Patent · US Expired

Knee brace with posterior strut

US5133341A · kind A · utility

29Cited by
15References
14Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 1, 1991
Grant dateJul 28, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 1, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61F5/0123
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A knee brace has a rigid posterior strut behind the knee joint in the popliteal area with terminal portions adjacent, but spaced from the lateral and medial sides of the knee. A prophylactic embodiment of the invention has a lateral inferior rigid support member pivoted on the lateral terminal portion of the strut and secured to the leg, and a medial superior rigid support member pivoted on the medial terminal portion of the strut and secured to the thigh. Stiff anterior, generally triangular, cuff members each have one edge secured to one of the rigid support members and an opposite vertex detachably, pivotally secured to the opposite terminal portion of the strut. A functional brace in accordance with the invention has both lateral and medial rigid support members pivoted on the terminal portions on the posterior strut, additional stiff anterior generally triangular cuffs criss-crossing above and below the knee join and stiff posterior cuffs between the pairs of rigid support members. The posterior strut diverts forces applied to either the leg or thigh around and away from the knee joint and into the large muscles in the other limb member. The position of the strut is automatica…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.