US 11,432,954 B2 · Inflatable flexion-correcting knee brace

Abstract

A knee brace with an inflatable air bladder. In a post-surgical embodiment the brace includes a rigid shell that fits behind the knee. The rigid shell includes an inflatable air bladder on its posterior surface. A wrap is placed around the knee and the air bladder. When the air bladder is inflated, the knee is urged in the posterior direction—thereby decreasing flexion. In a rehabilitative embodiment, a rigid shell is placed over the anterior portion of the knee. An air bladder is positioned between the rigid shell and the knee. The rigid shell is held in place using the securing straps of the rehabilitative brace. When the air bladder is inflated the knee is again urged in the posterior direction.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A flexion limiting knee brace configured to adjust and maintain a desired amount of flexion in a human knee joint of a human leg, comprising:

(a) a rigid shell, having a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface;
(b) a pliable liner proximate said concave inner surface of said rigid shell;
(c) a knee wrap configured to secure around said human knee joint and said rigid shell when said rigid shell is placed along a posterior side of said human leg;
(d) an inflatable bladder contained within a circumference of said knee wrap when said knee wrap is secured around said human knee joint and said rigid shell is placed along a posterior side of said human leg, said inflatable bladder being configured to urge said human knee joint in a posterior direction when inflated in order to put said human knee joint in 0° flexion state;
and
(e) a pump for inflating said inflatable bladder.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Inflatable flexion-correcting knee brace

Life of this patent

Inflatable flexion-correcting knee brace

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20