WO2007006358A1 - Support de genou - Google Patents

Support de genou Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2007006358A1
WO2007006358A1 PCT/EP2006/004365 EP2006004365W WO2007006358A1 WO 2007006358 A1 WO2007006358 A1 WO 2007006358A1 EP 2006004365 W EP2006004365 W EP 2006004365W WO 2007006358 A1 WO2007006358 A1 WO 2007006358A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
brace
knee
laces
user
designed
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2006/004365
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2007006358B1 (fr
Inventor
Jean-Patrick Jaccard
Original Assignee
Sports & Supports Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sports & Supports Limited filed Critical Sports & Supports Limited
Publication of WO2007006358A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007006358A1/fr
Publication of WO2007006358B1 publication Critical patent/WO2007006358B1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F5/00—Orthopaedic methods or devices for non-surgical treatment of bones or joints; Nursing devices; Anti-rape devices
    • A61F5/01—Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces
    • A61F5/0102—Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations
    • A61F5/0123—Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations for the knees

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to the field of articles for health and orthopaedic use for rehabilitation and prevention of injury and in particular to a brace for knee joints or knee support designed to prevent strains and thus loading of the collateral ligaments of the knee.
  • knee braces or supports which take the form of a tube open at each end to be worn on the patient's lower limb.
  • the tube contains two rods articulated in correspondence with the sides of the knee, known as the condyles.
  • These braces have the drawback of not allowing a precise positioning of the rods to correspond with the condyles of the knee.
  • braces which have two tubular elements that can be opened at the front or at the back to be positioned on the thigh and on the leg. These tubular elements are connected to each other by means of an articulated system of rods that are laterally stiff but longitudinally articulated, so as to form two hinges.
  • Said articulated rods offer a good support against lateral stress, though maintaining a free longitudinal flexion and extension movement of the leg.
  • the tubular elements are worn on the limb so that the axes of the hinges are disposed to correspond with the sides of the knee.
  • a patient whose size is between large and extra-large for the distal region of the thigh and only medium for the proximal part of the leg will not be able to have his requirements met. Therefore, he will have to choose one of the sizes, large or medium, for both the distal and proximal parts, or have a brace made to measure, at a considerably higher cost than standard, off-the-shelf braces.
  • Object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a knee brace that is versatile and can be adapted to different lower limb shapes, offering the possibility of maintaining the lateral rods in the correct position though varying the circumference in the two regions, distal and proximal, independently of each other.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide such a knee brace that is easy for the user to wear and ensures a perfect alignment of the centres of rotation of the rods with the axis of rotation of the knee.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide such a brace that is ambidextrous, that can be adapted so as to be worn either on the right limb or on the left limb.
  • Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a brace that is cheap and simple to produce.
  • the knee brace according to the invention comprises:
  • a lower element designed to be disposed to encircle the user's leg below the knee, and - at least one articulated system which joins said upper element to said lower element, to relieve the load on the collateral ligaments of the knee during flexion and extension movements of the leg.
  • said upper and lower elements each comprise a first portion coupled to a second portion with substantially the same shape as the first portion.
  • Each portion comprises a solid band and a plurality of laces, which protrude from one end of the solid band.
  • the laces of the first portion are crossed with the laces of the second portion and the ends of said laces are closed by means of closing means, so as to constrain to each other the two portions of the respective element of the brace.
  • This system allows the two elements of the brace to be tightened by pulling the laces, so as to adapt them to the shape of the patient's lower limb. In this manner the centres of rotation of the articulated elements can be perfectly aligned with the axis of rotation of the knee, allowing the brace to function well.
  • Figure 1 is a partially broken off cross sectional view showing a multilayer sheet used for production of the knee brace according to the invention
  • Figure 2 is a plan view showing a first portion of the knee brace according to the invention, taken from the side destined to face outwards;
  • Figure 2A is a plan view illustrating a second complementary portion designed to couple with the first portion of Figure 2;
  • Figure 3 is a plan view illustrating the brace according to the invention, with an articulated stabilizing system shown exploded;
  • Figure 3 A is a view like Figure 3, illustrating the transformation of a brace for the right limb into a brace for the left limb;
  • Figures 4 and 5 are two perspective views illustrating two stages in assembly of a stabilizing rod of the articulated system;
  • Figures 6 to 10 are perspective views illustrating five sequences for fitting of a brace according to the invention to a patient's leg;
  • Figures 11 and 12 are two perspective views taken from different angles, illustrating the brace according to the invention fitted on the patient's leg;
  • Figures 13, 14 and 15 are three views like Figure 11, illustrating the brace according to the invention, in which the hinge of the rods is illustrated in a centred, in a forward and in a rearward position with respect to the condyles of the knee.
  • the knee brace or support according to the invention denoted as a whole with reference numeral 100 and illustrated as a whole in Figure 3, is described with reference to the figures.
  • the brace 100 comprises:
  • a lower element 102 substantially similar to the upper element 101, designed to be disposed to encircle the user's leg below the knee, and
  • the multilayer sheet 1 comprises:
  • the bottom layer 2 being in contact with the skin, must be made of an anallergic, breathable material.
  • the middle layer 3 must be made of a cushioning, breathable material like an open-cell plastic foam material, for example, such as polyurethane (PU).
  • PU polyurethane
  • the upper layer 4 must have an upper surface suitable for Velcro-type coupling.
  • the upper surface of the top layer 4 has a plurality of loops 40 able to couple, in an anchoring relationship, with a plurality of matching hooks of a Velcro-type fixing element, as will be described below.
  • the top layer 4 can be made of nylon material, suitably treated, so as to obtain a top surface with a plurality of loops 40.
  • the bottom layer 2 can have portions with a plurality of hooks 20 able to couple with the loops 40 of the top layer 4.
  • the multilayer sheet 1 is preferably obtained by flame bonding. That is to say, the bottom layer 2 and the middle layer 3 are fed from two respective rolls. The middle layer 3 is made to pass near a flame which heats it on the side facing towards the bottom layer 2 to allow bonding thereof. Then, the two layers 2 and 3 are made to pass through a calender, which carries out bonding. The outer side of the middle layer 3 is subsequently flame heated and bonded by means of a calender with the top layer 4 fed from a roll.
  • the middle layer 3 made of PU allows good adherence with the bottom layer 2 and with the top layer 4, through flame bonding.
  • Flame bonding is an example of the types of bonding between materials that can be performed; alternatively there are other methods such as spread or sprayed glues, hot glues, etc.
  • the multilayer sheet 1 substantially rectangular in shape, is fed to a blanking machine.
  • the multilayer sheet 1 is then compressed between two die halves which perform blanking along a pre-established outline, so as to obtain a first portion of brace 5, as shown in Figure 2.
  • the portion of brace 5 comprises a solid band 50, substantially rectangular in shape, with a rounded end 51. Near the end 51 of the band 50, a gripping portion 58 is provided, suitable to be gripped by the user.
  • a plurality of laces 52 shaped like rectangular strips protrude from the distal end with respect to the rounded end 51 of the band 50.
  • the laces 52 are of the same length and width and are disposed equidistant from each other so as to define a plurality of spaces 53 of such a width as to be able to receive the laces 52 of another portion of brace.
  • five laces 52 are provided on the portion of brace 5.
  • a reinforcing strip 54 disposed crosswise with respect to the laces 52 is sewn on the top layer of the band 50.
  • the reinforcing strip 54 forms a pocket 55 able to receive a rod or an insert of metal or of stiff plastic 60 (Figure 3), shaped like a flattened plate, forming part of the articulated stabilizer system 6, as will be described hereunder.
  • a leaf spring or clip 57 shaped like a small plate is hinged on the reinforcing strip 54 by means of a hinge 56 with a transverse axis with respect to the laces 52.
  • the clip 57 when it is closed, passes through the whole reinforcing strip 54, so as to give rise to a narrowing of the pocket 55.
  • the first portion 5 is able to couple with a second complementary portion 5', as illustrated in Figure 2A, in which like parts to those already described are indicated with the same reference numerals and are not described.
  • the second portion 5' differs from the first portion 5, in that it has six laces 52 and thus five spaces to accommodate the five laces 52 of the first portion 5.
  • the laces 52 of the first portion 5 are inserted into the spaces 53 of the second portion 5' and vice versa.
  • the ends of the laces 52 of each portion (5, 5') are fixed, by sewing, to the respective closing strips 8.
  • Each closing strip 8 comprises a bottom surface provided with hooks 20 able to engage, in a Velcro-type coupling relationship, with loops 40 present on the top surface of the solid band 50.
  • the top surface of the closing strips 8 also has loops 40 for Velcro-type coupling.
  • brace elements 101 and 102 are substantially the same.
  • each brace element 101 e 102 the laces 52 of the two portions (5, 5') are alongside each other in the rear part forming a continuity of material when the respective brace element is open and is in the spread position, that is to say the two bands 50 of the two portions of brace (5, 5') are spaced apart from each other by a distance covered by the laces 52 arranged side by side.
  • Each articulated system 6 comprises two rods 60 hinged to a hinge 61, in a manner that is per se known and therefore is not illustrated. Beneath the hinge 61 there is disposed a cushioning pad 62 destined to come into contact with the lateral part of the user's knee.
  • each rod 60 there is a rectangular slot or notch 63 designed to be engaged by the clip 57 of the respective portions of brace (5, 5'). As shown in Figure 4, the rod 60 is inserted into the pocket 55 defined by the reinforcing strip 54 on one portion 5' of brace, in the direction of the arrow F, when the clip 57 is open, that is to say substantially at right angles to the plane of the strip 54 on the band 50.
  • the user manually pushes the clip 57, which rotates around the hinge 56, in the direction of the arrow F2.
  • the clip is thus disposed tangent to the strip 54 giving rise to a narrowing of the pocket 55 and engages the slot 63 of the rod 60, locking it in position inside the pocket 55.
  • the rods 60 are suitably pre-shaped and have a central transitional portion 60' more or less inclined with respect to the proximal and distal portions of the hinge 61, so as to follow the anatomy of the knee perfectly.
  • an articulated lateral device 6a provided with a pair of rods 60 with a less inclined transitional portion 60' and a medial articulated device 6b provided with a pair of rods 60 with a more inclined transitional portion 60'.
  • the lateral rods 6a and the medial rods 6b are reversible. In fact it is sufficient to exchange the position of the lateral rods 6a with the medial rods 6b and to rotate them 180° to allow the right brace to be converted into a left brace and vice versa.
  • the user disposes the upper element 101 of the brace around his thigh, above the knee, with the bottom layer 2 facing towards his body and the portion in which the laces 52 are side by side disposed rearward. Then, the user closes the upper element 101 of the brace to encircle his thigh, anchoring the hooks 20 provided on the bottom layer 2 of the band of the second portion 5' on the loops 40 provided on the top layer 4 of the band of the first portion 5 of the brace. During this first stage it is sufficient to make the anchoring portion 58 of the band 5 adhere to the surface 40 of the corresponding band 5', without applying traction forces. Then, as shown in Figure 7, the user performs the same operation for the lower element 102 of the brace, closing it to encircle the leg below the knee.
  • the tightening stage is performed, as shown in Figure 8.
  • the user grips the closing strips 8 and tightens the laces 52 of the upper element.
  • the bottom surface 20 of the closing strips 8 is anchored on the top surface 50 of the bands 50 of the upper element 101.
  • brace 100 is shown fitted on the lower limb of the user, in which the upper element 101 and lower element 102 are tightened and the hinges 61 of the articulated system 6 are disposed coaxially with the axis of rotation of the user's knee.
  • FIGS 13, 14 e 15 show the brace according to the invention, in which the hinge 61 of the rods 60 is illustrated respectively in the centred, in the forward and in the rearward position with respect to the condyles of the knee.
  • Such a possibility of shifting the position of the hinge 61 of the rods 60 makes it possible to adapt the brace 100 to the various shapes of the patient's limb.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Nursing (AREA)
  • Orthopedic Medicine & Surgery (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Vascular Medicine (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention a trait à un support de genou (100) comportant: un élément supérieur (101) destiné à être disposé pour encercler la jambe de l'utilisateur au-dessus du genou, un élément inférieur (102) disposé pour encercler la jambe de l'utilisateur au-dessous du genou, et au moins un système articulé (6) reliant l'élément supérieur (101) à l'élément inférieur (102). Chaque élément supérieur et inférieur (101, 102) comporte une première portion (5) et une deuxième portion (5') ayant sensiblement la même forme que la première portion (5). Chaque portion (5, 5') comporte une bande solide (50) et une pluralité de lacets (52) en saillie d'une extrémité de la bande solide (50), les lacets 852) de la première portion (5) s'entrecroisant avec les lacets (52) de la deuxième portion (5') et les extrémités des lacets (52) étant fermées par des moyens de fermeture (8), en vue d'appliquer une contrainte à l'une et l'autre des deux portions (5, 5') de l'élément de support respective.
PCT/EP2006/004365 2005-07-12 2006-05-10 Support de genou WO2007006358A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITMI20051313 ITMI20051313A1 (it) 2005-07-12 2005-07-12 Tutore per ginocchio
ITMI2005A001313 2005-07-12

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2007006358A1 true WO2007006358A1 (fr) 2007-01-18
WO2007006358B1 WO2007006358B1 (fr) 2007-04-12

Family

ID=37451546

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2006/004365 WO2007006358A1 (fr) 2005-07-12 2006-05-10 Support de genou

Country Status (2)

Country Link
IT (1) ITMI20051313A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2007006358A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITTV20100098A1 (it) * 2010-07-12 2012-01-13 Marco Giani Tutore articolare.
ITMI20101391A1 (it) * 2010-07-28 2012-01-29 Indaco Srl Ginocchiera.
DE102012011467A1 (de) * 2012-06-12 2013-12-12 Otto Bock Healthcare Gmbh Orthese

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3680554A (en) * 1969-02-13 1972-08-01 Jose Humberto Giraldez Sanchez Device for retaining a person on a support
US4042977A (en) * 1975-08-07 1977-08-23 Antonious A J Glove
US4628916A (en) * 1984-06-30 1986-12-16 United States Manufacturing Co. Braces for preventing injuries to the knee joint
US5443444A (en) * 1994-07-19 1995-08-22 Professional Care Products Incorporated Orthopaedic polycentric hinge
WO1998041174A1 (fr) * 1997-03-18 1998-09-24 Pavis Varese S.R.L. Dispositif de serrage
WO1999066869A1 (fr) * 1998-06-25 1999-12-29 Pavis Varese S.R.L. Bande elastique enserrant la taille a raidisseurs transversaux et laçage de reglage de tension
US20030187375A1 (en) * 2002-03-29 2003-10-02 Gaylord Eric Lee Adjustable support device for the knee

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3680554A (en) * 1969-02-13 1972-08-01 Jose Humberto Giraldez Sanchez Device for retaining a person on a support
US4042977A (en) * 1975-08-07 1977-08-23 Antonious A J Glove
US4628916A (en) * 1984-06-30 1986-12-16 United States Manufacturing Co. Braces for preventing injuries to the knee joint
US5443444A (en) * 1994-07-19 1995-08-22 Professional Care Products Incorporated Orthopaedic polycentric hinge
WO1998041174A1 (fr) * 1997-03-18 1998-09-24 Pavis Varese S.R.L. Dispositif de serrage
WO1999066869A1 (fr) * 1998-06-25 1999-12-29 Pavis Varese S.R.L. Bande elastique enserrant la taille a raidisseurs transversaux et laçage de reglage de tension
US20030187375A1 (en) * 2002-03-29 2003-10-02 Gaylord Eric Lee Adjustable support device for the knee

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITTV20100098A1 (it) * 2010-07-12 2012-01-13 Marco Giani Tutore articolare.
EP2407128A1 (fr) 2010-07-12 2012-01-18 Marco Giani Support d'articulation
ITMI20101391A1 (it) * 2010-07-28 2012-01-29 Indaco Srl Ginocchiera.
DE102012011467A1 (de) * 2012-06-12 2013-12-12 Otto Bock Healthcare Gmbh Orthese

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2007006358B1 (fr) 2007-04-12
ITMI20051313A1 (it) 2007-01-13

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US11039948B2 (en) Hinged ankle brace
US4176665A (en) Stocking knee brace
US7959591B2 (en) Device and method for externally rotating the femur
US8282587B2 (en) Method of and system for joint therapy and stabilization
US7765619B2 (en) Corset
US5782785A (en) Knee brace
US5865776A (en) Knee brace having differential flexibility posterior and anterior panels
US4064874A (en) Protective orthopedic device
US6099489A (en) Medical bandage
US4320747A (en) Slidably-coupled joint
US3327703A (en) Wrist brace
US7862528B2 (en) Patella stabilizing method and system
US20030204156A1 (en) Knee brace with patella stabilizer
US8007454B1 (en) Ankle support assembly and method of supporting an ankle
CN103747763A (zh) 矫形装置、矫形装置的使用及其制造方法
EP3202376B1 (fr) Orthèse de hanche multifonctionnelle
JPS6125552A (ja) ひざ関節整形術用器具
US5895366A (en) Hip and knee abductor with air bladder
US20120270708A1 (en) Training brace assembly and methods of use
WO2007006358A1 (fr) Support de genou
JP2001517126A (ja) 過伸展膝補装具
EP0561833A1 (fr) Dispositif de traction
US20160250058A1 (en) Orthopedic kneepad
JPH0584316U (ja) 腰痛帯
US20150230963A1 (en) Adjustable cuff knee brace

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Country of ref document: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 06753544

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1