KR102183576B1 - Knee supporter with variable pneumatic contact pressure - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a knee supporter that changes the contact pressure on a body by pneumatic pressure, including: an upper module (10) having a cuff (15) on the inner surface of a tightening band (11) at an upper link (13); a lower module (20) having a cuff (25) on the inner surface of a tightening band (21) at a lower link (23); a joint means (30) connecting the upper module (10) and the lower module (20) to enable joint movement; and an adjusting means (40) for causing a change in contact pressure during a walking process by adjusting the pneumatic pressure on the cuffs (15, 25). Accordingly, the present invention generates strong adhesion to a stance phase and reduces adhesion to a swing phase to maintain the smoothness of walking while reducing a part of the vertical load acting on the knee due to a change in adhesion force, thereby having an effect of reducing the strain on the knee joint.

Description

{Knee supporter with variable pneumatic contact pressure}

The present invention relates to a pneumatic knee brace, and more specifically, to a pneumatic contact force variable knee brace to reduce the burden on the joint in the process of walking by a patient or a disabled person.

Usually, knee braces are worn after knee joint surgery to reduce the effect of weight on the knee joint. In order to increase the effect of wearing a knee brace, the velcro ties above and below the knee joint should adhere well to the femur and calf muscles and should not be pushed. In order to close the knee brace and the leg, it must be tightened with a strong force, which causes pain and discomfort in walking. The maximum joint pressure occurs in the middle stance when the femoral Negalus muscle contracts the strongest, and the intra-joint pressure increase is more pronounced especially in patients with arthropathy than in normal subjects.

Korean Patent Publication No. 1815274, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2011-0026543, and the like are known as prior art documents that can be referred to in this regard.

The former is a main body having a shape of the upper light and lower hyeop; A thigh support portion provided on the outer circumferential surface of the main body to press the thigh portion; A lower leg support portion provided on an outer circumferential surface of the main body to press the lower leg; A knee bending angle adjustment unit connected to a vertical member of the thigh support and the lower support of the lower leg; And a knee bending angle adjustment unit support means. Accordingly, the effect of preventing secondary damage and rehabilitation of the patient is expected.

The latter is a phenomenon in which a support pad that connects and fixes a plurality of support bands that bind to the calf or thigh part is also bound and fixed with the upper/lower support, and the applied force is distributed to the rotating member, causing excitement on both sides of the knee (space). The adhesion to the knee is increased so that this does not occur. Accordingly, it is expected to reduce the pain and impact of the knee joint and to adjust the left and right balance imbalance of the cartilage.

However, the male and female Velcro tape and the support band as in the prior literature are tightened with a consistent strong force on the leg during walking, causing constant pressure and pain, and limiting the movement of muscles during the swing phase, resulting in discomfort in walking.

For this reason, when looking at the actual use pattern of patients, it is not possible to effectively reduce the vertical load acting on the knee joint as there are many cases where the adhesion of the orthosis to the leg is loosened.

Korean Patent Publication No. 1815274 "Knee Orthosis" (Publication date: 2018.01.04.) Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2011-0026543 "Knee Orthosis" (Publication date: 2011.03.16)

It is an object of the present invention to improve the conventional problems as described above, in order to distribute the vertical load in the stance phase when the load is directly applied to the knee, it provides a strong adhesion of the attachment site to the femur and calf muscles, and the knee load is reduced. In the absent swing phase, it is intended to make walking more smooth and comfortable by mitigating the adhesion applied to the femur and calf muscles.

Another object of the present invention is that the pressure in the cuff of the contact surface between the femur and calf muscles increases to the maximum in the maximum stance, thereby increasing the pressure inside the air cylinder, thereby generating a vertical pushing force inside the air cylinder. A part of the force acting in the vertical direction of the knee joint is lost by this force, and a part of the vertical force applied to the knee joint is reduced to protect the knee joint.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a knee brace for varying the contact pressure with respect to the body by pneumatic pressure: an upper module having a cuff on the inner surface of the tightening member at the upper link; A lower module having a cuff on the inner surface of the tightening bar at the lower link; Joint means for connecting the upper module and the lower module to enable joint motion; And adjusting means for causing a change in contact force in the walking process by adjusting the air pressure on the cuff.

According to the detailed configuration of the present invention, the cuff is characterized in that it is configured to simultaneously receive pneumatic pressure from the outside by connecting each tube into one.

According to the detailed configuration of the present invention, the joint means is characterized in that the split link is connected to the slide shaft and the slide groove to cause a length variation.

According to the detailed configuration of the present invention, the adjusting means is characterized in that the elastic rod is connected to the upper and lower links, and the air cylinder is connected to the upper and lower cuffs with pipes, thereby causing the operation of the air cylinder by expansion and contraction of the elastic rod.

As a modified example of the present invention, the adjusting means further comprises an auxiliary actuator to increase the operating force of the air cylinder in the standing phase while walking.

As described above, according to the present invention, the effect of reducing the burden on the knee joint by reducing a part of the vertical load acting on the knee due to fluctuations of adhesion while maintaining a smooth walking by generating a strong adhesion in the stance phase and reducing the adhesion in the swing phase. There is.

1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall knee brace according to the present invention
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the main part of the knee brace according to the present invention
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the knee brace according to the present invention
Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing an operation example of the knee brace according to the present invention

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention proposes a knee brace that changes the contact pressure to the body by pneumatic pressure. The target is a knee brace that can be in close contact with the femoral and calf muscles of the user's leg, but is not limited thereto. The pneumatic pressure applied to the knee protector is relatively lightweight and can provide cushioning to the body.

In the description of the present invention, terms referring to directions such as up, down, left and right are named based on a state worn on the user's body (leg).

According to the present invention, the upper module 10 has a structure having a cuff 15 on the inner surface of the clamping table 11 in the upper link 13. The upper module 10 is configured by connecting one to two links 13 to the lower side of the tightening belt 11 that can be in close contact with the femur. The clamping table 11 can be adjusted in diameter to fit the size of the user's thigh muscles. A cuff 15 capable of expanding and contracting by pneumatic pressure is installed on a part of the inner surface of the clamping table 11. The cuff 15 is made of a material having strength, harmlessness to the human body, elasticity, and abrasion resistance.

In addition, according to the present invention, the lower module 20 has a structure having a cuff 25 on the inner surface of the tightening table 21 at the lower link 23. The lower module 20 is configured by connecting one to two links 23 to the upper side of the clamping table 21 that can be in close contact with the calf muscle. The tightening table 21 can be adjusted in diameter to fit the size of the user's vertical leg muscles. A cuff 25 capable of expanding and contracting with pneumatic pressure is installed on a part of the inner surface of the tightening table 21. The cuff 25 is made of a material having strength, harmlessness to the human body, elasticity, and abrasion resistance.

When air is injected or discharged into the cuffs 15 and 25, fluctuations in contact pressure (adhesion force) with respect to the leg are caused.

According to the detailed configuration of the present invention, the cuffs 15 and 25 are configured to simultaneously receive pneumatic pressure from the outside by connecting each of the tubes 17 and 27 into one.

Referring to FIG. 1, the cuff 15 of the upper module 10 and the cuff 25 of the lower module 20 are provided with respective tubes 17 and 27. The tube 17 of the upper module 10 goes down in a path adjacent to the upper link 13 and the tube 27 of the lower module 20 goes up in a path adjacent to the lower link 23. It is good to synchronize the fluctuations in adhesion to the femur and longitudinal muscles by connecting the tubes 17 and 27 of each cuff 15 and 25 with a T-shaped joint. The external pneumatic pressure can be provided in various ways, including a known pump.

In addition, according to the present invention, the joint means 30 has a structure that connects the upper module 10 and the lower module 20 to enable joint motion. The joint means 30 connects the upper module 10 and the lower module 20 with a hinge part 32 to implement joint movement of the stance and swing phases during walking. The hinge portion 32 is configured to include a hinge shaft that acts as a center of rotation of the leg joint motion.

According to the detailed configuration of the present invention, the joint means 30 is characterized in that the split link 23 is connected to the sliding shaft 34 and the sliding groove 36 to cause a length variation.

Referring to FIG. 2, the sliding shaft 34 and the sliding groove 36 of the joint means 30 are added to the link 23 of the lower module 20. The link 23 is formed in a structure that is divided into two vertically, and is slidably connected through the sliding shaft 34 and the sliding groove 36, respectively. The length of the link 23 is reduced in the stance phase in which the load on the leg increases, and the length of the link 23 is increased in the swing phase in which the load decreases. This increases the operability of the adjusting means 40 to be described later as well as the smoothness of the joint movement during walking. Although omitted in the illustration, the slide shaft 34 and the slide groove 36 may be formed on the link 13 of the upper module 10.

In addition, according to the present invention, the adjusting means 40 forms a structure in which the contact pressure fluctuates during the walking process by adjusting the pneumatic pressure for the cuffs 15 and 25. The adjusting means 40 alternately varies the contact pressure applied to the body by the cuffs 15 and 25 in the stance and swing phases during walking. When a small pump is used as the adjusting means 40, the change in adhesion of the cuffs 15 and 25 can be implemented by controlling the on-off of the motor as the driving source.

According to the detailed configuration of the present invention, the adjusting means 40 connects the elastic rod 43 to the upper and lower links 13 and 23, and connects the air cylinder 45 to the upper and lower cuffs 15 and 25 as a pipe. By connecting, it is characterized in that the operation of the air cylinder 45 by the expansion and contraction of the elastic rod (43).

1 and 2, the adjusting means 40 shows a state in which the elastic rod 43 and the air cylinder 45 are used. The elastic rod 43 serves as a piston of the air cylinder 45 and is formed of a resin material having elasticity and wear resistance. The elastic rod 43 is connected to the upper link 13 through the bracket 41 to the upper side and connected to the piston of the air cylinder 45 to the lower side. It is preferable that the elastic rod 43 is smoother in the radial direction than in the axial direction. An air cylinder 45 having a vent 46 at the lower side is coupled to the lower link 23 and is connected to the tubes 17 and 27 of the cuffs 15 and 25 through the vent 46. With this configuration, it is possible to alternately expand and contract the cuffs 15 and 25 in connection with the user's walking, even without a separate motor or power source.

At this time, the elastic rod 43 may be provided with a plurality of grooves on the outer surface so as to smoothly stretch (buckling) elastically deformed in the radial direction. During the joint movement of the links 13 and 23 while walking, the elastic rod 43 is pushed in the radial direction to induce expansion and contraction. A roller (not shown) may be added to a portion of the link 13 in contact with the elastic rod 43.

On the other hand, it is preferable that the air cylinder 45 has a separate vent 46 and a valve plate 47 in addition to the vent 46 connected to the tubes 17 and 27. The valve plate 47 is installed in a manner that is opened and closed by a difference in air pressure inside and outside the air cylinder 45. The valve plate 47 is opened while air is introduced into the air cylinder 45, and the valve plate 47 is closed while air flows from the air cylinder 45 to the cuffs 15 and 25.

As a modified example of the present invention, the adjusting means 40 is characterized in that it further includes an auxiliary actuator 50 to increase the operating force of the air cylinder 45 in the standing phase while walking.

Referring to FIG. 3, the auxiliary actuator 50 is installed in the inner space of the air cylinder 45. The auxiliary actuator 50 may use a motor or a solenoid, but it is preferable to use an electroactive polymer composite (EAP) in consideration of the stroke distance of the air cylinder 45. Compared to shape memory alloys or electroactive ceramics, EAP has good toughness and responsiveness and is relatively capable of large deformation. When the auxiliary actuator 50 is installed outside the air cylinder 45 or on the elastic rod 43, the internal space of the air cylinder 45 is preferred because it can act as a resistance to the stand. In any case, the auxiliary actuator 50 is connected to the controller 55, which is separately worn, and assists the operation of sending air from the air cylinder 45 to the cuffs 15 and 25 to improve the smoothness of walking. That is, in accordance with the signal from the controller 55, the EAP, which is the auxiliary driver 50, is contracted in the stance to assist the compression of the air cylinder 45.

Looking at the operation with reference to FIG. 4, (a) represents the swing phase (b) represents the initial phase, and (c) represents the maximum phase. In Fig. 4(a), the distance between the bracket 41 and the air cylinder 45 increases and the elastic rod 43 is bent, so that the air from the cuffs 15 and 25 flows into the air cylinder 45, reducing the adhesion. . The user is relieved of the burden of joint motion in the swing phase due to the decrease in the contact pressure of the clamping table 11. In Fig. 4(b), the elastic rod 43 is restored to the elastic force, and at the same time, the gap between the bracket 41 and the air cylinder 45 is narrowed, so that the air cylinder 45 is compressed to transfer air to the cuffs 15 and 25. send. In Fig. 4(c), the user receives the maximum vertical load of the maximum stance phase, but a part of it is transferred to the links 13 and 23 through the inflated cuffs 15 and 25, thereby reducing the load burden on the knee joint. .

In FIG. 4, reference numerals 15' and 25' denote a state in which the cuffs 15 and 25 are inflated.

The above-described vent 46 and valve plate 47 are closed in the stance phase, but open in the swing phase, thereby reducing the burden of joint motion. Even if air from the air cylinder 45 rapidly flows into the cuffs 15 and 25 while the valve plate 47 is closed at the standpoint, sliding occurs in the slide shaft 34 and the slide groove 36, causing an impact. It can be alleviated.

The above-described auxiliary actuator 50 does not act with any resistance force in the swing phase, but when it is switched to the standing phase, it pulls the piston of the air cylinder 45 to reduce the reaction caused by the pressure increase of the cuffs 15 and 25. The controller 55 equipped with power is worn on the waist and operates the auxiliary driver 50 using various detection signals including brain waves.

It is apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, and that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, such variations or modifications will have to belong to the claims of the present invention.

10: upper module 11, 21: fastener
13: link 1525,: cuff
17, 27: tube 20: lower module
30: joint means 32: hinge
34: slide shaft 36: slide groove
40: adjustment means 41: bracket
43: elastic rod 45: air cylinder
46: vent 47: valve plate
50: auxiliary actuator 55: controller

Claims (5)

For knee braces that pneumatically change the contact pressure on the body:
An upper module 10 having a cuff 15 on the inner surface of the clamping table 11 in the upper link 13;
A lower module 20 having a cuff 25 on the inner surface of the tightening table 21 in the lower link 23;
Joint means (30) for connecting the upper module (10) and the lower module (20) to enable joint movement; And
Containing a pneumatic pressure control for the cuffs (15, 25) to cause contact pressure fluctuations in the walking process (40);
The cuff 15 and 25 are configured to simultaneously receive pneumatic pressure from the outside by connecting each of the tubes 17 and 27 into one,
The joint means (30) is a pneumatic contact force variable knee brace, characterized in that by connecting the split link (23) to the sliding shaft (34) and the sliding groove (36) to cause a length variation. delete delete The method according to claim 1,
The adjusting means 40 connects the elastic rod 43 to the upper and lower links 13, 23, and connects the air cylinder 45 to the upper and lower cuffs 15 and 25 through a pipe, and the elastic rod 43 Pneumatic contact force variable knee brace, characterized in that causing the operation of the air cylinder 45 by the expansion and contraction of. The method of claim 4,
The adjustment means (40) is a pneumatic contact force variable knee aid, characterized in that further provided with an auxiliary actuator (50) to increase the operating force of the air cylinder (45) in the standing phase during walking.

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