Apparatus and method for stabilizing a human anatomical joint

A garment formed in majority from an elastically extensible a matrix material of stretchable fabric or mixes of elastic and other fibers and configured for enveloping at least in part an articulating joint of a human body, the articulating joint having at least one natural ligament, the garment comprising:

• at least one pair of linear tension member segments each disposed to move freely in a longitudinal direction of the garment with respect the matrix material along a corresponding predetermined curved three-dimensional spatial path within or on the garment, spatially relating the at least one pair of linear tension member segments to the at least one natural ligament, the at least one pair of linear tension member segments each comprising a plurality of strands of a substantially longitudinally inextensible material;
• and
• at least one tension regulator disposed for balancing tension differences between strands in the plurality of strands;
• wherein the at least one pair of linear tension member segments are formed of a material less extensible than the matrix material of the garment.

A garment formed in majority from an elastically extensible a matrix material of a stretchable fabric or mixes of elastic and other fibers and configured for enveloping at least in part an articulating joint of a human body, the articulating joint having at least one natural ligament, the garment comprising:

• at least one stabilizing portion formed from a substantially inextensible fabric;
• and
• at least one pair of linear tension member segments each disposed to move freely in a longitudinal direction of the garment with respect the matrix material along a corresponding predetermined curved three-dimensional spatial path within or on the garment, spatially relating the at least one pair of linear tension member segments to the at least one natural ligament;
• wherein the stabilizing portion is disposed to extend in tension between the at least one pair of linear tension member segments when the at least one pair of linear tension member segments are placed under longitudinal tension;
• and
• wherein the at least one pair of linear tension member segments are formed of a material less extensible than the matrix material of the garment, wherein the joint is a knee, the at least one pair of linear tension member segments is configured to be anchored to a triceps surae;
• the at least one pair of linear tension member segments each comprises one or more segments of a substantially longitudinally inextensible material less extensible than the matrix material of the garment, the garment comprises conduits disposed within or on the matrix material and arranged to receive the linear tension member segments;
• and wherein the at least one pair of the linear tension member segments further comprises at least one tension regulator disposed for balancing tension differences between segments of the at least one pair of tension members.

A garment formed from a matrix material of stretchable fabric or mixes of elastic and other fibers and configured for enveloping at least in part an articulating knee joint of a human body, the articulating knee joint having at least one natural ligament, the garment comprising:

• at least one tension member disposed to move freely in its a longitudinal direction of the garment with respect to the garment fabric along a corresponding predetermined curved three-dimensional spatial path within or on the garment, spatially relating the at least one tension member to the at least one natural ligament, and
• a tensioner arranged to adjust tension in the at least one tension member;
• wherein the at least one tension member is configured to be anchored to the triceps surae of the human body;
• and
• wherein the at least one tension member is formed of a material less extensible than the matrix material of the garment, the at least one linear tension member each comprises one or more strands of a substantially longitudinally inextensible material less extensible than the matrix material of the garment, the garment comprises conduits disposed within or on the matrix material and arranged to receive the at least one tension member;
• and wherein the at least one of the tension members further comprises at least one tension regulator disposed for balancing tension differences between strands of the at least one tension member.

A garment arranged for enveloping at least in part an articulating joint of a human body, the articulating joint having at least one natural ligament, the garment comprising:

• a matrix material of stretchable fabric or mixes of elastic and other fibers and one or more tension members each disposed longitudinally along a corresponding predetermined curved three-dimensional spatial path within or on the matrix material, the corresponding predetermined paths spatially relating the one or more tension members to the at least one natural ligament of the joint,
• at least one of the tension members comprising a closed loop, the closed loop being separate from the matrix material, the one or more tension members each comprising one or more strands of a substantially longitudinally inextensible material;
• at least one tensioner disposed in line with at least one of the one or more tension members for tensioning the at least one tension member;
• and
• at least one of the one or more tension members further comprises at least one tension regulator disposed for balancing tension differences between strands of the at least one tension member.