HARD FRAME WITH PIVOTABLE BRIDGE

Abstract

The invention relates to a hard frame (100) for a joint-bridging extremity joint orthosis, containing two mutually opposed longitudinally extending joint splints (110, 120), the proximal joint arms (113, 123) thereof being connected to one another via a transverse proximal bridge arch (310) and forming a proximal extremity holder (300), and the distal joint arms (112, 122) of which being connected to one another via a transverse distal bridge arch (210) and forming a distal extremity holder (200). According to the invention, at least one of the bridge arches (210) is mounted on joint arm ends (114, 124) of the associated joint arms (112, 122) of the joint splints (110, 120) connecting the bridge arch (210), noreover is mounted pivotably about at least one pivot axis (222) at a joint (220).

Claims

1. A hard frame (100) for a joint-bridging extremity joint orthosis, containing two mutually opposed longitudinally extending joint splints (110, 120), which are connected to one another via their proximal joint arms (113, 123) via a transverse proximal bridge arch (310) and there form a proximal extremity holder (300) and further are connected to one another via their distal joint arms (112, 122) via a transverse distal bridge arch (210) and there form a distal extremity holder (200), wherein at least one of the bridge arches (210) is rigid and is pivotably mounted on each of the joint arm ends (114, 124) of the connected joint arms (112, 122) in joints (220) about at least one pivot axis (222), and this pivot axis (222) extends toward the connection of the two joint arms (112, 122) connected via this bridge arch (210), wherein the joint (220) for pivoting about the at least one pivot axis (222) has a pivoting limitation (223), and the pivoting limitation (223) of the joint (220) in each case is formed by an elongated hole (216) in the end sections (212) of the rigid bridge arch (210) and a sliding pin (226) which is fixed to the respective joint arm end (114, 124) and which slides in the respective elongated hole (216), and wherein at least one joint arm end (114, 124) is formed as a spring leaf, which allows a resilient tilting of this joint arm end (114, 124) from the primary pivoting plane of the joint splint (110, 120).

2. The hard frame (100) according to claim 1, wherein the joints (220) for pivoting about the at least one pivot axis (222) are each formed between end sections (212) of the rigid bridge arch (210) and the joint arm ends (114, 124) overlapping therewith, wherein the end sections (212) having the joint arm ends (114, 124) are each rotatably coupled to one another with a pivot pin (224).

3. The hard frame (100) according to claim 1 any of the preceding claims, wherein the joint (220) has a mechanical restraint which resists the pivoting.

4. The hard frame (100) according to claim 3, wherein the restraint is effected by grid projections, which are formed between end sections (212) of the rigid bridge arch (210) and the joint arm ends (114, 124) respectively connected to one another so as to overlap.

5. The hard frame (100) according to claim 4, wherein the restraint is brought about by mechanical friction between end sections (212) of the rigid bridge arch (210) and the joint arm ends (114, 124) connected to one another so as to overlap.

6. The hard frame (100) according to claim 5, wherein the mechanical friction is modified by a friction lining (218) formed on the end sections (212) and/or on joint arm ends (114, 124).

7. The hard frame (100) according to claim 1, wherein end sections (212) of the rigid bridge arch (210) and the respective joint arm ends (114, 124) are elastically coupled to one another via an elastomer block, which acts as a torsion joint.

8. The hard frame (100) according to claim 1, wherein at least one fixable tilting joint (115) is additionally formed in one or both joint splints (110, 120) for tilting at least one of the joint arms (112, 113, 122, 123) from the primary pivoting plane of the respective joint splint (110, 120).

9. A joint orthosis, containing the hard frame (100) according to claim 1 and further containing belt straps (350, 250) for fixing the extremity to be supported on the respective proximal and distal holders (300, 200) of the hard frame (100).

10. The joint orthosis according to claim 9 which is a knee joint orthosis.

Description

[0024] The invention is explained in more detail by the following exemplary embodiments, which are illustrated in the figures. The figures show preferred configurations which, in addition to the features according to the invention, showed further optional features. The latter are not to be understood as limiting the present invention, but rather show only practical and preferred embodiment variants.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the hard frame 100 according to the invention as or for a knee joint orthosis. The hard frame 100 is essentially composed of two mutually opposed joint splints 110, 120 that overlap the joint. The outer joint splint 120 has essentially the same basic structure as the inner joint splint 110. The joint splints 110, 120 each have central joints 111, 121, which are formed in particular as a multiaxial joint in order to anatomically simulate the joint movement of the knee joint to be supported. In the joint splint 110, the proximal joint arm 113 and the distal joint arm 112 start from the central joint 111. These are coupled via the joint 111 and are pivotable relative to one another in a primary pivoting plane of the joint splint 110 in order to follow the joint movement. Analogously, in the case of the joint splint 120, the proximal joint arm 123 and the distal joint arm 122 start from the central joint 121, which are coupled via the joint 121 and are pivotable relative to one another in a primary pivoting plane of the joint splint 120 in order to follow the joint movement. The joint splints 110, 120 are connected to one another at the ends of the proximal joint arms 113, 123 via a proximal bridge 310 and at the ends of the distal joint arms 112, 122 via a distal bridge 210, in order to finally form the hard frame 100.

[0026] In the illustrated embodiment, a fixable tilt joint 115 is additionally provided on each of the distal joint arms 112 and 122. This fixable tilt joint 115 enables the respective joint arm 112, 122 to be tilted out of the primary pivoting plane of its joint splint 110, 120.

[0027] According to the invention, the distal bridge 210 is pivotably mounted on the joint arm ends 114 and 124 of the distal joint arms 112 in the embodiment shown. According to the invention, the joint arm end 114 is connected to an overlapping end section 212 of the bridge 210 via a fixed rivet, which serves as a pivot pin 224, and is rotatably supported there in a bearing bush formed in the end section 212, thereby forming an axial joint 220 on which the bridge 210 is pivotally mounted on the joint arm end 114. Likewise, the joint arm end 124 is connected to an overlapping end section 212 of the bridge 210 via a fixed rivet, which serves as an pivot pin 224, and thereby also an axial joint 220 is formed, via which the bridge 210 is also pivotably mounted on the joint arm end 124.

[0028] In order to achieve a preferred limitation of the pivoting limitation 220, a further rivet 226 is fixedly connected to the respective joint arm end 114, 124 and slides as a sliding pin 226 in an elongated hole 216, which is formed in the respective overlapping end section 212 of the mounted bridge 210. The elongated hole 216 serves as a stop for the sliding pin 226 and thus limits the degree of pivoting of the bridge 210.

[0029] Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, the respective joint arm end 114 and 124 is formed as a spring leaf, which is mechanically fixedly coupled to the joint arm 112 and 122 in each case via rivets 116. The pivot pin 224 and the sliding pin 226 are also correspondingly formed in the spring leaf.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment as a knee joint orthosis according to FIG. 1, applied over the schematically indicated knee. The reference numbers apply accordingly. The proximal bridge 310, together with the tension belt 350, forms a proximal extremity holder 300 that engages around the thigh in the applied state. The distal bridge 210 together with the tension belt 250 forms a distal extremity holder 200 which engages around the lower leg in the applied state. In the embodiment shown, the hard frame 100 is mechanically firmly connected to the extremity via the straps 250, 350 and the bridges 210, 310 in order to achieve sufficient force introduction for the support function of the orthosis.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2. The distal bridge arch 210 can rotate according to the invention in the joints 220 in each case about the pivot axis 222. The respective pivot axes 222 of the joints 220 are shown schematically. The pivot axes 222 each run essentially perpendicular to the plane of the flat joint arm ends 114, 124. In particular, the upper edge 214 of the rigid bridge arch 210 can temporarily tip distally when used (dashed shape) in order to specifically compensate for a shear and pressure load on the lower leg of an applied knee orthosis, which occurs during movement, primarily when the knee is flexed.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment as an ankle orthosis. The reference numerals from FIGS. 1 to 3 apply to corresponding structures. In the hard frame according to FIG. 4, the proximal bridge arch 310 is pivotably mounted on the joint 220, which is formed by the rivet 224 on the proximal joint arm end 118.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment as a wrist orthosis. The reference symbols from FIGS. 1 to 4 apply to corresponding structures. In the hard frame according to FIG. 5, the proximal bridge arch 310 is pivotably mounted on the proximal joint arm end 118 via the joint 220, and the distal bridge arch 210 is pivotably supported on the distal joint arm end 114 via the joint 220.