Royce Medical Company

Jeffrey R Haines

Tracy E Grim

An orthopedic device for treatment of injured joints or limbs having at least one gel pad including at least one phase change material for improving the thermal energy storage capacity of the gel pad. The phase change material included in the gel material inside the gel pad may be encapsulated, formed in pellets, soluble, insoluble, or in any desirable form. The gel pad may be removed from the orthopedic device, heated or cooled, and then used with the device for hot or cold therapy of injured joints or limbs, taking advantage of the increased thermal energy storage capacity of the phase change material. Two different phase change materials may be included in the gel pad, one of which may be used for cold temperature therapy while the other is used for hot temperature therapy. The gel pad may include encapsulated water as a phase change material. In addition, a sheet of encapsulated phase change material may be used inside the gel pad which prevents the phase change material from moving inside the gel pad in order to provide a uniform distribution of phase change material inside the pad, resulting in uniform temperature distribution for hot or cold therapy.

Orthopedic device having gel pad with phase change material

A leg brace for alleviating problems with torn or damaged anterior or posterior cruciate ligaments includes an upper assembly oriented longitudinally with and extending circumferentially around the thigh, a lower assembly oriented longitudinally with and extending circumferentially around the calf, and hinge assemblies connecting the upper and lower assemblies and with axes oriented along the axis of rotation of the knee joint. Two pairs of elongate support struts are provided with one pair extending along the medial and lateral portions of the thigh and the other extending along the medial and lateral portions of the calf and with the central ends of both pairs of struts connected to the hinge assemblies. Straps are provided with the upper and lower assemblies and which extend circumferentially around the thigh and calf respectively for securing the leg brace to the wearer's leg. Padding is provided with the upper and lower assemblies and which extend circumferentially around the thigh and calf respectively. On the lower assembly, separate anterior and posterior cruciate ligament support plate assemblies are provided for applying independently variable posteriorly and anteriorly directed forces against the tibia. Each support plate assembly is independently attached to the lower assembly's pair of elongate support struts and may be independently vertically adjusted through vertical slots in the support struts to accommodate different leg sizes. A support collar may be utilized to grip the wearer's leg just above the ankle and thereby prevent downward slippage or pistoning of the leg brace during use.

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Encino, CA, United States of America

Jeffrey R Haines