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.

An offloading device for supporting an ankle joint of a user, includes a foot locating member configured to locate therewithin a foot of the user. Furthermore, one or more bracing members are pivotably coupled to the foot locating member. Furthermore, one or more liner pads are provided on inner surfaces of the one or more bracing members. Also included is a fastening arrangement configured to fasten the one or more bracing members to a portion of a lower leg that is located above the ankle joint. The one or more liner pads are made from a deformable material coated with a contact material, static coefficient of friction of the contact material ranging from 0.4 to 1.0, and kinetic coefficient of friction ranging from 0.3 to 0.8. The foot locating member may be embodied as a basal locating member coupled with left-side and right-side arm members or as a wearable shoe.

A knee brace worn by a user includes an upper frame assembly having a first pair of arms coupled together by an upper strap that encircles the user's thigh, each arm in the first pair of arms having an upper housing, a lower frame assembly having a second pair of arms coupled together by a lower strap that encircles a leg portion of the user, each arm in the second pair of arms having a lower housing pivotably mounted to one of the pair of upper housings of the first pair of arms, and a pair of spring assemblies connected to the brace. Each spring assembly is disposed within one of the upper housings and one of the lower housings, and includes a torsion spring that adjusts to one of a plurality of positions to permit the spring to store mechanical energy at a desired level.

A global osteoarthritis knee brace or orthopedic support includes a flexible, elastic sleeve having a tubular shape with a patella opening at an anterior surface with slits on either side of the opening. The brace includes a first pair of rigid longitudinal stiffeners pivoted therebetween at a hinge that is disposed at the lateral side of the sleeve and likewise at the medial side of the sleeve. The brace further includes an adjustable, flexible patella support having elongated strips at the ends thereof, wherein the patella support is positioned in the interior of the sleeve proximate with the patella opening, where the elongated strips pass from the interior of the sleeve through the slits to the exterior of the sleeve, and extend upward to be adjustably anchored to the sleeve. The wearer pulling on the elongated strips adjusts the patella support.

Provided are a fixing module and a motion assistance apparatus including the fixing module including a first side frame including a first central portion on one side of a user, a first front extending portion configured to extend from the first central portion along a front side of the user, and a first rear extending portion configured to extend from the first central portion along a rear side of the user, and a second side frame including a second central portion on another side of the user, a second front extending portion configured to extend from the second central portion along the front side of the user, and a second rear extending portion.

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.

A knee brace for assisting the extension or flexing of a limb comprises substantially rigid upper and lower frames connected by a hinge, the upper frame being secured to the leg by an upper strap. A stabilizing strap for fixing the lower frame to the user's leg comprises an inelastic band, cord or other flexible securing member for circumscribing the user's leg having a fastening element for fixing the securing member in a set position. The securing member is affixed to the arms of the lower frame, slidably extending through at least one strap support provided by at least one of the arms of the lower frame. When the brace is in position on a user's leg the stabilizing strap is able to move through at least one strap support in a generally horizontal direction while supporting the lower frame in the vertical direction.

A system for supporting a liner on a frame element includes a liner and a frame element. A fastener connects the liner to the frame element, such that the fastener corresponds to an aperture defined by the frame element. The fastener is configured and dimensioned to removably secure to the frame element at the at least one aperture. The frame element comprises a semi-rigid or rigid base frame element, and an interface layer secured about the base frame element. The interface layer is formed from a resilient material more compressible than the base frame element, and the liner is more flexible than the interface layer.

The present disclosure describes transmission systems for use in artificial joints of assistive devices, such as assistive prostheses, orthoses, and powered exoskeletons. A variable transmission is configured to automatically or manually adapt the torque profile to the demand of different locomotion tasks, such as a relatively high torque and low speed profile for a task such as standing up or ascending stairs, or a relatively low torque and high speed profile for a task such as walking.

A motorized tensioning mechanism for orthotic devices, such as a knee brace, wherein the controls for the motorized tensioning mechanism may be manual, automatic, or a hybrid of both. Sensors associated with the orthotic device may inform the user regarding tension or other aspects of the device, and, in cases, may automatically adjust tension in the motorized tensioning mechanism.