WO1990014807A1 - Improvements relating to joint support devices - Google Patents

Improvements relating to joint support devices Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1990014807A1
WO1990014807A1 PCT/GB1990/000828 GB9000828W WO9014807A1 WO 1990014807 A1 WO1990014807 A1 WO 1990014807A1 GB 9000828 W GB9000828 W GB 9000828W WO 9014807 A1 WO9014807 A1 WO 9014807A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
plates
support
extension
sleeve
connecting plate
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1990/000828
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Anthony Alan Richardson
Original Assignee
Anthony Alan Richardson
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Anthony Alan Richardson filed Critical Anthony Alan Richardson
Publication of WO1990014807A1 publication Critical patent/WO1990014807A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F5/00—Orthopaedic methods or devices for non-surgical treatment of bones or joints; Nursing devices; Anti-rape devices
    • A61F5/01—Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces
    • A61F5/0102—Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations
    • A61F5/0123—Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations for the knees
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F5/00—Orthopaedic methods or devices for non-surgical treatment of bones or joints; Nursing devices; Anti-rape devices
    • A61F5/01—Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces
    • A61F5/0102—Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations
    • A61F2005/0132—Additional features of the articulation
    • A61F2005/0137—Additional features of the articulation with two parallel pivots
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F5/00—Orthopaedic methods or devices for non-surgical treatment of bones or joints; Nursing devices; Anti-rape devices
    • A61F5/01—Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces
    • A61F5/0102—Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations
    • A61F2005/0132—Additional features of the articulation
    • A61F2005/0165—Additional features of the articulation with limits of movement

Definitions

  • a support plate unit for strengthening a flexible limb joint comprising a pair of extension plates interlinked by a connecting plate by respective pivot pins, each extension plate also engaging with the connecting plate by a projecting pin on one of these two parts engaging within a slot in the other part, the slot being curved on an arc centred on the axis of the relevant pivot pin and limiting the extent of relative movement between the connecting plate and the extension plate.
  • Such a unit (or rather a pair of units) will be mounted adjacent to a limb joint, ideally within a supporting sleeve.
  • the pivots allow the plates to move with respect to one another as the joint is flexed, but will provide some protection from a direct blow and also resist to some extent extreme rotational movements of the joint.
  • the ends of the extension plates which are interlinked to the connecting plate should be so shaped as to abut one another at their outer edges, when fully flexed in one direction, in such a way that the extension plates extend longitudinally away from one another at an internal angle of less than 180° . This protects the joint from becoming subjected to hyper-extension.
  • pivot pins will be fixed to the connecting plate. It is also preferred that the projecting pins should be carried by the connecting plate.
  • the preferred form of material for construction of the three plates is a rigid plastics material which will be less prone than metal to cause damage to a person during a collision.
  • the invention also extends to a joint support sleeve formed from a flexible fabric and incorporating a jointed support plate unit down each side, the support plates being retained by a one-piece fabric cover which is attached to the sleeve fabric to define a pair of pockets for the support plates and a strengthening web between the pockets.
  • the formation of the fabric cover as a single piece, so as to define both the pair of pockets and a strength ⁇ ening web results in a very sturdy construction for the support sleeve. This can be increased by securing the edges of the cover to the sleeve fabric by means of a continuous piped fabric strip. Ideally the junctions of the pockets and the strengthening webs will not be attached at those points to the sleeve fabric, thus leaving a certain amount of room for movement of the pivoting parts of the joint support plates. Ideally the support plates will be of the form as hereinbefore defined in accordance with the first aspect of this invention.
  • Figures 1 to 3 are plan views of a support plate unit of this invention, in different attitudes;
  • Figure 4 is an underneath plan view of the support plate unit;
  • Figure 5 is a side view of the support plate unit of Figures 1 to 3; and
  • Figure 6 is an illustration of a support sleeve of this invention.
  • the support plate unit illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 comprises a pair of extension plates 1 interlinked by a connecting plate 2 by means of pivot pins 3.
  • the extent of rotation of each extension plate 1 with respect to the connecting plate 2 is limited by means of respective pins 4 sliding within slots 5 in the connecting plates 1.
  • Figure 1 shows the unit in an intermediate position corresponding to a partial flexing of a joint with which the support unit is associated.
  • Figure 2 shows the maximum extension of the support unit. Edges of the extension plates abut such that the extension plates extend longitudinally away from one another at an angle less than 180° with respect to the inside edge 6 of the unit. This prevents over extension of the joint with which the support unit is associated.
  • the joint can be bent as fully as necessary since the limit of movement in the opposite direction is as illustrated in Figure 3.
  • the pin and slot configurations 4 and 5 ensure that, during an intermediate flexing of the unit, neither of the extension plates can rotate so far with respect to the connecting plate 2 as to cause parts of the plates to project in a dangerous manner..
  • the corners of all the plates are rounded to minimise injury, should any person collide with the unit.
  • the various plates will ideally be formed from a rigid plastics material (such as nylon) whilst the pivots 3 and pins 4 may need to be formed from metal to ensure good wearing character- istics.
  • a bronze bush for the pivot pins 3 is desir ⁇ able to minimise wear.
  • the plates 1 are cranked at the intermediate position 7 so that the longest parts thereof will lie against limb portions of the wearer, as shown in Figure 5. Also as shown in this Figure the extending parts of the plates are curved, to correspond to the curvature of the limb portions of the wearer, for a comfortable fit.
  • the cranked portions 7 may incorporate strengthening ribs 8, as shown in Figures 1 to 4.
  • a pair of support units (as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5) will be incorporated into a support sleeve of the form as shown in Figure 6.
  • This sleeve comprises a fabric sleeve portion 9 to which is stitched a one piece fabric cover 10 which defines a pair of pockets 11 (only one of which is visible) and a strengthening web 12.
  • a hole 13 is formed through both sheets of fabric 9 and 10 for the comfort of the wearer.
  • Straps 14 are provided above and below the cover 10 to enable the fabric sleeve 9 to be secured tightly in place on parts of a limb.
  • the fabric parts 9 and 10 are. secured together by stitching and a piped fabric strip 15 is positioned over the seam prior to the stitching process.
  • the support sleeve illustrated in Figure 6 provides a secure mounting for the support plate units whilst allowing for adequate flexibility of those units in the pockets 11.
  • the piped strip 15 helps to ensure that the support plate units are retained firmly within their pockets.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Nursing (AREA)
  • Orthopedic Medicine & Surgery (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Vascular Medicine (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Details Of Garments (AREA)

Abstract

A support plate unit comprises a pair of extension plates (1) interlinked by a connecting plate (2) by means of pivot pins (3). The extent of rotation of each extension plate (1) with respect to the connecting plate (2) is limited by means of respective pins (4) sliding within slots (5) in the connecting plates (1). Edges of the extension plates abut in the fully extended condition such that the extension plates extend longitudinally away from one another at an angle less than 180° with respect to the inside edge (6) of the unit. This prevents over extension of the joint with which the support unit is associated. However, the joint can be bent as fully as necessary in the other direction. The pin and slot configurations (4 and 5) ensure that, during an intermediate flexing of the unit, neither of the extension plates can rotate so far with respect to the connecting plate (2) as to cause parts of the plates to project in a dangerous manner.

Description

"Iraprovements Relating to Joint Support Devices"
This invention is concerned with devices used to strengthen and support limb joints such as knees and elbows. In a number of contact sports and for activities such as skiing there is a significant risk of injury to the knee joint and the objective of this invention is to provide a support device which will reduce injury to a joint resulting from an accident and which can be used also to support an injured joint- According to the present invention there is provided, from one aspect, a support plate unit for strengthening a flexible limb joint, and comprising a pair of extension plates interlinked by a connecting plate by respective pivot pins, each extension plate also engaging with the connecting plate by a projecting pin on one of these two parts engaging within a slot in the other part, the slot being curved on an arc centred on the axis of the relevant pivot pin and limiting the extent of relative movement between the connecting plate and the extension plate. Such a unit (or rather a pair of units) will be mounted adjacent to a limb joint, ideally within a supporting sleeve. The pivots allow the plates to move with respect to one another as the joint is flexed, but will provide some protection from a direct blow and also resist to some extent extreme rotational movements of the joint. It is preferred that the ends of the extension plates which are interlinked to the connecting plate should be so shaped as to abut one another at their outer edges, when fully flexed in one direction, in such a way that the extension plates extend longitudinally away from one another at an internal angle of less than 180° . This protects the joint from becoming subjected to hyper-extension.
Ideally the pivot pins will be fixed to the connecting plate. It is also preferred that the projecting pins should be carried by the connecting plate. The preferred form of material for construction of the three plates is a rigid plastics material which will be less prone than metal to cause damage to a person during a collision.
The invention also extends to a joint support sleeve formed from a flexible fabric and incorporating a jointed support plate unit down each side, the support plates being retained by a one-piece fabric cover which is attached to the sleeve fabric to define a pair of pockets for the support plates and a strengthening web between the pockets.
The formation of the fabric cover as a single piece, so as to define both the pair of pockets and a strength¬ ening web results in a very sturdy construction for the support sleeve. This can be increased by securing the edges of the cover to the sleeve fabric by means of a continuous piped fabric strip. Ideally the junctions of the pockets and the strengthening webs will not be attached at those points to the sleeve fabric, thus leaving a certain amount of room for movement of the pivoting parts of the joint support plates. Ideally the support plates will be of the form as hereinbefore defined in accordance with the first aspect of this invention.
The invention may be performed in various ways and a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figures 1 to 3 are plan views of a support plate unit of this invention, in different attitudes;
Figure 4 is an underneath plan view of the support plate unit; Figure 5 is a side view of the support plate unit of Figures 1 to 3; and
Figure 6 is an illustration of a support sleeve of this invention.
The support plate unit illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 comprises a pair of extension plates 1 interlinked by a connecting plate 2 by means of pivot pins 3. The extent of rotation of each extension plate 1 with respect to the connecting plate 2 is limited by means of respective pins 4 sliding within slots 5 in the connecting plates 1. Figure 1 shows the unit in an intermediate position corresponding to a partial flexing of a joint with which the support unit is associated. Figure 2 shows the maximum extension of the support unit. Edges of the extension plates abut such that the extension plates extend longitudinally away from one another at an angle less than 180° with respect to the inside edge 6 of the unit. This prevents over extension of the joint with which the support unit is associated. However, the joint can be bent as fully as necessary since the limit of movement in the opposite direction is as illustrated in Figure 3.
The pin and slot configurations 4 and 5 ensure that, during an intermediate flexing of the unit, neither of the extension plates can rotate so far with respect to the connecting plate 2 as to cause parts of the plates to project in a dangerous manner.. The corners of all the plates are rounded to minimise injury, should any person collide with the unit. The various plates will ideally be formed from a rigid plastics material (such as nylon) whilst the pivots 3 and pins 4 may need to be formed from metal to ensure good wearing character- istics. A bronze bush for the pivot pins 3 is desir¬ able to minimise wear.
The plates 1 are cranked at the intermediate position 7 so that the longest parts thereof will lie against limb portions of the wearer, as shown in Figure 5. Also as shown in this Figure the extending parts of the plates are curved, to correspond to the curvature of the limb portions of the wearer, for a comfortable fit. The cranked portions 7 may incorporate strengthening ribs 8, as shown in Figures 1 to 4.
A pair of support units (as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5) will be incorporated into a support sleeve of the form as shown in Figure 6. This sleeve comprises a fabric sleeve portion 9 to which is stitched a one piece fabric cover 10 which defines a pair of pockets 11 (only one of which is visible) and a strengthening web 12. A hole 13 is formed through both sheets of fabric 9 and 10 for the comfort of the wearer. Straps 14 are provided above and below the cover 10 to enable the fabric sleeve 9 to be secured tightly in place on parts of a limb. The fabric parts 9 and 10 are. secured together by stitching and a piped fabric strip 15 is positioned over the seam prior to the stitching process.
The support sleeve illustrated in Figure 6 provides a secure mounting for the support plate units whilst allowing for adequate flexibility of those units in the pockets 11. The piped strip 15 helps to ensure that the support plate units are retained firmly within their pockets.

Claims

CLAI S
1. A support plate unit for strengthening a flex¬ ible limb joint, and comprising a pair of extension plates interlinked by a connecting plate by respective pivot pins, each extension plate also engaging with the connecting plate by a projecting pin on one of these two parts engaging within a slot in the other part, the slot being curved on an arc centred on the axis of the relev¬ ant pivot pin and limiting the extent of relative move¬ ment between the connecting plate and the extension plate.
2. A support plate unit according to claim 1, wherein the pivot pins are fixed to the connecting plate.
3. A support plate unit according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the projecting pins are carried by the connecting plate.
4. A support plate unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the ends of the extension plates which are interlinked to the connecting plate should be so shaped as to abut one another at their outer edges, when fully flexed in one direction, in such a way that the extension plates extend longitudinally away from one another at an internal angle of less than 180°.
5. A support plate unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the three plates are formed from a rigid plastics material.
6. ' A joint support sleeve formed from a flexible fabric and incorporating a jointed support plate unit down each side, the support plates being retained by a one-piece fabric cover which is attached to the sleeve fabric to define a pair of pockets for the support plates and a strengthening web between the pockets.
7. A sleeve according to claim 6, wherein the edges of the cover to the sleeve fabric by means of a continuous piped fabric strip.
8. A sleeve according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the junctions of the pockets and the strengthen¬ ing webs are not attached at those points to the sleeve fabric.
9. A sleeve according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the support plates are of the form as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5.
10. A support plate unit, or a joint support sleeve substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.
PCT/GB1990/000828 1989-06-01 1990-06-01 Improvements relating to joint support devices WO1990014807A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB898912606A GB8912606D0 (en) 1989-06-01 1989-06-01 Improvements relating to joint support devices
GB8912606.4 1989-06-01

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1990014807A1 true WO1990014807A1 (en) 1990-12-13

Family

ID=10657713

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1990/000828 WO1990014807A1 (en) 1989-06-01 1990-06-01 Improvements relating to joint support devices

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU5734390A (en)
GB (1) GB8912606D0 (en)
WO (1) WO1990014807A1 (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5336160A (en) * 1992-07-10 1994-08-09 Wilderness Alert Safety Products Ltd. Multi-purpose wilderness splint
GB2265087B (en) * 1992-03-07 1996-10-02 Stephen Hutchins Knee brace with laterally stable joint
US9345605B2 (en) 2012-05-31 2016-05-24 Ossur Hf Hinge for an orthopedic device
US9668903B2 (en) 2014-11-20 2017-06-06 Ossur Iceland Ehf Polymeric polycentric hinge
US9788986B2 (en) 2014-02-11 2017-10-17 Ossur Hf Hinge for an orthopedic device
US11096803B2 (en) 2016-12-06 2021-08-24 Ossur Iceland Ehf Movable joint for use in a prosthetic or orthopedic system

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3902482A (en) * 1974-05-21 1975-09-02 George A Taylor Mechanical joint for an orthopedic brace or prosthesis
US4506661A (en) * 1983-04-21 1985-03-26 Foster Dean J Balanced suspension knee brace
US4556053A (en) * 1984-02-08 1985-12-03 United States Manufacturing Company Knee orthosis with leg stabilizing means
FR2571611A1 (en) * 1984-10-11 1986-04-18 Thuasne & Cie Medical knee support
US4732143A (en) * 1987-02-13 1988-03-22 Spectrum Orthopedics, Ltd. Selectable extension stop for a polycentric hinge
DE3637879A1 (en) * 1986-11-06 1988-05-19 Rahm Orthopaedie Technik Gmbh Knee joint bandage

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3902482A (en) * 1974-05-21 1975-09-02 George A Taylor Mechanical joint for an orthopedic brace or prosthesis
US4506661A (en) * 1983-04-21 1985-03-26 Foster Dean J Balanced suspension knee brace
US4556053A (en) * 1984-02-08 1985-12-03 United States Manufacturing Company Knee orthosis with leg stabilizing means
FR2571611A1 (en) * 1984-10-11 1986-04-18 Thuasne & Cie Medical knee support
DE3637879A1 (en) * 1986-11-06 1988-05-19 Rahm Orthopaedie Technik Gmbh Knee joint bandage
US4732143A (en) * 1987-02-13 1988-03-22 Spectrum Orthopedics, Ltd. Selectable extension stop for a polycentric hinge

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2265087B (en) * 1992-03-07 1996-10-02 Stephen Hutchins Knee brace with laterally stable joint
US5336160A (en) * 1992-07-10 1994-08-09 Wilderness Alert Safety Products Ltd. Multi-purpose wilderness splint
US9345605B2 (en) 2012-05-31 2016-05-24 Ossur Hf Hinge for an orthopedic device
US9788986B2 (en) 2014-02-11 2017-10-17 Ossur Hf Hinge for an orthopedic device
US9668903B2 (en) 2014-11-20 2017-06-06 Ossur Iceland Ehf Polymeric polycentric hinge
US11096803B2 (en) 2016-12-06 2021-08-24 Ossur Iceland Ehf Movable joint for use in a prosthetic or orthopedic system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU5734390A (en) 1991-01-07
GB8912606D0 (en) 1989-07-19

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