Knee orthosis having offset within hinges and anti-rotation straps

Claim 2

A knee orthosis comprising: a proximal cuff engageable with a wearer's leg above the knee, a distal cuff engageable with the wearer's leg below the knee, a pair of polycentric hinges, each hinge having a proximal portion pivotally attached to the proximal cuff and a distal portion spaced from the proximal portion and pivotally attached to the distal cuff, the proximal portion of both hinges being offset laterally in the same direction relative to the distal portion to prevent pressure to the fibula head, the proximal portion of the hinge which is adjacent the outside of the leg being further from the medial of the leg than the distal portion of that hinge and the proximal portion of the hinge which is adjacent the inside of the leg being closer to the medial of the leg than the distal portion of that hinge.

Claim 3

A knee orthosis according to claim 1 wherein, the proximal and distal cuffs each have an arcuate portion for engagement with the anterior portion of the wearer's leg above and below the knee respectively, and lateral portions which are pivotally attached to the polycentric hinges.

Claim 4

A knee orthosis according to claim 1 wherein, the proximal and distal cuffs and the polycentric hinges are lined with non-allergenic foam padding for direct engagement with the wearer's skin.

Claim 5

A knee orthosis according to claim 1 wherein, there are a pair of adjustable, non-elastic straps secured, one each, to the proximal and distal cuffs adjacent to the proximal and distal portions of the polycentric hinges for engagement with the posterior of the wearer's leg above and below above the popliteal space respectively.

Claim 6

A knee orthosis according to claim 1 wherein, the cuffs and the polycentric hinges are made of lightweight, high impact thermoplastic which may be shaped to the individual wearer's leg.

Claim 7

A knee orthosis according to claim 1 wherein, each polycentric hinge comprises two substantially figure eight shaped members pivotally secured on opposite sides of the proximal and distal cuffs.

Claim 8

A knee orthosis according to claim 1 wherein, there are a pair of adjacent elasticized straps secured, one each to the proximal and distal cuffs adjacent to the proximal and distal portions of the polycentric hinges for engagement with the anterior of the wearer's leg above and below the patella.

Claim 9

A knee orthosis according to claim 1 wherein there are a pair of non-elastic, removable, adjustable straps securable, one each, to the proximal and distal cuffs for engagement with the wearer's posterior thigh and calf respectively to secure the cuffs to the leg.

Claim 10

A knee orthosis according to claim 8 wherein, the non-elastic straps have an elastic bridge member on the inner surfaces thereof to permit muscle expansions and contractions of the quadricep and calf.

Claim 11

A knee orthosis comprising: a proximal cuff engageable with a wearer's leg above the knee, a distal cuff engageable with the wearer's leg below the knee, a pair of polycentric hinges, each hinge having the proximal portion pivotally attached to the proximal cuff and a distal portion spaced from the proximal portion and pivotally attached to the distal cuff, the proximal portion of the hinge which is adjacent the outside of the leg being further from the medial of the leg than the distal portion of that hinge and the proximal portion of the hinge which is adjacent the inside of the leg being closer to the medial of the leg than the distal portion of that hinge, the proximal and distal portions of each hinge having stop means to limit the pivotal motion of both the proximal and distal portions of the hinges relative to the proximal and distal cuffs to approximately 180° measured in the anterior direction to prevent the wearer's knee from canting rearwardly.

Claim 12

A knee orthosis comprising: a proximal cuff engageable with a wearer's leg above the knee, a distal cuff engageable with the wearer's leg below the knee, a pair of polycentric hinges, each hinge having the proximal portion pivotally attached to the proximal cuff and a distal portion spaced from the proximal portion and pivotally attached to the distal cuff, the proximal portion of the hinge which is adjacent the outside of the leg being further from the medial of the leg than the distal portion of that hinge and the proximal portion of the hinge which is adjacent the inside of the leg being closer to the medial of the leg than the distal portion of that hinge, the proximal and distal portions of each hinge having stop means to limit the pivotal motion of both the proximal and distal portions of the hinges relative to the proximal and distal cuffs to approximately 180° measured in the anterior direction to prevent the wearer's knee from canting rearwardly.

Claim 13

A knee orthosis according to claim 10 wherein, the proximal and distal cuffs each have an arcuate portion for engagement with the anterior portion of the wearer's leg above and below the knee respectively and lateral portions which are pivotally attached to the polycentric hinges.

Claim 14

A knee orthosis accroding to claim 10 wherein, the proximal and distal cuffs and the polycentric hinges are lined with non-allergenic foam padding for direct engagement with the wearer's skin.

Claim 15

A knee orthosis according to claim 10 wherein, there are a pair of adjustable non-elastic straps secured, one each, to the proximal and distal cuffs adjacent to the proximal and distal portions of the polycentric hinges for engagement with the posterior wearer's leg above and below above the popliteal space respectively.

Claim 16

A knee orthosis according to claim 10 wherein, the cuffs and the polycentric hinges are made of lightweight, high impact thermoplastic which may be shaped to the individual wearer's leg.

Claim 17

A knee orthosis according to claim 10 wherein, each polycentric hinge comprises two substantially figure eight shaped members pivotally secured on opposite sides of the proximal and distal cuffs.

Claim 18

A knee orthosis according to claim 10 wherein, there are a pair of adjacent elasticized straps secured, one each to the proximal and distal cuffs adjacent to the proximal and distal portions of the polycentric hinges for engagement with the anterior of the wearer's leg above and below the patella.

Claim 19

A knee orthosis according to claim 10 wherein: the stop means to limit the pivotal motion of the hinges comprises a pair of pins fixed in the proximal and distal portions of the polycentric hinges, which pins are engageable by a stop surface formed on each of the proximal and distal cuffs.

Claim 20

A knee orthosis according to claim 10 wherein there are a pair of non-elastic, removable, adjustable, straps securable, one each, to the proximal and distal cuffs for engagement with the wearer's posterior thigh and calf respectively to secure the cuffs to the leg.

Claim 21

A knee orthosis according to claim 18 wherein, the non-elastic straps have an elastic bridge member on the inner surfaces thereof to permit muscle expansions and contractions of the quadricep and calf.

Claim 22

A knee orthosis according to claim 18 wherein, the non-elastic straps have an elastic bridge member on the inner surfaces thereof to permit muscle expansions and contractions of the quadricep and calf.

Claim 23

A knee orthosis comprising: a proximal cuff engageable with a wearer's leg above the knee, a distal cuff engageable with the wearer's leg below the knee, a pair of polycentric hinges, each hinge having a proximal position pivotally attached to the proximal cuff and a distal portion spaced from the proximal portion and pivotally attached to the distal cuff, the proximal portion of the hinge which is adjacent the outside of the leg being further from the medial of the leg than the distal portion of that hinge and the proximal portion of the hinge which is adjacent the inside of the leg being closer to the medial of the leg than the distal portion of that hinge, and an elasticized strap secured to the distal cuff for engagement with the wearer's leg below the knee on the patella tendon.

Claim 24

A knee orthosis comprising: a proximal cuff engageable with a wearer's leg above the knee, a distal cuff engageable with the wearer's leg below the knee, a pair of polycentric hinges, each hinge having a proximal position pivotally attached to the proximal cuff and a distal portion spaced from the proximal portion and pivotally attached to the distal cuff, the proximal portion of the hinge which is adjacent the outside of the leg being further from the medial of the leg than the distal portion of that hinge and the proximal portion of the hinge which is adjacent the inside of the leg being closer to the medial of the leg than the distal portion of that hinge, and an elasticized strap secured to the distal cuff for engagement with the wearer's leg below the knee on the patella tendon.

Claim 25

A knee orthosis according to claim 21 wherein, the proximal and distal cuffs each have an arcuate portion for engagement with the anterior portion of the wearer's leg above and below the knee respectively and lateral portions which are pivotally attached to the polycentric hinges.

Claim 26

A knee orthosis according to claim 21 wherein, the proximal and distal cuffs and the polycentric hinges are lined with non-allergenic foam padding for direct engagement with the wearer's skin.

Claim 27

A knee orthosis according to claim 21 wherein, there is a removable, non-allergenic foam pad secured to the inner surface of the elasticized strap for engagement directly with the wearer's leg on the patella tendon.

Claim 28

A knee orthosis according to claim 21 wherein, the cuffs and the polycentric hinges are made of lightweight, high impact thermoplastic which may be shaped to the individual wearer's leg.

Claim 29

A knee orthosis according to claim 21 wherein, each polycentric hinge comprises two substantially figure eight shaped members pivotally secured on opposite sides of the proximal and distal cuffs.

Claim 30

A knee orthosis according to claim 21 wherein there are a pair of non-elastic, removable, adjustable straps securable, one each, to the proximal and distal cuffs for engagement with the wearer's posterior thigh and calf respectively to secure the cuffs to the leg.

Claim 31

A knee orthosis according to claim 27 wherein, the non-elastic straps have an elastic bridge member on the inner surfaces thereof to permit muscle expansions and contractions of the quadricep and calf.

Claim 32

A knee orthosis according to claim 27 wherein, the non-elastic straps have an elastic bridge member on the inner surfaces thereof to permit muscle expansions and contractions of the quadricep and calf.

Claim 33

A knee orthosis comprising: a proximal cuff engageable with a wearer's leg above the knee, a distal cuff engageable with the wearer's leg below the knee, a pair of polycentric hinges joining the cuffs, an anti-rotation structure comprising a patella plate and a tibia plate, the patella plate and tibia plate being engageable with the leg directly above and directly below the patella respectively, a pair of adjustable, elasticized straps connecting the patella plate and the tibia plate one strap being secured to a first side of the patella plate and to the opposite side of the tibia plate and the other strap being secured to a second side of the patella plate and to the opposite side of the tibia plate from the first strap, such that they cross one another behind the knee.

Claim 34

A knee orthosis comprising: a proximal cuff engageable with a wearer's leg above the knee, a distal cuff engageable with the wearer's leg below the knee, a pair of polycentric hinges joining the cuffs, an anti-rotation structure comprising a patella plate and a tibia plate, the patella plate and tibia plate being engageable with the leg directly above and directly below the patella respectively, a pair of adjustable, elasticized straps connecting the patella plate and the tibia plate one strap being secured to a first side of the patella plate and to the opposite side of the tibia plate and the other strap being secured to a second side of the patella plate and to the opposite side of the tibia plate from the first strap, such that they cross one another behind the knee.

Claim 35

A knee orthosis according to claim 30 wherein, the plates are lined with non-allergenic foam padding for direct engagement with the wearer's shin.

Claim 36

A knee orthosis according to claim 30 wherein, the plates are made of lightweight, high impact, thermoplastic which may be shaped to the individual wearer's leg.