal segment and a pivot for pivotally connecting the distal segment and the proximal segment, the distal segment of the hinge mechanism being mounted to the distal portion of the brace body and the proximal segment of the hinge mechanism being mounted to the proximal portion of the brace body; a pivot cable guide mounted to the anterior portion of the pivot; an upper arm cable guide mounted to at least one of the proximal segment of the hinge mechanism and the proximal portion of the brace body, the upper arm cable guide being configured to change the direction of a cable extending through the upper arm cable guide; an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) cable guide mounted to the brace body and configured to direct a cable extending through the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) cable guide over the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and toward the distal portion of the brace body; and a cable having a first end and a second end; the first end of the cable being mounted to the distal segment of the hinge mechanism, the second end of the cable being mounted to the distal portion of the brace body, and the cable being routed proximally along the distal segment of the hinge mechanism, through the pivot cable guide, proximally along the proximal segment of the hinge mechanism, through the upper arm cable guide, and through the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) cable guide; wherein, when the anatomical brace is mounted to the arm of a user so that the distal portion of the brace body is secured to the forearm of the user, and the proximal portion of the brace body is secured to the upper arm of the user, and when the elbow thereafter moves to full extension, the cable is tensioned, whereby to apply a force to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the user, and when the elbow thereafter moves to full flexion, the cable is relaxed, so that the force applied to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is released.

Disclosed herein are a method and system for producing a digital model of a customised device, comprising the steps of: importing a first digital file of a base part; importing a second digital file of a target shape; determining a warping interpolation function based on source point positions associated with the base part and target point positions associated with the target shape; and applying the warping interpolation function to the points of said base part to generate a model of said customised device.

A lacing system configured to selectively adjust the size of an opening on an object and allow for the incremental release of the lace within the lacing system. The lacing system can have a reel comprising a housing, a spool supported by the housing, and a knob supported by the housing. The reel can be configured so that cable is gathered in the channel formed in the spool when the spool is rotated in a first direction relative to the housing, and so that cable can be incrementally released from the spool when the spool is rotated in a second direction relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the reel can include a rotation limiter which can be configured to prevent over-tightening of the lacing system and/or to prevent rotation past the substantially fully loosened state.