Abstract:
A brace for a knee joint including an elongated member and pressure applicators disposed thereon. Each of the pressure applicators may be inserted into a corresponding, closeable pouch on an inner surface of the elongated member. The pouches are arranged on the inner surface to situate the respective pressure applicators in the spaces between the various ligaments, cartilage and bones of the knee joint, so as to prevent applying pressure directly to these tissues and the pain caused thereby. A user may choose to insert all, or some, of the pressure applicators in their respective pouches, depending on nature of the injury. A method using the knee brace to facilitate healing of a knee joint injury is also disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to therapeutic knee braces and, more particularly, to therapeutic knee brace having pressure applicators. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Reference is made to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , which are anatomical representations of a right human knee joint KJ in extension and in flexion, respectively. The femur FR and tibia T bones of the leg meet to form the knee joint KJ. The fibula FB extends along the lateral side of the tibia T and joins the tibia T at the top, or head, thereof. The patella P (i.e., kneecap) is disposed proximate the femur FR and protects the front of the knee joint KJ. Cartilage C covers the articulating surfaces of the patella P, femur FR and tibia T, and acts to cushion these bones. The meniscus M is a layer of cartilage disposed between the femur FR and the tibia T and further cushions these bones. 
         [0003]    With continued reference to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the ligaments of the knee joint KJ connect the associated bones to stabilize the joint. More particularly, the medial collateral ligament MCL connects the femur FR and the tibia T on the medial side of the knee joint KJ, and the lateral collateral ligament LCL connects the femur FR to the fibula FB on the lateral side of the knee joint KJ. The medial and lateral collateral ligaments MCL, LCL limit sideways motion of the knee joint KJ. The anterior cruciate ligament ACL connects the femur FR to the tibia T at the center of the knee joint KJ (see  FIG. 1B ), and limits rotation and forward rotation of the tibia T. The posterior cruciate ligament PCL also connects the femur FR arid the tibia T at the center of the knee (see  FIG. 1B ), and limits backward rotation of the tibia T. 
         [0004]    Soft tissue injuries frequently occur within the knee joint KJ, including sprains and tears of the various ligaments discussed in the preceding paragraph. As a result, the knee joint KJ may become destabilised and may therefore require a brace to be worn for support, even after surgical correction of the injury. Such braces may be worn exclusively for athletic activity. Alternatively, knee braces may be worn throughout the day for ongoing stability, especially in cases where the injury is severe. 
         [0005]    Several types of knee braces are available, ranging from prefabricated, lightweight athletic braces to custom-made braces incorporating support structures (e.g., splints and hinges). Many of these braces suffer from design shortcomings which exacerbate the knee injuries that lead users to wear such braces in the first place, thereby compromising any therapeutic value they may have. For instance, some available braces exert pressure, directly or indirectly, on the ligament(s) of the knee joint KJ, further stressing and/or straining such ligaments. Other braces restrict blood flow to the knee joint KJ when worn. These design shortcomings are especially problematic when the injured ligament(s), or other soft tissue (e.g., cartilage) is adversely affected. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The knee brace of the present invention includes a body having inner and outer surfaces and which is sized and shaped so as to be applied to the knee. A plurality of pressure applicators are disposed on the inner surface of the body, and are arranged such that they substantially nestle an associated patella of the knee when the body is applied to the knee. A fastener member is connected to the body, and secures the body to the knee such that the applicators apply pressure against a joint of the knee. 
         [0007]    The present invention also provides a method for facilitating healing of a knee joint injury using the brace. The method includes the step of securing the body against the knee such that the applicators substantially nestle an associated patella of the knee and such that at least one of the applicators applies pressure against a joint in the knee. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1A  is an anatomical representation of a right knee joint area with the knee joint in extension, viewed from the front; 
           [0010]      FIG. 1B  is a view similar to  FIG. 1A , except that the right knee joint is in flexion; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of a knee brace constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the knee brace shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the knee brace of  FIGS. 2 and 3  applied to a user&#39;s knee; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of a knee brace of  FIG. 2  which has been modified to include additional elements; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of the knee brace of  FIG. 5  applied to a user&#39;s knee. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]      FIGS. 2-4  illustrate a knee brace  10  constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The knee brace  10  includes a body, shown as an elongated member  12  having a pair of ends  14 ,  16 , a pair of sides  18 ,  20 , an outer surface  22  (see  FIG. 2 ) and an inner surface  24  (see  FIG. 3 ). The elongated member  12  has a similar construction to that of conventional athletic knee braces (e.g., such as those marketed by Becton Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, N.J. under the trademark Tru-Fit®), and is preferably made of a breathable, lightweight, flexible and elastic material (or materials), such as those used in making conventional braces. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the end  14  is preferably wider than the end  16 . This shape facilitates the wrapping of the brace  10  about a user&#39;s knee joint KJ, as shown in  FIG. 4 . A fastener  26  is affixed to the inner surface  24  adjacent the end  16  (see  FIG. 3 ) such that the end  16  can be secured to the outer surface  22  adjacent the end  14  when the brace  10  is placed on a user&#39;s knee (i.e., the brace  10  can be retained in place after it is wrapped about the knee joint KJ). The fastener  26  can be any type of conventional fastener. For instance, the fastener  26  can be a hook-type fastener, and the outer surface  22  can be constructed so as to function as a mating loop-type fastener. In this manner, the fastener  26  can be attached directly, but removably, to the outer surface  22 . 
         [0017]    Referring primarily to  FIG. 3 , pouches  28  are disposed on (e.g., sewn to) the inner surface  24  of the elongated member  12  proximate the end  14 . Each of the pouches  28  is provided with a slit  29  and is made preferably from a flexible material. A pressure applicator  30  is removably placed in each of the pouches  28  through a corresponding one of the slits  29 . While the pressure applicators  30  can have any desired shape, a spherical shape is particularly suitable for use in conjunction with the present invention. The pressure applicators  30  can also be made from any substantially rigid materials, such as metal, polyvinylchloride, etc. The pouches  28  are located such that the pressure applicators  30  can surround a user&#39;s patella P when the brace  10  is applied to the user&#39;s knee. In this regard, the pouches  28  can be arranged in any desirable formation. For instance, the pouches  28  can be arranged in an approximate square formation, as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0018]    The brace  10  is worn by a user about his/her injured knee joint KJ, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . More particularly, when putting on the brace  10 , the user places the inner surface  24  of the end  14  of the elongated member  12  against the knee joint KJ so that the pressure applicators  30  are arranged in the aforementioned approximate square formation in the lateral-medial plane of the knee joint KJ. In this arrangement, the pressure applicators  30  are arranged to surround, and stabilize or “nestle” the patella P. Once the pressure applicators  30  are placed about the patella P, the user wraps the elongated member  12  around the knee joint KJ and attaches the end  16  to the end  14  using the fastener  26 , thereby securing the brace  10  and the pressure applicators  30  in place. 
         [0019]    Without limiting the scope of the present invention, it is believed that when the pressure applicators  30  are arranged to surround or nestle the patella P, they tend to apply pressure in between the various ligaments, cartilage and/or bones of the knee joint KJ (see  FIGS. 1A and 1B ). For instance, the pressure applicators  30  tend to wedge themselves, at least partially, into spaces formed between the knee bones (e.g., the joint between the tibia T and the femur FR), thereby reducing or eliminating the pressure, and hence the pain, resulting from the bones pressing against each other when the cushioning cartridge is damaged and/or partially missing due to wear. In this regard, the pressure applicators  30  are designed so as not to stretch or strain damaged ligaments or to restrict blood flow thereto. 
         [0020]    It should be noted that the present invention can have numerous modifications and variations. For instance, referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the brace  10  can include one or more back pouches  32  disposed along a longitudinal axis on the inner surface  24  of the elongated member  12 , proximate a location  34  intermediate the ends  14 ,  16 . Each of the back pouches  32  has a slit  36  so as to removably receive a pressure applicator  38 , which is similar, in construction and function, to the pressure applicators  30 . When the user puts the brace  10  on his or her knee, the back pouches  32 , and hence the pressure applicators  38 , are positioned at the back B of the knee joint KJ, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Like the pressure applicators  30 , the pressure applicators  38  are adapted to apply pressure between the bones, ligaments and cartridge of the knee joint KJ. 
         [0021]    Further modifications may be made to the knee brace  10  of the present invention by the user. More particularly, rather than inserting all six of the pressure applicators  30 ,  38  in the respective pouches  28  and back pouches  32 , a user may choose to insert fewer pressure applicators  30 ,  38  only in the pouches  28 ,  32  at locations corresponding to his or her injury. For example, if a user is experiencing pain resulting from cartilage damage in his knee joint, he may choose to only insert two pressure applicators  30  into respective pouches  28  on the side  18  of the elongated member  12  at locations selected to achieve the aforementioned “wedging” between the opposed ends of the tibia T and femur FR, and ultimately alleviate this pain. The user may remove the remaining two pressure applicators  30  from their corresponding pouches  28  on the side  20  of the elongated member  12 , and not insert the two pressure applicators  38  in the respective back pouches  32 . 
         [0022]    Besides the modifications discussed above, additional modifications can be implemented in the brace  10 . For instance, the number and spatial arrangement of the pressure applicators  30 ,  38  can be modified. The shape, size and/or construction of the elongated member  12  may also be modified. Further, the fastening member  26  can be replaced with any conventional fastening mechanisms. 
         [0023]    An alternate embodiment of the knee brace of the present invention includes an elongated member having a different shape. For instance, rather than having a tapered, or “tongue” formation, wherein one end of the elongated member is wider then the other end (see  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  5 ), the elongated member may instead have a uniform width, wherein both ends have substantially equal widths. In this embodiment, the end distal to the pressure applicators would be wide enough to overlay the pressure applicators when the user secures the knee brace on his or her knee joint. 
         [0024]    In yet another alternate embodiment of the present invention, the knee brace includes an endless sleeve or tubular member rather than an elongated member. The endless sleeve member enables the user to slide the knee brace on and off his or her knee joint rather than wrapping it around his or her knee joint, as is necessary with the elongated member. 
         [0025]    It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variations and modifications thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. All such variations and modifications, including those discussed above, are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.