Patent ID: 7749181
Filing Date: 2010-07-06
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A patellofemoral brace for supporting a patella of a wearer's knee, the brace comprising: a substantially cylindrical sleeve configured to be worn on a wearer's leg and to extend above and below the wearer's knee, the sleeve subdivided into a plurality of circumferential discrete bands configured to extend around a portion of the wearer's leg, and the sleeve including an aperture on an anterior portion thereof, the aperture configured to encircle the wearer's patella when the brace is worn; a buttress cooperating with the sleeve and configured to apply force to the patella when the brace is worn; and a tensioning strap cooperating with the sleeve and configured to overlie the buttress to increase the force applied to the patella by the buttress; wherein the tensioning strap includes a base portion and first and second arms, each of the first and second arms being configured to extend around the sleeve along first and second, respectively, substantially helical paths.