초록 ▼

Embodiments of the knee brace disclosed herein provide a combination of external ligament support and/or relief from pain caused by osteoarthritis with patellofemoral support. The brace includes a rigid frame and a flexible strap configured to extend across the wearer's patella to provide anterior l

Embodiments of the knee brace disclosed herein provide a combination of external ligament support and/or relief from pain caused by osteoarthritis with patellofemoral support. The brace includes a rigid frame and a flexible strap configured to extend across the wearer's patella to provide anterior loading thereto. The strap is operatively secured at either end to components of the rigid frame, thereby providing maximum leverage for applying force to the wearer's patella. In some embodiments, the strap includes a removable and adjustable buttress for directly contacting the wearer's patella. The patellar strap provides dynamic loading to the patella through the wearer's range of motion for relief of patellofemoral dysfunction, such as patellar shift, subluxation and dislocation, and malalignments such as patella alta, patella baja, tilt and glide. In some embodiments, a conversion kit is provided for converting a rigid brace frame into a knee brace capable of providing patellofemoral support to a wearer's knee. The kit includes at least a patellar strap and at least one tab for securing the strap to the rigid frame.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A knee brace for supporting or protecting a wearer's knee, while also providing support to the wearer's patella comprising:a rigid brace frame including a rigid thigh cuff, a rigid calf cuff, and at least a first hinge pivotably securing the thigh cuff to the calf cuff;a patel

What is claimed is: 1. A knee brace for supporting or protecting a wearer's knee, while also providing support to the wearer's patella comprising:a rigid brace frame including a rigid thigh cuff, a rigid calf cuff, and at least a first hinge pivotably securing the thigh cuff to the calf cuff;a patellar strap having a base portion and at least a first elongate arm extending from the base portion, wherein the base portion is operatively secured to the rigid brace frame along a medial side or a lateral side thereof, and the arm extends across an anterior portion of the rigid brace frame and is secured to the rigid brace frame along the medial side or the lateral side thereof, opposite the base portion, and wherein the base portion is operatively secured to the hinge; anda plate secured to the base portion, and wherein a space between the plate and the base portion receives a condyle shell of the hinge, thereby releasably securing the base portion to the hinge.