Abstract:
A knee brace having a femur support section pivotally connected to a tibia support section is provided. The femur support section has a medial frame and a lateral frame, sandwiched between width adjustment plates. The width adjustment plates hold the lateral and medial frames, and are held together by retainer bolts and nuts. The retainer bolts and nuts can be loosened to permit the lateral frame and the medial frame to slide against the width adjustment plates. Thus, the space between the lateral frame and the medial frame can be adjusted according to the size of the wearer&#39;s leg.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not Applicable  
       STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not Applicable  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     1. Technical Field  
         [0004]     The present invention relates to devices alleviating symptoms of osteoarthritis and other joint dysfunctions. More particularly, the present invention relates to an adjustable knee brace for an osteoarthritic knee joint.  
         [0005]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0006]     Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is the most common form of arthritis. It is believed that the disease results from a combination of genetic abnormalities and joint injuries. An affected joint progressively loses cartilage, and as a result, the tissue that lines the joint can become inflamed, the ligaments can loosen, and the associated muscles can weaken. Especially vulnerable are knee joints, where sufferers experience pain, stiffness and swelling, and become unable to perform basic life functions such as walking.  
         [0007]     Osteoarthritis can be treated with prescription drugs, homeopathic remedies, total joint replacements, and braces. A patient suffering from osteoarthritis in the knee can be fitted with a knee brace whereby support is provided to allow reasonable ambulatory activity without undue risk of injury. Knee bracing does not cure osteoarthritis, but there are indications that the severity of the symptoms may be reduced by bracing because physical forces upon the joint are reduced.  
         [0008]     Knee braces are frequently fitted to the exact measurements of the patient, and a properly adjusted brace can accommodate the shape, size, and angle between the femur and the tibia for maximum comfort. However, custom fit knee braces are expensive because each one must be custom manufactured to order.  
         [0009]     In order to bring the advantages of the knee brace, namely the non-invasive treatment of osteoarthritis, to a broader spectrum of individuals, knee braces manufactured from common i.e. universal components have been developed. However, these knee braces typically cannot properly accommodate each and every different leg configuration.  
         [0010]     Due to this problem in the art, a number of adjustable knee braces have been developed. Among the changes an osteo-arthritic knee undergoes is that the body tries to compensate for the degenerative joint and migrate laterally or outwardly, or it may migrate inwardly or medially, with the former condition often referred to as “bowlegged” and the latter referred to as “knock-kneed.” When either event occurs, the leg experiences a corresponding curvature, and the wearer continues to suffer pain and discomfort. In order to accommodate such a leg configuration, knee braces angularly adjustable to overcome leg curvature have been developed.  
         [0011]     However, other parameters for adjustment have not been possible in such prior knee braces. Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a knee brace for the treatment of osteoarthritis that is capable of accommodating a wide variety of leg widths. Another object of the present invention is to provide a knee brace capable of both width adjustment and angular adjustment for maximum comfort of the wearer. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a knee brace that is easily adjustable by the wearer or healthcare professionals. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable knee brace that can be constructed of common, universal components so as to simplify the initial fitting as well as subsequent repairs.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY  
       [0012]     An adjustable knee brace for supporting the leg of an osteoarthritic or another individual suffering from a dysfunctional knee joint is disclosed. The brace is comprised of an upper brace supporting the femur, or thigh, portion of the leg, and a lower brace supporting the tibia, or shin, portion of the leg. The upper brace and the lower brace are in a pivoting relationship about a hinge component.  
         [0013]     The upper brace includes a lateral frame and a medial frame. The lateral frame connects directly to the hinge component, while the medial frame has an angle adjustment arm which enables the knee brace to be angularly adjusted to accommodate legs where the tibia and femur bend inwardly, or where the tibia and femur bend outwardly. The angle adjustment arm is slidably engaged to the medial frame, and in a pivoting relationship with the lower brace about the hinge component.  
         [0014]     The width across the lateral frame and the medial frame is adjustable. A lateral frame adjustment slot and a medial frame adjustment slot is situated on the lateral frame and the medial-frame, respectively, and is in a sliding relationship with an outer width adjustment plate and an inner width adjustment plate. A retaining bolt secures the outer width adjustment plate, the lateral frame and the medial frame, and the inner width adjustment plate, in place, by a retaining nut that is threaded thereon.  
         [0015]     By tightening the retaining bolt against the retaining nut, the lateral frame and the medial frame are secured in place, while loosening the same will permit adjustment of the lateral frame and the medial frame. This sliding adjustment enables the knee brace to accommodate a wide range of leg widths. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a knee brace in place on a leg, the leg and the hinge component shown in phantom;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the knee brace shown in  FIG. 1 , depicted in relation to a leg, the leg shown in phantom;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is an exploded top elevation view of the knee brace shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4   a  is a front view of an adjustable femoral frame fully contracted; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 4   b  is a front view of an adjustable femoral frame fully extended.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]     The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0023]     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the presently disclosed adjustable knee brace  100  with respect to a wearer&#39;s leg  10  is shown. Leg  10  is anatomically comprised of femur (thigh) section  16 , knee  12 , and tibia (shin) section  14 . Femur section  16  is braced by femoral frame  200  and is in a pivoting relationship with tibial frame  300 , which braces tibia section  14 . Such a pivoting relationship is enabled by hinge components  401  and  402 , which preferably are ratio swing hinges constructed according to the disclosure in U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,044, owned by the current Assignee, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Such hinge components  401  and  402  are designed to closely simulate the rotational movement of the tibia relative the femur, and essentially simulate normal knee movements. All connections herein to hinge components  401  and  402  are as described in the referenced patent. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other conventional hinge constructions are clearly contemplated for use herein.  
         [0024]     Referring specifically to  FIG. 2 , an exploded view of the knee brace  100  is shown. Femoral frame  200  is comprised of medial frame  220 , lateral frame  210 , inner width adjustment plate  260 , and outer width adjustment plate  250 .  
         [0025]     Medial frame  220  has a horizontally elongate section  224  and vertically elongate section  226 . Horizontally elongate section  224  includes a width adjustment slot  222  which extends substantially across horizontally elongate section  224 . Furthermore, horizontally elongate section  224  is preferably formed in an arcuate configuration to accommodate the shape of leg  10 , specifically the curvature of femur section  16  so as to minimize the profile resulting from and the obstruction caused by the presence of knee brace  100 .  
         [0026]     Vertically extending section  226  is comprised of upper angular adjustment bolt securing hole  228   a , and lower angular adjustment bolt securing hole  228   b . Angle adjustment arm  240  has a vertically elongate angle adjustment slot  242 , which slidably engages medial frame  220  at angular adjustment bolt securing holes  228   a  and  228   b . Angle adjustment retaining bolts (not shown) are inserted through angle adjustment holes  228   a  and  228   b  and angle adjustment slot  240 . In its most extended state, the upper end of angle adjustment slot  242  corresponds in position to that of upper angular adjustment bolt securing hole  228   a . In its most contracted state, the lower end of angle adjustment slot  242  corresponds in position to that of lower angular adjustment bolt securing hole  228   b . Thus, the effective height of the medial side of knee brace  100  can be adjusted, and accordingly, adjustable for bow-legged and knock-kneed legs, a condition characterized by the tibia angling towards the medial-side of the leg or the lateral side of the leg. By tightening the angle adjustment retaining bolt, the position of the angle adjustment arm  240  is secured relative to the medial frame  220 . An analogous angular adjustment is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,875,187, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.  
         [0027]     Lateral frame  210 , similar to its counterpart medial frame  220 , has a horizontally elongate section  225  and a vertically elongate section  227 . Horizontally elongate section  225  includes a width adjustment slot  233  which extends substantially across horizontally elongate section  225 . Like the horizontally elongate section  224  of medial frame  220 , the horizontally elongate section  225  of lateral frame  210  is preferably formed having an arcuate configuration to accommodate the shape of leg  10 . Unlike medial frame  220 , however, lateral frame  210  has an extended vertically elongate section to compensate in height for the lack of an angle adjustment arm. Instead, the lower end of lateral frame  210  has hinge connecting holes  404  to the hinge component  401  shown in  FIG. 1 , whereas the medial frame  210  has no hinge connecting holes; the hinge connecting holes  404  being on the angle adjustment arm  240 .  
         [0028]     With reference to  FIGS. 2, 3 ,  4   a , and  4   b , the details of the width adjustment mechanism will be explained. Specifically referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , width adjustment slot  222  has a distal end  238  and a proximal end  236 . Lateral frame  210  also has width adjustment slot  233  configured to mirror width adjustment slot  222  on medial frame  220 . Lateral frame adjustment slot  222  has a proximal end  237  and a distal end  239 .  
         [0029]     Outer width adjustment plate  250  has medial extrusion  254  and lateral extrusion  256 , and inner width adjustment plate  260  similarly has medial extrusion  264  and lateral extrusion  266 . Medial extrusion  264  and lateral extrusion  266  of inner width adjustment plate  260  is configured to abut slightly into width adjustment slots  222  and  233  so as to facilitate a sliding relationship along semicircular horizontal axis  270  with minimal angular deviation from the same.  
         [0030]     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , medial frame  220  and lateral frame  210  is sandwiched i.e. disposed between outer width adjustment plate  250  and inner width adjustment plate  260 . Outer width adjustment plate  250  and inner width adjustment plate  260  include retaining bolt securing holes  258 . The sandwiched relationship is maintained by retaining bolt  280 , which is passed through retaining bolt securing holes  258  on outer width adjustment plate  250 , then through width adjustment slots  222  and  233  on medial frame  220  and lateral frame  210 , respectively, then through retaining bolt securing holes  258  on inner width adjustment plate  260 , and finally tightened with retaining nut  281 . When the width configuration is determined by the user, retaining bolt  280  and retaining nut  281  is tightened to prevent further movement of medial frame  220  and lateral frame  210  against outer width adjustment plate  250  and inner width adjustment plate  260 . When the width configuration is to be modified, retaining bolt  280  and retaining nut  281  is loosened.  
         [0031]     Now referring to  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , the width adjustment functionality of femoral brace  200  is shown. In its most extended position as shown in  FIG. 4   a , retaining bolt  280  is positioned in the most inward location, proximal ends  236  and  237  of width adjustment slots  222  and  233 . In its most contracted position as shown in  FIG. 4   b , retaining bolt  280  is positioned in the most outward location at distal ends  238  and  239  of width adjustment slots  222  and  233 . As can be seen, the width  232  of femoral brace  200  can be increased or decreased depending on the relative position of the lateral frame  220  and medial frame  210  with respect to the outer and inner width adjustment plates  250  and  260  shown in  FIG. 2 . Thus, legs of a variety of widths can be rapidly and securely accommodated with the present inventive device.  
         [0032]     The above description is given by way of example, and not of limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.