Dj Orthopedics, LLC

Djo, LLC

Depuy

John P Fulkerson

John Patrick Martin

Andy Kazmierczak

Richard Royle Simmons

Richard Earle Gildersleeve

Scott P Seligman

Kurt Jacobson

John Martin

Richard R Simmons

Embodiments of the knee brace disclosed herein provide a combination of external ligament support and/or relief from pain caused by osteoarthritis with patellofemoral support. The brace includes a rigid frame and a flexible strap configured to extend across the wearer's patella to provide anterior loading thereto. The strap is operatively secured at either end to components of the rigid frame, thereby providing maximum leverage for applying force to the wearer's patella. In some embodiments, the strap includes a removable and adjustable buttress for directly contacting the wearer's patella. The patellar strap provides dynamic loading to the patella through the wearer's range of motion for relief of patellofemoral dysfunction, such as patellar shift, subluxation and dislocation, and malalignments such as patella alta, patella baja, tilt and glide. In some embodiments, a conversion kit is provided for converting a rigid brace frame into a knee brace capable of providing patellofemoral support to a wearer's knee. The kit includes at least a patellar strap and at least one tab for securing the strap to the rigid frame.

Knee brace having a rigid frame and patellofemoral support

A patellofemoral brace including a buttress for supporting a wearer's patella is provided. The patellofemoral brace includes an elastic sleeve that is easy to apply to the wearer's leg and easy to remove from the wearer's leg. The sleeve includes distinct bands of material so that end bands are substantially rotationally independent of a central band. The end bands resist translation along and rotation about the wearer's leg. The brace further includes a tensioning strap that lies across the buttress to further support the buttress and the wearer's patella. A portion of the tensioning strap is constructed of a thermoplastic elastomer, so that the strap provides firmer support to the buttress than a fabric strap, but is more comfortable and more evenly supports the buttress than a hard, inelastic strap.

Patellofemoral brace

An orthopedic brace includes a first strap, a second strap, and a support member. The first strap is covered on one side with loop material from a hook and loop-type fastener. A section of hook material is secured to the opposite side of the first strap. Similarly, the second strap has loop material secured to one side thereof, and a hook portion secured to the opposite side. The second strap is shorter than the first strap. The support member includes a body segment with a support pad removably secured thereto. A pair of support straps extend from the body. One side of each support strap includes both loop material and a segment of hook material secured thereto. The side of the body opposite the hook and loop material of the support straps is likewise covered with loop material and includes two hook material portions. In use, the first strap is wrapped around one portion of the limb above a joint and the second strap is wrapped around another portion of the limb below the joint. The support member is then wrapped around the limb such that the support pad is disposed adjacent the joint and one support strap is secured to the first strap above the joint and the other support strap is secured to the second strap below the joint.

Orthopedic brace

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Litchfield, CT, United States of America

John P Fulkerson