The C-Brace stands as the pioneering mechatronic Stance and Swing Phase Control Orthosis (SSCO®) system in the world. It skillfully combines hydraulic control of both stance and swing phases with advanced microprocessor sensor technology. Unlike traditional paralysis orthoses, which only offer knee joint locking and releasing, the C-Brace delivers continuous support throughout the entire gait cycle, adjusting in real-time to various daily activities.

Key Highlights of the C-Brace:

• Unparalleled Innovation: As the only intuitive Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis (KAFO) of its kind, the C-Brace stands out from alternatives that require more effort and manual intervention for daily use.
• Adaptive and Responsive: The C-Brace uniquely learns and adapts to your patients' movements, offering unmatched stability and confidence in their everyday activities.
• Hands-Free Mobility: With its groundbreaking technology, the C-Brace allows users complete hands-free mobility across various actions - be it walking, sitting, standing, or navigating stairs and ramps.

Empirical Evidence of Efficacy (2023 Study):

• Enhanced Balance: Users experienced a notable 20% improvement in balance with the C-Brace, compared to conventional KAFOs.
• Substantial Fall Reduction: A significant 73% decrease in falls was observed, markedly reducing users' fear of falling.
• Quality of Life Improvements: Participants reported marked enhancements in 5 out of 9 quality of life areas, including a 50% increase in Physical Functioning, as per the global quality of life assessment.
• Reduced Dependence on Walking Aids: The study noted a considerable decrease in the need for walking aids during everyday activities.

For more comprehensive clinical data, download the C-Brace Evidence Essentials here.

Tailored for Individual Needs:

Each C-Brace is meticulously crafted to fit the unique anatomical requirements and specific conditions of the patient. This personalized approach ensures an optimal fit and function, involving several steps for evaluation and fitting for each potential user.

Identifying Suitable Candidates:

Our comprehensive list of indications assists in pinpointing the ideal candidates for the C-Brace. If you have a patient who might benefit from this innovative orthosis, please use the link below to request more information and arrange an in-person demo.

For Medical Professionals:

If you're a healthcare professional seeking detailed information, please complete the form below and a dedicated Ottobock representative will contact you to provide personalized assistance.

Who is the C-Brace for?

Cognitive requirements

• The patient must be capable of ensuring the proper handling, care, and use of the orthosis (e.g. charging the battery, operating the user app, etc.)

Functional deficit

• Neuromuscular or orthopedic instability of the knee joint in the sagittal plane diagnosis (by the physician)

Has one or more of the following conditions:

• Quadricep weakness
• Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrome (CMT)
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Polio
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Hip/Knee/Ankle Injury
• Guillain-Barre Syndrome
• Stroke victim
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Paraplegic
• Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
• Transverse/Partial Myelitis
• Neuro Lyme Disease
• Fibromyalgia
• Osteogenesis Imperfecta
• Ehlers Danlos Syndrome

Disclaimer: Not all people with one or more of these conditions will be a candidate for C-Brace but should still be considered.

Indications:

The C-Brace may be considered for patients with all neurologic conditions resulting in paresis or paralysis of the knee extensors, or orthopedic conditions in which the quadriceps fail to keep the knee extended during stance phase who do not present any of the contraindications. The leading indications are incomplete paraplegia with very minor or no spasticity, as well as post-polio syndrome, the condition following poliomyelitis.

Other factors to consider:

• The patient must be able to fully stabilize their torso.
• The muscle strength of their hip extensors and flexors must permit controlled swing-through of the affected leg.
• Compensatory hip movement is permissible.
• The patient must fulfill the physical and mental requirements for perceiving optical/acoustic signals and/or mechanical vibrations.

Contraindications:

• Inability to advance the limb through compensatory motion or grade 3 hip flexor
• Insufficient trunk stability
• Moderate to severe spasticity
• A flexion contraction of more than 10° in the knee and/or hip joint
• Genu varus/valgus of more than 10° that cannot be corrected
• Body weight > 275 lbs.
• Leg length discrepancy > 6 in.

Documents

Physician Reference Guide (1.81 MB)

Videos

C-Brace Playlist - Therapy Exercises

 

Life with the C-Brace

Melvin

Wolfgang

C-Brace Gait Comparison Videos