A knee joint protecting device includes a thigh frame connected to a shank frame by a connection structure, which includes an adjustment mechanism and a connection hinge. The thigh frame is rotatable around a first axis using the adjustment mechanism to perform a first rotation about the shank frame within a first position and a second position. When the thigh frame is in the first position, the knee joint protecting device is fit for the lower limb of a standing posture. The thigh frame performs a second rotation about the shank frame using the connection hinge, the included angle of the first axis and the rotation plane of the second rotation is within the range of 015. By the adjustment mechanism and the connection hinge, the knee protecting device can provide the internal and external rotations between the thigh and the shank, and is more suitable for human engineering and kinesiology.

In one aspect, the invention provides methods and apparatus facilitating an adjustable-stiffness prosthesis or orthosis (including approximations to arbitrarily definable non-linear spring functions). Spring rates may be varied under no-load conditions during a walking gate cycle to minimize power consumption. In another aspect, the invention provides methods and apparatus for outputting positive power from a prosthesis or orthosis, facilitating high-performance artificial limbs. In one embodiment of the invention, the positive power is transferred from a functioning muscle to the prosthesis or orthosis, which mimics or assists a non-functioning or impaired muscle. In another embodiment of the invention, the positive power comes from an on-board power source in the prosthesis or orthosis.

A customizable knee brace for use in the treatment of osteoarthritis is provided. The customizable knee brace includes a lateral upright. The lateral upright includes at least a first semi-rigid support, a second semi-rigid support, and a hinge physically coupling the first semi-rigid support and the second semi-rigid support. The customizable knee brace further includes a thigh cuff constructed of formable material and coupled to the first semi-rigid support. The customizable knee brace further includes a shin cuff constructed of formable material and coupled to the second semi-rigid support. The customizable knee brace further includes an elastomeric web framework coupled to the lateral upright and configured to secure an area of a knee of a patient when wearing the customizable knee brace. The customizable knee brace further includes at least one tensioning element configured to adjust a tension of the elastomeric web framework.

A knee brace which allows the same bolster pad to be used for either the right or left leg, is adjustable to compensate for the differing angle between men and women and allows individual adjustment for each patient's comfort and brace rotation for proper fit and joint alignment. These characteristics are obtained by a contoured bolster that is selectively mountable at various positions on either side of the shin cross piece depending on whether the brace is for the left or right leg, the bolster always being on the medial side of the shin to contact the flat section on the front of the shin thereby minimizing unwanted rotation of the brace. The bolster pad has a front face with a curvature matched to a curvature of an inner side of the cross piece and a flat on a rear side to contact the front of the shin.

A system can comprise an orthopedic sleeve, a processor, and a database. The orthopedic sleeve can be configured to be worn over a joint of a user and can comprise at least one sensor and a communicator. The at least one sensor can be operable to monitor at least one activity parameter associated with the joint, and the communicator can be configured to communicate activity data associated with the at least one activity parameter of the joint. The processor can be configured to receive the activity data from the communicator, and the database in communication with the processor can be configured to store the activity data. Additional apparatus, methods, and systems are disclosed.

The invention relates to a device for supporting at least one arm 4 of a user 2. The device has at least one arm support element 6 with an arm shell 10 for placing on the arm 4, at least one passive actuator 26 that is configured to apply a force on the at least one arm support element 6, and at least one counter bearing 14 for the force to be applied. The counter bearing has at least one counter bearing element 16 and at least one force transmission element 18 that is configured to transmit a counter-force to the counter bearing element 16. The freedom of movement of the spine of the user 2 is not restricted by the device. More particularly an inclination is possible and/or a freedom of movement of the arm 4 is not restricted by the device.

The invention relates a device for supporting two arms 4 of a user 2 wherein the device has two arm support elements 6, each of which has an arm shell 10 for placing on an arm 4, at least one passive actuator 26, which is configured to apply a force to at least one of the arm support elements 6, and at least one counter bearing 14 for the force to be applied, which comprises at least one counter bearing element 16 and at least two force transmission elements 18, which are configured to transfer a counter force from each of the arm support elements to the counter bearing element 16, wherein the force transmission elements 18 are arranged on the counter bearing element 16 such that they can be moved relative to the counter bearing element 16, in particular they can be rotated about at least one rotational axis.

The present invention relates to an adjustable orthesis joint (10) for the controlled movement and/or fixation of a hand of a patient and to an orthesis (1) having such an orthesis joint (10), which is distinguished in that it comprises at least one fastening element (12) for pivotable fastening of a first pivot lever (15); at least one first, upper angle adjustment element (11), and at least one second, lower angle adjustment element (13); the first angle adjustment element (11) and the second angle adjustment element (13) each comprising at least one pivot limitation (111; 131), which limit the extension and/or flexion movement of a first pivot lever (15) in its range of movement. The adjustable orthesis joint (10) according to the invention advantageously makes it possible to control the angles of the extension and flexion as well as the ulnar and radial deviation of the hand according to the state of health and therapy requirement of the patient, while being advantageously compact and robust.

A joint device of an orthosis or prosthesis or for an orthosis or prosthesis with an upper part, a lower part, a joint that comprises a joint axis, about which the upper part is mounted such that it can be swivelled relative to the lower part, and an actuator, which is designed to influence a swivelling of the upper part relative to the lower part. The actuator is mounted at an upper part fixing point on the upper part and at a lower part fixing point on the lower part. At least two joints are arranged between the upper part fixing point and the lower part fixing point, wherein the joints enable a swivelling of the actuator relative to the upper part fixing point and the lower part fixing point, and the joint each form at least one joint axis, at least one of which is not oriented parallel to the joint axis.

A joint device of an orthosis with an upper part and with a lower part that is arranged on the upper part in an articulated manner, with a first fastening device for securing the upper part to a patient and a second fastening device for securing the lower part to a limb, wherein the joint device connects the upper part to the lower part in an articulated manner and has an upper part binding and a lower part binding via which the upper part and the lower part can be secured to the fastening devices, wherein the joint device has at least four degrees of freedom.