Hip Orthosis, Method for Preventing the Dislocation of a Hip and Use of a Hip Orthosis

Abstract

A hip orthosis, provided with a trunk engaging part and an upper leg engaging part which are intercoupled by coupling means, wherein the coupling comprise at least one resilient element for operatively preventing an adducting movement of an upper leg engaged by the upper leg engaging part by means of spring force.

1 . A method for using a hip orthosis having a trunk engaging part and an upper leg engaging part, comprising the steps of:
 connecting a coupling device to the trunk engaging part and to the upper leg engaging part, the coupling device having at least one resilient element for operatively preventing movement of an upper leg engaged by the upper leg engaging part by a spring force directed substantially inwards toward the wearer;   exerting a moment on the hip joint by the at least one resilient element.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of directing the moment such that the upper leg is rotated substantially outwards, in a direction transverse to the sagittal plane. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 connecting a coupling part to the trunk engaging part;   rotating the connecting part between points of rotation with respect to the coupling part, such that an end portion of the connecting part is slidably and pivotally inserted into the coupling device.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of arranging the trunk engaging part such that a point of rotation is located on a line which generally intersects two hip balls of a wearer of the orthosis. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of pretensioning the connecting part and the coupling part with respect to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of exerting a force directed outwards on the coupling part by the resilient element. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of fitting the upper leg engaging part to the upper leg, and arranging the resilient element as a leaf spring arranged to move away from the upper leg into an untensioned condition, and locating the resilient element substantially along the upper leg in a tensioned condition. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a lever arranged to move the at least one resilient element into a tensioned condition. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising a fixing device arranged to fix the lever and the at least one resilient element with respect to each other to maintain the at least one resilient element in the tensioned condition. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the connecting part and the coupling part engage each other at least at a point of contact arranged to operatively move with respect to the trunk engaging part if the upper leg is moved relative to a trunk. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of locating the point of contact at a distance from the point of rotation. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein both in a standing condition and in a sitting condition, the point of contact is located beyond the point of rotation, viewed in a direction from the upper leg engaging part towards the point of rotation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting part reaches beyond the point of rotation viewed in a direction from the upper leg engaging part towards the point of rotation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein both in a standing and in a sitting condition, the connecting part reaches beyond the point of rotation, viewed in a direction from the upper leg engaging part towards the point of rotation. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the coupling part engages at least the portion of the connecting part reaching beyond the point of rotation, with different rotational positions of the connecting part. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient element is defined as a leaf spring. 
     
     
         17 . A hip orthosis, comprising:
 a trunk engaging part;   an upper leg engaging part;   a coupling device connecting the trunk engaging part to the upper leg engaging part and having at least one resilient element for operatively preventing an adducting movement of an upper leg engaged by the upper leg engaging part by a spring force, the at least one resilient element is arranged to exert a pressing force on a hip joint, such that a hip is pressed into a socket thereof under the influence of the pressing force.   
     
     
         18 . The hip orthosis according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one resilient element is defined as a leaf spring. 
     
     
         19 . A method for using a hip orthosis having a trunk engaging part and an upper leg engaging part, comprising the steps of:
 connecting a coupling device to the trunk engaging part and to the upper leg engaging part;   operatively preventing movement of an upper leg engaged by the upper leg engaging part by a spring force directed substantially inwards toward the wearer;   exerting a moment on the hip joint.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of directing the moment such that the upper leg is rotated substantially outwards, in a direction transverse to the sagittal plane.