Anatomical brace for dynamically stabilizing the patella during knee articulation so as to address patella tracking error
AssigneeSports Medicine Sciences, LLC
InventorAndrew M. Blecher
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An anatomical brace for dynamically stabilizing the patella during knee articulation so as to address patella tracking error, the anatomical brace being configured such that, when the anatomical brace is mounted to the knee of a patient, and when the knee thereafter moves to full extension, the anatomical brace applies a proximal/medial force to the patella of the patient, and when the knee thereafter moves to full flexion, the proximal/medial force is released.
Claims18
An anatomical brace for selectively applying a dynamic force to a joint to control the motion of that joint during joint articulation, wherein the joint is characterized by a first bone, a second bone, a first side, a second side, a flexion side and an extension side, the anatomical brace comprising:
- a brace body comprising a first portion for securement about the first bone and a second portion for securement about the second bone;
- a hinge mechanism disposed on the first side of the joint, the hinge mechanism comprising a first segment connected to the first portion of the brace body, a second segment connected to the second portion of the brace body, and a pivot for pivotally connecting the first segment of the hinge mechanism to the second segment of the hinge mechanism;
- and
- a tensioner, the tensioner having a first portion secured to the first segment of the hinge mechanism, a second portion extending along the flexion side of the joint to the second portion of the brace body;
- the anatomical brace being configured such that when the first portion of the brace body is secured to the first bone and the second portion of the brace body is secured to the second bone, with the hinge mechanism being located on the first side of the joint, and when the joint thereafter moves to full extension, the tensioner applies a force to the selected anatomy of the patient so as to control motion of the joint, and when the joint thereafter moves to full flexion, the tensioner is relaxed, so that the force is relaxed.
A method for dynamically stabilizing a joint during articulation, wherein the joint is characterized by a first bone, a second bone, a first side, a second side, a flexion side and an extension side, said method comprising:
- providing an anatomical brace comprising:
- a brace body comprising a first portion for securement about the first bone and a second portion for securement about the second bone;
- a hinge mechanism disposed on the first side of the joint, the hinge mechanism comprising a first segment connected to the first portion of the brace body, a second segment connected to the second portion of the brace body, and a pivot for pivotally connecting the first segment of the hinge mechanism to the second segment of the hinge mechanism;
- and
- a tensioner, the tensioner having a first portion secured to the first segment of the hinge mechanism, a second portion extending along the flexion side of the joint to the second portion of the brace body;
- mounting said anatomical brace to the joint of a user so that the first portion of the brace body is secured to the first bone, the second portion of the brace body is secured to the second bone, and the hinge mechanism is located on the first side of the joint, such that when the joint moves to full extension, the tensioner applies a force to the selected anatomy of the patient so as to control motion of the joint, and when the joint thereafter moves to full flexion, the tensioner is relaxed, so that the force is relaxed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.