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US 12,491,101 B2Granted
Knee distractor apparatus and method
AssigneeMonty L. Ruetenik
InventorMonty L. Ruetenik
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An Apparatus and method for distraction (stretching and/or straightening) of injured knee joints.
Claims9
A system for distraction of a knee joint, said system comprising:
- a) an upper brace configured to attach above a knee joint;
- b) a lower brace configured to attach below said knee joint;
- c) a first pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder having a first extendable piston therein, said first pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder attached at a top end left side of said upper brace and attached at a bottom end left side of said lower brace;
- d) a second pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder having a second extendable piston therein, said second pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder attached at a top end right side of said upper brace and attached at a bottom end right side of said lower brace;
- e) said upper brace not connected to said lower brace except via said first pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder and said second pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder;
- f) wherein said first pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder and said second pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder are not jointed or hinged and extend from said upper brace to said lower brace as a unitary structure;
- and
- g) a pump for activating said first pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder and said second pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder to extend said first piston and said second piston, thereby distracting said knee joint when in use.
5 more elements
A system for distraction of a human knee joint, said system comprising:
- a) a knee brace configured to attach above and below a knee of a human;
- b) an ankle brace configured to be attached around an ankle of said human;
- c) a first pneumatic cylinder having a first extendable piston therein, said first pneumatic cylinder attached at a top end left side of said knee brace and attached at a bottom end left side of said ankle brace;
- d) a second pneumatic cylinder having a second extendable piston therein, said second pneumatic cylinder attached at a top end right side of said knee brace and attached at a bottom end right side of said ankle brace;
- e) said knee brace not connected to said ankle brace except via said first pneumatic cylinder and said second pneumatic cylinder;
- f) wherein said first pneumatic cylinder and said second pneumatic cylinder are not jointed or hinged and extend from said knee brace to said ankle brace as a unitary structure;
- g) an air-pump and pressure gauge fluidly connected to both said first pneumatic cylinder and said second pneumatic cylinder for activating said first piston and said second piston, thereby distracting said knee;
- h) wherein a degree of piston extension is controlled by pressure and by a first flexion set attached to said first pneumatic cylinder and by a second flexion set attached to said second pneumatic cylinder;
- and
- i) wherein said first piston and said second piston are spring loaded so as to return to an unextended position when not activated.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.