Flexible Knee and Leg Brace

The present invention relates generally to orthotic devices of the type employed to arrest or correct deformation of a body part.

Such orthotic devices are generally quite complex, yet limited in their range of adjustments and hence quite individualized in their applicability. These problems are exaggerated when the orthosis is adapted to a highly articulated body part such as a leg, arm, or finger.

Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted the provision of a highly individualizable orthopedic brace; the provision of an externally applied (non-invasive) body appliance which may be easily and repeatedly modified to urge certain body parts in selected directions and by selected amounts relative to other body parts; and the provision of a unique knee brace. These as well as other objects and advantageous features of the present invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In general, an externally applied non-invasive body orthopedic appliance includes a plurality of rigid members certain pairs of which are pivotably coupled together for relative angular movement about an axis. There are arrangements for selectively restricting the angular movement of the pivotably coupled rigid members and there are at least two straps, one removably attached to each rigid member, for encircling portions of a body to secure the rigid members to the body. Each strap has a coupling arrangement for adjustably joining its free ends. A pair of resilient pads, one removably affixed to each of the rigid members are interposed between the rigid member and a corresponding body portion.

Also in general and in one form of the invention, an orthopedic appliance for application to a leg of a human being spanning the knee joint is formed from two elongated relatively rigid sections joined at respective first ends for relative pivotal motion about an axis which is collinear with the axis of motion of the leg knee joint. Two straps are fastened to one section and adapted to encircle the leg thigh and two straps are fastened to the other section and adapted to encircle the lower leg portion. Each segment may be selectively deformed to apply a bending moment to the leg.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the brace of the present invention applied to a human leg;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view partly in cross-section of the leg brace of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view from the left side of FIG. 2; and

FIGS. 4a-4c are cross-sectional representations of an illustrative pair of articulated segments experiencing sequentially increasing angular displacement.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

The exemplifications set out herein illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention in one form thereof and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure or the scope of the invention in any manner.

In FIG. 1, the right leg of a wearer 29 has an orthopedic brace 31 fastened thereto by straps 33, 35, 37 and 39 which are passed through slots such as 49 and 51 (FIG. 3) and encircle the wearer's leg. Mating strips of VELCRO 41 and 43 (FIG. 2) allow a pair of resilient pads 45 and 47 to be removably affixed to the brace portions and to be interposed between the brace and a corresponding portion of the body such as the leg. A pin or screw 53 provides a pivot axis for the brace which is collinear with the knee pivot axis, or flexion axis allowing free knee movement while restricting any lateral leg movement. An optional screw 55 may be passed through both halves of the hinge arrangement to immobilize the knee joint. A knee pressure block 77 and foam rubber pad 75 are located adjacent the screw 53 and are adapted to provide lateral pressure against a wearer's knee.

The basic components of the brace are rigid members, also called hollowed-out parallelepiped portions or segments. A two segment assembly 11 including rigid members such as 13 and 15 is shown in FIGS. 4a-4c. These members comprise hollowed-out rectangular parallelepipeds joined to an adjacent rigid member along adjacent generally parallel edges by a relatively thin web 17 of flexible material which is common to the two portions 13 and 15 to provide relative pivotal motion between the two portions as shown successively in FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c. The angular relationship between adjacent segments is selectively restricted by an elongated threaded rod 19 which has an eye 59 which is pivotably affixed at one end to a transverse pin 21 of the rigid member 13 and extends through an endwall portion 57 of the other rigid member 15. Pin 21 may be held in position by a set screw 79 or otherwise as desired. There is a washer 23 and a nut 25 threadedly engaging the rod 19. The nut is helically movable along the rod to selectively pull the rigid members angularly toward one another. The pin 21 extends generally parallel to the axis of relative angular movement between the two members. The brace segments 13 and 15 normally assume the shape shown in FIG. 4a. When the nut 25 is tightened, the segments are drawn angularly toward one another against the natural resilience of the web 17. Note that the nut 25 is successively closer to the eye 59 as the two segments are pulled from their natural collinear relationship of FIG. 4a. While only two segments 13 and 15 are shown in FIGS. 4a-4c, it will be understood that the number of segments is somewhat arbitrary. Rod 27 is shown for angularly fixing the relationship between segment 15 and another segment, not shown. Similarly, the rod 56 and nut 61 are shown for angularly fixing the relationship between segment 13 and another segment 63 of FIGS. 2 and 3.

Returning to FIGS. 2 and 3, the end segments 63 and 65 differ from those shown in FIGS. 4a-4c and include coplanar overlapping end portions 69 and 67 which are pivotably coupled together for movement through about ninety degrees by the hinge pin 53. This pin 53 defines a pivotal axis between segments 63 and 65 which is orthogonal (perpendicular in the vector sense) to the axes of pins such as 59. As noted earlier, the angular movement about pin 53 may be restricted by a screw 55 passing through one overlapping end portion 67 and into end portion 69. selectively restricting the angular movement of the third and said one rigid members.

As an example, assume the wearer 29 suffers from genu varum, a condition commonly known as being "bowlegged." The brace may be utilized to apply a corrective medial pressure. Once the straps 33, 35, 37 and 39 have been coupled or tightened as by buckles such as 73, VELCRO strips or the like, and the pivot axis of pin 53 is aligned with wearer 29's knee joint, nuts 25, 61 and 71 are threaded toward the eyes such as 59. This causes the brace to bend concave outwardly urging the central portion of the brace against the wearer's knee while exerting a tension primarily on the outer straps 33 and 39 and applying a bending moment to the leg in a direction tending to correct the bowlegged condition. While described as an orthopedic device, the brace may be used simply to immobilize a body part, for example, subsequent to an injury. The techniques of the present invention may be used to apply almost any desired pressure to virtually any body part. A knock-kneed (genu valgum) condition could be similarly treated by reversing the bending moment applied, for example, by reversing the brace end-for-end and attaching the brace to the medial side of the leg. Other examples include treatment of a knee joint with a loose prothesis or a knee joint which suffers from deterioration of the surfaces. Numerous other brace configurations as well as numerous other applications should now be apparent.

From the foregoing, it is now apparent that a novel orthosis has been disclosed meeting the objects and advantageous features set out hereinbefore as well as others, and that numerous modifications as to the precise shapes, configurations and details may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope thereof as set out by the claims which follow.