Knee orthosis and orthotic method
First Claim
1. A knee orthosis, comprising:
- a medial tracking member, including;
a lateral element configured to be positioned along a lateral side of a patella having patellofemoral articular tissue;
an upper element configured to be positioned above the patella, the upper element including a lateral end coupled to an upper end of the lateral element; and
a lower element configured to be positioned below the patella, the lower element including a lateral end coupled to a lower end of the lateral element,the lateral element, upper element and lower element of the medial tracking member being configured to apply a selected amount of medially oriented pressure to the patella to cause the patella to track medially; and
an inward traction member configured to;
position the medial tracking member circumferentially around at least a portion of the patella; and
be positioned over, and provide concentrated, medial and inward pressure and a compressive force against the patella, and to increase the contact surface area between the patellofemoral articular tissue and an associated femoral trochlear groove.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A knee orthosis that includes a medial tracking member that operatively fits along a lateral side of, and provides medial traction to, a patella having patellofemoral articular tissue; an inward tracking member that operatively fits over, and provides inward pressure against, the patella; wherein the inward tracking member provides a compressive force against the patella, thereby increasing the contact surface area between the patellofemoral articular tissue and an associated femoral trochlear groove. The inward tracking member overlays the patella and the medial tracking member so that medial traction can be placed on the patella. The inward tracking member provides continued compressive force against the patella to stretch lateral connective tissue of the patella, throughout a full extension or flexion motion of an associated knee, and the continuous compressive force is substantially the same throughout the extension or flexion motion. An orthotic method for correcting patellofemoral joint disorders is also disclosed.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A knee orthosis, comprising:
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a medial tracking member, including; a lateral element configured to be positioned along a lateral side of a patella having patellofemoral articular tissue; an upper element configured to be positioned above the patella, the upper element including a lateral end coupled to an upper end of the lateral element; and a lower element configured to be positioned below the patella, the lower element including a lateral end coupled to a lower end of the lateral element, the lateral element, upper element and lower element of the medial tracking member being configured to apply a selected amount of medially oriented pressure to the patella to cause the patella to track medially; and an inward traction member configured to; position the medial tracking member circumferentially around at least a portion of the patella; and be positioned over, and provide concentrated, medial and inward pressure and a compressive force against the patella, and to increase the contact surface area between the patellofemoral articular tissue and an associated femoral trochlear groove. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An orthotic method for tracking a patella, comprising:
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applying medial traction around a lateral side, a top and a bottom of a patella having patellofemoral articular tissue; and applying a concentrated, inward traction against the patella to increase a contact surface area between the patellofemoral articular tissue and an associated femoral trochlear groove. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A knee orthosis, comprising:
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a medial tracking member configured to at least partially surround an outer periphery of a patella having patellofemoral articular tissue and to cause the patella to track medially, the medial tracking member including; a lateral element comprising an elongated element configured to be positioned adjacent to a lateral side of the patella, and including an upper end and a lower end; an upper element comprising an elongated strap configured to be positioned above an upper periphery of the patella, and including a lateral end coupled to an upper end of the lateral element and a length adjustment feature configured to be positioned above the upper periphery of the patella; and a lower element comprising an elongated strap configured to be positioned below a lower periphery of the patella, and including a lateral end coupled to the lower end of the lateral element and a length adjustment feature configured to be positioned below the lower periphery of the patella; and an inward traction member configured to extend over the patella, between and in spaced apart relation from the upper element and the lower element of the medial tracking member, and over the lateral element of the medial tracking member to hold the medial tracking member in position relative to the patella. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An orthotic method for treating a patella, comprising:
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applying a medial traction along a lateral side and at least partially around an upper periphery and a lower periphery of a patella having patellofemoral articular tissue; and applying a concentrated, medial and inward pressure against the patella to increase a contact surface area between the patellofemoral articular tissue and an associated femoral trochlear groove while coextensively focusing the medial traction.
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Specification