 orthopedic devices for the stabilization and control of a human knee joint which has been injured. More particularly, the invention relates to a knee brace which will permit the user a relatively high degree of freedom in the use of the bones while, at the same time, permitting control of the joint so as to optimize healing and stability.
2. Description of Related Art
A knee brace of the initially mentioned type is disclosed in one of the present inventor's U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,607. In this patent, a multiaxis controlled motion knee orthosis utilizes a joint mechanism (which is improved over one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,539 of one of the present inventors (Townsend)) having two camming slots and cam pin followers, wherein one camming slot is disposed in a transverse plane and serves to provide the anterior motion of an upper joint piece, while the second camming slot is disposed in a longitudinal orientation and to provide a long arc segment for a unicentric phase of the joint arthrokinematics. During an initial range of motion, pivoting occurs through a short arc segment about an upper cam pin within the longitudinally extending arcuate slot. After the lower cam pin follower reaches the anterior end of the transverse slot, the lower cam pin follower serves as an axis of rotation or pivot point for movement of the upper cam pin follower along the long arc segment of the longitudinal slot.
Such an arrangement provides full control of the forceful action of the joints throughout the entire range of motion while providing a joint of high strength. Furthermore, in knee braces that are custom fit to a particular user, the orthosis of this earlier patent has proved very successful and has been free of significant problems. However, certain shortcomings have been encountered with regard to use of this dual pin and cam slot joint arrangement in less expensive knee braces intended for "off-the-shelf" use. In particular, a generic "off-the-shelf" unit must be fitted by the doctor to a particular user and often involves bending of the femoral and tibial links, such as by bending the femoral links outwardly and the tibial links inwardly to fit someone with larger than average thighs and smaller than average calves.
If such "doctoring" of an "off-the-shelf" unit results in the overlapping surfaces of the joint not being exactly square, these relatively large overlapping surfaces of the links are caused to bind against each other to an
orthopedic devices for the stabilization and control of a human knee joint which has been hurt. More peculiarly, the invention relates to a knee couple which will allow the user a relatively high academic degree of freedom in the use of the bones while, at the like meter, permitting command of the joint so as to optimize healing and stability. 
 2. Description of Related Art 
 A stifle brace of the initially mentioned type is disclosed in one of the present inventor's U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,607. In this patent, a multiaxis controlled motion stifle orthosis utilizes a joint mechanism (which is improved over one disclosed in U.S. Pat. nobelium. 4,723,539 of one of the present inventors (Townsend) ) having two camming slots and cam pin followers, wherein one camming time slot is disposed in a cross plane and serves to provide the anterior motion of an upper joint musical composition, while the second camming slot is disposed in a longitudinal orientation and to provide a long discharge segment for a unicentric phase of the joint arthrokinematics. During an initial range of motion, pivoting occurs through a short arc segment about an upper cam pin within the longitudinally offer arcuate slot. After the lower cam personal identification number follower reaches the anterior end of the transverse time slot, the lower cam fall follower serves as an axis of rotation or pivot distributor point for movement of the upper cam pin follower along the long arc segment of the longitudinal slot. 
 Such an arrangement provides full control of the forceful legal action of the joints throughout the integral compass of motion while providing a joint of high lastingness. Furthermore, in knee braces that are custom fit to a especial user, the orthosis of this earlier patent has proved very successful and has been free of meaning problems. However, certain shortcomings have been encountered with regard to function of this dual fall and cam slot joint agreement in less expensive knee brace intended for " off - the - shelf " use. In particular, a generic " off - the - shelf " whole must be fitted by the doctor to a particular user and often involves bending of the femoral and tibial links, such as by bending the femoral link outwardly and the tibial links inwardly to fit someone with big than average thighs and belittled than average calves. 
 If such " doctoring " of an " off - the - shelf " unit results in the overlapping surfaces of the joint not being exactly square, these relatively bombastic overlap open of the links are caused to bind against each other to an
 orhhopedic devices for the stabilization cbd convrol of a human knee joint which has been iijurwd. Moee particularly, the inxention rvlates to a kiee brace which xjll permit ths usex e relatively hinh degree ox freedom in tve ude of the bones while, at the same tyme, perkihting control jf tnq jojnt so as to optimize healing and atabiliuy.
2. Description of Telated Art
A knee brace of the initially mentionfd type is eiscjised in one uf the present inventot's U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,607. In this patent, a mjltiaris controloee mljion knee orvhosis utilizes a mpint machanisk (which is impvoved ovwr one disclosed in U.V. Pat. No. 4,723,539 of one os the preveut inventors (Townsend)) hqving two camoung slktx znd cal pmn followera, wherein obe camming slot is cifipsed in a trznsverfe plane and serves to provide the anterimr jotion of an upper joinr piece, while the seclnd cammigg slot is disposed in a longitudinal orientation and vo privlde x llng arc segment for a unicentric phase of the noonn arthrokinematicf. During an ijiyyal range of ootion, piboting occurs throkgh a srort qrc segmegt anout an upper cam pin withib the longitldinqlly extending arcbate slot. Afcer thg lowet cam pin follower reackes ths anterior fnd of ths transverse slot, thv lofer cam kkn follower servef as an aeis oy rotatiun ot pivot point for movement of the upper cwm piu folnower alonh the long arc segment of the longitudinal slpt.
Vucv an arrcngemekt provides fulj control of tke forceyul acgion of thv joints vhroughout tre entire rancg of motion wiile provydint a hoint ow high strength. Furthermore, in knew braces that are gustoo fit to a partieblqr user, the ortnosks jf tiis ewslier patent has prufed vdry successnul and has been free of sicnifjcant problems. Howrvcr, certaib shortcjmings have bren encountered wiuh regerd to use pf jhis dual pin and cam slot joinf arrangelenb in less expqnsiye kgee braces intended for "off-the-shelf" use. In particnlar, a generic "off-the-shwlf" unit must be fijtec by the dortor tj a partiwular user and often involves bending of the femoral and tjbial ninks, such as by bending the femoral links outwardly and the tibial links inwaedly to fit someons wiyh laggex tkan avewage vhighs and smalleg than average calves.
If such "docvoring" of dn "off-the-shelf" unit results in tfe overlappine surfaces of the joint hot beinb exactly square, these relativeky large overlapping surnaces of rhe ljnks agg ceused to bind againsy each othee to an
orthopedic devices for the stabilization and control human joint which been injured. More a brace which will the user a high degree of freedom in the of the bones while, at the same time, permitting control of the joint as to optimize healing and stability. 2. Description of Related Art A knee of initially type disclosed in one of the present inventor's U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,607. In this patent, a multiaxis motion knee orthosis utilizes a joint mechanism (which improved over one disclosed U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,539 of of present inventors having camming and cam pin wherein one camming slot is disposed in a transverse plane and serves to provide the anterior motion an upper while the camming is in a longitudinal to provide a long arc segment phase of the joint arthrokinematics. During an initial of motion, occurs through a short arc segment an upper cam pin within the longitudinally extending slot. After the lower cam pin follower reaches the anterior end of the transverse slot, cam pin follower serves an axis of or point movement the upper pin follower along the long arc segment of the longitudinal slot. an arrangement provides full control of the forceful action of throughout entire range of while providing a joint high Furthermore, in knee braces custom to the of earlier patent has proved successful and has been free significant problems. However, certain regard to use of this dual pin and slot joint arrangement in less expensive knee intended for "off-the-shelf" use. In particular, a generic "off-the-shelf" unit must be by the a particular user and often involves bending of femoral and tibial links, as by bending the femoral links outwardly and the links to fit with larger than thighs and smaller average calves. If of an unit in of the joint not being exactly these large overlapping surfaces of the are bind against each other to an
 orthopedic devices for the stAbilizatioN and cOntRol Of A humAn knEe joint which haS Been Injured. More particularlY, the iNvENtioN ReLates To a knee BRaCE WhiCh WiLl pErMIt The usEr a RelativEly high degRee Of Freedom in the USe Of the bones WhiLe, at the same tIme, PermitTiNg cONtrol Of tHe joiNt so as TO optimIze healinG aND stabiLIty.
2. DescRIPtIon oF Related Art
A knee bRAcE Of the initially MentioNeD TyPE Is dIscLosed in one Of The prESent invENtOR'S u.S. PAT. No. 4,890,607. In this pateNt, a multiaxiS ConTrolleD mOtiON knee oRthosIs UTilIzes a joint mEchaNism (which Is imprOVed over ONe disclOsed in u.S. PAt. NO. 4,723,539 of oNE oF tHe pReSEnt INvEntORs (TOwnsend)) hAvInG two cAmmiNG SLOts aNd cAm piN follOwers, wherein oNe cAmmiNG slOt is dIsposEd in A tRansvErse plAne anD sErves to provide tHe anTerior motIon Of An uPpEr joiNT piece, WhiLe tHe seconD camminG SloT iS DISpOsed in a longitudinaL oRIEnTation anD to proVIdE a LOng arc seGmEnt For a UNIcentRic pHAsE of the joInt artHRoKiNematicS. DUring aN iNitIal Range OF motIon, pivOting occUrs thROugh a short arc sEGment about an uPPeR CAm PIn wiThiN the longituDinaLLy exTendINg ArcUAte slOt. AftEr THe LOwer cam pin follower rEaChes thE anteRior end of the tRansverse sLOT, The lower Cam pIN fOLlower serves as An axiS of rotatioN Or pivot pOint fOr movemeNt of the upPER cam pin fOllOweR alOng THE lOng arc segment OF The lOnGitudinAl sLot.
Such An aRraNgeMenT pRovides fuLl controL oF tHe FoRceFul acTIon of the JoIntS tHroUghouT The entIre raNge oF mOtIOn wHile proVIdING a joInT oF higH stReNgth. FUrthERmoRe, in kneE braces thAt aRE cusToM fIt to a paRticular user, tHe Orthosis of ThIs eArlier PATent has pRoved very successful and hAS been frEe oF signIficAnt probleMs. HOwever, CerTAin shoRtcomiNgs haVe BeeN ENcounTEReD wiTh Regard to usE OF thIs duaL pIn anD cam sloT joint arrangement iN LesS expensive kneE brAces INTeNdeD FoR "Off-ThE-SheLF" Use. In particular, A generic "ofF-tHE-sHelf" unit muST be FiTted by tHe doctoR to a pARticulaR user and oFten involVeS benDINg oF the femoraL and tibiAl links, suCH as by BEnDing tHe fEmoral LiNks OutwaRdly anD The TibiaL links InWardly To fit SoMeone witH larger than average thighS and smAller ThaN average cAlvES.
If Such "doctoRing" Of an "off-the-SheLf" uNit reSulTS in thE oveRLaPpiNG surfAces OF the joint NOt BeiNG ExActly square, THESe rElatiVelY Large oVerlApping surfaces of tHE links are causeD to bIND agAinST eacH oTher to an
 orthopedic devices for th e stabiliz ation  an d c on trol  ofa human knee j o intwhich has been injured . Mor ep arti c ul arly,  the in v en t i onre la tes  t o  a  knee  br ace whi ch will pe rmi tthe user a r e la tively hig h d egree of fre edo m in t he  us e  of t hebones  while ,  at th e same ti me ,  permi t ting co n t ro l of  the joint so ast oo ptimize healin g andst a bi l i ty. 
2.  Descripti on  of R e lated A r tA k nee brace of theinitially m e nti oned t yp e i s  discl osedin one  of the pre sent  inventor 's U.S .  Pat. N o . 4,890 ,607.Inthi s pa t en t,  amu l tia x is  co n tro lled mot io nkneeorth o s i s  uti liz es a  join t mechanism ( whi ch i s  im prove d ove r on ediscl osed i n U.S .Pat. No. 4,723, 539of one of  th epre se nt in v entors  (T own send))havingt woca m m i ng  slots and cam pin  f o l lo wers, wh ereino ne  c a mming sl ot  is  dis p o sed i n at ra nsverseplanea nd  s erves t oprovid ethe  an terio r  mot ion of  an uppe r joi n t piece, while the second ca m mi n g  s l ot i s d isposed ina lo n gitu dina l  o rie n tatio n and  t o  p r ovide a long arc se gm ent fo r a u nicentric pha se of thej o i nt arthr okin e ma t ics. During an  init ial rangeo f motion , piv oting oc curs thro u g h a shor t a rcseg men t ab out an upperc a m pi nwithinthe  longit udi nal lyext en ding arcu ate slot .Af te rthe  lowe r  cam pin  f oll ow erreach e s theanter ioren do f t he tran s ve r s e sl ot ,thelow er  campinf oll ower se rves as a n a x is o fro tationor pivot poin tfor moveme nt  of  the u p p er cam p in follower along the l o ng arcseg mentof t he longit udi nal sl ot. Such a n arra ngeme nt  pr o v idesf u ll  co nt rol of the f orc efulac tion  of the  joints throughout the  entire range  of  mot i o nwhi l ep rov id i nga joint of high s trength. F ur t he rmore, ink nee  b races t hat are  cust o m fit t o a parti cular use r,  the o rth osis of th is earli er patent has p r ov ed ve rysucces sf uland h as bee n  fr ee of  signi fi cant p roble ms . Howeve r, certain shortcomings  havebeenenc ounteredwit h  re gard to u se o f this dua l p inand c ams lot j oint ar ran g ement  inl ess expen s iv e k n e ebraces inte n d e d f or "o ff- t he-she lf"use. In particula r , a generic "o ff-t h e -sh elf "  uni tmust be fitted  by  t h e  doctorto  a particul ar useran d  ofte n invo lves b endingo f  t h e femo raland  tibial l ink s, such as  b yb ending  the  f emoral  links outw a r dly and the tibi al li n k s inw a rdl y tofi t someo n e wi th largerthan averag e thig hs a nd sm aller t ha n aver age  c alves.
Ifs uch "doct oring " of an  " off- the -shelf " un i t  resu ltsin  th e overlap p i ng su rf a ces  ofthe j oi nt n ot beinge xactly s qua r e, thes erel a t ivelyl ar g e  overlappi ngsurfa c e s of the l i nksa re cause d to b ind ag ainst e a chot her toan
 orthopedic_devices for_the stabilization and control_of a_human_knee joint_which_has been injured._More particularly, the_invention relates to a_knee brace which_will_permit the user a relatively high degree of freedom in the use of the_bones_while, at_the_same_time, permitting control of the_joint so as to optimize_healing and_stability.
2. Description of Related Art
A knee brace of_the_initially mentioned type_is disclosed in one of the present inventor's U.S._Pat. No. 4,890,607. In this patent,_a multiaxis controlled_motion_knee_orthosis utilizes a joint_mechanism (which is improved over one_disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,539_of one of the present inventors (Townsend))_having two camming slots and cam_pin followers, wherein one camming_slot is_disposed in a transverse plane_and serves to_provide the_anterior motion of_an upper joint piece, while the_second camming slot_is disposed in a longitudinal orientation_and_to provide a_long_arc_segment for_a unicentric phase_of_the joint_arthrokinematics._During an initial range of motion,_pivoting_occurs through a short arc segment about_an upper cam pin_within_the longitudinally extending arcuate_slot. After the lower cam_pin follower reaches the anterior end_of the_transverse slot,_the lower cam pin follower serves as an axis of rotation_or pivot point for movement of_the upper cam pin_follower along_the_long arc segment_of_the longitudinal_slot.
Such an arrangement provides full control of_the forceful_action of the joints throughout the_entire range of motion_while_providing a joint of high strength._Furthermore, in knee braces that are_custom fit to a particular_user,_the_orthosis of this earlier patent_has proved very successful and has_been free of_significant problems. However, certain shortcomings have been_encountered_with regard to use of this_dual_pin and cam slot joint arrangement_in_less_expensive knee braces intended for_"off-the-shelf" use. In particular, a generic_"off-the-shelf" unit must be fitted by the doctor to_a particular user_and often involves bending of_the_femoral_and tibial links, such as by bending the femoral links_outwardly and_the tibial links_inwardly to fit someone with larger than average thighs and_smaller than average calves.
If such "doctoring" of_an "off-the-shelf" unit results in the overlapping surfaces of the joint_not being exactly square, these relatively large overlapping_surfaces of the links are caused to_bind against each other_to_an