Orthosis to reduce the one-sided stress on the knee joint in cases of bowlegs or knock-knees.
The knee orthosis addresses the uneven load distribution in leg deformities by redistributing forces across the joint, reducing wear and tear on the more stressed side and balancing the load, thus promoting joint health.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-30
AI Technical Summary
In cases of leg deformities such as genu valgum or genu varum, the uneven distribution of body weight leads to increased wear and tear on one side of the knee joint, causing imbalance and potential damage.
A knee orthosis with a specific design that absorbs and redistributes the forces acting on the knee joint, using an upper part, lower part, and a joint that allows movement only in flexion, to alleviate the higher load on one side and balance the forces across both sides.
The orthosis effectively reduces the force on the more heavily stressed side of the knee joint while increasing it on the less-stressed side, thereby reducing wear and tear and promoting joint health.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
[0001] In cases of leg deformities (genu valgum or genu varum), the distribution of body weight results in a higher force (Fkh) being exerted on one side of the knee joint than on the other (Fkn). This can lead to increased wear and tear on the more heavily stressed side of the joint.
[0002] The knee orthosis consists of an upper part O, a lower part U, and a joint G located in the knee area. The upper part is supported by force Fo via attachment point Ao on the thigh, and the lower part is supported by force Fo via attachment point Au on the lower leg. The central part of the orthosis is supported by forces Fk via one or more attachment points Ak in the knee area. The forces Fk act in the opposite direction to the forces Fo and Fu.
[0003] Joint G is only movable in the flexion direction of the knee and largely rigid in other directions. The unit consisting of upper part O, lower part U, and joint G is designed with regard to strength and geometry such that it absorbs the forces Fo, Fu, and Fk that are to be supported via the structures Ao, Au, and Ak.
[0004] The application of forces creates a moment Mk acting on the knee joint, which leads to the higher-loaded side of the knee joint being relieved and thus reducing the force Fkh, and to the less-loaded side being loaded more and thus increasing the force Fkn.
Claims
[1] Knee orthosis, consisting of an upper part O and a lower part U characterized by that the upper part O and the lower part U are connected via a joint G that is only movable in the flexion direction of the knee, that the upper part O introduces a force Fo via the attachment Ao on the thigh, that the lower part introduces a force Fu via the attachment Au on the lower leg, and that forces Fk opposing the forces Fo and Fu are introduced via one or more attachments Ak to generate a torque Mk acting on the knee joint. Appendix 1, version A; Appendix 2, version B. [2] Knee orthosis according to claim 1 characterized by that joint G has more than one joint axis. Fig. [3] Knee orthosis according to claim 1 characterized by , that the joint G consists of two joints G1 and G2 arranged on either side of the knee, both of which are connected to the upper part O and the lower part U. Fig. [4] Knee orthosis according to claim 1 characterized by, that one or more rolling or sliding bearings L are installed to reduce friction in the joint G. Fig. [5] Knee orthosis according to claim 1 characterized by , that the joint G for absorbing the forces consists of several partial joints G1, G2,...