Surgery – Truss – Perineal
Patent
1985-12-05
1987-10-20
McNeill, Gregory E.
Surgery
Truss
Perineal
A61F 300
Patent
active
047006986
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns a knee orthosis consisting of a stocking-like stretchable knitted fabric with an annular pad, made of elastic incompressible material, situated in the area of the kneecap.
Such knee orthoses are known already, for example from the European patent specification No. 27 172 as well as from the periodical "Monatskurse fur die arztliche Fortbildung" (monthly courses of medical advanced training), volume 33, 1983, issue 5, pages 10-16. They serve the purpose of supporting or compressing the musculature of the knee joint and the tendinous bands in that area, as well as supporting the kneecap and fixing it in its position. The essential feature for the efficacy of the orthosis is the pad, which is incorporated into the fabric and which, according to the proposal of the above mentioned European patent specification, shall consist of an elastic, but incompressible silicone rubber or a material with the same elasticity and compression properties.
Similar knee orthoses are also described in the European patent application No. 115 029. This orthosis is not, however, a stocking-shaped orthosis, but a narrow bandage provided with holding ribbons, whose pad has the shape of a C or a circular ring. The holding ribbons for this pad are relatively small and, when used, they embrace the leg to be treated in the area of the knee joint.
In the present description the word "orthosis" shall mean an auxiliary apparatus which, generally stated, assists muscular activity and position. The word "pad" shall mean an additional support exerting pressure on certain joint or muscle regions.
The orthoses known before have fundamentally proved good. Nevertheless, in some cases disadvantages were found, consisting, for example, in a slipping of the orthosis during use, so that it could no longer fulfill its function. This disadvantage cannot be remedied simply by making the stocking-shaped fabric tighter, thus increasing the pressure, as especially upon bending of the joint more or less marked wrinkles will form, which will cause local pressures and constrictions. Furthermore, the already known orthoses with one-piece pads are not able to support the musculature of the knee joint laterally nor to center the kneecap.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a knee orthosis with improved fit and supporting effect for a longer period of time, guaranteeing a wide pressure compensation or compression without any marked local reduced blood supply.
This object and others to become apparent as the specification progresses, are accomplished by the invention, according to which, briefly stated, the pad is provided with lateral extensions reaching up to the areas beside the knee joint. It is advantageous to extend these extensions so far that they cover the axis of the knee joint. On the one hand, the arrangement of such extensions increases the contact surface between pad and body, so that due to this measure the pad itself and thus the entire orthosis is more slip-proof. On the other hand, the lateral extensions do not only fix the kneecap, but they also support the muscle and band regions beside the kneecap, significantly improving patient care.
The orthosis has proved particularly advantageous for the therapy of contrapatiepatella. The blood supply of the peri-articular tissue is significantly improved. The feared atrophy when using the orthosis is avoided, as reflex inactivity patterns of the musculature around the knee joint cannot arise. As far as there are edemae or effusions in the joint, they will be resorbed more quickly, as a consequence of the unimpeded muscular movement.
It will be recognized that the orthosis stabilizes the knee joint over its layer of soft tissues, without hindering the natural movements of the joint. Local irritations such as pressure and reduced blood supply are avoided thanks to the wide pressure compensation.
The orthosis can also be applied in the therapy of stases in the knee joint or states of irritation following lesions, operatio
REFERENCES:
patent: 3322873 (1967-05-01), Hitchcock
patent: 3458867 (1969-08-01), Moore et al.
patent: 3742517 (1973-07-01), Bednarczuk et al.
patent: 4217893 (1980-08-01), Payton
patent: 4250578 (1981-02-01), Barlow
patent: 4425912 (1984-01-01), Harper
patent: 4492225 (1985-01-01), Picolet et al.
Hess, "Monatskurse fur die arztliche Fortbildung", vol. 33, 1983, issue 5, pp. 10-16.
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