US4803975A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Orthotic device for controlling knee instabilities
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-03-31
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Granted: 1989-02-14
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Expires: 2007-03-31
Abstract
Abstract An improved orthosis for correcting essentially all knee instabilities is disclosed herein. Generally, the orthosis comprises a joint structure formed from a pair of pivoting sidebars, upper and lower support assemblies, each of which includes C-shaped braces connected to the sidebars of the joint structure for supporting the pivoting portions of the sidebars over the knee joint, and a tibial retention means in the form of a Y-shaped tibial support member cantilevered from the bottom brace member of the lower support assembly for supporting the upper tibia against anterior displacements. The orthosis may further include resilient condylar pads disposed between the sidebars and the condyle regions of the knee in order to provide support against varus- and valgus-type knee instabilities. Finally, the orthosis may also include a femural retention means in the form of a Y-shaped member cantilevered from the upper C-shaped brace member for supporting the upper femur. The upper and lower C-shaped members and their respective tibial and femural support members are preferably integrally formed, and lined with an anti-slippage sheet material such as Neoprene®.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew H. Meyers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/01; A61F5/0102; A61F5/0123; A61F2005/0132; A61F2005/0137; A61F2005/0172
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
An orthotic device for controlling knee instabilities, comprising: (a) a joint structure including a pair of sidebars; (b) upper and lower support assemblies for circumscribing the leg above and below the kneejoint and connected to the joint structure for supporting the sidebars over the sides of the kneejoint; (c) at least one condyle pad positioned between one of said sidebars of the joint structure and one of the condylar regions of the knee, wherein said pad includes a layer of resilient material for engaging said pad against said condylar region in intimate supporting contact therewith, and (d) a brace member forming a portion of said lower support assembly having a tibial retention means including a tibial support member that is cantilevered from said brace member, and a strap means for maintaining the tibial support member in intimate supporting contact against an upper portion of the tibia for supporting the upper portion of the tibia against anterior displacements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
An orthotic device for controlling knee instabilities, comprising: (a) a joint structure including a pair of sidebars; (b) upper and lower support assemblies for circumscribing the leg above and below the kneejoint and connected to the joint structure for supporting the sidebars over the sides of the kneejoint; (c) at least one condyle pad positioned between one of said sidebars of the joint structure and one of the condylar regions of the knee, wherein said pad includes a layer of resilient material for engaging said pad against said condylar region in intimate supporting contact therewith, and (d) a brace member forming a portion of said lower support assembly having a tibial retention means including a tibial support member that is cantilevered from said brace member, and a strap means for maintaining the tibial support member in intimate supporting contact against an upper portion of the tibia for supporting the upper portion of the tibia against anterior displacements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said strap circumscribes the brace member over the cantilevered support member of the retention means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The device of claim 1, wherein a second condyle pad is positioned between the other of said sidebars and the opposite condylar region of the knee, and said second pad having a layer of resilient material for engaging the second pad against the opposite condylar region in intimate supporting contact therewith, so that both condylar regions of the knee are supported.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said upper support assembly includes a brace member whose interior conforms to the external shape of the lower thigh that it circumscribes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said condyle pad is mounted onto the sidebar it is positioned adjacent to.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
157 words
An orthotic device for controlling knee instabilities, comprising: (a) a joint structure including a pair of sidebars having pivotable joints in their middle portions, (b) upper and lower support assemblies for circumscribing the leg above and below the kneejoint and connected to the upper and lower ends of the sidebars for supporting the sidebars over the sides of the kneejoint, and a condyle pad positioned between each of said sidebars and each of the condylar regions of the knee, each of said pads including a layer of resilient material for engaging its respective pad against its respective condylar region, and (c) a brace member forming a portion of said lower support assembly having a tibial retention means including a tibial support member that is cantilevered from the brace member, and a strap means for maintaining the support member in intimate supporting contact against an upper portion of the tibia for supporting the upper tibia against anterior displacement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
157 words
An orthotic device for controlling knee instabilities, comprising: (a) a joint structure including a pair of sidebars having pivotable joints in their middle portions, (b) upper and lower support assemblies for circumscribing the leg above and below the kneejoint and connected to the upper and lower ends of the sidebars for supporting the sidebars over the sides of the kneejoint, and a condyle pad positioned between each of said sidebars and each of the condylar regions of the knee, each of said pads including a layer of resilient material for engaging its respective pad against its respective condylar region, and (c) a brace member forming a portion of said lower support assembly having a tibial retention means including a tibial support member that is cantilevered from the brace member, and a strap means for maintaining the support member in intimate supporting contact against an upper portion of the tibia for supporting the upper tibia against anterior displacement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 6, wherein said strap means circumscribes the brace member over the cantilevered support member of the tibial retention means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 6, wherein the layer of resilient material of each of the condyle pads cooperates with the sidebars of the joint strucutre so that each pad is maintained against its respective condyle region with substantially the same supporting force.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The device of claim 6, wherein the upper support assembly includes a brace member, and a femur retention means that includes a femoral support member that is cantilevered from the brace member, and a strap means for maintaining the support member in intimate, supporting contact against the lower femur.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 6, wherein the upper support assembly includes an upper brace member which is mountable onto a portion of a leg by a strap means, and is lined with an antislippage sheet material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
123 words
An orthotic device for controlling knee instabilities, comprising: (a) a joint structure including a pair of sidebars, each of which has a pivotable joint in its middle portion; (b) upper and lower support assemblies for circumscribing the leg above and below the kneejoint and connected to the upper and lower ends of the sidebars for supporting the sidebars over the sides of the kneejoint, wherein said lower support assembly has a C-shaped brace member that surrounds the anterior portion of the upper calf, and (c) a tibial retention means which includes a Y-shaped member that is cantilevered to the brace member, and a strap means for engaging the Y-shaped member into intimate supporting contact with the upper tibia to prevent anterior tibial displacements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
123 words
An orthotic device for controlling knee instabilities, comprising: (a) a joint structure including a pair of sidebars, each of which has a pivotable joint in its middle portion; (b) upper and lower support assemblies for circumscribing the leg above and below the kneejoint and connected to the upper and lower ends of the sidebars for supporting the sidebars over the sides of the kneejoint, wherein said lower support assembly has a C-shaped brace member that surrounds the anterior portion of the upper calf, and (c) a tibial retention means which includes a Y-shaped member that is cantilevered to the brace member, and a strap means for engaging the Y-shaped member into intimate supporting contact with the upper tibia to prevent anterior tibial displacements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
The device of claim 11, including a condyle pad positioned between one of said sidebars of the joint structure and one of the condylar regions of the knee, wherein said pad includes a layer of resilient material for engaging said pad against said condylar region in intimate supporting contact therewith.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device of claim 12, wherein a second condyle pad is positioned between the other of said sidebars and the opposite condylar region of the knee, said second pad having a layer of resilient material for engaging the second pad against the opposite condylar region in intimate, supporting contact therewith so that both condylar regions of the knee are supported.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The device of claim 11, wherein the upper support assembly includes a brace member, and a femur retention means that includes a femoral support member that is cantilevered from the brace member, an a strap means for maintaining the support member in intimate, supporting contact against the lower femur.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 13, wherein the layer of resilient material of each of the condyle pads cooperates with the sidebars of the joint structure so that each pad is maintained against its respective condyle region with substantially the same supporting force.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
The device of claim 11, wherein the upper support assembly includes a brace member, and a femur retention means that includes a femoral support member that is cantilevered from the brace member, and a strap means for maintaining the support member in intimate, supporting contact against the lower femur.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device of claim 11, wherein the uper assembly also includes a brace member, and wherein the interiors of both the upper and lower brace members conform to the exterior shape of the lower thigh and upper calf of the wearer, and are substantially lined with an anti-slippage material to maintain the orthosis in proper position on the wearer's leg.
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) | 1992-02-14 | 1992-08-15 | 1993-02-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-02-14 | 1996-08-15 | 1997-02-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-02-14 | 2000-08-15 | 2001-02-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |