CABLE KNEE BRACE SYSTEM
It is the object of the invention to provide a knee bracing system that bolsters the body's natural ligaments, and accommodates user's with different natural Q-angles, to reduce the knees proneness to injury or re-injury. The invention is a cable system that acts much like the body's natural way that resists the forces that cause excessive joint movement and injury to the ACL and or MCL. As the leg travels through the range of motion the cables provide external hyper extension, bending, and rotation support preventing the tibia bone from moving forward (hyper extending) or twisting (lateral rotation) and or laterally bending with respect to the femur.
This application claims priority to each of the following applications. This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/867,910 filed on Apr. 22, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/987,084 filed on Jan. 8, 2011, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/744,213 filed on May 3, 2007. This application also claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 62/682,560 filed Jun. 8, 2018 and 62/718,529 filed Aug. 14, 2018.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCEThe following documents are incorporated by reference in their entirety, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/867,910 filed on Apr. 22, 2013, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/987,084 filed on Jan. 8, 2011, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/744,213 filed on May 3, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe human knee is a complex mechanism that is highly vulnerable to injury in sports like football, hockey, skiing, snowboarding, and motocross. In these kinds of physically demanding sports the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) and Medial Collateral Ligaments (MCL) are commonly injured. The ACL controls forward movement of the tibia relative to the femur (hyper extension) and lateral rotation of the tibia with respect to the femur (over rotation). The MCL controls lateral movement of the tibia with respect to the femur. Hyper extending the leg and or laterally rotating or twisting or laterally bending of the leg can tear the ACL and/or MCL. The ACL regulates the amount of movement the tibia has with respect to the femur both in forward movement, and lateral rotation. When the leg reaches full extension the ACL becomes taut and limits the knee from hyper extending or over rotating laterally.
The MCL regulates how much the tibia can bend laterally with respect to the femur. The MCL becomes taut when a lateral force is applied to the leg preventing excessive bending. All too often in sports like motocross the leg is exposed to forces that exceed the ligament's ability to prevent excessive movement in the joint sometimes resulting in the tearing of the ACL and or MCL.
In order for a knee brace to be effective in resisting the excessive movement of the knee joint that tears the ACL and/or MCL, it must provide an effective differential force to the tibia relative to the femur. Because of the large amount of flesh surrounding the tibia bone and femur bone the only way to prevent the leg from over extending or over rotating would be to fix a rigid structure to the bones with some sort of mechanical means such as screws. Of course this would be impractical and undesirable. Not only should a knee brace be practical, it must be comfortable, and most of all effective at preventing knee injuries.
Most prior art (conventional) knee brace devices for ligament protection consist of a rigid femoral plate and tibial plate connected by hinges on either side of the knee. The plates are strapped to the leg tightly above and below the knee with straps that encircle the leg. The hinge locks as the leg reaches full extension and the rigid frame and straps act like a splint resisting hyperextension of the leg. There are many variations of the basic rigid hinged brace with differing hinge designs, strapping methods, and materials used. Conventional braces are limited in their effectiveness resisting excessive joint movement that causes injury to the knee. The biggest reason is that the flesh of the leg surrounding the femur and the strapping apparatus deform allowing the leg to hyperextend or rotate. Even when the strapping devices are tightened to the point of discomfort, they have limited effect preventing excessive movement of the knee joint when the leg is subjected to these forces.
It is the object of the invention to provide a knee bracing system that bolsters the body's natural ligaments to reduce the knees proneness to injury or re-injury.
The invention is a cable system that acts much like the body's natural ACL and MCL. The cables are routed around the knee joint in a way that resists the forces that cause excessive joint movement and injury to the ACL and or MCL. As the leg travels through the range of motion the cables tighten, preventing the tibia bone from moving forward (hyperextending) or twisting (lateral rotation) or bending laterally with respect to the femur.
The cable knee brace system of this invention can be tailored or adapted to prior art (conventional) braces increasing their effectiveness.
It is also anticipated by the Applicant that this cable knee brace system can be adapted to the elbow to prevent the arm from hyperextending. A humorous plate would substitute for the femoral plate 4, a radius plate would substitute for the tibial plate 2, and bicep plate would substitute for the femoral back plate 5 creating the differential resistive force across the elbow joint preventing hyperextension of the arm.
To be effective preventing injuries to the ACL 22 and or MCL 23, a knee brace must prevent the tibia bone 26 from moving forward (hyperextending), see
When a lateral rotation force 30 is applied to the leg as shown in
This invention comprises of a primary cable 1 and secondary cable 40 that can be made of any flexible material with a sufficiently high tensile strength. A tibial plate 2 that could be made of any rigid or semi-rigid material is shaped to conform to the tibia bone 26, beginning just below the knee and ending approximately at the midpoint of the tibia bone 26. The tibial plate 2 is held in position with straps 11b and 11c. Foam padding 12 is attached to the underside of the tibial plate 2 for comfort and to provide a firm grip on the individuals' tibia bone 26. A patellar plate 3 that could be made of any rigid or semi-rigid material connects the tibial plate 2 to the femoral plate 4. A femoral plate 4 that could be made of any rigid or semi-rigid material is located on top of the thigh from just above the knee to approximately mid-femur 18 and is held in position with strap 11a. Back plate 5 could be made of any rigid or semi-rigid material located behind the leg and just above the knee joint to keep the cable 1 in the proper location, firmly holding the femur bone 18 as the differential force of the primary cable 1 is transmitted across the joint. Foam padding 14 is attached to the inside of the back plate 5 to help spread the force of the primary cable 1 comfortably to the leg. A cable tensioner dial 6 and locking/release button 7 with spring 8 are attached to the femoral plate 4 with retainer screw 9. These could be made from any metal or rigid material that will withstand the forces required to keep the primary cable 1 locked in place during use. Other cable tensioning and locking mechanisms could be used, but the dial tensioning and locking system gives a very wide range of fine tuned cable adjustability and ease of use.
The fundamental element of this invention is the routing of the cables. As best shown in
In additional embodiments, primary cable 1 begins attached to femoral plate 4 by first cable connector 15a, crosses behind the leg through first cable guide hole 13a and second cable guide hole 13b in back plate 5, creating cable cross over point 31, and attaches to the opposite side of tibial plate 2 with clamping screw 10a. The primary cable 1 then loops over the leg attaching to the other side of tibial plate 2 with clamping screw 10b. From clamping screw 10b, the primary cable 1 again crosses behind the leg through third cable guide hole 13c and fourth cable guide hole 13d in back plate 5, and attaches to the opposite side of femoral plate 4 by the second cable connector 15b.
As best shown in
In some embodiments, a single cable is used as it passes through the various guides. In alternative embodiments, the cable could be made up of individual segments connected together to form the completed routing. For example, first primary cable segment 1a and second primary cable segment 1b can be formed by a single cable, or can be two separate cables connected together with tibial plate 2 to complete the loop. First primary cable segment 1a begins attached to femoral plate 4 by first cable connector 15a, crosses behind the leg through the cable guide hole 13a and cable guide hole 13b in back plate 5 and attaches to the opposite side of tibial plate 2 with clamping screw 10a. Without having to loop over the leg, the second primary cable segment 1b is attached to the opposite side of tibial plate 2 with clamping screw 10b. From clamping screw 10b the second primary cable segment 1b crosses behind the leg through the cable guide hole 13c, and crossing over itself, creating cross over point 31, before going through cable guide hole 13d in back plate 5 and completes the loop by attaching to the opposite side of femoral plate 4 with cable connector 15b.
The segments of the cable extending from the cable cross over point 31 to the tibial plate portion of the brace and returning to the cable cross over point 31 form the tibial control loop portion 32 of the cable. The segments of cable extending from the cable cross over point 31 to the femoral plate portion of the brace and returning to the cable cross over point 31 form the femoral control loop portion 33 of the cable.
The primary cable 1 is adjusted by turning the cable tensioner dial 6 taking up the excess primary cable 1 length. The primary cable 1 is automatically locked into place by the ratcheting gears 16 on the cable tensioning dial 6 and spring 8 actuated locking/release button 7. The button 7 is also used to release the tension in primary cable 1 for installation and removal of the brace.
While an infinite number of secondary cable routings across the pivot points are possible, directly through the pivot points as shown in 46a is most desirable to achieve optimum tension on the secondary cable 40 throughout the leg's full range of motion.
Cable guides accept the cable, the cable being comprised of one or more segments, which transfers energy to control knee movement and prevent hyperextension of the knee joint in the same manner as the other embodiments described above, for example,
When the knee of the user extends, the cable portion extending from a cross over point 31 around the tibial shell 2B and returning to the cross over point, the tibial control loop 32, lengthens accordingly. This produces a direct response in the portion of the cable which extends from the cross over point 31 over and around the femoral plate, the femoral control loop. That portion of the cable tightens, bringing the femoral plate and the back plate 5 into the leg and behind the knee joint respectively, and stopping further extension of the knee by controlling the length of the tibial control loop.
Foam padding may be strategically placed at various points on the inside portions of the brace depicted in
In additional embodiments of the present invention, the tibial plate may include additional portions which increase the hold on the wearer's tibia. Increased tibia control offers additional protection from hyperextension. As there is little tissue between the tibia and the external portion of the leg, this area is ideal for control of the leg. In some embodiments, the underside of the tibia plate, closest to the user's leg, may include an additional semi-ridged portion. As the cable system is tightened, for example, this semi-ridged portion conforms to the shape of the user's tibia. This provides an increased hold on the tibia.
In additional embodiments of the present invention, the tibia plate may be constructed such that the plate has varying flexibility across itself. For example, this varying flexibility would allow the tibia plate to conform to the shape of the user's leg, while also providing the necessary rigidity. In this example, a second semi-ridged portion may not be required, or, alternatively, may be offered in addition to the second semi-ridged portion.
In additional embodiments of the present invention, the user may, of course, use the brace as a preventative device, before any damage occurs, as opposed to after. In such a case, additional protection may be required. For example, user's engaged in extreme sports may require supplemental protection from impacts. Embodiments of the present invention may, therefore, include knee caps which protect the knee from strike forces. In some embodiments, the knee cap portion is disposed between the tibial and femoral plates such that when the plates pivot away from one another, the knee cap remains in place. In such an example, the tibial and femoral plates glide over or beneath the knee cap portion so as to allow necessary flexibility. Further, additional padding at the front of the knee may be added in order to both support the knee and protect it from strike forces.
While the invention has been described and illustrated with regard to the particular embodiment, changes and modifications may readily be made, and it is intended that the claims cover any changes, modifications, or adaptations that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. Changes and modifications can readily be made to adapt this tibial shell Q angle adjustment invention to conventional knee braces. It is also anticipated that this invention can be adapted to an elbow brace by substituting the adjustable tibial shell with an adjustable radius shell. This allows a symmetrical elbow brace to be adjusted to fit the angle between the humerus and radius of the user's arm, and can be adjusted to fit a right or left arm.
Claims
1. A knee brace comprising;
- a femoral plate;
- a first tibial plate hingidly coupled to the femoral plate;
- a second tibial plate rotationally coupled about an axis to the first tibial plate, wherein adjustment of the orientation of the second tibial plate relative to the first tibial plate about the axis creates a desired Q-angle
- a back plate; and
- a cable routed to each of the femoral plate, first tibial plate, second tibial plate, and back plate.
2. The knee brace of claim 1 wherein the femoral plate includes cable connectors.
3. The knee brace of claim 1 further comprising padding located underneath at least one of the plates.
4. The knee brace of claim 1 wherein the routing of the cable includes the cable being attached to the tibial plate.
5. The knee brace of claim 1 wherein the cable includes cable segments coupled together.
6. The knee brace of claim 1 further comprising a locking device coupled to the femoral plate, the locking device configured to secure the cable to the femoral plate.
7. The knee brace of claim 1 wherein the cable further comprises two segments, a femoral control loop and a tibial control loop, wherein the femoral control loop segment is formed by the portion of the cable from a cross over point located on the back plate extending over the femoral plate and returning to the cross over point, creating a loop around the user's leg, and further wherein the tibial control loop segment comprises the portion of cable extending from the cross over point to at least the second tibial plate and returning to the cross over point, creating a loop around the user's lower leg.
8. A knee brace comprising;
- a patellar plate;
- a femoral plate hingidly coupled to the patellar plate;
- a first tibial plate hingidly coupled to the patellar plate;
- a second tibial plate rotationally coupled about an axis to the first tibial plate
- a back plate; and
- a cable, the routing of the cable starting from the femoral plate extending downwardly toward the first tibial plate over a first anterior, distal surface of the femoral plate, continuing around the back plate, and further continuing around a first, anterior, distal surface of the first tibial plate and to and around a first, anterior, distal surface of the second tibial plate, the routing of the cable then continuing upwardly toward the femoral plate around a second, anterior, distal surface of the second tibial plate to a second anterior, distal surface of the first tibial plate, then continuing again around the back plate to cross with itself at a cross over point proximate a medial portion of the back plate, and the routing of the cable further continuing over a second anterior, distal surface of the femoral plate.
9. The knee brace of claim 8 wherein the routing of the cable includes a first adjustment mechanism located on the femoral plate, and further where selective engagement of the adjustment mechanism controls the length of the cable.
10. The knee brace of claim 8 wherein the cable includes two or more cable segments coupled together.
11. The knee brace of claim 8 further comprising wherein the cable routing further comprises two segments, a femoral control loop and a tibial control loop, wherein the femoral control loop segment is formed by the portion of the cable extending from the cross over point over the first anterior, distal surface of the femoral plate and down the second anterior distal surface of the femoral plate, returning to the cross over point, creating the femoral control loop around the user's leg, and further wherein the tibial control loop segment comprises the portion of cable extending from the cross over point to at least the first anterior distal surface of the second tibial plate and down the second anterior distal surface of the second tibial plate returning to the cross over point, creating the tibial control loop around the user's lower leg.
12. The knee brace of claim 11 further comprising where the length of the femoral control loop and the tibial control loop are directly inverse.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 10, 2019
Publication Date: Sep 26, 2019
Inventor: Darren Fleming (San Diego, CA)
Application Number: 16/436,716