Knee brace
The knee brace addresses individual differences in knee joint roll-back movement by allowing the second link to slide along a guide member, reducing displacement and improving stability and safety.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2022134741
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-08-26
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-15
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-08-26
AI Technical Summary
Existing knee braces fail to account for individual differences in the roll-back movement of the knee joint, leading to displacement of the wearing position during use.
A knee brace design featuring a first link fixed to the lower and upper leg via supporters, a fixed frame with a guide member, a second link that slides along the guide member, and a joint connecting the links, allowing the second link to follow the user's knee joint movement.
The design suppresses displacement of the wearing position due to individual differences in knee joint roll-back movement, enhancing stability and safety during use.
Smart Images
Figure 0007708038000001 
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Figure 0007708038000003
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a knee brace.
Background Art
[0002] One of the movements of the knee joint is flexion and extension. In the flexion movement of the knee, first, a rolling movement occurs in which the lower end of the femur rolls on the upper end surface of the tibia. Further, when the knee joint is bent, a combined movement, so-called roll-back movement, occurs in which a sliding movement occurs in which the femur moves backward. Therefore, the locus of the central axis of the knee joint is not constant and has a moving property.
[0003] The knee brace is worn on the lower limb of a user who performs walking training for daily walking or rehabilitation, etc. and is used. In Patent Document 1, in order to reproduce a movement close to the roll-back movement, the rotary shaft of the moving gear is mounted so as to generally coincide with the rotary shaft of the knee joint of the wearer in an upright posture, and when the user bends and extends the knee, the moving gear rotates around the rotary shaft while being movable along the guide groove. A knee joint assist device is disclosed.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0004]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] The inventor has found the following problems. There are individual differences in the roll-back movement of the knee joint. Due to the displacement between the rotation axis of the knee brace and the movement of the roll-back movement of the user's knee joint, there is a problem that the displacement of the wearing position of the knee brace occurs when wearing the knee brace or when walking after wearing.
[0006] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a knee brace capable of suppressing displacement of the wearing position of the knee brace according to individual differences in rollback movement.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0007] The knee brace according to the present disclosure is a knee brace worn on the lower limb of a user, a first link fixed to one side of the lower leg side and the upper leg side of the lower limb via a first supporter; a fixed frame fixed to the other side of the lower leg side and the upper leg side of the lower limb via a second supporter; a second link that can be fixed to the fixed frame; a guide member provided on the fixed frame for guiding the displacement of the second link; and a joint that rotatably connects the first link and the second link, wherein the second link is slidable along the guide member while following the movement of the user's knee joint.
[0008] In the knee brace according to the present disclosure, the second link is slidable along the guide member while following the movement of the user's knee joint. Therefore, it is possible to provide a knee brace capable of suppressing displacement of the wearing position of the knee brace according to individual differences in the rollback movement of the user's knee joint, rather than within a range of rollback movement assumed in advance.
[0009] The guide member may be formed in a rail shape and be slidable in a state of being engaged with the second link. When the direction in which displacement can occur is one direction, such a configuration can provide a knee brace capable of suppressing displacement of the wearing position of the knee brace.
[0010] When worn on the user's lower limb, the second link is slidable along the guide member while following the movement of the user's knee joint, and the second link may be fixed to the fixed frame when the user is walking. With such a configuration, displacement during wearing on the user's lower limb can be suppressed.
[0011] The first link may be disposed on the lower leg side, and the second link may be disposed on the upper leg side. With such a configuration, when the user is in a standing position, a person who wears the knee brace on the user can adjust the position of the second link at a higher position compared to the case where the second link is disposed on the lower leg side. Therefore, the fixation of the second link becomes easier compared to the case where the second link is disposed on the lower leg side, and the wearing time of the knee brace can be shortened.
Effects of the Invention
[0012] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a knee brace capable of suppressing displacement of the wearing position of the knee brace according to individual differences in rollback movement.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0013]
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
[0014] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the right-handed xyz coordinates shown in the figures are for convenience in explaining the positional relationship of the components. Unless otherwise specified, the positive z-axis direction is vertically upward, and the xy plane is the horizontal plane.
[0015] <Embodiment 1> The knee brace according to this embodiment is a knee brace worn on the lower limb of a user, and is worn, for example, by a trainer who conducts walking training for rehabilitation or the like. The trainer, who is the user, conducts walking training while wearing a walking assistance device. For example, a trainer who is a hemiplegic patient suffering from paralysis in one lower limb may wear a walking assistance device on the affected leg, which is the leg on the paralyzed side. Note that the knee brace may be used not only during walking training but also during daily walking, walking in a hospital, or walking outdoors.
[0016] First, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the configuration of the knee brace 10 according to Embodiment 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a state where the knee brace 10 according to Embodiment 1 is worn on the lower limb L of a user. FIG. 2 is a rear view showing a state where the knee brace 10 according to Embodiment 1 is worn on the lower limb L of a user. The lower limb L in each drawing refers to the foot (not shown), the lower leg L1, and the upper leg L2 in order from the negative z-axis side. The lower leg L1 indicates the portion from the ankle joint to the knee joint N. The upper leg L2 indicates the portion from the knee joint N to the hip joint. In this embodiment, as an example, an example of wearing the knee brace 10 on the right lower limb L will be described. However, a knee brace having a bilaterally symmetric configuration may be worn on the left lower limb, or may be worn on both lower limbs.
[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the knee brace 10 includes a first supporter 11, a second supporter 21, a first link 12, a second link 22, a fixed frame 23, a guide member 23a, a fixing portion 13, a fixing portion 24, and a joint 31.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the first supporter 11 and the second supporter 21 fix each component included in the knee brace 10 to the side portion of the lower limb L of the user. The first supporter 11 and the second supporter 21 have a belt-like structure or the like formed of an elastic body, a resin material, a fiber material, or the like that can be stretched and contracted. Hereinafter, as an example, the case where the first link 12 is fixed to the lower leg L1 side via the first supporter 11 and the case where the fixing frame 23 is fixed to the upper leg L2 side via the second supporter 21 will be described.
[0019] Once referring to FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the first supporter 11 may further include a hook-and-loop fastener 11a for attaching to the lower leg L1 of the user on the front side (positive x-axis side) of the lower leg L1, and the second supporter 21 may further include a hook-and-loop fastener 21a for attaching to the upper leg L2 of the user on the front side (positive x-axis side) of the upper leg L2. The first supporter 11 is brought into contact with the lower leg L1 of the user from the rear side (negative x-axis side), wound around the lower leg L1, and detachably fixed on the front side (positive x-axis side) of the lower leg L1. Similarly, the second supporter 21 is brought into contact with the upper leg L2 of the user from the rear side (negative x-axis side), wound around the upper leg L2, and detachably fixed on the front side (positive x-axis side) of the upper leg L2. By using the hook-and-loop fasteners 11a and 21a, the user can easily attach and detach the knee brace 10.
[0020] Returning to FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the first link 12 is a rectangular plate-like member extending along the tibia on the xz plane. The first link 12 is fixed to the side portion of the first supporter 11 by a fixing portion 13. For example, bolts or the like may be used for fixing the first link 12 to the first supporter 11 in the fixing portion 13. The second link 22 is a rectangular plate-like member extending along the femur on the xz plane.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the fixing frame 23 is a rectangular plate-like member extending along the femur on the xz plane. The fixing frame 23 is fixed to the side portion of the second supporter 21 by a fixing portion (not shown). For example, bolts or the like may be used for fixing the fixing frame 23 to the second supporter.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, a guide member 23a is provided on the fixed frame 23. When the second link 22 is not fixed to the fixed frame 23, the second link 22 can slide along the guide member 23a while following the movement of the user's knee joint N. The guide member 23a is disposed in the xz plane on the positive y-axis side of the fixed frame 23. The guide member 23a may have a U-shaped configuration as shown in FIG. 1. When the fixed frame 23 is fixed to the upper thigh L2 side via the second supporter 21, it is arranged such that the opening side of the U-shaped guide member 23a faces the negative z-axis side. When the width of the second link 22 is W1 and the inner width of the U-shaped guide member 23a is W2, it is preferably arranged such that W1 ≤ W2. By setting the width in this way, the second link 22 can slide along the guide member 23a while following the movement of the user's knee joint N. Details of the displacement of the second link 22 that occurs when the knee brace 10 is worn on the user's lower limb L will be described later with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.
[0023] The second link 22 can be fixed to the fixed frame 23 by the fixing portion 24 as required by the user. In FIG. 1, the second link 22 is shown in a state where it can slide along the guide member 23a while following the movement of the user's knee joint N, that is, a state where it is not fixed to the fixed frame 23. For fixing the second link 22 at the fixing portion 24, for example, bolts, pins, surface fasteners, clamps, etc. may be used. When using a pin, holes may be provided in the fixed frame 23 at predetermined intervals, and fixing may be performed by inserting the pin into the holes.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the joint 31 rotatably connects the upper end portion (the end portion on the positive z-axis side) of the first link 12 and the lower end portion (the end portion on the negative z-axis side) of the second link 22 around the rotation axis Ax (see FIG. 2). The first link 12 and the second link 22 constitute a link mechanism that can rotate around the rotation axis Ax of the joint 31. The joint 31 is arranged at the height of the knee joint N such that the rotation axis Ax of the joint 31 coincides with the position of the knee joint N. The joint 31 may further include a damper such as a rotary damper.
[0025] Note that the arrangement of each component may be upside down. That is, the first supporter 11 may be arranged on the thigh L2 side, and the second supporter 21 may be arranged on the calf L1 side. When each supporter is arranged in this way, the fixed frame 23 may be fixed to the calf L1 side via the second supporter 21, and the first link 12 may be fixed to the thigh L2 side via the first supporter 11. Further, the first supporter 11 may be arranged on the calf L1 side, the second supporter 21 may be arranged on the thigh L2 side, and the arrangements of the first link 12 and the fixed frame 23 may be reversed up and down.
[0026] Note that the surface fasteners 11a and 21a provided on the first supporter 11 and the second supporter 21 may be detachable components other than surface fasteners. For example, fixing means such as buttons, pins, bands, bolts, and clamps may be used. Further, a short lower limb device may be further attached to the lower side of the knee device 10.
[0027] Note that since the second link 22 only needs to be slidable along the guide member 23a, the guide member 23a may have a shape without a U-shaped bottom. For example, it may have a rod-like shape extending in the z-axis direction at each end on the positive side and the negative side of the x-axis of the fixed frame 23, and may be arranged to face each other.
[0028] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, a series of procedures for attaching the knee device 10 to the lower limb L of the user will be described. FIGS. 3 to 5 are side views showing a series of procedures for attaching the knee device 10 according to Embodiment 1 to the lower limb L of the user.
[0029] FIG. 3 shows a state in which, with the knee joint N of the right lower limb L of the user in the sitting position extended, the first link 12 is attached to the lower limb L via the first supporter 11 on the right side of the calf L1 side, and the fixed frame 23 is attached to the lower limb L via the second supporter 21 on the right side, which is the same side as the calf L1 on the thigh L2 side. The second link 22 is not fixed to the fixed frame 23 and is in a slidable state following the movement of the user's knee joint N along the guide member 23a.
[0030] Figure 4 shows a state in which the user is shifting from the sitting position with the knee joint N of FIG. 3 extended to the standing position with the knee joint N flexed. As described above, the second link 22 is not fixed to the fixed frame 23. Therefore, as the knee joint N bends, the second link 22 is pulled and displaced via the joint 31 by the first link 12 fixed to the first supporter 11. The second link 22 is slidable along the inner surface of the guide member 23a as shown by the dashed-dotted line in FIG. 4, following the movement of the roll-back motion of the user's knee joint N.
[0031] The flexion of the knee joint that occurs when shifting from the sitting position to the standing position is larger than the flexion of the knee joint that occurs during walking using the knee brace. The knee brace of the present embodiment can suppress the displacement of the wearing position of the knee brace when shifting from the sitting position to the standing position because the second link is not fixed.
[0032] Figure 5 shows a state in which the second link 22 is fixed to the fixing portion 24 of the fixed frame 23 with the knee joint N of the user shifted to the standing position extended. The second link 22 that was displaced when the knee joint N bent in FIG. 4 has returned to the position when the first supporter 11 was attached to the side portion on the lower leg L1 side and the second supporter 21 was attached to the side portion on the upper leg L2 side in FIG. 3 after shifting to the standing position. Therefore, it is also possible to fix the second link 22 at an appropriate position according to the needs of the user while maintaining the attachment positions of the first supporter 11 and the second supporter 21 attached in the sitting position of FIG. 3.
[0033] The inventor has found the following problem. There are individual differences in the roll-back motion of the knee joint. Due to the displacement between the rotation axis of the knee brace and the movement of the roll-back motion of the user's knee joint, there is a problem that the wearing position of the knee brace is displaced when wearing the knee brace or during walking after wearing.
[0034] In contrast, the knee brace according to the present embodiment includes a first link fixed to one side of the lower leg side and the upper leg side of the lower limb via a first supporter, a fixed frame fixed to the other side of the lower leg side and the upper leg side of the lower limb via a second supporter, a second link that can be fixed to the fixed frame, a guide member provided on the fixed frame for guiding the displacement of the second link, and a joint that rotatably connects the first link and the second link.
[0035] In the knee brace according to the present embodiment, the second link is slidable along the guide member while following the movement of the user's knee joint. Therefore, it is possible to provide a knee brace that can suppress displacement of the wearing position of the knee brace according to individual differences in the rollback movement of the user's knee joint, rather than within a preset range of rollback movement.
[0036] Also, conventionally, in order to suppress displacement of the wearing position of the knee brace, there was a case where the knee brace was worn by temporarily fixing the supporter in a seated position and then performing final fixing including operations such as rewinding the supporter after shifting to a standing position. However, reattaching the supporter in a standing position was accompanied by a risk of falling for users with a weak trunk. In contrast, in the knee brace according to the present embodiment, each supporter is fixed in a seated position, while the second link is not fixed when shifting from a seated position to a standing position. Therefore, when shifting from a seated position to a standing position, displacement of the wearing positions of the first supporter and the second supporter is suppressed, so there is no need to rewind each supporter in a standing position. Therefore, the knee brace according to the present embodiment can reduce the risk of the user falling during wearing and can be worn more safely.
[0037] <Embodiment 2> The difference between the knee brace according to the present embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that the guide member provided in the fixed frame is formed in a rail shape and the second link is engaged therewith. Other configurations are the same as those in Embodiment 1. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as in Embodiment 1, and the description thereof is omitted.
[0038] FIG. 6 is a rear view showing the knee brace 20 according to Embodiment 2. As shown in FIG. 6, the fixing frame 43 included in the knee brace 20 in the present embodiment includes a guide member 43a on the xy plane on the negative y-axis side. The fixing frame 43 is a rectangular plate-like member extending on the xz plane and is fixed to the second supporter 21 by fixing members such as bolts (not shown). The guide member 43a is formed in a rail shape, and the second link 42 having a structure engaging with the rail shape is engaged therewith.
[0039] The second link 42 engages with the guide member 43a having a rail shape and is slidable along the guide member 43a. As shown by the dashed-dotted line and the double black arrows in the right figure of FIG. 6, the second link 42 slides as the user's knee joint flexes and extends.
[0040] With the knee joint of the user in the standing position extended, the second link 42 is fixed to the fixing frame 43. Since the knee brace 20 according to the present embodiment only needs to position the second link in the vertical direction, it is easy to fix the second link when the user stands, and the wearing time can be shortened. Note that, similar to Embodiment 1, the arrangement of each component may be upside down.
[0041] <Embodiment 3> FIG. 7 is a rear view showing the knee brace according to Embodiment 3. The difference between the knee brace according to the present embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that the first link 12, the second link 22, the fixing frame 23, the guide member 23a, the fixing portion 13, the fixing portion 24, and the joint 31 are provided on both sides of the lower limb L, and each configuration is the same as that in Embodiment 1. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as in Embodiment 1, and the description thereof is omitted.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 7, by providing the first link 12, the second link 22, the fixing frame 23, the guide member 23a, the fixing portion 13, the fixing portion 24, and the joint 31 on both sides of the lower limb L, the user can walk more stably when walking.
[0043] Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be appropriately modified without departing from the gist thereof.
Description of Signs
[0044] 10, 20 Knee braces, 11 First supporter, 11a Hook-and-loop fastener, 12 First link, 13 Fixed part, 21 Second supporter, 21a Hook-and-loop fastener, 22 Second link, 23 Fixed frame, 23a Guide member, 24 Fixed part, 31 Joint, 42 Second link, 43 Fixed frame, 43a Guide member, L Lower limb, L1 Lower leg, L2 Upper leg, N Knee joint
Claims
1. A knee brace to be worn on a user's lower limb, comprising: a first link fixed to one side of the lower leg side and the thigh side of the lower limb via a first supporter; a fixed frame fixed to the other side of the lower leg side and the thigh side of the lower limb via a second supporter; a second link that can be fixed to the fixed frame; a guide member provided on the fixed frame for guiding the displacement of the second link; a joint that rotatably connects the first link and the second link around the same rotation axis; the second link is slidable along the guide member while following the movement of the user's knee joint. Knee brace.
2. The knee brace according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is formed in a rail shape and is slidable in a state of being engaged with the second link.
3. The knee brace according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first link is disposed on the lower leg side and the second link is disposed on the thigh side.
Citation Information
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