Adam T Harris

US Patent:

46320962, Dec 30, 1986

Filed:

Aug 12, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/764600

Inventors:

Adam I. Harris - Beverly Hills CA

International Classification:

A61F 500

US Classification:

128 80F

Abstract:

An orthosis for the leg which releases automatically upon a preselected dorsiflexion of the ankle followed by a preselected plantar flexion of the ankle is described. The orthosis has an upper member for securing to the upper part of the leg and a lower member for securing to the lower part of the leg, the upper and lower members interconnected by a pivoting means for placement at the knee. In a preferred embodiment, the orthosis is provided with a lock hinge which spans the pivoting means and locks the upper member and lower member when the leg approaches extension during a gait cycle, thereby providing stability when the foot of the braced leg strikes the ground. An automatically releasing mechanism is responsive to a preselected plantar flexion of the ankle occurring during a gait cycle after a preselected dorsiflexion of the ankle has occurred. This sequence permits the upper and lower members to be released when the required plantar flexion has taken place only once during each gait cycle, notwithstanding that the same plantar flexion of the ankle typically occurs twice during a gait cycle. In a preferred embodiment, the motion of the foot is communicated to a T-Bar which slides in a guideway comprising adjacent communicating channels.