Universal Knee Orthosis

This invention relates to a brace or orthosis particularly adapted for use for controlling or supporting the movement of a patient's leg, but also has utility in regard to other joints such as the elbow. Conventional braces utilized to support a patient's leg either after operations or during other treatment have normally been fabricated of metal materials and extend from the hip to the bottom of the leg, special shoes being provided for securing the bottom of the braces. Such braces are heavy and cumbersome and accordingly cannot be used by patients who cannot support the weight involved such as children or frail persons. They are furthermore awkward in appearance and of constructions which are obvious to those observing the wearer.

Accordingly some attempts have been made to formulate at least portions of braces from relatively lightweight plastic material and to hingedly connect those portions together so as to provide a better leg brace. Generally such constructions utilize a single upper and a single lower member which are joined together by a pivot pin at a single hinge point. U.S. Pat. No. 3,575,166 to Roseman is illustrative of one such construction as is U.S. Pat. No. 3,528,412 to McDavid. The latter patent includes an upper member 10 joined to a lower member 12 at a pivot joint 14. A still further patent which shows a somewhat different brace construction is that to Whitehead, U.S. Pat. No. 3,898,697 which shows knee protection gear which has an upper member that is generally cylindrical and is pivotally connected to a lower member of somewhat similar configuration as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The above citation and discussion of the above-indicated U.S. patents constitute applicant's Prior Art Disclosure.

Despite the availability of the constructions of the above-indicated types, there remains a need for a light-weight orthosis, the component parts of which may be fabricated to correspond to the wearer's leg dimensions and accordingly is comfortable for use. There is also a need of an orthosis which in addition to preventing hyperextension of the leg also permits varying degrees of flexion movement thereof in a comfortable and natural manner.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide an orthosis which prevents hyperextension of the wearer's limb in a positive and relatively uncomplicated manner and which enables varying degrees of flexion movement.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an orthosis, the component parts of which are custom fabricated to fit various portions of the wearer's limb with which they are adapted to contact in use, and which parts may be pivotally interconnected in such a manner that they prevent hyperextension of the wearer's limb, yet permit flexion movement thereof in varying degrees.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of an orthosis of the immediately above-described type in which in addition to preventing hyperextension movement of the limb, may additionally prevent flexion movement thereof.

These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by an orthosis which in its simplest embodiment includes separate forward upper and lower members and a rear member, wherein such forward members are independently pivotally connected to the rear member in such a fashion that they present edge surfaces which contact each other in abutting relationship to form a first stop means so as to prevent hyperextension of the limb. In an alternate embodiment the orthosis is provided with an upper rear member independently connected to the upper forward member and adapted to move upon attempted flexion motion of the limb into abutting contact with the rear member so as to form a second stop means whereby flexion movement of the limb is limited. The second stop means is releasable to the extent that it may be overriden so as to permit flexion movement of the limb when desired.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawing which illustrates the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an orthosis embodied in the present invention as positioned upon the leg of a wearer;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the orthosis shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the orthosis showing the various members thereof pivoted apart from each other in a position to facilitate the donning of the orthosis upon the wearer's leg;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 but showing an alternate form of orthosis; and

FIG. 6 is a posterior or rear view of the alternate orthosis construction shown in FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, an orthosis or brace generally indicated at 10 is illustrated. The brace 10 includes an anterior or upper forward member 12, a forward lower member 14 and a posterior or rear member 16. The members 12, 14 and 16 are preferably formed from a lightweight relatively thin plastic material and are preferably molded about a cast or model of a person's leg so as to insure a comfortable and correct fit with those portions of the person's leg with which the members are adapted to engage when in operable position. The rear member 16 generally is positioned below the knee 18 of the wearer, and includes a pair of upwardly extending opposed ear portions 20. Both of the forward members 12 and 14 are independently hingedly connected to the ear portions 20 for at least limited pivotal movement with respect to each other. In some cases, however, it is desirable to utilize a rear member which extends upwardly above the knee and accordingly contacts both calf and thigh portions of the wearer, as in those cases where flexion movement is not required or desired to be imparted in the brace 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the ears 20 extend to a point upwardly on the wearer's leg adjacent or slightly above the knee 18. The upper forward member 12 is connected to the ears 20 by a pair of rivets 22 at points generally in line with the anatomical center of the knee 18. Similarly the lower member 14 is hingedly connected to the ears 20 by means of rivets 24 at a position adjacent to or slightly below the central portion of the knee 18.

The lower edge 26 of the upper forward member 12 is provided with an upwardly extending central cut-out portion 28, and the upper edge 30 of the lower member 14 is provided with a similar but downwardly extending cut-out portion 32. The cut-out portions 28, 32 are positioned in opposed relationship to each other and cooperatively form an opening 34 for receipt of the outwardly projecting portion of the wearer's knee. Furthermore the opposed edges 26 and 30 of the upper and lower forward members 12 and 14 respectively, are adapted to contact each other in abutting relationship and thereby define a stop 36. The stop 36 is generally operative when the wearer's leg is fully extended and thus prevents further forward pivotal movement of the upper member 12 with respect to the lower member 14 and the remaining portions of the brace. Accordingly, the stop 36 serves to prevent the wearer's leg from bending backward or i.e. preventing hyperextension.

The inside of each of the brace members is provided with a relatively soft fabric or sponge material such as padding 38 for adding to the comfort of the brace 10. Furthermore the upper forward member 12 is positioned on the wearer's thigh by means of an upper strap 40 having a Velcro type fastener incorporated therein. Similarly the lower members 14 and 16 generally serve to envelop the calf portion of the wearer's leg and are maintained in such position by a lower nonelastic strap 40 that includes a Velcro fastener. In addition to the top member 12 being pivotal relative the remaining portion of the brace 10 in a forward direction simulating flexion movement of the leg, the lower portions of the lower members 14 and 16 are further pivotally moveable away from each other so as to enlarge the spacing therebetween to accommodate the wearer's foot as when donning the brace 10. Such disposition of the various parts to facilitate placing the brace in position on the wearer's leg is best shown in FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, an alternate form of the brace is generally indicated at 10a and as shown is similar in construction to the brace 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4. However, the brace 10a further includes an upper rear member 42 which is pivotally connected to the upper forward member 12 at the upper edge thereof by means of a pair of rivets 44. Accordingly the upper members 12 and 42 serve to envelop the upper or thigh portion of the wearer's leg and such disposition is maintained by a nonelastic strap 40 located proximal the lower portions thereof, that is, those portions that are moveable apart from each other. The rear central portion of the brace 10a is provided with an enlarged opening 46 formed between a lower edge 48 of the upper rear member 42 and an upper edge 50 of the rear member 16. Formed integral with the upper rear member 42 and extending downwardly from the lower edge 48 thereof is an extension 52. The lower edge or terminus 54 of such extension 52 is positioned slightly above or in abutting contact relative to the upper edge 50 of the rear member 16 when the wearer's leg is in approximately a fully extended position as shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 5, a slide portion 56 is joined to the extension 52 by an adhesive or rivets (not shown) and extends downwardly therefrom for sliding contact with rear portions of the rear member 16. The lower portion of the slide 56 is received within a rigid plastic slide retainer 58 that is also suitably secured to the rear member 16 by adhesive or a rivet connection. Accordingly it is seen that when the slide 56 is in intimate contact with the rear member 16 as when the slide is positioned within the slide retainer or strap 58, the lower edge 54 of the extension 52 will abut the upper edge 50 of the lower member 16 should the wearer attempt further flexion movement of the knee. Accordingly the above-indicated cooperative structure forms a second stop means generally indicated at 60, wherein flexion movement of the knee as well as hyperextension thereof is prevented. However, should a wearer desire to override the second stop means 60, he can simply reach in back of the brace 10a and outwardly or rearwardly displace the extension 52 relative to the rear member 16, so as to permit the terminal edge 54 to ride downwardly against the rear portion of the rear member 16, whereupon flexion movement of the wearer's knee is permitted as for example when the wearer desires to move from a standing to a sitting position or for walking. Generally the slide 56 and the extension are formed of plastic material and accordingly the frictional movement therebetween is slight so as to permit necessary relative movement to accommodate flexion. If the slide retainer 58 is formed of an elastic material, it also continually forces the slide 56 against the rear member 16 so as to assure that the second stop is not inadvertently overridden. However, in some cases it is desirable to lock the knee in an immobile position, and in such cases the plastic slide retainer 58 may be secured to the rear member 16 adjacent to the upper edge 50 so that relative movement of the slide 56 as locked in the slide retainer 58 is prevented. In this instance the lower edge 54 substantially abuts the upper edge 50. If any flexion movement is required, the lowermost end of the extension 52 is cut away to define a space between the lower edge 54 and upper edge 50 as illustrated in FIG. 5. It is also contemplated that the device be formed without stops so as to provide medial and/or lateral stability for the knee on which the brace is mounted.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.