JPH09135855A - Knee mounting tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a patient suffering knee arthropathy deformans or the like to walk without anxiety by forming a tool for him/her to easily wear and not to feel a pain. SOLUTION: This knee mounting tool is made of a thigh mounting tool piece 2 and a knee joint piece 4 for flexibly jointing the thigh mounting tool piece 2 to a crus mounting piece 3. In this case, the knee joint piece 4 is formed out of a thigh joint piece 4a, a thigh spherical surface disc piece 4b, a crus joint piece 4c, a crus peripheral surface disc piece 4d and a joint shaft 4e for slidably connecting the thigh spherical surface disc piece 4b to the crus spherical surface disc piece 4d. Also, the knee joint piece 4 causes both of the thigh mounting tool piece 2 and the crus mounting piece tool 3 to be relatively displaced toward an inner direction vertical to a flexed plane at an angle within a range from 0 degree to an angle between 5 and 10 degrees, as the the knee joint piece 4 moves from a flexed state to an expanded state.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a patient with osteoarthritis, which is a disease accompanied by pain in a knee during walking (in the case of O leg, outside of the knee in case of X leg). The present invention relates to a knee orthosis that can be worn comfortably and can walk with peace of mind without causing any pain in walking.

[0002]

Osteoarthritis of the knee increases with aging, and the knee during walking (in the case of O-leg, the inside of the knee,
In the case of X leg, it is a painful disease on the outside of the knee). The requirements for an orthosis are to increase the stability of the knee, reduce any unbalanced loads in the joint due to the generation of moments, and reduce the pain due to cartilage wear. The patient should wear it casually so as not to feel pain when walking, and avoid adverse effects such as flexion contracture and muscle weakness due to not walking.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems and was devised to solve the problems. The object of the present invention is that patients with osteoarthritis of knees can easily wear it. Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a knee brace that allows the user to walk with peace of mind while avoiding the pain of walking.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a thigh orthosis attached to the upper thigh of the knee and a lower thigh of the knee. In a knee brace comprising a lower leg brace piece and a knee joint piece that flexibly connects the thigh brace piece and the lower leg brace piece, the knee joint piece is a thigh side connecting piece fixed to a side surface of the thigh brace piece. , A thigh-side partially spherical surface-shaped dish piece integrally formed at the lower end of the thigh-side connecting piece, a lower leg-side connecting piece fixed to a side surface of the lower leg orthosis piece, and integrally formed at an upper end of the lower leg-side connecting piece The above knee joint piece is composed of a lower thigh side partial spherical surface type dish piece, and a connecting shaft for slidably connecting the thigh side partial spherical surface type dish piece and these thigh side partial spherical surface type dish pieces. , As the knee brace transitions from flexion to extension, bend the thigh brace and lower leg brace. 0 inward direction perpendicular to the plane
It comprises means for relative displacement at an angle of about 5 to 10 degrees.

Here, in the knee joint piece, an intermediate material partial spherical surface type guide plate piece is interposed between the lower leg side partial spherical surface type plate piece and the thigh side partial spherical surface type plate piece. Is preferred.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically based on embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings. Here, FIG. 1 is a side view of the knee brace, FIG. 2 is a front view of the knee brace,
3 (A) is a longitudinal sectional view of the knee joint piece, FIG. 3 (B) is a front view of the knee joint piece, FIG. 4 (A) is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining the action of the knee joint piece, and FIG. It is a front view for explaining an operation of a joint piece.

In FIG. 1, a knee brace 1 is a brace that is attached to the knee part of a patient with osteoarthritis or the like to relieve pain when the patient walks and to walk with peace of mind. A thigh orthosis piece 2 attached to the upper thigh, a lower leg orthosis piece 3 attached to the lower leg of the knee, and the thigh orthosis piece 2 and the lower leg orthosis 3 piece are flexibly connected. The knee joint piece 4 is mainly configured.

The thigh orthosis piece 2 is attached to the upper thigh of the knee of the patient's leg, and its transverse cross section is bent into a substantially U-shaped cross section so that it can be securely attached and fixed to the thigh. It is molded into a curved shape. Further, the thigh brace piece 2 is provided with a band 2a for securely attaching and fixing the thigh orthosis piece 2 to the thigh.
The band 2a is provided with a hook-and-loop fastener on the tip side thereof, and the outer surface of the thigh orthosis piece 2 is also provided with a hook-and-loop fastener in close contact with the hook-and-loop fastener of the band 2a.

The lower leg brace 3 is mounted on the lower leg of the lower leg of the patient's leg, and its transverse cross section has a substantially U-shaped cross section so that it can be securely mounted and fixed to the lower leg. It is molded into a curved shape. In addition, the lower leg brace 3 is provided with a band 3a for surely mounting and fixing the lower leg on the lower leg.
The band 3a is provided with a surface fastener on the tip side thereof, and the surface of the lower leg brace 3 is also provided with a surface fastener that is in close contact with the surface fastener of the band 3a.

The knee joint piece 4 flexibly connects the thigh orthosis piece 2 and the crus orthosis piece 3 and moves from the bent state to the extended state as the thigh orthosis piece 2 and the crus orthosis piece 3 are changed.
And 0 to 5 to 1 in the inward direction perpendicular to the bending plane.
It is a joint that functions to make relative displacement at an angle of about 0 degree.

The knee joint piece 4 includes a thigh side connecting piece 4a fixed to the side surface of the thigh orthosis piece 2, a thigh side partial spherical surface-shaped dish piece 4b integrally formed at the lower end of the thigh side connecting piece 4a, Lower leg connecting piece 4c fixed to the side surface of the lower leg orthosis piece 3, lower leg partial spherical surface type dish piece integrally formed on the upper end of the lower leg connecting piece 4c, and thigh side partial spherical surface shape thereof. It is mainly composed of a connecting shaft 4e which slidably connects the dish piece 4b and the lower leg side partial spherical surface type dish piece 4d.

The thigh-side connecting piece 4a of the knee joint piece 4 is made of a plate-shaped metal material, and is formed in a shape that is longer in the vertical direction than the width, and the side surface of the thigh orthosis piece 2 is bolted. A portion fixed by, for example, fulfills the function of supporting the load from the thigh side transmitted through the thigh orthosis piece 2 together with the lower leg side connecting piece 4c.

The lower leg connecting piece 4c of the knee joint piece 4 is made of a plate-shaped metal material and is formed in a shape that is longer in the vertical direction than the width. A portion fixed by, for example, fulfills a function of supporting the load from the lower leg side transmitted through the lower leg brace piece 3 and the lower leg side connecting piece 4c together with the thigh side connecting piece 4a.

The thigh-side partially spherical surface-shaped dish piece 4b integrally formed at the lower end of the thigh-side connecting piece 4a is formed by molding a circular plate-shaped metal material into a partially spherical surface shape, and is circular when viewed from the plane. It has a shape, and its cross section has an arc shape.

Similarly, the lower leg partial spherical surface type dish piece 4d integrally formed on the upper end of the lower leg side connecting piece 4c is also made of a circular plate-shaped metal material formed into a partial spherical surface shape and has a flat surface. It has a circular shape when viewed from the outside, and its cross section has an arc shape.

The thigh-side partial spherical surface-shaped dish piece 4b and the lower thigh-side partial spherical surface-shaped dish piece 4d are superposed on each other and slid along the partial spherical surface. In this embodiment, the crus side partial spherical surface-shaped dish piece 4d is on the upper side, and the thigh side partial spherical surface-shaped dish piece 4b is on the lower side. Sphere surface dish plate 4b
A partially spherical surface type guide dish piece 4f, which is an intermediate material, is interposed between and.

The partially spherical surface type guide dish piece 4f is formed by molding a deformed circular plastic plate into a partially spherical surface shape, and forms a guide edge 4g in which a part of the circular portion is slightly convex when viewed from the plane. Has a deformed circular shape, and its cross section has an arc shape.

A circular guide roller 4h, which contacts the guide edge 4g of the partially spherical surface type guide dish piece 4f, is rotatably provided on the lower side of the thigh-side connecting piece 4a. By rotating the guide roller 4h, the guide edge 4g that comes into contact with the guide roller 4h is smoothly guided.

The convex partial spherical surface side of the partial spherical surface type guide dish 4f is fixed in spherical contact with the concave partial spherical rear surface side of the lower leg side partial spherical surface type dish 4d, and the partial spherical surface type guide is also provided. The concave partial sphere back surface side of the dish piece 4f is slidably laid on the convex partial sphere surface side of the thigh side partial sphere surface type dish piece 4b in a spherical contact state.

By inserting a plastic partial spherical surface type guide plate piece 4f as an intermediate material between the metal lower leg side partial spherical surface type plate piece 4d and the thigh side partial spherical surface type plate piece 4b. It is possible to prevent the generation of metallic noise when sliding on the spherical surface, and to prevent the generation of metallic powder due to the abrasion between metals.

The connecting shaft 4e penetrates the above-mentioned stacked lower limb side partial spherical surface type dish piece 4d, partial spherical surface type guide dish piece 4f and thigh side partial spherical surface type dish piece 4b, and makes these three spherical surfaces. They are connected in a contact state. The connecting shaft 4e has a circular cross-section, and both ends have a larger diameter than the central portion, and the lower leg side partial spherical surface type dish piece 4d and the partial spherical surface type guide dish are provided from both ends. The piece 4f and the thigh-side partially spherical surface-shaped dish piece 4b are sandwiched so as not to come off. The partial spherical surface type guide dish piece 4f and the thigh side partial spherical surface type dish piece 4b are slidable.

At the central portion of each circular shape of the lower sphere-side partial spherical surface type dish piece 4d and the partial spherical surface type guide dish piece 4f, there are elongated holes 4i, 4j of the same shape for allowing the connecting shaft 4e to pass therethrough.
Are formed respectively. Further, a circular fixing hole 4k for penetrating the connecting shaft 4e is formed in a circular central portion of the thigh-side partially spherical surface-shaped dish piece 4b.

When the long holes 4i, 4j for axial movement are formed in an arc shape which is short in the vertical direction, and when the thigh side connecting piece 4a is rotated around the connecting shaft 4e with respect to the lower leg side connecting piece 4c. During the extension rotation of the connecting shaft 4e, which is the center of rotation, the lower sphere side partial spherical surface type dish piece 4d and the partial spherical surface type guide dish piece 4 are formed.
The structure is such that it slightly moves in the vertical direction along the surface of the partial sphere of f, and as described above, the inside of the thigh brace piece 2 and the crus brace piece 3 in the direction perpendicular to the bending plane during extension and rotation. The structure is such that relative displacement is performed at an angle of 0 to 5 to 10 degrees in the direction.

Further, in the lower leg partial spherical surface type dish piece 4d and the partial spherical surface type guide dish piece 4f, the circular central portion is displaced from the axial movement elongated holes 4i, 4j toward the peripheral side,
Guide holes 4m and 4n of the same shape are formed, respectively.
In the guide holes 4m, 4n, a guide shaft 4p fixed to the thigh-side partially spherical surface-shaped dish piece 4b is projected, and the guide shaft 4p relatively moves along the guide holes 4m, 4n. Moving.

The guide holes 4m and 4n shown in the figure are formed in the shape of arc-shaped long holes near the long holes 4i and 4j for axial movement. The guide shaft 4p positioned inside the guide holes 4m and 4n has a left (or right) end portion of the guide holes 4m and 4n shown in the drawing when the thigh-side connecting piece 4a and the crus-side connecting piece 4c are in a bent state. When the thigh side connecting piece 4a has the maximum extension angle relative to the lower leg connecting piece 4c, it is located at the right (or left) end of the guide holes 4m and 4n in the figure.

The guide holes 4m and 4n are provided in the inner guide shaft 4.
The function of restricting the bending extension extension range of the thigh orthosis piece 2 and the lower leg orthosis piece 3 is achieved by p. Further, the guide hole 4
m and 4n are connecting shafts 4e that move the thigh orthosis piece 2 and the lower leg orthosis piece 3 during extension and rotation by an internal guide shaft 4p.
Is gradually increased at a constant rate, that is, in proportion to the bending angle between the thigh brace piece 2 and the lower leg brace piece 3, the connecting shaft 4e moves at a constant rate, and the thigh brace piece 2 and the lower leg brace piece 3 are bent. The function of guiding and changing the moving angle in the inward direction perpendicular to the plane is changed in relation to the bending angle between the thigh brace piece 2 and the lower leg brace piece 3.

When worn on the knee, an adjustable band 5 is also used to more secure the knee joint piece 4 to the knee. Further, the knee joint piece 4 has the same function even when the guide roller 4h is provided on the lower leg side connecting piece 4c in the structure which is upside down.

Next, the operation based on the configuration of the above embodiment of the present invention will be described below. When a patient with knee osteoarthritis or the like has a so-called O-leg type in which a pain occurs inside the knee during walking, the knee brace 1 is attached to the patient's leg so that the knee joint piece 4 is located on the inner side surface of the knee. Attach to. That is, the thigh brace piece 2 of the knee brace 1 is attached to the upper thigh of the knee, and the lower leg brace piece 3 is attached.
Is attached to the lower leg of the knee, and the knee brace 1 is securely attached to the leg portion by the bands 2a and 3a and the adjustable band 5.

By mounting the knee brace 1 in this manner, a valgus moment can be generated on the inner side surface of the knee when the knee is extended. This valgus moment relieves the pain generated on the medial side of the knee during knee extension during walking.
This principle can be explained as follows.

That is, this valgus moment bends the inner side surface of the upper thigh of the knee and the inner side surface of the lower leg of the knee to the outside of the knee with the outer side surface of the knee as the center. Since the moment acts in such a direction, that is, the force acts in a direction in which, for example, the inner side surface of the knee is vertically separated. On the other hand, when walking, a force acts in the direction in which the upper and lower sides of the knee approach each other due to the weight of the body, causing pain, but when walking, the weight of the body causes the upper and lower sides of the inner side of the knee to rise and fall. The force acting in the approaching direction is canceled by the force acting in the direction of pulling away the valgus moment in the opposite direction, and the pain generated on the medial side of the knee during knee extension during walking is relieved. Of.

While the valgus moment relieves the pain generated on the medial side of the knee when the knee is extended, the knee joint piece 4 bends the thigh orthosis piece 2 and the crus orthosis piece 3 when the knee is bent. Since relative displacement is performed at an angle of 0 to 5 to 10 degrees in the outward direction perpendicular to the bending plane, a valgus moment is not generated and a relaxed state is achieved.

As a result, patients with O-leg osteoarthritis and the like alleviate the pain generated on the medial side of the knee during knee extension due to the valgus moment generated on the medial side of the knee during walking and extension of the knee. In addition, since the valgus moment does not occur when the knee is flexed without causing pain, the patient can walk in a relaxed state.

In the case of a so-called X-leg type in which a patient with knee osteoarthritis or the like has a pain on the outside of the knee during walking, the knee brace 1 is placed so that the knee joint piece 4 is located on the outer side surface of the knee. Put on the patient's leg. That is, the thigh brace piece 2 of the knee brace 1 is attached to the upper thigh of the knee, and the lower leg brace 3 is attached to the lower leg of the knee, and the bands 2a and 3a and the adjustable band 5 are attached. The knee brace 1 is securely attached to the leg portion by.

As described above, by mounting the knee brace 1, it is possible to generate a varus moment on the lateral side surface of the knee when the knee is extended. This varus moment relieves the pain generated on the lateral side of the knee during extension of the knee during walking. This principle can be explained as follows.

That is, this varus moment bends the outer side surface of the upper thigh of the knee and the outer side surface of the lower leg of the knee toward the inner side of the knee with the inner side surface of the knee as the center. Since the moment acts in such a direction, that is, the force acts in such a direction as to separate the lateral side surface of the knee in the vertical direction. On the other hand, when walking, a force acts in the direction in which the upper and lower sides of the knee approach each other due to the weight of the body, causing pain, but during walking, the weight of the body causes the upper and lower sides of the outer side of the knee to rise and fall. The force acting in the approaching direction is offset by the force acting in the direction of pulling the varus moment away in the opposite direction to relieve the pain generated on the lateral side of the knee during extension of the knee during walking. Of.

When the knee is extended, the varus moment relieves the pain generated on the lateral side of the knee, while when the knee is bent, the knee joint piece 4 flexes and rotates the thigh orthosis piece 2 and the lower leg orthosis piece 3. Since the relative displacement is performed at an angle of 0 to 5 to 10 degrees in the outward direction perpendicular to the bending plane, the inversion moment does not occur and the relaxed state is achieved.

As a result, in patients with X-leg osteoarthritis, the varus moment generated on the lateral side of the knee during walking and extension of the knee eases the pain generated on the lateral side of the knee during extension of the knee. In addition, since the varus moment does not occur when the knee is flexed without causing pain, the patient can walk in a relaxed state.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment of the present invention, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0039]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the knee brace of the present invention, in the case of a so-called O-leg type in which a patient with knee osteoarthritis or the like has a pain inside the knee during walking. By mounting the knee brace on the leg portion of the patient so that the knee joint piece is located on the inner side surface of the knee, the pain on the inner side surface of the knee during walking can be relieved.

When a patient with knee osteoarthritis or the like has a so-called X-leg type in which a pain occurs on the outside of the knee during walking, the knee brace is put on the patient so that the knee joint piece is located on the outer side surface of the knee. By attaching to the leg part of the, the pain on the lateral side of the knee during walking can be relieved.

Further, the present invention can be applied not only to osteoarthritis of knees but also to the damage of bast leather where stress is not applied to the inside, outside and one side of the knee.

As a result, a patient with knee osteoarthritis or the like can walk with peace of mind, and various adverse effects on the body due to not walking can be avoided. It has the following effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a knee brace showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the knee brace showing the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a vertical sectional view of a knee joint piece showing an embodiment of the present invention. (B) is a front view of a knee joint piece showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a vertical sectional view for explaining the operation of the knee joint piece according to the embodiment of the present invention. (B) is a front view for explaining the operation of the knee joint piece according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Knee brace 2 Thigh brace piece 2a Band 3 Lower leg brace piece 3a Band 4 Knee joint piece 4a Thigh side connecting piece 4b Thigh side part spherical surface type plate piece 4c Lower leg side connecting piece 4d Lower leg side spherical surface type plate piece 4e Connecting shaft 4f Partial spherical surface type guide dish piece 4g Guide edge 4h Guide roller 4i Long hole for axis movement 4j Long hole for axis movement 4k Fixing hole 4m Guide hole 4n Guide hole 4p Guide shaft 5 Band

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A thigh orthosis piece attached to the upper thigh of the knee, a lower leg orthosis piece attached to the lower leg of the knee, and the thigh orthosis piece and the lower leg orthosis piece being bent. In a knee brace consisting of a knee joint piece that is freely connected, the knee joint piece,
Thigh-side connecting piece fixed to the side surface of the thigh-orthosis piece, thigh-side partially spherical surface-shaped dish piece integrally formed at the lower end of the thigh-side connecting piece, and lower-thigh-side connecting piece fixed to the side surface of the lower thigh-orthosis piece A lower leg side spherical surface type dish piece integrally formed at an upper end of the lower leg side connecting piece, and a thigh side partial spherical surface type dish piece and a lower leg side spherical surface type dish piece which are slidably connected The knee joint piece is formed from 0 degrees in the inward direction perpendicular to the bending plane as the knee brace changes from the flexed state to the extended state of the knee brace. A knee brace characterized by relative displacement at an angle of about 5 to 10 degrees. 2. The knee joint piece is provided with a partial spherical surface type guide plate piece of an intermediate material between the lower leg side partial spherical surface type dish piece and the thigh side partial spherical surface type dish piece. The knee brace according to 1.