Orthosis for the lateral knee ligaments

Abstract

Orthosis for the lateral ligaments of the knee, characterized by an upper section (1) and two lower sections (2, 3), one of the lower sections being a vertical section (2) and the other of the lower sections being a horizontal section (3) connected at its upper part to the vertical section (2), the upper section (1) being connected to the two lower sections (2, 3) by an articulated connection formed by a hinge (4).

Description

SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The subject of the present invention, as the title of the invention indicates, is an orthosis for the lateral knee ligaments, that is to say it is an external device applied to modify functional aspects of the musculoskeletal system and specifically designed for the lateral knee ligaments, with a version being available for the lateral ligament, for the medial ligament, or for both ligaments.

[0002] The present invention is characterized by the special design and configuration of all the individual parts, resulting in a device that offers a compact design that ensures stability and flexibility while controlling muscle tone, load distribution, temperature, electrical activity of the muscles and mobility of the joint by incorporating sensors to monitor the knee and facilitate its stability.

[0003] The present invention therefore falls within the field of orthoses, in particular those developed for the knee. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Injuries to the collateral ligaments of the knee are among the most common and widespread injuries to this joint. The most common mechanism of injury is rotation of the knee with the foot on the ground, which can occur in any occupational or sporting setting.

[0005] Treatment typically consists of immobilization, cryotherapy, and, depending on the severity of the injury, the prescription of an orthosis to stabilize and provide the patient with a sense of security. However, this external fixation of the body leads to quadriceps atrophy, weakening the patient's lower extremities, creating a vicious circle. The most effective treatment for these injuries is surgery; however, there are cases where this solution is not possible, and conservative alternatives must be sought to ensure these patients' functional independence and quality of life.

[0006] Orthoses for supporting the joint in elderly people without neurological disorders have also been described. The main problem with these devices is that they reduce muscle activation.

[0007] Despite all the positive aspects of these devices, the main problem with almost all orthoses is that they involve a structure that extends from the knee to the ankle, which promotes the loss of muscle mass and leads to increasing muscle weakness and atrophy, so that the knee position can no longer be maintained without the orthosis.

[0008] None of the orthoses currently available on the market has monitoring, dynamics and control by means of sensors to control the contraction, muscle tone, load distribution and movement of the joint more objectively and reliably, in order to avoid atrophy, eliminate the need for crutches and / or walking sticks and achieve the greatest possible stability for the patient.

[0009] There are no orthoses specifically indicated for nerve injuries in the knee joint. Instead, devices are used for traumatological conditions such as sprains or surgeries for cruciate ligament injuries or even fractures. These include articulated knee orthoses, which cover a large portion of the lower extremity, restrict movement, and are visible because they cannot be worn under clothing.

[0010] The knee orthoses available on the market not only lead to muscle loss, especially in the quadriceps, due to immobilization, but also do not have any sensors that provide patients with information about the condition of the knee joint in order to enable them to be more self-sufficient and independent in their daily lives. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention is an orthosis that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, namely muscle loss, especially in the quadriceps, through immobilization, thereby minimizing or completely eliminating the need for aids such as walking sticks and / or crutches. Furthermore, the orthosis features sensors that provide the patient with information about the condition of the knee joint, thus achieving greater self-reliance and independence in everyday life.

[0012] The subject matter of the present invention is set out in its general form in the independent claim, and various embodiments are set out in the dependent claims.

[0013] The orthosis of the present invention is an external device that modifies functional aspects of the musculoskeletal system, particularly of the knee and more specifically of one or both collateral ligaments of each knee.

[0014] The lateral ligament orthosis of the knee consists of three sections: an upper section at the level of the thigh and two lower sections. One of these replicates the lateral ligament itself in the form of a vertical section, and the other runs towards the patella, supporting and holding it in the lower part in the form of a horizontal section. This provides support and prevents tendinopathies in the area of ​​the patellar tendon and even wear and tear due to its descent in quadriceps atrophy. On the side, there is a joint or hinge that allows the joint to move according to the patient's mobility.

[0015] The lateral knee ligament brace is a lightweight brace that is designed and constructed to be worn under trousers and is durable.

[0016] The orthosis is preferably made of a breathable and strong material and offers a compact design that provides stability and flexibility while controlling muscle tone, load distribution, temperature, electrical activity of the muscles and mobility of the joint by incorporating sensors to monitor the knee and facilitate its stability.

[0017] In a possible, non-limiting embodiment, the orthosis can be made of PETG (a 3D printing filament made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with added glycol (G). This results in a less brittle and more suitable filament for 3D printing.

[0018] The orthosis can also be manufactured using FFF (Fusion Filament Fabrication) technology. It is also possible to manufacture the orthosis in one piece using MJF (Multi Jet Fusion) technology from HP (Hewlett-Packard), as this material is more durable and has a more aesthetic appearance when manufactured in one piece.

[0019] HP's MJF technology offers the following advantages over FFF: the material is more resistant: it exhibits anisotropy; the manufacturing layers do not weaken the orthosis in any axis; and it is manufactured in one piece, as it is a technology that does not require supports and is more aesthetically pleasing.

[0020] With a lower section simulating the medial collateral ligament, the orthosis design remains unchanged but is applied to the opposite side (inner part of the patient's knee), leaving the outer lateral area of ​​the orthosis free. The orthosis has an inner strap that, together with the axis towards the patella, simulates the medial collateral ligament. Both lower sections are attached to the hinge, which continues with the section towards the femur. In the event of an injury to both ligaments, a first model supporting the lateral ligament of the knee joint is combined with a second model supporting the medial collateral ligament of the knee joint. Both models can be combined to support both sides of the knee joint.

[0021] The brace is lightweight, durable, and thick enough to be worn under trousers (it measures 12 x 18 cm). It features a knee rotation system (consisting of two movable parts, which can only be manufactured using SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) 3D printing technology).

[0022] The orthosis of the invention is characterized by its small size and dynamic design, which allows for knee movement, promotes muscle activation, and reduces joint instability. The dynamic design prevents and delays fatigue as much as possible, strengthens the muscles through its supportive effect, and simultaneously slows muscle atrophy, which in the long term leads to weakness and functional dependence. The developed prototype improves the independence of users as well as their quality of life.

[0023] In addition, the orthosis features sensors for monitoring the joint and muscles, enabling the user to maintain a stable gait while wearing the orthosis. The information from the sensors is transmitted to an electronic device where the patient can check the condition of their knee at any time.

[0024] The sensors are used to record muscle tone, load distribution, temperature, electrical activity of the muscles, and mobility of the knee joint. Depending on the orthosis model, the focus can be on the lateral ligament, the medial ligament, or both ligaments. The choice of orthosis depends on the severity of the injury, the progression of the disease, or even its chronicity.

[0025] In summary, the new orthosis is beneficial for individuals with chronic orthotic prescriptions due to neuromuscular and musculoskeletal injuries of the knee who require continuous use to achieve joint stability and stable, independent gait, both in the initial phase due to ongoing inflammation and in the advanced phases until treatment is completed. The integration of sensors enables control and monitoring of the joint and muscles to achieve stable gait, thus improving the functional independence and quality of life of these patients.

[0026] This prototype is a functional alternative for the rehabilitation of patients with nerve injuries and injuries of the lateral knee ligaments. This new orthosis inspires greater patient confidence by supporting and strengthening the injured lateral complex without restricting joint mobility. Furthermore, continuous monitoring by the sensors prevents muscle atrophy by maintaining normal muscle activation. Since the orthosis can even be worn under clothing, it improves the patient's appearance and confidence because it is invisible to others. DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS

[0027] To complement the present description and to provide a better understanding of the features of the invention, a set of figures is attached as an integral part of this description, according to a preferred example of the practical implementation of the same, in which the following is shown by way of illustration and without claim to be exhaustive. Fig. 1: Shows a side view of the orthosis. Fig. 2: Front view of the Fig. 1 shown orthosis. Fig. 3: Shows a view of the orthosis attached to a leg. Fig. 4: Shows another view of the orthosis attached to a leg. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0028] A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the figures.

[0029] In the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 shows an orthosis which is a first model for supporting the lateral ligament of the knee joint.

[0030] In Fig. Figure 1 shows an orthosis for the lateral ligament of the knee, which consists of several parts and comprises an upper section (1) and two lower sections, one of the lower sections being a vertical section (2) and the other of the lower sections being a horizontal section (3) connected at its upper part to the vertical section (2), the upper section (1) being connected to the two lower sections (2) and (3) by means of an articulated connection formed by a hinge (4).

[0031] The hinge (4) comprises a first element (4.1) connected to the upper section (1) via a first attachment point (4.1.1), while the hinge (4) also comprises a second element (4.2) hingedly connected to the first element (4.1), this second element (4.2) being connected to the lower sections (2) and (3), in particular to the upper end of the vertical section (2), via a second attachment point (4.2.1).

[0032] In order to facilitate the fastening of the orthosis to the leg on the upper section (1), two first buckles (1.1) are preferably provided, but not exclusively, while a second buckle (2.1) is provided on the vertical section (2) and finally a third buckle (3.1) is provided on the horizontal section (3), as shown in Fig. 2 can be seen.

[0033] In Fig. Figure 3 shows how the orthosis is positioned on the leg, with all the previously described elements visible.

[0034] Fig. Figure 4 shows that to fix the orthosis to the leg, a first fixing strap (5) is used, which passes through the first buckles (1.1) of the upper section (1) surrounding the leg above the knee and is fixed to itself by any known means, such as Velcro.

[0035] In addition, a second fastening strap (6) is used, which passes through the second buckle (2.1) of the vertical section (2) and through the third buckle (3.1) of the horizontal section (3) and is fastened to itself.

[0036] Most of the elements that comprise the orthosis are made of PETG, a 3D printing filament made of polyethylene terephthalate with added glycol (G), or they are manufactured using FFF technology, or they are manufactured from a single piece using MJF fused-deposit technology. These elements are the upper section (1), the lower sections (2, 3), the hinge (4), the first element (4.1), the first attachment point (4.1.1), the second element (4.2), and the second attachment point (4.2.1).

[0037] The orthosis includes a first model to support the lateral ligament of the knee joint and a second model to support the medial ligament of the knee joint.

[0038] The orthosis incorporates at least one sensor to control and monitor the user's joint and muscles to ensure stable gait. Depending on the model, the sensors are configured to detect the movement of the user's muscles and lateral collateral ligament, medial collateral ligament, or both ligaments. The upper section (1) of the orthosis is positioned at the level of the user's thigh to detect the movement of the lateral knee collateral ligament, or on the opposite side (inner side of the user's knee) to detect the movement of the inner collateral ligament. The sensors are positioned on the inner side of the upper section (1) and the two lower sections (2, 3).

Claims

[1] Orthosis for the lateral ligaments of the knee, characterized by an upper section (1) and two lower sections (2, 3), one of the lower sections being a vertical section (2) and the other of the lower sections being a horizontal section (3) connected at its upper part to the vertical section (2), the upper section (1) being connected to the two lower sections (2, 3) by an articulated connection formed by a hinge (4). [2] An orthosis according to claim 1, wherein the hinge (4) comprises a first element (4.1) connected to the upper section (1) via a first attachment point (4.1.1), the hinge (4) further comprising a second element (4.2) hinged to the first element (4.1), this second element (4.2) being connected to the lower sections (2, 3), namely to the upper end of the vertical section (2) by means of a second attachment point (4.2.1). [3] An orthosis according to claim 1, wherein two first buckles (1.1) are defined in the upper section (1), while a second buckle (2.1) is defined on the vertical section (2) and finally a third buckle (3.1) is defined on the horizontal section (3). [4] An orthosis according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the upper portion (1), the lower portions (2, 3), the hinge (4), the first element (4.1), the first attachment point (4.1.1), the second element (4.2) and the second attachment point (4.2.1) are made of a filament for 3D printing consisting of polyethylene terephthalate and an additive of glycol (G). [5] An orthosis according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the upper portion (1), the lower portions (2, 3), the hinge (4), the first element (4.1), the first attachment point (4.1.1), the second element (4.2) and the second attachment point (4.2.1) are manufactured using melt deposition molding technology. [6] An orthosis according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the upper portion (1), the lower portions (2, 3), the hinge (4), the first element (4.1), the first attachment point (4.1.1), the second element (4.2) and the second attachment point (4.2.1) are manufactured in one piece using multi-jet fusion technology. [7] An orthosis according to claim 1, comprising a first model for supporting the lateral ligament of the knee joint and a second model for supporting the medial ligament of the knee joint. [8] Orthosis according to claim 1, characterized by that it additionally includes at least one sensor that monitors the user's joint and muscles. [9] An orthosis according to any one of claims 7 to 8, wherein the sensors are configured to detect the movement of the outer ligament or the movement of the inner ligament or the movement of both ligaments of the user, depending on whether the first model or the second model are used alone or both models together. [10] An orthosis according to claim 9, wherein the sensors are mounted on the inside of the upper section (1) and the two lower sections (2, 3).

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