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US-12622799-B2 - Orthosis

US12622799B2US 12622799 B2US12622799 B2US 12622799B2US-12622799-B2

Abstract

The invention relates to an orthosis comprising at least one stability-providing structural component having an irregular lattice structure extending over its entire surface. The lattice structure includes webs of strengthening material that delimit irregularly shaped recesses free of structural material. Within the planar extension of the structural component, a stabilization direction (S) is defined along which the component exhibits stabilizing flexural rigidity, and an adaptation direction (A) orthogonal thereto along which the component is locally bendable.

Inventors

  • Lukas Laitzsch
  • Christian Horst
  • Stephan Blanc
  • Timo Schmeltzpfenning

Assignees

  • FERD. HAUBER GMBH

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20220131
Priority Date
20210201

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . An orthosis ( 10 , 110 , 200 ) comprising a stability-providing structural component ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ), the stability-providing structural component ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) having an irregular lattice structure ( 47 , 147 ) over its entire surface, the irregular lattice structure ( 47 , 147 ) having webs ( 48 , 148 ) made of strengthening structural material, and the webs ( 48 , 148 ) delimiting irregularly shaped recesses ( 52 , 152 ) free of structural material, the stability-providing structural component ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) having a planar design and having at least one stabilization direction (S) lying in a planar extension ( 43 ), transverse to which the stability-providing structural component ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) is designed to have stabilizing flexural rigidity in order to stabilize a limb of a wearer of the orthosis ( 10 , 110 , 200 ), characterized by the stability providing structural component ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) has one or more stabilizing regions ( 40 , 140 , 240 ) and one or more adaptable regions ( 42 , 142 , 242 ); the webs ( 48 , 148 ) have a predominant part in the one or more stabilizing regions ( 40 , 140 , 240 ) and a corresponding predominant part of the webs ( 48 ) in the one or more adaptable regions ( 42 , 142 , 242 ); the predominant part in the one or more stabilizing regions ( 40 , 140 , 240 ) has a material thickness that is at least twice as thick as the corresponding predominant part in the one or more adaptable regions ( 42 , 142 , 242 ); and the stability-providing structural component ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) has an adaptation direction (A) lying in the planar extension ( 43 ), transversely to which the stability-providing structural component ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) has a locally bendable design, so that the orthosis can be brought into planar contact with a contour of a limb of a wearer of the orthosis ( 10 , 110 , 200 ) by bending transverse to the adaptation direction (A).
  2. 2 . The orthosis ( 10 , 110 , 200 ) according to claim 1 , characterized by the stability-providing structural component ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) is connected to at least one fastening strap ( 16 , 116 ), which is fastened, detachably, in a fixed extension direction ( 174 ) on the stability-providing structural component ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ), and is designed for a circular wrapping of the limb of the wearer of the orthosis ( 10 , 110 , 200 ) that is to be stabilized by the orthosis ( 10 , 110 , 200 ), the circular wrapping being carried out by the at least one fastening strap ( 16 , 116 ) by itself or by the at least one fastening strap ( 16 , 116 ) and at least one stability-providing structural component ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) of the orthosis ( 10 , 110 , 200 ) in conjunction with the at least one fastening strap ( 16 , 116 ).
  3. 3 . The orthosis ( 10 , 110 , 200 ) according to claim 2 , characterized by the stability-providing structural component ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) has one or more stabilizing regions ( 40 , 140 , 240 ) and one or more adaptable regions ( 42 , 142 , 242 ), the stability-providing structural component ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) comprising at least one adaptable region ( 42 , 142 , 242 ) which, when viewed along the stabilization direction (S) in the one or more stabilizing regions ( 40 , 140 , 240 ), is arranged next to the at least one stabilizing regions ( 40 , 140 , 240 ), the one or more adaptable regions ( 42 , 142 , 242 ) next to the one or more stabilizing regions ( 40 , 140 , 240 ) which are each adaptable on both sides being arranged on both sides of the one or more stabilizing regions ( 40 , 140 , 240 ) when viewed along the stabilization direction (S) in the one or more stabilizing regions.
  4. 4 . The orthosis ( 10 , 110 , 200 ) according to claim 2 , characterized by the orthosis comprises two structural components ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) which are each integrally formed in one piece.
  5. 5 . The orthosis ( 10 , 110 , 200 ) according to claim 2 , characterized by a pliable padding component ( 14 ) is arranged on a side of the structural component ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) provided for contacting the limb of the wearer and is detachably or non-detachably connected to the stability-providing structural component ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ).
  6. 6 . The orthosis ( 10 , 110 , 200 ) according to claim 2 , characterized by the stability-providing structural component ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) is produced as a one-piece injection-molded part.
  7. 7 . The orthosis ( 200 ) according to claim 2 , characterized by the orthosis ( 200 ) is a knee orthosis ( 200 ) and comprises a plurality of stability-providing structural components ( 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) connected to one another in an articulated manner, a proximal portion of the stability-providing structure ( 202 ) being pivotably connected in the applied state to a distal portion via articulations ( 216 , 218 ) arranged on both sides next to the knee of the wearer, the proximal and distal portions each comprising two stability-providing structural components ( 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) which are adaptable relative to one another via a distal and a proximal articulation ( 220 , 222 ), the proximal articulation ( 222 ) and the distal articulation ( 220 ) allowing a pivoting movement about an axis which runs orthogonally with respect to the pivot axis of the articulations at the height of the knee joint, which articulations connect the proximal portion to the distal portion.
  8. 8 . The orthosis ( 10 , 110 , 200 ) according to claim 1 , characterized by the orthosis comprises two stability-providing structural components ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) which are each integrally formed in one piece.
  9. 9 . The orthosis ( 10 , 110 , 200 ) according to claim 8 , characterized by the two stability-providing structural components ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) are pivotably connected to one another via an articulation ( 25 , 216 , 218 , 220 , 222 ).
  10. 10 . The orthosis ( 10 , 110 , 200 ) according to claim 9 , characterized by the two stability-providing structural components ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) are connected to one another via a connecting device ( 20 , 120 ) in a fixed relative position and orientation and are fixed in relation to one another.
  11. 11 . The orthosis ( 10 , 110 , 200 ) according to claim 8 , characterized by the two stability-providing structural components ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) are connected to one another via a connecting device ( 20 , 120 ) in a fixed relative position and orientation and are fixed in relation to one another.
  12. 12 . The orthosis ( 200 ) according to claim 1 , characterized by the orthosis ( 200 ) is a knee orthosis ( 200 ) and comprises a plurality of stability-providing structural components ( 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) connected to one another in an articulated manner, a proximal portion of the stability-providing structure ( 202 ) being pivotably connected in an applied state to a distal portion via articulations ( 216 , 218 ) arranged on both sides next to the knee of the wearer, the proximal and distal portions of the stability-providing structure ( 202 ) each comprising two stability-providing structural components ( 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) which are adaptable relative to one another via a distal and a proximal articulation ( 220 , 222 ), the proximal articulation ( 222 ) and the distal articulation ( 220 ) allowing a pivoting movement about an axis ( 217 ) which runs orthogonally with respect to a pivot axis ( 219 ) of the articulations at a height of the knee joint, which articulations connect the proximal portion to the distal portion.
  13. 13 . The orthosis according to claim 12 , characterized by an inclination of the proximal portion and the distal portion is adaptable to the two stability-providing structural components ( 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ), which are arranged running proximally to distally, via the proximal articulation ( 222 ) and the distal articulation ( 220 ), and the two stability-providing structural components ( 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ), in order to be able to compensate for this inclination adaptation, having a bendable adaptable region ( 242 ), which, by means of a stabilizing region ( 240 ), is spaced apart from a respective articulation ( 220 , 222 ) and configured to be at the height of the knee joint that pivotably connects the proximal portion to the distal portion.
  14. 14 . The orthosis ( 110 ) according to claim 1 , characterized by the orthosis ( 110 ) is a wrist orthosis ( 110 ) and has a wrist support portion formed by a structural component ( 101 ) or is part of the structural component ( 101 ), the structural component ( 101 ) having a stabilizing region ( 140 ) extending from proximal to distal direction and extending in an intended applied state up to the wrist, adaptable regions ( 142 ) curved in a circumferential direction being arranged to the left and right of the stabilizing region ( 140 ) when viewed in the distal direction (D) and being configured to be flexibly adaptable to an arm diameter of the wearer, the stabilization direction (S) extending in the stabilizing region ( 140 ) in the proximal-to-distal direction, and the adaptation direction (A) of any adaptable regions ( 142 ) that may be present extending in the arm circumferential direction in relation to the intended applied state of the orthosis.
  15. 15 . The orthosis ( 110 ) according to claim 14 , characterized by the orthosis ( 110 ) comprises a finger rest, which is formed as a further structural component ( 102 ) or part of the structural component ( 101 ) that forms the wrist support portion, the orthosis ( 110 ) alternatively or additionally comprising a thumb rest formed as a further structural component ( 103 ) or part of the structural component ( 101 ) forming the wrist support portion.
  16. 16 . The orthosis ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized by the orthosis ( 10 ) is an ankle orthosis ( 10 ) and on a distal side has two shell elements ( 24 ), which are designed to contact a foot of a wearer in each case on a lateral and foot sole side, and which can be fixed in a variable position relative to one another, the shell elements ( 24 ) being pivotably connected to a respective structural component ( 18 ) of a plurality of stability-providing structural components via an articulation ( 25 ) arranged proximally on the shell elements ( 24 ), the respective structural component ( 18 ) extending from the articulation ( 25 ) in a proximal direction (P).
  17. 17 . The orthosis ( 10 ) according to claim 16 , the preceding claim , characterized by the respective stability-providing structural component ( 18 ) extending in the proximal direction (P) from the articulation ( 25 ) comprises a central stabilizing region ( 140 ) running in the distal-to-proximal direction, the stabilization direction (S) of which extends in the distal-to-proximal direction, the orthosis ( 10 ) in the applied state further comprising adaptable regions ( 42 ) arranged laterally from the stabilizing region ( 40 ) when viewed in the distal-to-proximal direction, the adaptation direction (A) of said stability-providing structural component running in a circumferential direction of the lower leg of the wearer.
  18. 18 . The orthosis ( 10 , 110 , 200 ) according to claim 1 , characterized by the stability-providing structural component ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) comprising at least one adaptable region ( 42 , 142 , 242 ) which, when viewed along the stabilization direction (S) in the one or more stabilizing regions ( 40 , 140 , 240 ), is arranged next to the at least one stabilizing regions ( 40 , 140 , 240 ), the one or more adaptable regions ( 42 , 142 , 242 ) next to the one or more stabilizing regions ( 40 , 140 , 240 ) which are each adaptable on both sides being arranged on both sides of the one or more stabilizing regions ( 40 , 140 , 240 ) when viewed along the stabilization direction (S) in the one or more stabilizing regions.
  19. 19 . The orthosis ( 10 , 110 , 200 ) according to claim 1 , characterized by a pliable padding component ( 14 ) is arranged on a side of the stability-providing structural component ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) provided for contacting the limb of the wearer and is detachably or non-detachably connected to the stability-providing structural component ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ).
  20. 20 . The orthosis ( 10 , 110 , 200 ) according to claim 1 , characterized by the stability-providing structural component ( 18 , 20 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 204 , 206 , 212 , 214 ) is produced as a one-piece injection-molded part.

Description

The present invention relates to an orthosis. Conventionally, orthoses are manufactured in a variety of different sizes to meet the requirements of various wearers. In particular, the production of stability-providing structures, i.e., of stability-providing parts of the orthosis or the individual parts thereof (hereinafter referred to as structural components), plays a decisive role. These are frequently produced as metal or plastic parts, and the production of different sizes requires the use of various tools. For example, in conventional orthoses, the structural components of which are produced by means of injection molding, a different injection molding tool must be used for each size of the orthosis. This leads to high tool costs. On the other hand, the differences in the dimensions of the orthoses of individual sizes cannot be selected to be arbitrarily large, because otherwise a correct seating of the orthosis cannot be ensured. The object of the present invention is to provide an orthosis which can be used by as wide a variety of wearers as possible. To solve this problem, the present invention proposes an orthosis which has a stability-providing structural component with high adaptability and at the same time sufficient stabilization. Such an orthosis is defined, for example, in claim 1. Further embodiment variants of the orthosis according to the invention are described in the following description and dependent claims. The orthosis comprises a stability-providing structural component. The structural component comprises a strengthening structural material or may consist thereof. The stability-providing structural component can have an irregular lattice structure over its entire surface. The irregular lattice structure has webs of strengthening structural material and the webs delimit irregularly shaped recesses free of structural material. In stabilizing regions, the webs can be made thicker than in adaptable regions. In particular, the predominant portion or all of the webs can be formed in stabilizing regions with a material thickness at least twice as thick as a predominant portion or all of the webs in the adaptable regions. The structural component is planar. Planar in this context means an embodiment of the structural component in which the thickness of the structural component in the direction of the local surface normal is significantly lower than the dimensioning of the structural component along its planar extension. However, a planar extension does not mean the extension in a geometric plane; instead, the structural component can have a three-dimensionally sweeping or curved shape. Typically, the structural component is formed complementary to the limb or body shape to be supported in an area surrounding a joint. The structural component can have at least one stabilization direction lying in the planar extension. Transverse to the stabilization direction, the structural component is designed with local flexural rigidity (in a region of the structural component) to have a stabilizing effect. In the applied state of the orthosis, the structural component is arranged such that the stabilization direction of the structural component runs along the body of the wearer, so that the wearer's body part to be stabilized is stabilized by the structural component. A bending transverse to the stabilization direction is possible only to a minimal degree. The structural component is thus designed to be rigid transverse to the stabilization direction, such that it serves to support or stabilize a limb of the orthosis wearer (in the applied state). Having stabilizing flexural rigidity is understood in this context to mean a flexural rigidity which can permit a certain bending, as is customary in a rail of an orthosis, but in any case is small enough that the supporting function and stabilization of the limb is performed. In addition to the stabilization direction, the structural component can have an adaptation direction lying in the planar extension. The structural component is designed to be locally bendable in relation to the adaptation direction. In this case, the structural component is designed to be bendable transversely to the adaptation direction such that it can be brought into planar contact with the contour of a limb of an orthosis wearer by bending transversely to the adaptation direction. The bending necessary for this can be achieved manually during the application. For example, the orthosis or its structural component (s) can be fixed by corresponding fastening straps and at the same time be adapted, by bending, to the local body shape of the wearer. The fastening and adaptation by means of the fastening straps also contributes to the secure seating of the orthosis. Although the structural component is bendable transverse to the adaptation direction, it offers in particular a certain resistance to a bending, so that it maintains a tension when applied. The discussed bendings of the struc