Abstract: An orthopaedic knee brace comprising an upper arm and a lower arm securable to a wearer's leg above and below the knee joint. There is a pivotable joint at the ends of the arms to allow flexing of the knee by pivoting movement of the arms. A locking mechanism is provided to control pivoting of the joint to lock one of the upper or lower arms relative to the joint while automatically unlocking the other arm to permit pivoting movement of the other arm about the joint. The joint and locking mechanism co-operate to form a light weight structure that operates smoothly to imitate the complex bending motion of the knee while supporting the knee.

Abstract: A method of alleviating the effects of degeneration of the knee. A lateral force applied to the knee. Simultaneously the position of the patella is stabilized during the application of the lateral force. A brace is also described. The brace can be located on the leg of the wearer and can apply lateral force on the knee of the wearer. Simultaneously the brace acts to stabilize the patella of the wearer during the application of the lateral force.

Abstract: A knee brace having a force strap to extend, when worn by a patient, from a first anchor position on the brace, above the patient's knee, behind the knee to a second anchor position on the brace, below the patient's knee. The brace has a stabilizer for the strap to maintain the force strap in position over the patient's femoral condyle.

Abstract: A patella stabilizer. The stabilizer has a sleeve to be received around a knee of a wearer. There is a support in the sleeve that has a first member to extend from beneath the wear's patella to a point over the wearer's tibia. Second, bifurcated members extend from the first member along each side of the patella when the patella stabilizer is in position on the wearer. In a preferred embodiment, there is a strap that extends around the wearer's leg, over the first member of the stabilizer.

Abstract: A gauge to measure the lateral inclination of a part of a brace above a patient's knee relative to a part of the brace below the patient's knee. The brace has a hinge to allow flexing of the knee. The gauge has a calibrated body that can be attached to the hinge of the brace. Limbs extend from each end of the body. There is a pivotal joint to allow each limb to pivot relative to the calibrated body. There is a reciprocable extension at the outer most end of each limb that is able to extend to contact the brace. A marker extends from the inner end of the limbs to indicate on the calibrated body the inclination of each limb. In this way the extension can be reciprocated to contact the brace and a reading them made of each marker on the calibrated scale to determine the inclination of each limb of the gauge and thus of the knee.

Abstract: An orthopaedic brace having a pair of arms to be secured to a wearer's body. There is a pivotable joint between the arms to allow pivoting of the knee while supporting the knee. According to the invention there is a joint in the brace to allow controlled inclination of each arm relative to the pivotable joint. A method of bracing a knee is also disclosed. Such a method may be useful following high tibial osteotomy or to relieve of the effects of uni-compartmental osteoarthritis. According to the method aspect the brace as described above is located about the knee and the arms are adjusted to allow controlled inclination of each arm relative to the pivotable joint to provide the required bracing of the required inclination.

Abstract: An orthopedic brace, specifically for a knee, has an antifriction mechanical joint to provide easier movement and has the ability of being custom made for different geometries of rotational movements and ranges. The antifriction mechanical joint has a first bearing plate and a second bearing plate which mate with bearing surfaces of a link. The bearing plates each have a cavity therein and a cam rests in each cavity and is attached to each of the bearing surfaces of the link. Rollers fit between the cams and the cavity so when the joint is flexed, there is only rolling movement between the rollers and the contact surfaces of the cams and rollers.

Abstract: An orthopaedic brace having a pair of arms to be secured to wearer's body. There is a pivotable joint between the arms to allow pivoting of the knee while supporting the knee. According to the invention there is a joint in the brace to allow controlled inclination of each arm relative to the pivotable joint. A method of bracing a knee following high tibial osteotomy is also disclosed. According to the method aspect the brace as described above is located about the knee and the arms are adjusted to allow controlled inclination of each arm relative to the pivotable joint to provide the required bracing of the required inclination.

Abstract: A method of reducing the effect of unicompartmental osteoarthritis of a knee. A force is applied to the knee on that side of the knee remote from the compartment having osteoarthritis as the knee moves to extension. Preferably, the force is applied at a point about 10.degree. to 15.degree. posterior of the normal axis of rotation of the knee.