US 4,697,583 AGranted

Four-point anterior cruciate ligament brace

AssigneeDon Joy Orthopedic, Inc.

InventorsBradley R. Mason, Jeffrey T. Mason, Patrick W. Cawley

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Abstract

A knee brace for externally replacing the function of a torn anterior cruciate ligament. The brace has femur and tibia levers hinged proximal the knee joint. The femur lever has an upper high cuff which bears against the front of the thigh and a lower strap which applies anterior force to the back of the thigh proximal the knee, while the tibia lever has a lower calf cuff which bears against the back of the calf and an upper strap which applies posterior force to the front of the tibia proximal the knee. Thus, the two straps apply a differential force couple forwardly to the femur and rearwardly to the tibia proximal the knee joint which serves the anterior cruciate ligament function. A resilient tubular undersleeve anchors the brace against downward migration on the leg.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A knee brace for applying a net differential force couple to the femur and tibia of the knee to serve the function of an anterior cruciate ligament, which comprises:

(a) a femur lever oriented generally longitudinally of the thigh, comprising
(1) a femur connecting element,
(2) an anterior thigh fulcrum means on an upper portion of said femur lever attached to said femur connecting element for applying a net posteriorly directed force component against the front of the thigh distally of the knee joint, and
(3) posterior thigh-engaging means on a lower portion of said femur lever attached to said femur connecting element for applying a net posteriorly directed force component against the back of the thigh proximal the knee joint,
(b) a tibia lever oriented generally longitudinally of the calf, comprising
(1) a tibia connecting element,
(2) a posterior calf fulcrum means on a lower portion of said tibia lever attached to said tibia connecting element for applying a net anteriorly directed force component against the back of the calf distally of the knee joint, and
(3) anterior shin-engaging means on an upper portion of said tibia lever attached to said tibia connecting element for applying a net posteriorly directed force component against the front of the shin proximal the knee joint;
and
(c) hinge means hingedly connecting the lower end of said femur lever and the upper end of said tibia lever,
said femur lever and said tibial lever applying, in use, a net differential force couple having an anteriorly directed force component to the femur and a posteriorly directed force component to the tibia proximal the knee joint so as to externally serve the function of the anterior cruciate ligament.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.