Orthotic device for treating knee flexion contracture

摘要

A double upright knee brace for treating knee flexion contracture includes upper and lower sections, each section having a pair of leg members and an anteriorly disposed integral thigh and shin cuff. A pair of hinges is intermediately positioned to the upper and lower sections. Notches formed in the upper and lower sections provide a catch for a pair of elastic bands, one each deployed on opposed sides of the knee brace, which provide a gait swing assist mechanism for the brace. A multitude of adjustable straps are deployed on both the anterior and posterior sides of the brace. A pair of air bladders, one deployed posteriorly below the knee and one deployed anteriorly above the knee, provide posterior-anterior mobilization when a patient wears the brace, stands up and ambulates. A pair of inner air bladders mounted on inner surfaces of the hinges stabilizes the knee joint.

主权项

1. A double upright knee brace for treating knee flexion contracture, comprising:
a. upper and lower sections, the upper section having a pair of downwardly extending leg members and an anteriorly disposed thigh cuff positioned between the pair of downwardly extending leg members at an upper end, the lower section having a pair of upwardly extending leg members and an anteriorly disposed shin cuff positioned between the pair of upwardly extending leg members at a lower end; b. a pair of rotatable hinges intermediately positioned the upper and lower sections at lower ends of the upper section downwardly extending leg members and upper ends of the lower section upwardly extending leg members, each hinge having a groove formed along a circumferential edge thereof; c. a pair of upwardly extending notches formed in the upper section downwardly extending leg members and a reciprocal pair of downwardly extending notches formed in the lower section upwardly extending leg member; d. at least two elastic bands, one each deployed on opposed sides of the knee brace, each elastic band attaching to the pairs of notches formed in the upper section downwardly extending leg members and the lower section upwardly extending leg members at opposed ends thereof, the at least two elastic bands lying within the grooves formed along the circumferential edges of hinges, the at least two elastic bands, the pairs of notches and the hinges all forming a gait swing assist mechanism of the knee brace; e. at least one anteriorly positioned adjustable elastic strap attached to the upper section downwardly extending leg members at opposed ends thereof; f. at least one posteriorly positioned adjustable elastic strap attached to the lower section upwardly extending leg members at opposed ends thereof; g. an anteriorly positioned adjustable air bladder removeably attached along an inner surface of the at least one anteriorly positioned elastic strap attached to the upper section downwardly extending leg members for providing anterior mobilization to a thigh of a patient employing the knee brace; and h. a posteriorly positioned adjustable air bladder removeably attached along an inner surface of the at least one posteriorly positioned elastic strap attached to the lower section upwardly leg members for providing posterior mobilization to a calf of the patient employing the knee brace.