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US 5,626,557 AGranted
Knee brace having an inflatable bladder and exterior support element
AssigneeD'Mannco, Inc.
InventorDonaerl B. Mann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cloth body having a central knee hole wrapped around a patient's knee to treat knee flexion contractures. Hook and loop straps secure the cloth body to the patient's knee. Longitudinally extending pockets on opposite sides of the knee hole contain an air bladder. Inflation of the air bladder supports the patient's knee in a rigid position. End pockets integral with the cloth body and adjacent the longitudinally extending pockets enclose end portions of a support element.
Claims20
An orthopedic appliance for surrounding a knee of a patient to treat knee flexion contractures, the appliance comprising,
- a cloth body having a top and bottom layer, a foam layer located intermediate the top and bottom layers, and a generally centrally located hole, the top layer covered by a tightly woven fabric, the bottom layer covered by a soft non-abrasive material for contact with the skin of the patient, the cloth body wrapped around the knee of the patient such that an area is provided from which a patella portion of the knee can protrude and the centrally located hole exposes a posterior portion of the knee,
- means attached to the top layer of the cloth body for securing the cloth body in a wrapped position,
- at least two longitudinal pockets integrally attached to the top layer of the cloth body, each longitudinal pocket having an opening formed therein,
- an air bladder mounted within each longitudinal pocket, the air bladders permitting inflation to rigidly set the knee in a desired position and deflation so that the patient can flex the knee, the air bladders having been inserted through the openings in the longitudinal pockets,
- a support element adjacent at least one of the longitudinal pockets containing the air bladder and means for mounting the support element to the top layer of the cloth body adjacent the air bladder, the support element providing lateral and medial support to the knee of the patient.
2 more elements
An orthopedic appliance for surrounding a knee of a patient to treat knee flexion contractures, the appliance comprising,
- a cloth body having a top and bottom layer, a foam layer located intermediate the top and bottom layers, and a generally centrally located hole, the top layer covered by a tightly woven fabric, the bottom layer covered by a soft non-abrasive material for contact with the skin of the patient, the cloth body wrapped around the knee of the patient such that an area is provided from which a patella portion of the knee can protrude and the centrally located hole exposes a posterior portion of the knee,
- means attached to the top layer of the cloth body for securing the cloth body in a wrapped position,
- two longitudinal pockets integrally attached to the top layer of the cloth body, each longitudinal pocket having an opening formed therein,
- an air bladder mounted within each longitudinal pocket, the air bladders permitting inflation to rigidly set the knee in a desired position and deflation so that the patient can flex the knee, the air bladders having been inserted through the openings in the longitudinal pockets,
- a support element adjacent each longitudinal pocket, and
- a pair of oppositely positioned end pockets integrally attached to the top layer of the cloth body adjacent to each longitudinal pocket for receiving end portions of the support element.
3 more elements
An orthopedic appliance for surrounding a knee of a patient to treat knee flexion contractures, the appliance comprising,
- a cloth body having a top and bottom layer, a foam layer located intermediate the top and bottom layers, and a generally centrally located hole, the top layer covered by a tightly woven fabric, the bottom layer covered by a soft non-abrasive material for contact with the skin of the patient, the cloth body wrapped around the knee of the patient such that an area is provided from which a patella portion of the knee can protrude and the centrally located hole exposes a posterior portion of the knee,
- hook and loop straps attached to the top layer of the cloth body for securing the cloth body in a wrapped position,
- two longitudinal pockets integrally attached to the top layer of the cloth body on opposed sides of the generally centrally located hole, each longitudinal pocket having an opening formed in an end portion,
- an air bladder mounted within each of the two longitudinal pockets, the air bladders permitting inflation to rigidly set the knee in a desired position and deflation so that the patient can flex the knee, the air bladders having been inserted through the openings in the longitudinal pockets,
- a longitudinal support element mounted adjacent each of the two longitudinal pockets for providing lateral support to the patient's knee, the longitudinal support elements being held in place by the hook and loop straps.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.