Apparatus for controlling a load on a hip joint

摘要

An apparatus and related method for controlling a load on a human hip joint during normal gait while preserving motion. The approach is intended to treat osteoarthritis of the hip without substantially resisting an angular displacement associated with full mobility of the pelvis and femur bones.

主权项

1. An apparatus for controlling a load on a human hip joint during normal gait while preserving motion, the apparatus comprising:
a rail component for attachment to a pelvis, the rail component including a bearing surface; and two follower components, each having a first end and a second end, each first end configured to be connected to a femur and each second end contacting the bearing surface of the rail component during a portion of the normal gait to reduce the load on the human hip joint; wherein the bearing surface of the rail has a length and a width and wherein the length is larger than the width; wherein the follower components are moveable relative to the rail along the length of the bearing surface; wherein the bearing surface is shaped to capture the second end of each follower component such that the second end of each follower component is not separable from the bearing surface.