ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE

Abstract

An orthopedic device for at least one upper extremity, the device comprising at least one positioning element that has at least two movement elements which can be moved one relative to another in a first direction, wherein a movement of the movement elements relative to one another in a first direction encounters a resistance and the device comprises a control unit configured to adjust this resistance depending on the position and/or the location of the head of the wearer of the device.

Claims

1. An orthopedic device for at least one upper extremity, the device comprising: at least one positioning element that has at least two movement elements which can be moved one relative to another, wherein a movement of the at least two movement elements relative to one another in a first direction encounters a resistances; and a control unit configured to adjust the resistance depending on at least one of a position and a location of a head of a wearer of the device.

2. The orthopedic device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two movement elements can be freely moved relative to one another in a second direction, which is opposite the first direction.

3. The orthopedic device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is a mechanic, electronic or mechatronic control unit.

4. The orthopedic device according to claim 3, wherein the control unit has at least one head support element which is arranged in such a way that a position of the at least one head support element changes relative to at least one further component of the control unit if the head of the wearer is moved in at least one pre-defined direction.

5. The orthopedic device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit blocks a movement of the at least one positioning element in at least one direction if an angle of inclination of the head relative to a transverse plane exceeds a pre-defined limit.

6. The orthopedic device according to claim 5, wherein the control unit enables a movement of the at least one positioning element in the first direction as long as the angle of inclination of the head relative to the transverse plane at least one of decreases and does not reach the pre-defined limit.

7. The orthopedic device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises at least two positioning elements, the control unit being configured to adjust the resistance encountered by a movement of the at least two movement elements in the first direction relative to one another for the at least two positioning elements independently of one another.

8. The orthopedic device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit has at least two head support elements which are arranged in such a way that a position of the at least two head support elements changes relative to at least one further component of the control unit if the head of the wearer is moved in at least one pre-defined direction.

9. The orthopedic device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor for detecting at least one of the position and the location of the head of the wearer and for sending electronic signals to the control unit depending on the detected at least one of the position and the location.

10. The orthopedic device according to claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor is a location sensor, an angle sensor, a movement sensor or an acceleration sensor.

11. An orthopedic device for use with at least one upper extremity, the device comprising: at least one positioning element having at least two movement elements, the at least two moving elements being movable relative to each other, wherein a movement of the at least two movement elements relative to each another in a first direction encounters a resistance; and a control unit configured to adjust the resistance depending on at least one of a position and a location of a head of a wearer of the device.

12. The orthopedic device according to claim 11, wherein the at least two movement elements can be freely moved relative to one another in a second direction, which is opposite the first direction.

13. The orthopedic device according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is a mechanic, electronic or mechatronic control unit.

14. The orthopedic device according to claim 11, wherein the control unit has at least one head support element, and a position of the at least one head support element changes relative to at least one further component of the control unit if the head of the wearer is moved in at least one pre-defined direction.

15. The orthopedic device according to claim 11, wherein the control unit blocks a movement of the at least one positioning element in at least one direction if an angle of inclination of the head relative to a transverse plane exceeds a pre-defined limit.

16. The orthopedic device according to claim 15, wherein the control unit enables a movement of the at least one positioning element in the first direction as long as the angle of inclination of the head relative to the transverse plane at least one of decreases and does not reach the pre-defined limit.

17. The orthopedic device according to claim 11, wherein the device comprises at least two positioning elements, the control unit being configured to adjust the resistance encountered by a movement of the at least two movement elements in the first direction relative to one another for the at least two positioning elements independently of one another.

18. The orthopedic device according to claim 11, wherein the control unit has at least two head support elements, and a position of the at least two head support elements changes relative to at least one further component of the control unit if the head of the wearer is moved in at least one pre-defined direction.

19. The orthopedic device according to claim 11, further comprising at least one sensor for detecting at least one of the position and the location of the head of the wearer and for sending electronic signals to the control unit depending on the detected at least one of the position and the location.

20. The orthopedic device according to claim 19, wherein the at least one sensor is a location sensor, an angle sensor, a movement sensor or an acceleration sensor.

Description

[0035] In the following, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail by way of the attached drawings: They show:

[0036] FIG. 1a and 1bthe schematic depiction of a person wearing an orthopedic device according to a first example of an embodiment of the present invention,

[0037] FIG. 2an enlarged detail and

[0038] FIG. 3a further example of an embodiment.

[0039] FIGS. 1a and 1 b depict an orthopedic device 1 according to a first example of an embodiment of the present invention. It relates to a brace device with which the arms 2 of the wearer of the device 1 can be supported. To this end, the device has two arm supports 4 that are flexibly arranged on a back element 8 via joints 6, which are formed by the positioning elements in this case, and may be designed as, for example, padding, an arm bracket, a collar, an arm guide or arm accommodation. This comprises brace elements 10 that are used to support the orthopedic device 1 on the back and torso of the wearer. The joint 6 enables a movement of a connecting element 12 relative to the back element 8, such that every movement of the arm 2 can be followed, meaning that the arm support 4 always fits closely to the arm.

[0040] The orthopedic device 1 also has a head support element 14, which fits closely on the head 16 of the wearer and follows a movement of the head. Every movement of the head that is transferred to the head support element 14 is transmitted to the control unit via a transmission element 18. In the example of an embodiment depicted, the control unit comprises a cylinder 20 that is compressed or uncompressed upon a movement of the head.

[0041] If the wearer of the orthopedic device 1 tilts their head 16 back, as depicted in FIGS. 1a and 1b, a pin is pushed into the cylinder, thereby activating a locking element. A Bowden wire 22 can be seen entering the individual joints 6. This renders it possible to transfer the control signal, which has been transferred via the cylinder 20, into the joint 6, where it (the control signal) ensures the adjustment of the resistance that counterbalances a movement of the joint 6 in a specific direction, and the complete locking of the joint 6, where applicable.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged section of this type of device. From the head 16 of the wearer of the head support element 14, it is clear to see that it (the support element) is ergonomically shaped and padded. It is fixed to a brace structure 26 via a joint 24; the actual transmission element 18 runs inside this structure. This is connected at the end, not depicted in FIG. 2, to the piston of the cylinder 20, such that a pivoting of the head support element 14 about the joint axis of the joint 24 leads to a movement of the piston inside the cylinder 20, causing the movement to be detected and translated into a control signal. For any movements made by the head 16 of the wearer of the device 1 which do not lead to a pivoting of the head support element 14 about the joint axis of the joint 24, a sensor or several sensors may be arranged, for instance, on the head support element 14; these sensors detect this type of movement and translate it, for example, into electronic control signals. FIG. 2 also shows the joint 6 with the corresponding Bowden wire 22.

[0043] A particularly simple configuration of a locking and unlocking device, as it can be used in all embodiments of the invention described here, is comprised of a pawl, which engages with and/or disengages from a toothed rack or a gearwheel by way of, for example, a mechanical transmission element via a movement of the head; it thus enables a movement of the two movement elements of the positioning element in the second direction, but not in the first direction, when the catch engages with the gearwheel or the toothed rack. The movement in both directions is once again possible when it is disengaged.

[0044] FIG. 3 depicts a further example of an embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the orthopedic device also has a joint 6 that is arranged on the back element 8 and that is connected to the arm support 4 via the connecting element 12. Unlike the examples of embodiments depicted thus far, a sensor 28 is arranged on the head 16, which identifies the location of the head 16 and communicates this to a receiver 30 via a wireless connection. The data transferred by the sensor 28 can be used by an electronic control unit, not depicted, to generate control signals for controlling the joint 6.

[0045] The sensor 28 may be integrated into a head brace or worn directly on the head and record, for example, its spatial orientation. Depending on this orientation of the head, the joint 6 is locked or unlocked upon a rotation about the y-axis as shown in FIG. 3. This mechatronic joint 6 can be designed in such a way that the locking does not occur until the joint is above a specific position. In this case, a further movement of the two movement elements of the joint 6 in the first direction is prevented; a movement in the second direction remains possible. An additional sensor 32 can be arranged on the torso for determining the relative location of the head 16 to the torso of the wearer; this sensor can identify a relative position of the head to the torso and then, for instance, use an angle relative to a transverse plane as a control parameter. This is necessary, for example, if the centres of gravity of the head 16 and the torso are not in balance. This is this case with a bent posture, for instance, in which the locking position of the joint 6 must be adapted. Alternatively, the locking positions may also be controlled via different programmes that are coordinated to match various working postures of the wearer. Alternatively or additionally, the location of the sensor 28 can be adjusted according to the working posture, for example, or a resting position or neutral position can be set and calibrated in order to block the joint at a corresponding earlier or later point.

REFERENCE LIST

[0046] 1 orthopedic device [0047] 2 arm [0048] 4 arm support [0049] 6 joint [0050] 8 back element [0051] 10 brace element [0052] 12 connecting element [0053] 14 head support element [0054] 16 head [0055] 18 transmission element [0056] 20 cylinder [0057] 22 Bowden wire [0058] 24 joint [0059] 26 brace structure [0060] 28 sensor [0061] 30 receiver [0062] 32 additional sensor