A versatile orthopedic device is arranged to convert between ligament and osteoarthritis treatment, and to accommodate a variety of leg anatomies. The orthopedic device is preferably configured as a double-upright brace indicating struts, frame component sections and associated hinges preferably intended to be along both medial and lateral sides of a wearer's leg. A strap kit with an unloading strap system may be added to the orthopedic device for conversion into an orthopedic device for osteoarthritis relief.

Artificial limbs and joints that behave like biological limbs and joints employ a synthetic actuator which consumes negligible power when exerting zero force, consumes negligible power when outputting force at constant length (isometric) and while performing dissipative, nonconservative work, is capable of independently engaging flexion and extension tendon-like, series springs, is capable of independently varying joint position and stiffness, and exploits series elasticity for mechanical power amplification.

Disclosed is a knee joint guide apparatus which can be driven even at any point on a plane in which an instantaneous rotation center of a knee joint can be positioned by a self-alignment function, and can also implement output performance required for a walking operation through a mechanical advantage change depending on a flexion angle. The knee joint guide apparatus includes: a proximal body link provided above a knee joint; a distal body link provided at a location corresponding to the proximal body link below the knee joint; and a planar rigid body 6-bar linkage mechanism including a plurality of revolute joints and a plurality of prismatic joints, and a plurality of links between the proximal body link and the distal body link to output a mechanical advantage depending on a flexion angle of the knee joint in movement of the knee joint with a self-alignment function.

An orthopedic device has first and second struts connected to one another by a hinge system, and includes a dynamic control system and a counterforce system. The dynamic control system includes first and second dynamic components arranged on a first side of the orthopedic device to exert first and second dynamic forces according to a flexion angle of the hinge system. A counterforce system is located on a second side of the orthopedic device to counteract the first and second dynamic forces with at least one counterforce.

A versatile orthopedic device is arranged to convert between ligament and osteoarthritis treatment, and to accommodate a variety of leg anatomies. The orthopedic device is preferably configured as a double-upright brace indicating struts, frame component sections and associated hinges preferably intended to be along both medial and lateral sides of a wearer's leg. A strap kit with an unloading strap system may be added to the orthopedic device for conversion into an orthopedic device for osteoarthritis relief.

A hinge includes an upper hinge component and a lower hinge component. A cover plate is pivotally connected at first location point to the upper hinge component and at a second location point to the lower hinge component. First and second plates are pivotally connected at a third location point to the upper hinge component and at a fourth location point to the lower hinge component. The first plate is positioned between the cover plate and the upper and lower hinge components. The upper and lower hinge components are positioned between the first and second plates. The cover plate is mounted on an outer side of the hinge and the connection of the cover plate at the first location point rotates around the third location point and the connection of the cover plate at the second location point rotates around the fourth location point.

A finger brace is configured for disposition about a lengthwise portion of a human finger between a brace proximal and distal ends. When installed for bracing, the proximal end is anchored at least partially about the outer side of the finger at a location behind the PIP joint. The distal end includes a shank configured for coextension along a lengthwise portion of the outer side of the finger between the PIP joint and the finger nail. Situated between and connecting the support proximal and distal ends is a PIP-joint support that at least partially encircles and supports the PIP joint. In various configurations, a finger brace is incorporated into each glove finger of a sports glove to define a larger overall finger support system. The shanks may be articulated to promote finger bending while preventing rearward hyperextension.

A power assistive device for hand rehabilitation that provides training of a combined movement of finger flexion-extension and forearm supination-pronation to a user. The power assistive device includes a hand brace and a base. The hand brace includes finger assemblies that adjustably connect to a platform, actuators that connect to the finger assemblies, and strain gauge sensors that connect to the finger assemblies and detect force signals generated by movement of the finger assemblies. The base removably connects to the hand brace and includes a forearm support, a C-shaped ring that includes C-shaped tracks formed along an inner circumferential surface of the C-shaped ring, a rotatable platform that moves along the C-shaped tracks, a mounting platform that connects to the rotatable platform, and an electromyography (EMG) sensor that attaches to the forearm of the user and senses EMG signals generated by movement of the hand of the user.

Systems, methods, and apparatus provide artificial knees. Artificial knees include a thigh link configured to move in unison with a thigh of the person, a shank link configured to be rotatably coupled to the thigh link, and a compression spring rotatably coupled to the thigh link and coupled to a second end of shank link with a second end of the compression spring. During a first range of motion, the compression spring is configured to provide an extension torque between the thigh link and the shank link causing the artificial knee to resist flexion. After the first range of motion, the compression spring is configured to provide a flexion torque between the thigh link and the shank link encouraging the artificial knee to flex resulting in toe clearance during the swing phase. During the swing phase, the compression spring provides no torque between the thigh link and the shank link.

In one embodiment, a torque-compensating assistive wrist brace includes a hand member adapted to be provided on a user's hand, a forearm member adapted to be provided on the user's forearm, and an assistive linkage that connects the hand and forearm members together, the assistive linkage being configured to apply a balancing torque to a wrist of the user that counteracts intrinsic stiffness within the wrist and assists the user in rotating the wrist in both the flexion and extension directions.