Orthosis with controlled angular excursion

Abstract

An orthosis with controlled angular excursion can be positioned at the level of a joint or articulation of the human body. The orthosis includes an articulated joint with a basic structure designed to be positioned on the joint and also includes centrally, a pin with toothing located in a circular sector with predetermined width. The basic structure and the relative pin provided with toothing are equipped with a respective pair of rings, each of which has a substantially elongated shape. A hollow part, or slot, includes two straight sectors, of which at least one is provided with toothing with the same pitch as the toothing of the pin with which it engages. The pair of rings can, when in use, be simultaneously rotated around the pin, and are provided with slots which in turn include a tractor for the orthosis.

Claims

1. An orthosis with controlled angular excursion that can be positioned adjacent to a joint or articulation of a wearer comprising: an articulated joint with a basic structure designed to be positioned on a joint or articulation of a wearer and which comprises, centrally, a fixed pin comprising a toothing located in a circular sector; wherein the basic structure and the fixed pin accommodate two rings, each of the rings has an elongated shape; wherein each ring has a hollow part, or slot, which comprises two straight sectors, at least one of the straight sectors is provided with toothing having the same pitch as the toothing of the fixed pin, the toothing of each straight sector being engaged with the toothing of the fixed pin; wherein each ring comprises a slot for the passage of a traction strap for said orthosis; and wherein the two rings are configured to be simultaneously rotated around the fixed pin.

2. The orthosis of claim 1, wherein the rings are rotatable relative to said fixed pin comprising a toothing, and wherein the change in the angle between the two rotating rings, with respect to the fixed pin, determines a proportional movement of the rings with respect to the fixed pin, causing the rings to move away from or closer to the center of the fixed pin, depending on whether the angle becomes more acute or more obtuse.

3. The orthosis of claim 2, in which the moving away or closer, determined by an angular movement of the rings and of the slots with respect to the fixed pin, causes respectively the release or the tensioning of the traction strap of the orthosis.

4. The orthosis of claim 1, wherein in operation the two rings are on a same plane as the vertical plane of the basic structure and arranged symmetrically with respect to a plane on which the vertical axis of the fixed pin lies, with respect to which they can be moved angularly and in a reciprocally specular direction.

5. The orthosis of claim 1, wherein the basic structure has a substantially rounded or elliptical shape and comprises a cushioning pad positioned on a side facing an inner side of a wearer's joint.

6. The orthosis of claim 3, wherein the angular movement of the rings with respect to the fixed pin of the basic structure determines their simultaneous movement, which moves the slots and the traction straps away from or closer to the fixed pin.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other features and advantages of the invention will become clear on reading the description given below of one embodiment, provided as a non-limiting example, with the help of the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIGS. 1 to 3 show schematic views of, respectively, the first side, the front and the second side of a knee brace fitted with a tensioner eccentric articulated joint according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 4 shows a detailed schematic view of the central part of the joint according to the invention;

(4) FIGS. 5 to 7 are schematic views showing three different positions that the joint according to this invention can assume;

(5) FIG. 8 is a view of the joint fitted to an orthosis worn on a leg at the level of the knee and in a first position with the leg extended, that is to say with 180 between the femur and the tibia;

(6) FIG. 9 is a view of the joint fitted to an orthosis worn on a leg at the level of the knee at an angle of 120, that is to say in semi-flexion;

(7) FIG. 10 is a view of the joint fitted to an orthosis worn on a leg at the level of the knee at an angle of 60, that is to say in accentuated flexion.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(8) Referring initially to FIGS. 4 to 7, and in particular to FIG. 5, the numeral 10 denotes in its entirety a tensioner eccentric articulated joint for human joints or articulations, forming part of an orthosis with controlled angular excursion according to the invention.

(9) The articulated joint 10 comprises a basic structure 11, with a substantially rounded or elliptical shape or another more appropriate shape also depending on the part of the body it is to be fitted to and the type of joint to be treated and on which it is designed to rest, such as the knee for example, which is why the inner side facing the joint is fitted with a cushioning pad which is not shown because it is a known item.

(10) This basic structure 11 comprises, centrally, a fixed pin 12 which presents toothing 13 integral with the base which covers a circular sector of around 90.

(11) The basic structure 11 and the relative pin 12 provided with toothing 13 are suitable to accommodate two rings 14 with a substantially elongated shape whose hollow part, or slot, comprises two straight sectors, at least one of which is provided with toothing having the same pitch as the toothing 13 of the pin 12 with which it engages.

(12) When in operation, the two rings 14 are parallel to the plane of the basic structure and symmetrical to a plane on which the vertical axis of the pin 12 lies, and with respect to this plane they can be moved angularly and in a reciprocally specular direction.

(13) The rings 14, which rotate around the pin 12, as will be described below, are also provided with non-slip toothed slots 15 for the passage of straps 16 which form part of the tensioning structure of the orthosis on which the joint is fitted.

(14) The angular movement of the rings 14 with respect to the pin 12 of the basic structure 11 determines their simultaneous translation which moves the slots 15 and the relative straps 16 away from or closer to the pin 12, since the inner toothing of the rings 14 engages specularly with the toothing 13 of the pin 12.

(15) The movement of the slots 15 away from or closer to the pin 12 respectively determines the release or tautening of the straps 16 which are restrained on the opposite sector of the joint.

(16) This allows at least three positions of the joint according to the invention which are the most significant and which are shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, considering that when the angle between the rotated parts changes, there is a proportional variation in the distance between the fixing points of the straps and the centre of rotation consisting of the vertical axis of the pin 12.

(17) The first position shown in FIG. 8 refers to a condition of the joint wherein the rings 14 are reciprocally positioned at 180 and the distance between the centre of rotation and the slots 15 for the passage of the straps is at a minimum.

(18) In this condition, the end of travel having been reached, the fixing points of the straps 16 are at their closest to the centre of rotation, and in this case the straps 16 are at the maximum traction permitted by the system.

(19) If, instead of using the straps 16, two orthosis parts are used, then these would be at the least distance from the centre of rotation, thus in traction.

(20) The second position, shown in FIG. 9, is intermediate, with an angle between the two parts of the limb, in the case shown femur and tibia, starting to decrease to around 120. As the angle changes between the two rotating parts consisting of the rings 14, there is a proportional variation between the fixing points of the straps 16 and the centre of rotation.

(21) In this case, the straps 16 start to be released with respect to their previous position, and if two orthosis parts are used instead of straps they would be further away from the centre of rotation as the flexing angle of the joint decreases.

(22) The third position shown in FIG. 10 is the most closed position of the joint according to this invention, that is to say with a flexion angle around 60, and in this case the distance between the centre of rotation and the slots 15 for the passage of the straps 16 is at a maximum and the straps are therefore slacker.

(23) If two orthosis parts are used instead of straps, they would be furthest away from the centre of rotation, thus in the flexion and release condition, with the maximum slackening of the straps.

(24) Intermediate flexion conditions naturally determine intermediate traction or release conditions of the straps.

(25) The invention as described above refers to a preferred form of embodiment. It is nevertheless clear that the invention is susceptible to numerous variations falling within the scope of the disclosure, in the context of technical equivalents, for example the use of toothed edges on the opposite side of the ring 14 to the one previously described, obtaining exactly opposite results.

(26) Although the invention is described above fitted to a knee brace, it is clear that the eccentric articulated joint according to the invention can be easily adapted to any other type of orthosis for joints, in particular for the elbow, the ankle or the shoulder.