US4773404A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiaxis controlled motion knee orthosis
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1987-08-25
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Granted: 1988-09-27
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Expires: 2007-08-25
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to an appliance for controlling an unstable knee joint in the sagittal, coronal and transverse planes, comprising femoral and tibial cuffs joined by links which are interconnected to provide a novel mechanical joint wherein camming slots are formed in one of the links with cams disposed on the other link, the slots comprising straight segments and arcuate segments so as to provide approximately 8 millimeters of sliding movement between the femur and tibia, followed by relative rotation about the center of radius of the femoral condyle as the leg is flexed. The tibial cuff is conformed about the boney prominence or shin of the tibia to inhibit rotation of the leg beneath the knee within the brace itself.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey H. Townsend
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 02:22
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/01; A61F5/0102; A61F5/0123; A61F2005/0132; A61F2005/0146; A61F2005/0165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
In an appliance for stabilizing a knee joint in sagittal, coronal and transverse planes, having leg grasping means for clasping the appliance to the wearer's leg above and below the knee, means defining a mechanical joint at the medial and lateral sides of the knee, each comprising a pair of depending opposed femoral links, each said link terminating in an end portion, a pair of opposed upwardly extending tibial links terminating in an end portion; said end portion of said tibial links being disposed in overlapping relation to said end portion of said femoral links, cam means interconnecting each said end portion of said femoral links to a respective said end portion of said tibial links, said cam means being disposed at lateral and medial sides of the knee, each said cam means comprising a cam pin follower and a camming slot means, each said cam pin follower means being fixedly positioned relative to a link of one of said pairs of links and relatively displaceable relative to a link of the other of said pairs of links within a respective camming slot means, said cam pin follower and camming slot means forming a means for constraining the tibia to slide rearwardly relative to the femur for a predetermined distance during an initial range of flexion of the knee from a straight leg position and, beyond said initial range of flexion to, thereafter, rotate relative thereto in a predetermined arcuate path, irrespective of the loading applied thereto by the leg of the wearer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
253 words
In an appliance for stabilizing a knee joint in sagittal, coronal and transverse planes, having leg grasping means for clasping the appliance to the wearer's leg above and below the knee, means defining a mechanical joint at the medial and lateral sides of the knee, each comprising a pair of depending opposed femoral links, each said link terminating in an end portion, a pair of opposed upwardly extending tibial links terminating in an end portion; said end portion of said tibial links being disposed in overlapping relation to said end portion of said femoral links, cam means interconnecting each said end portion of said femoral links to a respective said end portion of said tibial links, said cam means being disposed at lateral and medial sides of the knee, each said cam means comprising a cam pin follower and a camming slot means, each said cam pin follower means being fixedly positioned relative to a link of one of said pairs of links and relatively displaceable relative to a link of the other of said pairs of links within a respective camming slot means, said cam pin follower and camming slot means forming a means for constraining the tibia to slide rearwardly relative to the femur for a predetermined distance during an initial range of flexion of the knee from a straight leg position and, beyond said initial range of flexion to, thereafter, rotate relative thereto in a predetermined arcuate path, irrespective of the loading applied thereto by the leg of the wearer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said initial range of flexion is about 25°.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
An appliance according to claim 2, wherein said arcuate path is a circular segment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said arcuate path is a circular segment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said camming means comprises a pair of cam pin followers and a pair of camming slot means, said cam pin followers resting in a plane that is transverse to the longitudinal plane of the tibia of the wearer and passes through a center point representing the center of the radius of rotation of the femoral condyle of the wearer relative to the tibia, and said pair of camming slots comprising upper and lower camming slots which extend from said plane in directions above and below said plane, respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
An appliance according to claim 5, wherein said initial range of flexion is about 25°.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
An appliance according to claim 6, wherein said arcuate path is a circular segment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
An appliance according to claim 5, wherein said arcuate path is a circular segment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said cam means is exclusively composed of components that are rigidly secured to at least one or the other of said femoral and tibial links.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
184 words
In an appliance for stabilizing a knee joint in sagittal, coronal and transverse planes, having leg grasping means for clasping the appliance to the wearer's leg above and below the knee, means defining a mechanical joint at the medial and lateral sides of the knee, each comprising a pair of depending opposed femoral links, each said link terminating in an end portion, a pair of opposed upwardly extending tibial links terminating in an end portion; and connecting means interconnecting each said end portion of said femoral links to a respective said end portion of said tibial links, said connecting means being disposed at each of lateral and medial sides of the knee and being comprised of elements which coact to form a movement control means for constraining the tibia to slide rearwardly relative to the femur for a predetermined distance throughout an initial range of flexion of the knee from a straight leg position and, beyond said initial range of flexion, to rotate relative thereto along a predetermined arcuate path, irrespective of the loading applied thereto by weighting of the leg of the wearer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
184 words
In an appliance for stabilizing a knee joint in sagittal, coronal and transverse planes, having leg grasping means for clasping the appliance to the wearer's leg above and below the knee, means defining a mechanical joint at the medial and lateral sides of the knee, each comprising a pair of depending opposed femoral links, each said link terminating in an end portion, a pair of opposed upwardly extending tibial links terminating in an end portion; and connecting means interconnecting each said end portion of said femoral links to a respective said end portion of said tibial links, said connecting means being disposed at each of lateral and medial sides of the knee and being comprised of elements which coact to form a movement control means for constraining the tibia to slide rearwardly relative to the femur for a predetermined distance throughout an initial range of flexion of the knee from a straight leg position and, beyond said initial range of flexion, to rotate relative thereto along a predetermined arcuate path, irrespective of the loading applied thereto by weighting of the leg of the wearer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
An appliance according to claim 10, wherein said initial range of flexion is about 25°.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
An appliance according to claim 11, wherein said arcuate path is a circular segment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
An appliance according to claim 10, wherein said arcuate path is a circular segment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-09-27 | 1992-03-28 | 1992-09-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-09-27 | 1996-03-28 | 1996-09-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-09-27 | 2000-03-28 | 2000-09-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |