Patent ID: 6565523
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A single joint, weight bearing knee brace having a fixed flexion-extension axis of rotation comprising:an upper portion for mounting to a portion of a leg above the knee; a lower portion for mounting to a portion of a leg below the knee; a single joint hingedly connecting the upper portion and the lower portion and having a substantially fixed flexion-extension axis, said single joint comprising: a first portion and a second portion interconnected for rotational movement about a hinge axis, the first portion and the second portion including interconnecting elements for securing the joint and for supporting rotational movement about the hinge axis, the interconnecting elements comprising a projecting cylindrical element having a cylindrical sleeve bearing surface for securing the joint and for supporting sliding rotational movement about the hinge axis and a cylindrical opening having a cylindrical sleeve bearing surface for receiving the projecting cylindrical element; the first portion and the second portion further including cooperating sleeve bearing surfaces angularly disposed to the hinge axis for supporting sliding rotational movement about the hinge axis and for receiving forces in any of three dimensions and moments about any two of three coordinates having a different orientation than the hinge axis; at least one of the first portion and the second portion further including a tensor for securing the knee brace to the portion of a leg above the knee and to the portion of a leg below the knee respectively for maintaining the flexion-extension axis in an offset angle of between 2.5 to 4 degrees posterior to a coronal plane from a medial condyle portion to a lateral condyle portion, to position the fixed flexion-extension axis approximately coaxial with the fixed flexion-extension axis of the knee.