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US 4,733,656 AGranted
Knee stabilizer
OwnerStuart H. Marquetteinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A knee brace having an anterior tibial shell and a posterior femural shell which are closely configured to the shape of the leg and are joined by a closed support band which is constructed to closely track knee flexion. The brace also has anteriorly extending tabs positioned between the patella and the femural epicondyles. The combination of shell, band and tabs provides anterior-posterior, medial-lateral and rotary stability.
Claims2
A knee stabilizer for providing anterior-posterior, medial-lateral and rotational stab ility, including stabilization of the knee against displacement of the anterior cruciate ligament, comprising:
- a relatively rigid anterior tibial shell conformed to the shape of the leg proximate the knee, said tibial shell comprising vertically spaced first and second superior and distal anterior pressure points for applying pressure to the tibia and further comprising a strap for spanning the posterior of the leg to provide a third, posterior pressure point betwen the anterior pressure points;
- a relatively rigid posterior femural shell conformed to the shape of the thigh proximate the knee, said femural shell comprising a fourth, posterior pressure point proximate the knee and further comprising a strap for spanning the anterior of the thigh to provide a fifth, anterior pressure point above the fourth, posterior point;
- and
- the shells being suspended by a closed rigid band system comprising a pair of uprights extending one on the lateral side of the knee and one on the medial side of the knee and rigidly connecting the tibial and femural shells, each upright having a pivotal construction proximate the knee for substantially tracking flexion of the knee, and further comprising a femural band section attached on opposite sides to the uprights and spanning the posterior side of the femural shell for reinforcing the fourth pressure point, and still further comprising a tibial band section attached on opposite sides to the uprights and spanning the anterior side of the tibial shell for reinforcing the second pressure point.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.