U.S. patent application number 12/987084 was filed with the patent office on 2011-04-28 for cable knee brace system.
Invention is credited to Darren Fleming.
Application Number | 20110098618 12/987084 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43899022 |
Filed Date | 2011-04-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110098618 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fleming; Darren |
April 28, 2011 |
Cable Knee Brace System
Abstract
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 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.
Inventors: |
Fleming; Darren; (Vista,
CA) |
Family ID: |
43899022 |
Appl. No.: |
12/987084 |
Filed: |
January 8, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11744213 |
May 3, 2007 |
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12987084 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
602/16 ;
602/26 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 2005/0167 20130101;
A61F 2005/0179 20130101; A61F 2005/0137 20130101; A61F 5/0123
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
602/16 ;
602/26 |
International
Class: |
A61F 5/00 20060101
A61F005/00 |
Claims
1. A device designed to prevent an individual's leg from
hyper-extending or laterally bending and or rotating by applying a
net differential resistive force between the tibia and femur to
serve the function of protecting damage to the anterior cruciate
ligament and or medial collateral ligament, said device comprising;
a femoral plate; a tibial plate; a patellar plate; a back plate; a
movement control mechanism crossing over the joint and including a
pair of flexible cables which from the rear of the leg connects to
the tibial plate and with the femoral plate, characterized in that
a first flexible cable crosses the joint behind the leg at the back
plate connecting one side of the tibial plate with the opposite
side of the femoral plate and a second flexible cable crosses the
joint behind the leg at the back plate connecting one side of the
tibial plate with the opposite side of the femoral plate in order
to prohibit the tibial plate from rotating and bias the back plate
toward the joint and to the fore and to bias the tibial plate
toward the joint and to the rear.
2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and said
second flexible cable is a flexible tension bearing substantially
non-elastic metal, wire or polymeric cable.
3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the said first and
said second flexible cable extends from a side face of the tibial
plate, behind the leg above the joint to a opposite side face of
the femoral plate.
4. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and said
second cables cross behind the leg above the joint at the back
plate connecting one side of the tibial plate with the opposite
side of the femoral plate.
5. A device designed to prevent an individual's leg from
hyper-extending or laterally bending and or rotating by applying a
net differential resistive force between the tibia and femur to
serve the function of protecting damage to the anterior cruciate
ligament and or medial collateral ligament, said device comprising;
a femoral plate; a tibial plate; a patellar plate; a back plate; a
movement control mechanism crossing over the joint and including a
flexible cable which connects the tibial plate with the femoral
plate, characterized in that a flexible cable crosses the joint on
the inside, or medial side of the leg, connecting the outside, or
lateral side of the femoral plate in order to prohibit the tibial
plate from laterally bending and or rotating and bias the tibial
plate and femoral plate inward or medially.
6. The device as recited in claim 2, wherein said flexible cable is
a flexible tension bearing substantially non-elastic metal, wire or
polymeric cable.
7. The device as recited in claim 2, wherein the said flexible
cable extends from an outside, or lateral side face of the tibial
plate, around the inside or medial side of the leg to an outside or
lateral side face of the femoral plate.
8. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and said
second cables cross behind the leg above the joint at the back
plate connecting one side of the tibial plate with the opposite
side of the femoral plate.
9. The device as recited in claim 2 wherein said first and said
second cables cross behind the leg above the joint at the back
plate connecting one side of the tibial plate with the opposite
side of the femoral plate.
10. The device as recited in claim 3 wherein said first and said
second cables cross behind the leg above the joint at the back
plate connecting one side of the tibial plate with the opposite
side of the femoral plate.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 11/744,213 filed on May 3, 2007,
entitled Cable Brace System.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Invention relates to orthopedic devices for knees, and more
specifically to a knee brace system utilizing a cable to
mechanically support the knees natural ligaments.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The 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.
[0004] 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 preventing knee
injuries.
[0005] 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 hyper extend 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.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] 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.
[0007] The invention is a cable system that acts much like the
body's natural Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) and Medial
Collateral Ligaments (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 (hyper extending) or twisting (lateral
rotation) or bending laterally with respect to the femur.
[0008] The cable knee brace system of this invention can be
tailored or adapted to prior art (conventional) braces increasing
their effectiveness.
[0009] It is also anticipated by the Applicant that this cable knee
brace system can be adapted to the elbow to prevent the arm from
hyper extending. 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an outside elevation/side view of a right leg
showing normal fully extended and hyper extended (tearing ACL)
views.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a top/front view of the right leg fully extended
showing normal and laterally rotated or laterally bent (tearing ACL
and or MCL) views.
[0012] FIG. 3 is an outside elevation/side view of the right leg
fully extended showing the primary cable resisting hyperextension
of the leg.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a top/front view of the right leg fully extended
showing the primary cable resisting lateral rotation of the
leg.
[0014] FIG. 5 is an outside elevation/side view of the right leg in
the flexed position showing the primary cable knee brace
system.
[0015] FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view showing the individual
parts of the primary cable knee brace system.
[0016] FIG. 7 is an outside elevation/side view of the left leg
fully extended showing the secondary cable resisting hyper
extension of the leg.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a top/front view of the right leg fully extended
showing the secondary cable resisting lateral rotation and or
lateral bending of the leg.
[0018] FIG. 9 is an outside elevation/side view of the left leg in
the flexed position showing the secondary cable resisting lateral
bending or lateral rotation.
[0019] FIG. 10 is an exploded isometric view of the individual
parts of the secondary cable knee brace system.
[0020] FIG. 11 is an inside elevation/side view of the secondary
cable guide plate that guides the secondary cable through the pivot
points.
[0021] FIG. 12 is an inside elevation/side view of an alternate
cable guide plate that guides the secondary cable under and over
the pivot points.
[0022] FIG. 13 is an inside elevation/side view of another
alternative cable guide plate that guides the secondary cable over
and under the pivot points.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIEMENTS
[0023] 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
(hyper extending), see FIG. 1, or laterally bending and or rotating
(twisting), see FIG. 2, with respect to the femur bone 18. The
patella 20 and fibula bone 24 are shown for completeness. The knee
brace of this invention as best shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
and 10, which like references refer to like elements throughout the
several views, introduces a novel cable system that more
effectively prevents hyper extension, lateral bending and or
lateral rotation of the knee joint.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows the primary cable system of this invention
creating an effective differential force to the tibia 26 relative
to the femur 18 and reinforcing the ACL 22. When the primary cable
1 of this system is properly tensioned the brace acts like the
body's own ACL 22 becoming taut as the leg extends resisting the
forward movement of the tibia bone 26, with respect to the femur
bone 18. FIG. 4, shows the primary cable system of this invention
resisting the lateral rotation of the tibia bone 26, with respect
to the femur bone 18. FIG. 5 shows the primary cable system of this
invention when the leg is flexed. Because the tibial plate 2 moves
further away from the femoral plate 4 as the leg extends the
primary cable 1 becomes progressively tighter as the leg approaches
full extension, as shown in FIG. 3. When a hyperextension force 28
is applied to the leg as shown in FIG. 3 the tibial plate 2,
patellar plate 3, and femoral plate 4 are compressed together as
the primary cable 1 comes under progressively more tension. The
tensile force in the primary cable 1 pulls down on the tibial plate
2, and up on the back plate 5 creating the differential resistive
force across the knee joint preventing hyper extension of the leg.
FIG. 7 shows the secondary cable system of this invention creating
an effective differential force to the tibia 26 relative to the
femur 18 and reinforcing the ACL 22 and MCL 23. As the leg extends
the secondary cable 40 resists the forward movement of the tibia
bone 26, with respect to the femur bone 18. FIG. 8, shows the
secondary cable 40 resisting the lateral bending and or lateral
rotation of the tibia bone 26, with respect to the femur bone 18.
FIG. 9 shows the secondary cable system of the invention when the
leg is flexed and the secondary cable 40 resisting lateral bending
and lateral rotation throughout the legs range of motion. As the
leg extends the patellar plate 3 acts like a hinge for the tibial
plate 2 and femoral plate 4 rotating about pivot points 17a and
17b, respectively, approximating the knees flexion-extension
movement.
[0025] When a lateral rotation force 30 is applied to the leg as
shown in FIG. 4 the tibial plate 2, patellar plate 3, femoral plate
4, and back plate 5 are held rigid by the tension developed in the
primary cable 1. The tensile forces in primary cable 1 cross behind
the leg as they pass through back plate 5 resisting rotation and
bending across the knee joint preventing the leg from laterally
bending or rotating. When a lateral bending or lateral rotation
force is applied to the leg as shown in FIG. 8 the tibial plate 2,
patellar plate 3, and femoral plate 4 are held rigid by the tension
developed in the secondary cable 40. The tension in the secondary
cable 40 prevents the brace from bending across the knee joint
preventing the leg from laterally bending or rotating.
[0026] 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 elastic 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 connecting 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 elastic
strap 11a and 11d. And back plate 5 that 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.
[0027] The fundamental element of this invention is the routing of
the cables. As best shown in FIG. 6 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, 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 second cable connector 15b. As
best shown in FIG. 10 secondary cable 40 begins attached to the
outside, or collateral side, of the femoral plate 4 by the femoral
cable connector 42a and runs through the femoral cable guide hole
44a. The secondary cable 40 crosses femoral pivot point 17a and
tibial pivot point 17b through cable guide plate 48. From there the
secondary cable 40 runs through tibial plate guide hole 44b and
attaches to the outside, or lateral side, of the tibial plate 2 by
the tibial cable connector 42b, completing the route.
[0028] The cables 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
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 first
cable guide hole 13a and second 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 third cable
guide hole 13c and forth 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.
[0029] 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.
[0030] 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 legs full range of motion. FIG.
11 shows a cable guide plate which guides the cable directly
through the pivot points, secondary cable routing 46a, as described
above. Alternate secondary cable guide plate configurations as
shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 could be used guide the secondary cable
around the pivot points. For example alternate secondary cable
routing 46b could be achieved using the cable guide plate shown in
FIG. 13 which guides the secondary cable 40 over, or to the fore
of, femoral pivot point 17a and under, or to the aft of, tibial
pivot point 17b.
[0031] 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.
* * * * *