GB2223408A - Fastening system for orthopaedic braces - Google Patents

Abstract

A rapid adjustment system for an orthopaedic brace has a plate with pegs for securing the brace shells to the brace arms. The pegs pass through the combination of shell and arm via suitable holes and are locked in place by a plate having suitable locking slots. If preferred, the shell itself can be adapted to carry the locking slots and function as the locking plate.

Description

FASTENING SYSTE FOR ORTHOPAEDIC BRACES This invention relates to a fastening system for orthopaedic braces and more especially to a fastening system which permits simple and rapid adjustment.

Known orthopaedic braces use screw fastenings and tapped holes for securing plates or shells to the arms of the braces. Such fixings are secure but take an inordinate amount of time to release and refasten in those braces which provide for adjustment in length.

A known type of orthopaedic brace, by way of example a post-operative brace for the knee, has four brace arms each with a series of identical holes at regularly spaced intervals. The holes are conveniently but not necessarily circular. In use the brace arms are located above and below the knee on both sides of it and each pair is joined by a hinge.

Each brace arm is fitted with a shell which has a series of holes corresponding to the holes in the brace arms in terms of both spacing and diameter. In the known braces, the shells are fastened to the brace arms by screws or bolts passing through the holes in the shells and arms.

In the fastening system according to the invention, two pegs are mounted on a backplate and are so sized that each may readily push fit into aligned holes in a brace arm and shell. The pegs are preferably so spaced apart on the backplate that when each is engaged with a hole, there is one unoccupied hole between them.

The backplate and pegs are conveniently but not necessarily assembled to the brace arm from the inside to the outside. The shank of each peg is of such a length that it passes through and beyond the brace arm and shell. A small section of the shank beyond the shell is of reduced diameter but in the terminal section the full diameter is restored.

A thin locking plate has two holes so spaced apart that the centres correspond to those of the pegs. The thickness of the plate is minimally less than the length of the reduced diameter shank. The holes are circular with a radial extension channel (i.e. to form slots of keyhole shape). The channel extensions are minimally wider than the reduced diameter shank and the circular parts of the holes are of slightly larger diameter than the full diameter of the shank.

Each brace arm and shell combination is secured in place with a peg plate and locking plate. The locking plate is used to secure the shells in place but allows them to be rapidly released, re-positioned and refastened on the brace arms.

In an alternative arrangement, the shell itself can be provided with the keyhole slots and thereby constitutes the locking plate.

The present invention will now be described in greater detail by way of example only with reference to the acconpanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the major components of an orthopaedic knee brace but omitting fixings, securing straps and under padding; and Fig. 2 is an exploded partial perspective view of a brace arm with its shell and fixings according to the invention.

Referring first to Fig. 1, an orthopaedic brace 1 for the knee has brace arms 2, 3, 4 and 5, each with a series of identical circular holes 6, 7, 8 and 9 at regularly spaced intervals. Each brace arm has an associated shell 10, 11, 12 and 13, which has a series of holes 14, 15, 16 and 17, corresponding exactly with holes 6, 7, 8 and 9, both in terms of spacing and of diameter.

Turning now to Fig. 2, it can be seen that pegs 18 and 19 are mounted on a backplate 20 and are so sized that each may readily push fit, from the inside to the outside, into aligned holes 21 and 22 of series of holes 6 of brace arm 2 and holes 23 and 24 of series of holes 14 in shell 10.

Shanks 25 and 26 of pegs 18 and 19 are of such a length that they can pass through and beyond brace arm 2 and shell 10. Small sections 27 and 28 of shanks 18 and 19 are of reduced diameter but terminal sections 29 and 30 are of full diameter.

A thin locking plate 31 has two holes 32 and 33 having the same spacing as pegs 18 and 19. In use, circular portions 34 and 35 of holes 32 and 33, fit over terminal sections 29 and 30 of shanks 25 and 26.

Locking plate 31 is then slid down so that narrow parts 36 and 37 of holes 32 and 33 pass sections 27 and 28 of pegs 18 and 19, becoming locked in place by full diameter terminal sections 29 and 30.

Locking plate 31 may be slid up and off pegs 18 and 19 to allow shell 10 to be re-positioned on brace arm 2, easily and quickly.

Various other embodiments of the invention can be contemplated without departing from its basic principle, including pegs spaced to fit adjacent holes and brace arms with only one pair of holes to fit the pegs.

Pegs with shanks having non-circular cross sections and locking plates in which the larger entry portions are not circular have been made. Embodiments in which the channel extensions to the holes in the locking plate have constrictions which function as snap locks thus enhancing the security of the system without detracting from the speed of use have also been made.

Claims (3)

CLAIMS:

1. A fastening system for an orthopaedic brace comprising means for securing a shell to a brace arm, the securing means comprising a plurality of pegs mounted on a plate, the pegs being adapted to pass through and beyond aligned holes in the shell and brace arm with those portions which protrude beyond the shell and brace arm having sections reduced in diameter to be engaged by locking means in the form of a locking plate having a congruent plurality of locking slots adapted such that larger portions thereof fit over the ends of the pegs and smaller portions thereof lock thereunder around the reduced diameter sections of the pegs.

2. A modification of the fastening system of claim 1, wherein the shell is adapted by the provision of a series of locking slots to function as the locking plate.

3. A fastening system for an orthopaedic brace according to claim 1 substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.