Brace

Details Brace Brace

1999-06-25

2001-09-11

Pothier, Denise (Department: 3764)

Surgery: splint, brace, or bandage

Orthopedic bandage

Splint or brace

C602S016000, C128S882000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06287268

ABSTRACT:

This invention relates to a brace in particular relates to a brace for a body joint particularly but not necessarily solely a knee.
FIELD OF INVENTION
Currently available braces consist of braces which exert a varus or valgus force. There is some debate as to whether they manage to achieve this throughout gait or just at the initial and final phase of the gait which is to say that the varus and valgus forces are not applied during full weight bearing when the knee is extended (that is to say straight). There is some evidence to suggest that braces are unstable during this mid phase of the gait and therefore lose efficiency. Also there is no definite proof of efficacy during weight bearing. As the muscle changes shape during the progression of the gait changes in muscle shape can load up or unload the brace.
Braces can be single hinged braces or double hinged braces. The advantage of a single hinged brace is that such braces are more comfortable and also more easily absorb or accommodate any rotation of the lower leg relative to the upper leg during flexion. The disadvantage of single hinged braces is that when the leg changes shape during the mid phase of gait for example by way of changes in muscle shape, the braces tend to rotate on the muscle and therefore do not maintain the required corrective force.
In respect of double hinged braces they have the advantage that they exert a more constant force on the skeleton during gait because they are fitted against both sides of the leg, however double hinged braces have the disadvantage that they are heavy, less comfortable, and do not anticipate rotation of the lower leg. Such braces may drag across the soft tissue in many users.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a brace which will obviate or minimise the foregoing disadvantages in a simple yet effective manner or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Accordingly the invention consists in a brace comprising or including a hinge, a pair of substantially oppositely extending arms extending outwardly from the hinge, a first attachment point associated with a first one of said arms, and a second attachment point associated with a second one of said arms, first mounting means carrying the first attachment point and second mounting means carrying the second attachment point, each attachment point being constructed so that the first attachment point is spaced from the first arm and the second attachment point is spaced from the second arm, but so that during rotation of the hinge the first attachment point and second attachment point remain at a substantially constant distance from a selected point between the first and second attachment points.
Preferably during rotation as above said the first attachment point remains a substantially constant distance from the pivot axis of the hinge and the second attachment point remains a substantially constant distance from the pivot axis of the hinge.
Preferably each mounting means comprises an arm extending outwardly from the arm extending from the hinge, the mounting means arm ending with a part lying substantially parallel to the arm from which the mounting means arm extends, the parallel part of the mounting means arm carrying the attachment point.
Preferably the brace further includes fitting means to enable in use the brace to be fitted about the knee of the user.
Preferably the fitting means comprise a strap or the like fixing element extending from the first attachment point to the second arm and the further strap extending from the second attachment point to the first arm.
To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.


REFERENCES:
patent: D. 353005 (1994-11-01), Glidden
patent: 3669105 (1972-06-01), Castiglia
patent: 4381768 (1983-05-01), Erichsen
patent: 4796610 (1989-01-01), Cromartie
patent: 4805606 (1989-02-01), McDavid, III
patent: 4817588 (1989-04-01), Bledsoe
patent: 5277698 (1994-01-01), Taylor
patent: 5383845 (1995-01-01), Nebloln
patent: 5458565 (1995-10-01), Tillinghast
patent: 5823931 (1998-10-01), Gilmour

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