US4723539A — Multiaxis controlled motion knee orthosis

Claim 1

Independent Claim 256 words

In an appliance for stabilizing a knee joint in sagittal, coronal and transverse planes, having leg grasping means for clasping the appliance to the wearer's leg above and below the knee, means defining a mechanical joint at the medial and lateral sides of the knee, each comprising a pair of depending opposed femoral links, each said link terminating in an end portion, a pair of opposed upwardly extending tibial links terminating in an end portion; said end portion of said tibial links being disposed in overlapping relation to said end portion of said femoral links, cam means interconnecting each said end portion of said femoral links to a respective said end portion of said tibial links, said cam means being disposed at lateral and medial sides of the knee, each said cam means comprising a cam follower and a camming means, each said cam follower means being positioned to engage a camming means to be cammed therein as a means for permitting the tibia to slide rearwardly relative to the femur for a predetermined distance and thereafter rotate relative thereto in a predetermined arcuate path as the knee is flexed from a straight leg position, wherein two said camming means are provided, each comprising a slot formed in the end portion of one of said pairs of links, longitudinally spaced from one another, the uppermost slot being a femoral camming slot and the lowermost being a tibial camming slot, and wherein each said camming slot comprises a straight segment adjoining an arcuate segment of equal radius.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 256 words

In an appliance for stabilizing a knee joint in sagittal, coronal and transverse planes, having leg grasping means for clasping the appliance to the wearer's leg above and below the knee, means defining a mechanical joint at the medial and lateral sides of the knee, each comprising a pair of depending opposed femoral links, each said link terminating in an end portion, a pair of opposed upwardly extending tibial links terminating in an end portion; said end portion of said tibial links being disposed in overlapping relation to said end portion of said femoral links, cam means interconnecting each said end portion of said femoral links to a respective said end portion of said tibial links, said cam means being disposed at lateral and medial sides of the knee, each said cam means comprising a cam follower and a camming means, each said cam follower means being positioned to engage a camming means to be cammed therein as a means for permitting the tibia to slide rearwardly relative to the femur for a predetermined distance and thereafter rotate relative thereto in a predetermined arcuate path as the knee is flexed from a straight leg position, wherein two said camming means are provided, each comprising a slot formed in the end portion of one of said pairs of links, longitudinally spaced from one another, the uppermost slot being a femoral camming slot and the lowermost being a tibial camming slot, and wherein each said camming slot comprises a straight segment adjoining an arcuate segment of equal radius.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 17 words

The appliance as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cam follower means comprises a camming screw.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 83 words

The appliance as set forth in claim 2, wherein said cam follower means are disposed in a horizontal plane intersecting a center point representing the center of radius of rotation of the femoral condyle of the wearer, relative to the tibia and wherein the longitudinal axis of said straight segment of said femoral camming slot defines a 50°±2° angle with respect to said transverse plane, and the longitudinal axis of said tibial slot defining a 56°30'±2° angle with respect to said transverse plane.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 94 words

The appliance as set forth in claim 2, wherein said cam follower means are disposed in a horizontal plane intersecting a center point representing the center of radius of rotation of the femoral condyle of the wearer, relative to the tibia and wherein the longitudinal axis of said straight segment of said femoral camming slot defines a 50° angle with respect to said transverse plane, and the longitudinal axis of said tibial slot defining a 56°30" angle with respect to said transverse plane. and the radius of each said arcuate segment is 11 millimeters.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 57 words

The appliance as set forth in claim 2 wherein said camming screw extends outwardly from the end portion of the other of said pairs of links, passing through said camming slot, means defining a cap, said cap means disposed adjacent to and outwardly of said end portions, said cap means receiving said camming screws in holding engagement.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 63 words

The appliance as set forth in claim 5 wherein said cap means is formed with an opening disposed about the center point of said joint, an adjacent one of said links being formed with an outwardly protruding post, said post being disposed in said opening of said cap means and movable within the confines thereof during flexion and extension of the user's leg.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 43 words

The appliance as set forth in claim 6 wherein said cap means is provided with a peripherally extended portion means defining a slot in said extended portion and stop means disposed in said slot for limiting flexion and/or extension of the wearer's knee.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 32 words

The appliance as set forth in claim 5 wherein bushing means is mounted on said camming screw in bearing relation and has a circumferential surface in bearing engagement with said camming slot.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 35 words

The appliance as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cam follower means are disposed in a horizontal plane intersecting a center point representing the center of radius of the femoral condyle of the wearer.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 36 words

The appliance as set forth in claim 1, wherein the arcuate segment of each said camming slot is of equal radius circumscribed about a center point representing the radius of the femoral condyle of the wearer.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 31 words

The appliance as set forth in claim 1, wherein the straight segments of said camming slots extend from the arcuate segment in a direction generally toward the posterior of the joint.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

The appliance as described in claim 1, wherein said straight segment is in the range of 6 millimeters to 9 millimeters in length.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 48 words

The appliance as described in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of said straight segment of said femoral camming slot defines a 50°±2° angle with respect to said transverse plane, and the longitudinal axis of said tibial slot defining a 56°30'2° angle with respect to said transverse plane.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 19 words

The appliance as described in claim 1, wherein the radius of each said arcuate segment is about 11 millimeters.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 69 words

The appliance as described in claim 1, wherein said straight segment is 8 millimeters in length, and wherein the longitudinal axis of said straight segment of said femoral camming slot requires a 50° angle with respect to said transverse plane, and the longitudinal axis of said tibial slot defining a 56°30' angle with respect to said transverse plane, and the radius of each said arcuate segment is 11 millimeters.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 147 words

In an appliance for supporting an unstable knee joint along its sagittal, coronal and transverse planes, the combination of a first femoral cuff formed to fit snugly about a portion of the thigh, closure means attached to said cuff for securing said cuff to a portion of a leg above the knee joint, a second tibial cuff formed to fit snugly about the anterior portion of the tibia and calf of the leg below the knee joint, closure means attached to said tibial cuff for securing said second cuff in place, said first and second cuffs being interconnected by medial and lateral articulating joints. said tibial cuff being formed with an interiorly protruding ridge serving as a means for engaging only the medial side of the boney prominence of the tibia so as to prevent relative rotation between said tibia and said cuff about a longitudinal axis.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 147 words

In an appliance for supporting an unstable knee joint along its sagittal, coronal and transverse planes, the combination of a first femoral cuff formed to fit snugly about a portion of the thigh, closure means attached to said cuff for securing said cuff to a portion of a leg above the knee joint, a second tibial cuff formed to fit snugly about the anterior portion of the tibia and calf of the leg below the knee joint, closure means attached to said tibial cuff for securing said second cuff in place, said first and second cuffs being interconnected by medial and lateral articulating joints. said tibial cuff being formed with an interiorly protruding ridge serving as a means for engaging only the medial side of the boney prominence of the tibia so as to prevent relative rotation between said tibia and said cuff about a longitudinal axis.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 37 words

The appliance as described in claim 16, wherein a thick layer of spongy material is provided along the interior surface of the tibial cuff to minimize chafing and irritation when said cuff is secured to the wearer.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 41 words

The appliance as described in claim 16, wherein said closure means attached to said tibial cuff comprises at least three spaced straps being adjustable to vary tightness of said tibial cuff about the leg while holding said cuff in proper position.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 29 words

The appliance as described in claim 18, wherein means is provided for mounting said straps for limited longitudinal movement in response to the contour of the wearer's calf muscle.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 63 words

The appliance as described in claim 18, wherein means is provided for mounting said straps for limited longitudinal movement in response to the contour of the wearer's calf muscle, and wherein said femoral cuf comprises spaced wings positioned to engage the lateral and medial area of the wearer's thigh, and means defining a bridge and joining said wings to form a rigid unit.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 40 words

The appliance as described in claim 16, wherein said femoral cuff comprises spaced wings positioned to engage the lateral and medial area of the wearer's thigh, and means defining a bridge and joining said wings to form a rigid unit.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 94 words

The appliance as described in claim 16 wherein said femoral cuff comprises a unitary member constructed to encircle a major portion of the thigh of the wearer, and having an opening at the back thereof, said cuff being formed with a void of an elongated ellipsoid shape defining upper and lower bridges in the forward portion of said cuff, said lower bridge being narrowed at its midsection to minimize pressure on the patella and quadriceps muscles, and having closure means at the back of said cuff to secure said cuff about the wearer's thigh.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 74 words

The appliance as set forth in claim 16, further comprising means defining a mechanical joint at the medial and lateral sides of the knee, each comprising a pair of depending opposed femoral links, each said link terminating in an end portion, a pair of opposed upwardly extending tibial links terminating in an end portion; said end portion of said tibial links being disposed in overlapping relation to said end portion of said femoral links,

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 84 words

connecting means interconnecting each said end portion of said femoral links to a respective said end portion of said tibial links, said connecting means being disposed at each of lateral and medial sides of the knee and being comprised of elements which coact to form a movement control means for constraining the tiblia to slide rearwardly relative to the femur for a predetermined distance and thereafter rotate relative thereto in a predetermined arcuate path as the knee is flexed from a straight leg position.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 84 words

connecting means interconnecting each said end portion of said femoral links to a respective said end portion of said tibial links, said connecting means being disposed at each of lateral and medial sides of the knee and being comprised of elements which coact to form a movement control means for constraining the tiblia to slide rearwardly relative to the femur for a predetermined distance and thereafter rotate relative thereto in a predetermined arcuate path as the knee is flexed from a straight leg position.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 61 words

The appliance as described in claim 23 wherein said closure means comprises straps mounted for limited longitudinal movement in response to the contour of the wearer's calf muscle, and said femoral cuff comprises spaced wings positioned to engage the lateral and medial area of the wearer's thigh, and means defining a bridge and joining said wings to form a rigid unit.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-02-08	1991-08-10	1992-02-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-02-08	1995-08-10	1996-02-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-02-08	1999-08-10	2000-02-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Multiaxis controlled motion knee orthosis

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag