Therapeutic knee brace for a contrast therapy system
First Claim
1. A therapeutic knee brace system useful in association with a knee joint therapy recipient, a thermal contrast therapy system and a continuous passive motion (CPM) device, the therapeutic knee brace system comprising:
- a leg brace configured to support a leg of the therapy recipient, wherein the leg brace includes a left lower bracing member, a right lower bracing member, a left upper bracing member and a right upper bracing member, wherein the right lower bracing member couples to the right upper bracing member via a right brace joint, and the left lower bracing member couples to the left upper bracing member via a left brace joint, further wherein the angle of flexion of at least one of the right and left brace joint is configurable by the therapy recipient, and wherein each of the left lower bracing member, the right lower bracing member, the left upper bracing member and the right upper bracing member are each configured to detachably couple to a single corresponding arm of a continuous passive motion device via a pin and slot, and wherein the therapeutic knee brace system communicates with the CPM device, and wherein the communication includes dynamic transmission of the angle of flexion and range of flexion, and wherein the communication may be mechanical, electrical or wireless, and wherein the leg brace includes at least one retainer for securing the leg of the therapy recipient to the leg brace; and
an active thermal exchange bladder configured to fit the knee joint of the therapy recipient, and wherein the active thermal exchange bladder is coupled to a thermal contrast therapy system that delivers a thermal therapy fluid to the thermal exchange bladder, and wherein the active thermal exchange bladder includes a strain relief dart which reduces bunching of the active thermal exchange bladder as the therapy recipient'"'"'s knee joint is bent within the range of flexion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a therapeutic knee brace system including a leg brace for support, a retainer for securing the therapeutic knee brace system to a knee joint therapy site, a brace joint providing a limited range of flexion to the knee brace, and an active thermal exchange bladder coupled to a contrast therapy system for delivering a therapy fluid at a select temperature, pressure and rate. Thermal exchange bladder is removable, and the pressure may be constant or dynamic. The angle of flexion may be selected by the therapy recipient, and the range of flexion of the brace joint is configurable. The knee brace may communicate range and instant angle of flexion of the brace joint to a continuous passive motion (CPM) device, and communication may be mechanical, electronic or wireless. A knee brace coupler attaches to a CPM coupler on the CPM device to selectively couple the therapeutic knee brace system to the CPM device.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A therapeutic knee brace system useful in association with a knee joint therapy recipient, a thermal contrast therapy system and a continuous passive motion (CPM) device, the therapeutic knee brace system comprising:
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a leg brace configured to support a leg of the therapy recipient, wherein the leg brace includes a left lower bracing member, a right lower bracing member, a left upper bracing member and a right upper bracing member, wherein the right lower bracing member couples to the right upper bracing member via a right brace joint, and the left lower bracing member couples to the left upper bracing member via a left brace joint, further wherein the angle of flexion of at least one of the right and left brace joint is configurable by the therapy recipient, and wherein each of the left lower bracing member, the right lower bracing member, the left upper bracing member and the right upper bracing member are each configured to detachably couple to a single corresponding arm of a continuous passive motion device via a pin and slot, and wherein the therapeutic knee brace system communicates with the CPM device, and wherein the communication includes dynamic transmission of the angle of flexion and range of flexion, and wherein the communication may be mechanical, electrical or wireless, and wherein the leg brace includes at least one retainer for securing the leg of the therapy recipient to the leg brace; and an active thermal exchange bladder configured to fit the knee joint of the therapy recipient, and wherein the active thermal exchange bladder is coupled to a thermal contrast therapy system that delivers a thermal therapy fluid to the thermal exchange bladder, and wherein the active thermal exchange bladder includes a strain relief dart which reduces bunching of the active thermal exchange bladder as the therapy recipient'"'"'s knee joint is bent within the range of flexion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification