US 6,641,549 B2Granted

Custom-moldable support for patellar tendinitis

AssigneeBSN Medical, Inc.

InventorThomas D. Darcey

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Abstract

A knee pad assembly for relieving the symptoms of patellar tendinitis, including a pad adapted for being positioned against and molded onto a lower leg in the region of the knee for lying in closely-conforming relation against and applying radially-directed pressure to the attachment site of the patellar tendon to the patella, to the knee joint, and to at least one epicondyle of the tibia. The pad is hardened into a rigid structure for therapeutic use and includes an initially flexible inner substrate impregnated or coated with a reactive system. The system remains stable when maintained in substantially moisture-free conditions and hardens upon exposure to moisture to form a rigid, self-supporting structure having a shape conforming to the lower leg to which the pad is molded during curing. A flexible cover encloses the substrate, and cooperates with the pad for maintaining the pad in its closely-conforming position against the lower leg.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A knee pad assembly for relieving the symptoms of patellar tendinitis, comprising:

(a) a pad having an upper surface adapted for being positioned against and molded onto a lower leg in the region of the knee for lying in closely-conforming relation against and applying radially-directed pressure to the attachment site of the patellar tendon to the patella, to the knee joint, and to at least one epicondyle of the tibia and hardened into a rigid structure for therapeutic use, said pad comprising:
(i) an initially flexible inner substrate impregnated or coated with a reactive system, said system remaining stable when maintained in substantially moisture-free conditions and hardening upon exposure to moisture to form a rigid, self-supporting structure having a shape conforming to the lower leg to which the pad is molded during curing;
(ii) an inner foam layer overlying at least one side of said substrate;
and (iii) a flexible cover overlying both sides of said substrate and inner foam layer combined;
and
(iv) a loop comprising a strip having first and second ends which are attached to said upper surface and
(b) an elongate strap having an outer surface and first and second ends, said strap being disposed through said loop whereby said loop retains said loop restrains said strap against said upper surface of said pad so that the strap may extend around the lower leg for securing the pad in the closely conforming configuration against the lower leg.

4 more elements

A knee pad assembly product for relieving the symptoms of patellar tendinitis, comprising:

(a) an outer pouch formed of a moisture-impervious material;
(b) a pad having an upper surface positioned in said pouch in substantially moisture-free conditions and sealed therein against entry of moisture until use, and adapted for being positioned against and molded onto a lower leg in the region of the knee for lying in closely-conforming relation against and applying radially-directed pressure to the attachment site of the patellar tendon to the patellar, to the knee joint and to at least one epicondyle of the tibia and hardened into a rigid structure for therapeutic use, said pad comprising:
(i) an initially flexible substrate impregnated or coated with a reactive system, said system remaining stable when maintained in substantially moisture-free conditions and hardening upon exposure to moisture to form a rigid, self-supporting structure having a shape conforming to the lower leg to which the pad is molded during curing:
(ii) an inner foam layer overlying at least one side of the substrate;
(iii) a flexible outer layer enclosing said substrate and inner foam layer;
and
(iv) a loop comprising a strip having first and second ends which are attached to said upper surface:
and
(c) an elongate strap having an outer surface and first and second ends, said strap being disposed through said loop whereby said loop retains said strap against said upper surface of said pad so that the strap may extend around the lower leg for securing the pad in the closely conforming configuration against the lower leg.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.