NL1035044C2 - Orthosis for use by people with disabilities in limbs, has body comprising interface, and segments provided with device, which attaches segments to common carrier, where segments continue rotating support - Google Patents

Abstract

The orthosis (1) has a body comprising an interface, which includes three segments. The segments are provided with a device, which attaches the segments to a common carrier, where the segments continue rotating a support. A longest side of the segments is formed perpendicular to the common carrier. The segments include a cylindrical device, which rotates about an axis perpendicular to the segments. The segments contain a bullet-shaped body.

Description

Orthosis with a multi-segment interface.

The present invention relates to aids 5 for people with disabilities on one or more limbs. The invention consists of an orthosis provided with a device for connecting orthosis parts to the body of the patient.

An orthosis is an aid to support body parts with reduced functionality.

Applicable for example with a paralyzed leg. In an orthosis, types of parts can generally be distinguished: 1) orthosis hinges that support a body joint, 2) rigid parts that transfer the required forces and connect the hinge parts to each other, 3) interfaces that transfer the forces to the body.

Parts 2) and 3) are often combined in one part. A major drawback thereof is that these components are large in order to be able to transfer the required forces, so that the interfaces are also large. The disadvantage of these large interfaces is that this causes the skin to perspire a lot. A solution is known in which the rigid parts are made of tubular parts to which relatively small interfaces are attached to transfer the forces to the body. Because these interfaces are also provided with a perforated surface, the perspiration is reduced to a minimum. The known interfaces are more or less rigid, as a result of which they are not well able to follow the changes of the body, with the result that high pressure is created on the body in some places.

The orthosis according to the invention is provided with an interface that comprises individual segments 35 coupled to each other. The individual elements are preferably placed on a support formed towards the body and the body half comprising. The said segments are preferably provided with a device with which each of those segments can be directed individually towards the body. This allows 1035044 2 to optimally transfer the forces to the interface. The body part is preferably further included with a flexible band.

The invention will be further explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. The figures shown are examples of embodiments and are to be considered as such. The references to the drawings in the claims in brackets should also be considered as an example of said claim.

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Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a possible embodiment of an order 1 according to the invention. The orthosis in this example comprises interfaces 2 according to the invention connected to rigid tubular parts 3 which together comprise body parts. The tubular parts 3 are movably connected to each other by a hinge 4.

Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a possible embodiment of an interface according to the invention. The interface comprises a carrier 5, preferably rigid and following the circumference of the body, which half comprises the body part. Connected to carrier 5 are interface segments 6 and a flexible band 7. Each segment contains an opening with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the support 25 through which said segment can rotate freely around said support and can face the body.

Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a first possible embodiment of an interface segment according to the invention. Interface segment 6 is preferably made of plastic and incorporated therein, preferably a somewhat flexible device 8, with which the segment can be clamped onto the carrier and which makes a rotation about that carrier possible. The said device 8 also makes it possible to remove the segment.

Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of a second possible embodiment of an interface segment according to the invention. Interface segment 9 comprises 40 elements 10 which are rotatable about axis 11 and which make contact with the skin, said 3 elements 10 reducing the friction on the skin. Interface segment 9 is preferably made of plastic and accommodated therein is a preferably somewhat flexible device 8 with which the segment can be clamped on the carrier and which makes a rotation about that carrier possible.

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Claims (5)

An orthosis (1) provided with at least one body part-containing interface, characterized in that said interface is provided with at least three segments (6). 2. An orthosis according to claim 1, characterized in that said segments are provided with a device (8) with which said segments can be attached to a joint carrier (5), characterized in that said segments can continue to rotate about said carrier. An orthosis according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that substantially each of the segments (6) is elongated, the longest side being substantially perpendicular to the carrier. 4. An orthosis according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one substantially cylindrical device (10) is included in the segments (9) which can rotate about an axis (11), preferably perpendicular to the segment. An orthosis according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one ball-shaped body is included in the segments, which preferably can rotate freely. 30 1035044