MXPA00003787A - Joint brace hinges - Google Patents

Abstract

Hinges (12) for orthopedic and rehabilitation braces allow intuitive, convenient and positive control and adjustment of the limits to which the braces (10) may extend or flex. Such hinges (12) also allow convenient locking of such braces (10). A flexion switch (24) and an extension switch (26) allow convenient repositioning of stops (56) or limits which limit flexion and extension of the brace (10). Such switches (24, 26) may be repositioned, however, only with repositioning pressure for moving the switch (24, 26) to a new position combined with safety pressure for unlocking the switch (24, 26). A brace locking switch may also be included. Such hinges (12) promote more effective post-operative and rehabilitation results because they, among other things, allow users easily to change the flexion, extension and fixation limitations of their braces (10) conveniently and in real time such as during post-operative and physical therapy sessions and workouts.

Description

ARTICULATION BRAGUER HINGES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to hinges for knee trusses and for other trusses such as those for shoulder, elbow, hip or other bodily joints. Such hinges have switches that can be placed intuitively, conveniently and safely in order to limit the bending and extension of the joint or to fix the joint in a secured position for post-operative rehabilitation or other desirable purposes. The hinges may preferably employ cam surfaces and slots which cooperate with the switches for the elegant and improved adjustable control of the flexing, extension and fixing of the truss. Knee trusses and trusses for other joints are commonly used after surgery or for the treatment of nail lesions. Such trusses generally serve two main purposes. First, ensure or stabilize the joint in order to generally control their movements. Second, limit the flexion and / or extension of the joint in a controllable and adjustable manner to avoid a new injury to the knee and to promote therapeutic and rehabilitation goals. Many trusses have been devised to stabilize the knee and other joints and anatomical structures around various axes. The hinges that limit the bending and extension of the joint, such as those according to the present invention can be employed as a general material, with or in any such device. Truss hinges to controllably limit knee flexion and extension generally fall within one or more of several categories. A first category includes bicentric hinges in which a thigh bar and a calf bar of the trusses are coupled together through a hinge that has two pivot points. Such trusses have been mentioned to more accurately repeat the movement of the knee joint in which the condyles of the femur do not rotate relative to the tibial plateau about a fixed axis. (On the other hand, such trusses try to imitate the changes in location of the instantaneous centers of rotation of the tibia with respect to the femur as a function of the angle of flexion). The rotation (flexion and / or extension) of the thigh and calf rods in relation to each other in these bi-centered hinges is limited or controlled using members such as rotating cams positioned in an adjustable manner as shown in the U.S. Patent. No. 4,554,913 to omack, et al. or crisscrossing teeth that form a portion of or connected to the mu-only and calf rods that govern their position in relation to one another. These devices have been restricted in flexion and extension in many ways, including the use of gears and other structures as illustrated in the U.S. Patent. No. 4,697,583 to Mason, et al., The U.S. Patent. No. 4,732,143 to Kansek, et al. and the U.S. Patent. No. 5,060,640 of Rasmusson. A second general category of knee truss hinges employs a monocentric rather than a bicentric approach. The thigh and calf bars of the truss are coupled through a hinge that includes only one pivot point around which the thigh and calf rods rotate in relation to one another. Several conventional trusses employ such monocentric hinges. These in turn frequently include a structure to adjust the limits to them. which can rotate the thigh and calf bars in relation to each other, both in flexion and extension of the knee. For example, the US Patent. No. 5,460,599 to Davis, et al. employs rotatably positionable members with arched slots and teeth to receive and limit the pitch of the bolts connecting the thigh and calf bars in order to limit their rotation in relation to one another. The U.S. Patent No. 4, Morris 982,732, includes a generally circular housing that mounts several separate sliding structures, placed at ten degree intervals on the housing. The sliding structure can be actuated or deactivated as desired to control the flexion and extension of the truss and the knee. The U.S. Patent No. 5,000,169 by Swicegood, describes a hinge that controls the flexion and extension of the knee using a generally circular base whose periphery contains several indents within which a corresponding structure can be interposed to create limits in the flexion and extension of the truss and knee. Other hinges employ generally circular plates coupled to the thigh and / or calf limbs. These plates have several holes or indentations arranged in desired angular positions and in whose bolts, keys or similar structures can be placed in order to govern the flexion and extension of the truss and the knee. These conventional monocentric hinges generally incorporate designs intended to limit patient access or control flexion, extension or adjustment of function. More recently the US Patent. No. 5, 672,152 shows a hinge for an orthopedic truss whose range of rotation can be adjusted by the user. The hinge has a rotation limiting stop provided on the peripheral edge of certain hinge members. The stop is selectively placed in slots that limit rotation in the member to define an adjustable rotation range. It can also secure the hinge against rotation in an assured mode of operation. A biasing assembly biases the bumper in a radially inward direction to retain the bumper in a selected position, but allows the elastic radial displacement of the bumper in a radially outward direction when the radially outward biasing force is applied externally to the bumper . However, the hinge members grooved in the periphery of such hinges are exposed and may be engaged or inadvertently locked by foreign objects or clothing which creates the possibility of inadvertent operation of the hinges in a different way to the corresponding one when the stops are placed. Additionally, the stops that do not have a safety closing action, can inadvertently snag and change position, which again creates the possibility that the hinge operates in different limits than those proposed. As post-operative procedures and rehabilitation procedures change and progress, the inventors have noted the growing need for post-operative and rehabilitation trusses that allow users to change and control the flexion, extension or fixation of the relevant joints in a manner intuitive and convenient, even more to ensure that the trusses maintain their own limits. For example, several exercises prescribed in physical therapy require the user to change the limits of flexion and extension of the knee trusses during a session or physical training. Trusses whose hinges inhibit such adjustment, typically reduce the effectiveness of such therapy because sometimes patients simply do not care to put them on their own at the time, or it is necessary to strive to manipulate the bolts, stops, wheels driven by the thumb or other sometimes uncomfortable features that have been conventionally employed to adjust and control the limits of flexion and extension in trusses of this type. Moreover, such usability should not compromise the ability of the hinge to maintain its own limits and function effectively despite shock or inadvertent contact with clothing or foreign objects. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide orthopedic and rehabilitation braces with hinges that can allow intuitive control and adjustment., convenient and safe of the limits of flexion, extension and fixation of the trusses and joints in which they are used. It is a further object of the present invention to provide orthopedic and rehabilitation trusses whose limits of flexion, extension and fixation can be easily and conveniently adjusted during therapy using a hand. It is a further object of the present invention to provide orthopedic and rehabilitation trusses that can allow for convenient relocation of the limits of flexion, extension and fixation through the structure that requires deliberate manual pressure to occur in order to relocate and adjust the limits of flexion, extension and / ofij ation. It is a further object of the present invention to provide orthopedic and rehabilitative trusses that can allow convenient relocation of the limits of, flexion, extension and / or fixation through the structure that requires pressure to occur in two different directions simultaneously. , in order to relocate and adjust the limits of flexion, extension and / or fixation It is a further object of the present invention to provide orthopedic and rehabilitation trusses whose limits of flexion, extension and / or fixation can be adjusted using tactile and propitious structures for intuitive and safe control and assurance of the limits of flexion, extension and / or fixation in order to promote better therapy and post-operative results. It is a further object of the present invention to provide orthopedic and rehabilitative trusses that can promote better post-operative and rehabilitation results using flexion, extension and / or fixation stops which can be easily relocated but which in general can not be inadvertently relocated. It is a further object of the present invention to provide orthopedic and rehabilitation trusses whose limits of flexion and / or extension can be adjusted using contiguously placed stops that resist cam surfaces and whose fastening limits can be adjusted using contiguously placed stops that resist and secure in relation to slotted devices. Other characteristic objectives and advantages of the present invention will be apparent with respect to the remainder of this document. The trusses according to the present invention have hinges that can allow convenient intuitive control * and secure flexion, extension and fixation of the knee or other joint. Such hinges may include several switches that can be conveniently placed by the user in order to adjust and control the flexion, extension and if desired the fixation of the knee trusses in various angular positions. Despite their convenience, these switches may not require sacrifice in securing the truss securely at the selected limits of flexion and extension.; rather, they reduce or virtually eliminate the possibility of relocation and adjustment of the limits of flexion and extension inadvertently. In a preferred embodiment, such changes require downward pressure combined with simultaneous sliding pressure in relation to the truss so that unsecuredness occurs? Relocation As a result, the contact of trusses with nearby objects such as therapy equipment for example, does not generally cause the relocation of the switches or the concomitant inadvertent change of the bending or extension limits. In a knee truss according to the present invention, similar switch mechanisms can be employed to secure the thigh and calf trusses relative to each other for various purposes as described more fully hereinafter. According to the present invention there is provided a hinge for a body hinge in which the hinge is adapted to couple a first bar and a second bar of the truss, the hinge comprising: a. a first member connected to one of the first bar and the second bar and 'containing at least one cam surface; and b. a second member connected to the other of the first bar and the second bar, the second member being slidably connected to a switch, the switch comprising a stop and being adapted to slide and relocate relative to the second member so that the stop it is positioned to resist at least a portion of the cam surface of the first member in order to limit the rotation of the first bar and the second bar in relation to one another and thus the movement of the body joint. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described only by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figures 1A and IB are schematic views of a truss employing a monocentric hinge according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a exploded perspective view of a portion of the hinge of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a second exploded perspective view of a portion of the hinge of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a third exploded perspective view of a portion. of the hinge of Figure 1. Figures 5A, 5B and 5C are schematic views of the hinge of Figure 1 shown in various positions. Detailed Description of the Invention Figure 1 shows a truss 10 that employs a hinge 12 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The truss 10 can be any post-operative or rehabilitation knee truss desired to govern the flexion, extension and / or fixation of a desired joint, in an adjustable and controllable manner. In the figures included in this document, the truss 10 and the hinge 12 and its components are shown in relation to a knee, in order to provide a distinctive and appropriate exposure of one embodiment of the invention, but not in order to limit the 'scope and spirit of the invention in some form. The truss and the hinge and its components according to the present invention can be properly directed to other bodily joints, for example the shoulder, the elbow, the hip or the ankle. The hinge 12 as shown in the figures as a general material can be bi-centered or monocentric or present any other type of connection as desired in order to couple a first bar and a second bar corresponding to the body parts in the vicinity of the joint to be held. In the figures, the hinge 12 engages a thigh bar 14 and a calf bar 16. The assembly including the thigh bar 14, the hinge 12 and the calf bar 16 appears on both sides of the truss 10 shown in the figure 1, although a hinge according to the present invention can be used on only one side of a truss as desired for particular applications. The thigh rods 14 and the calf rods 16 may include structures such as slots or fasteners 18 to receive or accommodate the thigh straps 20, the calf straps 22 or other structures for connecting the thigh bars 14 and the calf bars 16 to the thigh and the calf of the wearer. Such structures 18, '20 and 22 are of a generally conventional nature and can be adapted from conventional materials and oriented and fabricated as desired in order to achieve the desired results on a particular knee truss. Figure 1 shows a hinge 12 according to the present invention with a bending switch 24, an extension switch 26 and a lock or locking switch 28 to control in an adjustable manner the rotation of the thigh bar 14 and the bar of the calf 16 in relation to each other and in this way the flexion and extension of the truss 10 and of the knee to which the truss is applied and to create the flexure of the truss and of the leg if desired. The hinges 12 according to the present invention may include a lock switch 28, a bend switch 24 or an extension switch 26 or any combination thereof as desired, although it is more likely that if any of these are omitted it would be the fixing switch 28. As shown in Figure 1, each switch 24, 26, 28 may have an interconnection 30 and a latch button 32 or other structure for adjusting the bending, extension and securing of the truss 10 and of the hinge 12. The lock button 32 is pressed in a descending manner relative to the hinge in order to create a mode in which the interconnection 30 can then be manipulated in a sliding manner substantially perpendicular to the direction of the pressure on the button 32, with a view to of relocating the switches 24, 26 and / or 28. Thus, a switch structure that requires force or pressure in an embodiment of the present invention is suitable. at least two different addresses simultaneously so that the unlocking and relocation of the switch occurs. The structure of the switch that allows the convenient relocation of the switches 24, 26, 28 with only force or deliberate pressure but not in general with force or pressure inadvertently is also appropriate. The hinge 12 shown in Figure 1 is a monocentric hinge structure utilizing a single bolt 34 which may be a rivet, screw or any other desired fastener. Similarly, the hinge 12 can, if desired, be a bi-centered hinge or allow the engagement of the thigh bar 14 and calf bar 16 according to any other theory or design structure that allows the use of the cam surfaces , slots, other surface features and switches according to the present invention. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the relationship of the components of the hinge 12. In a modality as shown in Figure 2 the hinge 12 includes a plurality of plates that connect to the thigh bar 14 and bar of calf 16 and rotating in relation to each other around the pin 34. The particular embodiment shown in Figure 2 contains a lower plate 36 of the calf bar and an upper plate 38 of the calf bar which are connected through rivets to the calf bar 16. The plate 40 of the thigh bar is formed as a portion of the thigh bar 14 and is adapted to rotate - i; around the bolt 34 in relation to the lower plate and the upper plate of the calf bar 36, 38. The upper and lower plates of the barrel 36, 38 can be formed as part of the calf bar 16 or joined as desired to the calf bar 16 (such formation or joining of the plates to the bars considered in this document are included in the meaning of the term "connected"). A pair of calf bar plates 36, 38 is not required; a plate could be sufficient, as considered; The number and arrangement of the plates is not critical to the invention. The calf bar 16 can be connected to a single plate such as a cam surface of the type characterized by the plate the thigh bar 40, and the thigh bar 14 connected to the upper and lower plates similar to upper and lower plates of the calf bar 36, 38. Several switches 24, 26, 28 can be placed in relation to plates 36, 38, 40 as desired and not necessarily according to the structure shown in figure 2, in order to create intuitive control , convenient and safe of the flexion and extension and the securing of the trusses and of the knee according to the present invention. As shown in the particular embodiment of Figure 2, the thigh bar plate 40 contains a cam surface 42 which in turn has several projections 44 that limit the extension and projections 46 that limit bending. The projections 44 limiting the extension cooperate with the extension stop 48 which can be adjusted in a position to resist any desired extension projection 44 in order to control and limit the bending of the thigh bar 14 relative to the bar calf 16. Similarly, the projections 46 which limit the flexing of the thigh bar plate 40 resist the bending stop 50 which can be placed in an adjustable manner to resist a desired projection in order to limit the bending of the bar. thigh 14 relative to the calf bar 16. Again, it may be the calf bar 16 which in its place engages the cam surface 42, so that the stops 48 and 50 can be connected to the thigh bar 48. instead of the calf bar 16. Figure 2 also shows the safety switch 28 connected to the thigh bar plate 40 which can be positioned to cooperate with the indents 52 on the upper plate and the plate. The lower leg of the calf bar 36, 38 respectively, is provided in order to secure the thigh bar 14 and the calf bar 16 e "n relative position with each other at different flexion / extension angles. The indents 52 can be positioned as adequately and easily as desired on a plate carrying a cam surface or on the thigh bar plate 40 in order to cooperate with an insurance switch 28 placed anywhere as desired to allow the adjustable safety bar of the thigh bar 14 and the calf bar 16 in relation to one another. Figures 2, 3 and 4 show a preferred embodiment for structuring the flexure switch 24, the extension switch 26 and / or the safety switch 28. The switches 24 and 26 as shown in these figures present the same type of structure , which is slightly different from the structure of switch 28, but does not need to be that way. The structure of all these switches can be the same or different to facilitate various requirements. Additionally, as mentioned above, several other structural components are easily equivalent, interchangeable or, constitute substantial changes for any or all of the components of the switches 24, 26 or 28 and their cooperating structures to allow intuitive, convenient and safe adjustable control " of the limitation of flexion and extension of the thigh bar 14 and the calf bar 16 in relation to each other, and thus the limitation in flexion, extension and / or fixation of the truss 10 and the knee on which it is placed. A requirement is that such mechanisms conveniently allow the user to reset limits or stops, preferably with one hand, to control the extension, bending and / or fixing of bars 14 and 16, with virtual or complete prevention of inadvertent relocation of such caps or limits. More particularly, a more limited requirement is that the structure allows the convenient relocation of the flexion, extension and / or fixation components only after simultaneous pressure application in at least two different directions in order to release or secure such components for move them and relocate them. As shown in the particular structure illustrated in Figures 2-3, the flexure switch 24, which is structured in a manner similar to the extension switch 26, has a truck 54 that includes a stop 56 projecting through the slots of the vehicle. stop 58 and 60 on the upper plate 38 and the lower plate 36 of the calf bar respectively. The truck 54 with the stop 56 can be sized and formed as desired in order to make the stop 56 be in a position to resist the bending projections 46 on the thigh bar plate 40. Additionally, the positioning and sizing the grooves 58, 60 and the projections 46 of the camming surface 42 to allow the stop 56 to resist an appropriate projection 46 on the camming surface 42 to create a desired bending limit, is carried out using an empirical or observed analysis. Preferably the projections 46 are oriented so that when they are placed against the stop 56 they do not impose any lateral or other forces not provided to the stop 56 which can impose an undesired load on the detent grooves 66. None of this is required for the invention work. What is required in conjunction with the abutment placement 56 and the configuration of the projections 46 and the camming surface 42 is generally that the geometry and structure allow the abutment 56 to properly resist the appropriate projections 46 so that the truss 10 is well used and absorbs considerable load cycles during the course of your life. The truck 54 is restricted in a sliding relationship relative to the stop grooves 58 and 60, in the preferred embodiment, through a grooved rail 62 in the front plate 64 of the hinge 12.

In this way, when the front plate 64 is in the position of the upper plate of the calf bar 38, the truck 54 is moved from one side to the other in the rail 62 so that the stop 56 can be placed easily. to protrude through the stop grooves 58 and 60 in order to resist the different projections 46. on the cam surface 42 of the thigh bar plate 40. The truck 54 and its stop 56 are further restricted in movement by a plurality of detent grooves 66 formed in a first side of the grooved rail 62 in the faceplate 64. A retainer 68 which may be a leaf spring, a member offset by a spiral spring or other desired structure, or part of the truck 54, is adapted to protrude in a detent groove 66 in order to adjust the sliding movement of the truck 54 and the stop 56 in the rail 62 and thus limit the number of positions in the rail 62 in which it can be placed the trolley 54 (which corresponds to placing the stop 56 in alignment with the corresponding projections 46). In addition to the detent grooves 66, the grooved rail 62 in the faceplate 64 also has a plurality of securing grooves 70 which may be the same as or different from the detent grooves 66. In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIGS. 4, the securing grooves 70 are located on the side of the grooved rail 62 opposite the detent grooves 66. A safety device 72 protrudes through the outer surface of the front plate 64 and deviates from the truck 54 and ascends through the front plate 64 using a spring or other bypass mechanism 74. The safety device 72 has a lock 76 which, when the spring 74 deflects the safety device 72 away from the truck, engages a locking groove 70 in the groove rail 62 to secure the truck 54 in place and thus the stop 56 in its place in relation to a projection 46 that limits the particular bending. When adequate pressure from a finger or thumb presses the safety device 72 into or towards the faceplate 64 the lock 76 moves downward and disengages from the locking grooves 70, which then allows the truck 54 to slide on the grooved rail 62 and stop 56 relocate in order to change the bending limits. The user interface 30 for the flex switch 24 includes not only a safety device 72, but also an interconnection plate 78 that can be designed as desired to comfortably and appropriately adjust the shape and function, in order to allow the user to slide the truck 54 in the grooved lane 62. The safety device 72 in the preferred embodiment protrudes through the interconnect plate 78 to enable the user to simultaneously be able to press the latch 72 in order to disengage the latch 76 from the slots of 70 and slide the truck 54 into the grooved rail 62 until the detent 68 is received in the detent groove 66, suitable to correspond to a desired degree of flexing of the truss 10. The front plate of the hinge 64 may have marks for show angles of flexion and / or extension limitation corresponding to the securing slots 70, the detent slots 66 and the functions of the projections 44, 46 and the stops of the switches 24, 26 of the present invention. The lock 76 can be positioned to bias the detent 68 further into a detent groove 66 in order to create a locking relationship, in which case the securing grooves 70 and the detent grooves 66 can be the same. Other structural versions are obvious and easily imaginable to allow a switch 24 to facilitate the scope and spirit of this invention. By way of example only, the switches according to the present invention may contain cam surfaces by themselveswith or without projections, and structured to rotate relative to the faceplate 64 in an appropriately adjustable and suitably releasable securing relationship in order to place the desired portions of its cam surfaces against the portions of the cam surface 42 for intuitive, convenient and safe control of the flexure and / or extension of the truss 10. In the preferred embodiment, the extension switch 26 is structured identically or virtually identical to the flexure switch 24 and operates in the same general manner, but is relocatable in other directions for the control of the extension of the truss 10 and the knee in which it is placed. The safety switch 28 in the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 4 contains a truck 80 with a sliding portion 82 which is adapted to slide in the grooved rail 84 of the thigh bar polish 40. A boss 86 on the truck 80 is adapted to project towards one of the indentations 52 in the upper plate and lower plate of the. calf bar 36, 38 when the switch 28 is placed in the "engaged" position. In this way, the grooved rail 84 forms a pair of securing grooves 88 (and, in the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 4, serrated grooves 90). A detent 92 positioned relative to the truck 80 contains a portion that is received by one of the detent grooves 90 to hold the switch 28 in place in a releasable manner. A deviating safety device 94 'with a deflection mechanism 96 similar or the same as the deviation mechanism 74, operates, like the safety device 72, to hold the switch 28 in its position relative to the thigh bar plate. 40 when the security device 94 is not being actuated or pressed. The interconnect 98 which may be similar to the interconnect 78 in appearance and structure, if desired, allows the user to slide the truck 80 in and out of the clutch relationship with the upper and lower plates of the calf bar 36, 38 in order to secure the hinge 12 and the truss 10 in various angular positions as desired. The safety switch 28 as a simple example of an alternative structure may appear on the faceplate 62 and cooperate with the indents on the thigh bar 40. Various collars 100 or other devices that decrease or lubricate the friction may be used as appropriate. want or require. In the preferred embodiment, the hinge 12 may contain collars 100 such as conventional delrin collars between the calf bar plates 36, 38 and the thigh bar plate 40 and elsewhere if desired. Figure 5 is a schematic drawing showing in (A) the flexure switch and the extension switches 24, 26 in position to allow full extension [substantially 0 degrees between the thigh bar 14 and the calf bar 16 (zero degrees taking into account the tolerances of manufacture and use)] of the hinge 12 and the total flexion (substantially 140 degrees between the thigh bar 14 and the calf bar 16). The securing switch 28 is disengaged. Figure 5 in (B) shows the flex switch 24 and the extension switch 26 in the same positions but with the lock switch 28 engaged to secure the thigh bar 14 and the calf bar 16 in relative position with each other in full extension. Figure 5 in (C) shows the latching switch 28 engaged to secure the thigh rod 14 and the calf bar 16 in angular relation to one another. The securing switch 28 preferably operates independently of the flexure switch 24 and the extension switch 26 to secure the truss in a desired position. For example, the securing switch 28 can be set as desired without the need to set the bending switch 24 and / or the extension switch 26 in any particular position (as long as there is no interference) to secure the truss in the desired position . If the securing switch 28 as shown in (C) in Figure 5 is disengaged, the flex switch 24 is positioned substantially for 30 degree flexion of the thigh bar 14 and the calf bar 16 in relation to one another, and the extension switch 26 is positioned substantially at 30 degrees. In the preferred embodiment, as shown in Figures 1-5, the extension switch 26 and its corresponding components together with the corresponding portions of the lower plate and upper plate of the calf bar 36, 38 and the bar plate thigh 40 are structured to allow maximum extension at 0, 10, 20 and 30 degrees between the thigh bar 14 and the calf bar 16 respectively. Again, in the preferred embodiment, the bending switch 24 and those corresponding components are adapted to allow the maximum bending of the truss 10 to occur at 30, 40, 70, 90 and 140 degrees between the thigh bar 14 and the bar calf 16 respectively. Various configurations of various portions of the lower plate and upper plate of the calf bar 36, 38, the thigh bar 40, the cam surface 42, the projections 44 and 46 and the switches 24, 26 to create a hinge 12 that It contains any desired set of limitations of maximum bending and extension (of any joint) can be easily carried out in accordance with the teachings of this invention and is within the limits of those accustomed to designing and making casting trusses.

Claims (18)

1. Claims 1. A hinge for a body articulation truss in which the hinge is adapted to couple a first bar and a second bar of the truss, the hinge comprising: a. a first member connected to one of the first bar and the second bar, and containing at least one cam surface; and b. a second member connected to the other of the first bar and the second bar, the second member being slidably connected to a switch, the switch comprising a stop and being adapted to slide and relocate relative to the second member, so that the stop is positioned to resist at least a portion of the cam surface of the first member in order to limit the rotation of the first bar and the second bar in relation to one another and thus the movement of the body joint. A hinge according to claim 1, wherein the first member is connected to the first bar and the second member is connected to the second bar. 3. A hinge according to claim 1, wherein the first member is connected to the second bar and the second member is connected to the first bar. A hinge according to claim 1, in which * the first member is formed as part of the first bar and the second member comprises a pair of first bar plates that are attached to the second bar. A hinge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cam surface of the first member includes a plurality of projections limiting bending and the second member includes a bending switch whose stopper is adapted to resist the projection that limits the selected flexion to limit in an adjustable way the flex of the truss. A hinge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cam surface further includes a plurality of projections limiting the extension and the second member further includes an extension switch whose stopper is adapted to resist the projection that limits the extension selected to limit the extent of the truss adjustably. A hinge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the switch includes the structure adapted to interpose the force between the second member and the switch, to engage the switch in position relative to the second member. A hinge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the switch contains the structure adapted to hold the switch in place relative to the second member in a plurality of pre-selected positions and in a convenient releasable manner, thereby graduate the switch in relation to the second member. A hinge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the switch contains the structure adapted to interpose the force between the second member and the switch, to engage the switch in position relative to the second member, and the structure adapted to hold the switch in place relative to the second member in a plurality of preselected positions and in a conveniently releasable manner, whereby the switch is graduated relative to the second member. A hinge according to claim 9, wherein the structure for engaging the switch in position relative to the second member comprises a plurality of indentations in the second member and a lock connected to the switch that is adapted to engage the selected indentation. A hinge according to claim 9, wherein the structure adapted to hold the switch in place in relation to the second member comprises. a plurality of indentations in the second member and a retainer connected to the switch, a portion of which detents are adapted to cooperate with the selected indentation in order to set the switch in the second member. 12. A hinge according to claim 9, wherein the structure for engaging the switch in its position relative to the second member and the structure adapted to hold the switch in place in relation to the second member comprise at least some of the same components. A hinge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the switch is adapted to be relocated relative to the second member only with deliberate force. A hinge according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the switch is adapted to be relocated relative to the second member only with force applied to the switch in two different directions in a semi-regular manner. A hinge according to claim 14, wherein the switch is adapted to be relocated relative to the second member only with applied force to slide the switch relative to the second member simultaneously with the application of another force to the switch in order to unlock the switch in relation to the second member. 16. A hinge according to any of - 3 the preceding claims, in which the switch contains a cam surface to resist the cam surface of the first member. A hinge according to claim 5 or 6, in which at least some of the projections adapt in a manner to impose a non-lateral force on the retaining structure when the projections are placed against the stop. 18. A hinge for a body articulation truss, according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the truss is a knee truss.