# US 11,432,954 B2 · Inflatable flexion-correcting knee brace > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,432,954 B2 - Document ID: US11432954B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/427,457 - Filed: 2019-05-31 - Published: 2020-12-03 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2019-05-31 - Applicants: Bryan E. Kilbey; Nikhil N. Verma; Alan Getgood; Tad L. Gerlinger - Inventors: Bryan E. Kilbey; Nikhil N. Verma; Alan Getgood; Tad L. Gerlinger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432954B2 ## CPC - A61F 5/012: {inflatable} - A61F 5/0106: {for the knees} - A61F 13/061: {for knees (incorporating non-textile reinforcing elements, e.g. springs or stays, A61F5/0111; Patella supports)} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A flexion limiting knee brace as recited in claim 1, wherein said inflatable bladder is located on said convex outer surface of said rigid shell. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A flexion limiting knee brace as recited in claim 2, wherein: (a) said knee wrap has an interior surface and an exterior surface; (b) said exterior surface of said knee wrap includes hook-compatible material; (c) said interior surface of said knee wrap includes a knee wrap hook panel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A flexion limiting knee brace as recited in claim 3, comprising (a) said inflatable bladder includes hook-compatible material; (b) a knee strap having a first end and a second end; (c) said first end of said knee strap being attached to a first side of said knee brace; and (d) said second end of said knee strap having a knee strap hook panel configured to engage said hook-compatible material on said inflatable bladder. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A flexion limiting knee brace as recited in claim 4, wherein said knee strap includes a patella slit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A flexion limiting knee brace as recited in claim 5, wherein said knee strap is made of elastic material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A flexion limiting knee brace as recited in claim 1, wherein: (a) said knee wrap has an interior surface and an exterior surface; (b) said exterior surface of said knee wrap includes hook-compatible material; (c) said interior surface of said knee wrap includes a knee wrap hook panel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A flexion limiting knee brace as recited in claim 1, wherein said pump comprises a squeeze bulb. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A flexion limiting knee brace as recited in claim 1, comprising a cold pack including a hook panel configured to engage said hook-compatible material on said interior surface of said knee wrap, thereby affixing said cold pack to said interior surface of said knee wrap. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A flexion limiting knee brace as recited in claim 1, wherein said inflatable bladder is attached to said knee wrap. ### Claim 11 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 shell, having a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface, with a soft liner attached to said shell; (b) a knee wrap configured to encircle said human knee joint and said shell when said shell is placed along a posterior side of said human leg; (c) an inflatable bladder contained within a circumference of said knee wrap when said knee wrap is secured around said human knee joint with said shell placed along a posterior side of said human leg; (d) wherein said inflatable bladder is positioned 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A flexion limiting knee brace as recited in claim 11, wherein said inflatable bladder is located on said convex outer surface of said shell. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A flexion limiting knee brace as recited in claim 12, wherein: (a) said knee wrap has an interior surface and an exterior surface; (b) said exterior surface of said knee wrap includes hook-compatible material; (c) said interior surface of said knee wrap includes a knee wrap hook panel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A flexion limiting knee brace as recited in claim 13, comprising: (a) said inflatable bladder includes hook-compatible material; (b) a knee strap having a first end and a second end; (c) said first end of said knee strap being attached to a first side of said knee brace; and (d) said second end of said knee strap having a knee strap hook panel configured to engage said hook-compatible material on said inflatable bladder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A flexion limiting knee brace as recited in claim 14, wherein said knee strap includes a patella slit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A flexion limiting knee brace as recited in claim 15, wherein said knee strap is made of elastic material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) A flexion limiting knee brace as recited in claim 11, wherein: (a) said knee wrap has an interior surface and an exterior surface; (b) said exterior surface of said knee wrap includes hook-compatible material; (c) said interior surface of said knee wrap includes a knee wrap hook panel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) A flexion limiting knee brace as recited in claim 11, wherein said pump comprises a squeeze bulb. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) A flexion limiting knee brace as recited in claim 11, comprising a cold pack including a hook panel configured to engage said hook-compatible material on said interior surface of said knee wrap, thereby affixing said cold pack to said interior surface of said knee wrap. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) A flexion limiting knee brace as recited in claim 11, wherein said inflatable bladder is attached to said knee wrap.