257 results about "Knee braces" patented technology

An orthopedic knee brace provides an apparatus for accurately prescribing the anatomical motion of the human knee. The orthopedic knee brace is used for treatment and rehabilitation following surgery to the knee, protection for a surgically repaired knee, and protection for an uninjured knee, among other applications. The orthopedic knee brace actively prescribes asymmetric three-dimensional anatomic motion in six degrees of freedom of the wearer's knee. The rigid connections between the thigh and calf engaging members and the medial and lateral hinges provide the ability of the orthopedic knee brace to prescribe asymmetric three-dimensional anatomic motion in six degrees of freedom by actively prescribing flexion and extension, abduction and adduction, internal / external rotation, anterior / posterior translation, medial / lateral translation, and proximal / distal translation between a femur and a tibia of a wearer's leg. In alternate embodiments a single-hinge brace design is provided for treatment and prevention of osteoarthritis and other joint diseases and conditions.

A knee brace divided into anterior and posterior sides by a frontal plane, and having first and second sides divided by a median plane. The knee brace having a frame, and at least one cross strap that is connected to the frame and extends across over at least a portion of the first and second brace sides. The at least one cross strap is arranged obliquely relative to the median plane. The brace also includes a tightening mechanism that is connected to the frame and is configured to incrementally tension the at least one cross strap at predefined settings and to release tension on the at least one cross strap. A first end of the at least one cross strap engages the tightening mechanism. A dosage meter is connected to the frame, and includes an indication feature representing tension settings of the at least one cross strap.

An apparatus for stabilizing movement of the patella in the patellofemoral joint comprises in one embodiment a base having an opening, a buttress secured to the base sheet member, a tensioning member secured to the base sheet member, a pair of tensioning arms secured to the buttress, a pair of tensioning arms secured to the tensioning member, a pair of compression members formed from the base, and a stabilizing member secured to an edge of the base. A method of stabilizing movement of the patella in the patellofemoral joint during physical activities comprises in one embodiment the steps of positioning a support brace having an opening against the knee, extending a portion of the brace against the knee to apply a first force against portions of the knee in the opening, and extending another portion of the brace against the knee to apply a second force against the knee.

It is the object of the invention to provide a knee bracing system that bolsters the body's natural ligaments to reduce the knees proneness to injury or re-injury. The invention is a cable system that acts much like the body's natural ACL and MCL. The cables are routed around the knee joint in a way that resists the forces that cause excessive joint movement and injury to the ACL and or MCL. As the leg travels through the range of motion the cables provide external hyper extension, bending, and rotation support preventing the tibia bone from moving forward (hyper extending) or twisting (lateral rotation) and or laterally bending with respect to the femur.

An apparatus for stabilizing movement of the patella in the patellofemoral joint comprises in one embodiment a base having an opening, a buttress secured to the base sheet member, a tensioning member secured to the base sheet member, a pair of tensioning arms secured to the buttress, a pair of tensioning arms secured to the tensioning member, a pair of compression members formed from the base, and a stabilizing member secured to an edge of the base. A method of stabilizing movement of the patella in the patellofemoral joint during physical activities comprises in one embodiment the steps of positioning a support brace having an opening against the knee, extending a portion of the brace against the knee to apply a first force against portions of the knee in the opening, and extending another portion of the brace against the knee to apply a second force against the knee.

Provided is a brace including upper and lower frame members and upper and lower cuff members. An upper adjuster is coupled to the upper frame member and upper cuff member and is configured to enable selective adjustment of the distance between the upper frame member and the upper cuff member. An upper connector is coupled to the upper frame member and the upper cuff member and is configured to enable selective engagement between the upper frame member and the upper cuff member. A lower adjuster is coupled to the lower frame member and the lower cuff member and is configured to enable selective adjustment of the distance between the lower frame member and the lower cuff member. A lower connector is coupled to the lower frame member and the lower cuff member and is configured to enable selective engagement between the lower frame member and the lower cuff member.

A knee brace for proprioceptively treating a patient comprises a sleeve having an anchor strap and a viscoelastic pad. The sleeve defines inner and outer sleeve surfaces and is configured to envelop the patient's knee. The anchor strap is circumferentially wrappable about the outer sleeve surface and defines an inner strap surface. The anchor strap has an intermediate anchor portion disposed on the inner strap surface between opposing end anchor portions that are releasably securable to the outer sleeve surface such that tension in the anchor strap may be selectively adjusted. The knee brace includes an elastic band extending along the inner strap surface. The viscoelastic pad is securable on the inner sleeve surface generally opposite to the elastic band such that pressure may be applied to the patient's infrapatellar tendon when the anchor strap is extended over the outer sleeve surface.

A knee brace that is divided into anterior and posterior sides by a frontal plane, and having first and second sides divided by a median plane. The knee brace includes a ventilated, flexible proximal shell generally extending between the first and second sides on the anterior side of the brace, and a flexible distal shell connected to the proximal shell and generally extending across the first and second sides on the anterior side of the brace. The distal shell has an extension segment extending from one of the first and second sides to the posterior side of the brace. The proximal and distal shells include suitable openings and slots for attaching brackets and mechanical devices. The proximal and distal shells each include a body portion and a compliant edge. The compliant edges are formed from flexible resilient material that is configured to extend beyond the outer perimeter of the body portion of each the proximal and distal shells.

A knee brace is provided with push button actuatable stops, wherein the stops are biased outward into angular locking positions and inwardly directed pressure on the push buttons releases the stops and permits angular adjustment of the stops. A pair of catch plates with locking recesses facing inward, are provided, and outwardly biased locking pins engage the recesses in both catch plates. Each of the stop assemblies has an outwardly directed plate extending over the outer cover plate, and this plate is coupled to the physical stop member around the outer edge of the outer cover plate. The cover plate has angular indicia thereon, which may be viewed through windows in the outwardly extending plate portions of the stop assemblies.

A knee brace is provided having upper and lower arms and a hinge assembly positionable about the knee to one side of the patella. The hinge assembly has a hinge pivot and a tension strap lever. The upper and lower arms and tension strap lever are each rotatable about the hinge pivot. A compression member is positioned in engagement with the knee on the opposite side of the patella from the hinge assembly and a tension strap engages the compression member and is connected to the tension strap lever. The tension strap applies a tension force to the compression member which increases when the upper and lower arms and tension strap lever rotationally transition from a flexion position to an extension position and decreases when the upper and lower arms and tension strap lever rotationally transition from the extension position to the flexion position.

A knee brace divided into anterior and posterior sides by a frontal plane, and having first and second sides divided by a median plane. The knee brace including a frame having proximal and distal portions, a stability strap having first and second ends respectively connected to first and second sides on the proximal frame portion along the posterior side thereof, and a cross strap having a first end connected to the first side of the proximal and a second end connected to the distal frame portions. A bracket assembly having a buckle connects the stability and cross straps to the frame. A sleeve is provided which covers the frame and upon which the bracket assembly rests.

An orthotic knee brace for treating unicompartmental osteoarthritis in a knee joint is described. The brace includes a fabric sleeve mounting and a bracing member removably positioned in the sleeve to provide a therapeutic force on the joint. The force is applied by a force dosimeter assembly that draws an incrementally adjustable amount of force on cables connected to the bracing member. The amount of force applied by the force dosimeter is detected by a force sensor, and is indicated by a force indicator, each also removably attachable on the fabric sleeve mounting. The foregoing features, while exemplified in the context of a knee brace, are adaptable to any orthotic or prosthetic device where it is desired to apply an adjustable amount of force to a point on the device to provide a therapeutic benefit, and to provide a real-time indication to the user of the amount of force being applied.

A knee brace is provided with push button actuatable stops, wherein the stops are biased outward into angular locking positions and inwardly directed pressure on the push buttons releases the stops and permits angular adjustment of the stops. A pair of catch plates with locking recesses facing inward, are provided, and outwardly biased locking pins engage the recesses in both catch plates. Each of the stop assemblies has an outwardly directed plate extending over the outer cover plate, and this plate is coupled to the physical stop member around the outer edge of the outer cover plate. The cover plate has angular indicia thereon, which may be viewed through windows in the outwardly extending plate portions of the stop assemblies.

A knee brace including a lateral hinge component and a medial hinge component, a lower member encompassable about a lower leg portion and having a lateral element and a medical element each extending upwardly and connectingly engaged respectively to the hinge components, an upper member encompassable about an upper leg portion and having a lateral element extending downwardly and connectingly engaged to the lateral hinge component and a medial element extending downwardly to a distal end terminating above the medial hinge component. The distal end has a configuration non-obstructingly complementarity to an upper shape of the medial hinge component for full and uninterrupted flexion of the lower leg at the knee joint. A medially disposed arm is connectingly engaged to the medial hinge component and extends upwardly from the hinge component to be adjacent the medial element of the upper member for connection to each other with a releasably securable slidable engager. The arm and medial element are slidable and securable against each other to thereby laterally inwardly and outwardly position the upper member in angular relationship to the lower member and consequently treat inward or outward leg curvature through correction of knee joint orientation.

A knee brace (10) consisting of an upper arch (12) positioned, when worn, above the knee and a lower arch (16) positioned, when worn, below the knee, connected to means of constraint for fixing to the limb, a first upright (13) equipped in its central part with a joint (15) consisting of a pair of respective rotating elements comprising toothed wheel portions prevented from reciprocally moving in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the brace, the first upright (13) presenting a first system designed to exert adjustable pressure on the knee joint and a second system designed to compensate the deformation of the first upright (13) in exerting this pressure, the first system consisting of a first micrometric angular hinge (20) positioned on the femoral part of the first upright (13) and a second micrometric angular hinge (21) positioned on the tibial part of the same upright (13), the brace having each of the respective rotating elements rigidly connected to a respective micrometric angular hinge element, and each micrometric angular hinge which is also rigidly connected to the second compensation system which is in turn connected to a respective femoral or tibial arch of the brace (10).

An orthotic knee brace for treating unicompartmental osteoarthritis in a knee joint is described. The brace includes a fabric sleeve mounting and a bracing member removably positioned in the sleeve to provide a therapeutic force on the joint. The force is applied by a force dosimeter assembly that draws an incrementally adjustable amount of force on cables connected to the bracing member. The amount of force applied by the force dosimeter is detected by a force sensor, and is indicated by a force indicator, each also removably attachable on the fabric sleeve mounting. The foregoing features, while exemplified in the context of a knee brace, are adaptable to any orthotic or prosthetic device where it is desired to apply an adjustable amount of force to a point on the device to provide a therapeutic benefit, and to provide a real-time indication to the user of the amount of force being applied.

The present invention provides an improved knee brace that is configured to improve comfort to the user and reduce interference with the natural motion of the user's leg. The knee brace has rigid upper and lower frames that are connected together by polycentric hinges. The rigid upper frame is contoured such that no rigid structure is located along the medial superior region of the thigh. The rigid upper and lower frames are secured to the leg using a plurality of straps.

The invention relates to a knee brace with straps engageable with the upper and lower leg and disposed above and below the knee, said straps being connected by a hinged rail extending over the knee at the side, said hinged rail comprising a fluid-inflatable padding and a hinged connection in the region of the knee. The padding comprises two optionally inflatable hollow pads connected by a channel, said hollow pads each being so disposed between the knee-distal straps and the hinged connection that, when the hollow pads are inflated, the knee is forced in relation to the straps into a position away from the hinged connection.

A knee brace assembly for various uses, e.g., restricting anterior tibial movement. The knee brace assembly includes a proximal cuff for engaging the wearer's leg above the knee and a distal cuff for engaging the wearer's leg below the knee. The proximal and distal cuffs are linked together by a hinge that permits pivotal movement of the proximal cuff relative to the distal cuff. The proximal cuff has lateral and medial portions each having a slot extending there along. A strap guiding assembly is slidably mounted within each of the slots. Each strap guiding assembly is arranged to slide between a proximal extreme when the wearer's leg is in flexion and a distal extreme as the wearer extends his or her leg. A biasing device biases each strap guiding assembly towards its proximal extreme. A cross-strap, having free ends and a length, is provided for engagement with the wearer's leg. The cross-strap attaches to the wearer's leg below the knee and wraps behind the knee in crisscross fashion. The free ends of the strap attach to the strap guiding assembly. The cross-strap is operative in response to extension of the wearer's leg to pull the strap guiding assembly from the proximal extreme towards the distal extreme thus creating a force counteractive to abnormal anterior movement of the tibia.

To provide controlled amounts of resistance to movement in exercise equipment or in orthotic devices, a control module has cooperating resistance elements. The force between the elements is varied in accordance with the position of the elements with respect to each other. For example the control module can connect two splints of a knee brace so that the resistance to flexion and extension are programmed in accordance with the position of the leg and thigh with respect to each other.

To provide controlled amounts of resistance to movement in exercise equipment or in orthotic devices, a control module has cooperating resistance elements. The force between the elements is varied in accordance with the position of the elements with respect to each other. For example the control module can connect two splints of a knee brace so that the resistance to flexion and extension are programmed in accordance with the position of the leg and thigh with respect to each other.

An osteoarthritis knee brace for treating a patient's knee joint, a surrounding area thereof, and the upper and lower leg portions. The knee brace has at least one vertical strut with upper and lower portions, at least one pivoting hinge intermediately disposed there between, a shin cuff attached to the vertical strut lower portion and positioned below the hinge and a thigh cuff attached to the vertical strut upper portion and positioned above the hinge. The brace further includes a means for applying a corrective and therapeutic force to the osteoarthritis damaged knee joint and all of the surrounding areas including the upper and lower leg portions, which are removeably positionable about the osteoarthritis knee brace. Still further, the brace include a means for equally distributing the corrective and therapeutic force at each point at which the means for applying a corrective and therapeutic force is applied.