Customizable knee brace intended for patients with osteoarthritis

Abstract

A customizable knee brace for use in the treatment of osteoarthritis is provided. The customizable knee brace includes a lateral upright. The lateral upright includes at least a first semi-rigid support, a second semi-rigid support, and a hinge physically coupling the first semi-rigid support and the second semi-rigid support. The customizable knee brace further includes a thigh cuff constructed of formable material and coupled to the first semi-rigid support. The customizable knee brace further includes a shin cuff constructed of formable material and coupled to the second semi-rigid support. The customizable knee brace further includes an elastomeric web framework coupled to the lateral upright and configured to secure an area of a knee of a patient when wearing the customizable knee brace. The customizable knee brace further includes at least one tensioning element configured to adjust a tension of the elastomeric web framework.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A customizable knee brace for use in the treatment of osteoarthritis, comprising:
 a lateral upright comprising at least:
 a first semi-rigid support, 
 a second semi-rigid support, and 
 a hinge physically coupling the first semi-rigid support and the second semi-rigid support; 
   a thigh cuff constructed of formable material and coupled to the first semi-rigid support;   a shin cuff constructed of formable material and coupled to the second semi-rigid support;   an elastomeric web framework coupled to the lateral upright and configured to secure an area of a knee of a patient when wearing the customizable knee brace; and   at least one tensioning element configured to adjust a tension of the elastomeric web framework.   
     
     
         2 . The brace of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one removable condyle pad coupled to the hinge and configured to provide a spacing between the hinge and the knee of the patient. 
     
     
         3 . The brace of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one strap configured to wrap around at least a posterior portion of the knee of the patient thereby securing the brace to the patient. 
     
     
         4 . The brace of  claim 1 , further comprising a formable pad configured to provide cushioning to the thigh or shin of the patient. 
     
     
         5 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tensioning element comprises a lace coupled to the elastomeric web framework and at least one reel element configured to adjust a tension in the lace, thereby adjusting the tension in the elastomeric web framework. 
     
     
         6 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tensioning element is configured to increase an amount of vertical tension of the elastomeric web framework while simultaneously increasing an offloading of a portion of a load on a desired compartment of the knee. 
     
     
         7 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tensioning element is selected from the group consisting of a reel-and-lace tensioning element, a lever-based tensioning element, a screw-based tensioning element, a lace-and-cleat tensioning element, buckles, a rigid post-and-strap tensioning element comprising holes, a hook-and-loop tensioning element, and a notched band-and-pawl tensioning element. 
     
     
         8 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the thigh cuff is formable and configured to conform to a thigh of the patient. 
     
     
         9 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the shin cuff is formable and configured to conform to a shin of the patient. 
     
     
         10 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first semi-rigid support and the second semi-rigid support are configured to be adjusted, based on anatomical needs of the patient, so as to redistribute a portion of a load from a medial compartment of the knee of the patient, thereby reducing knee pain. 
     
     
         11 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric web framework comprises silicone. 
     
     
         12 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein, when under tension, the elastomeric web framework is configured to both customize a fit of the brace around the knee of the patient and redistribute at least a portion of a load from a medial compartment of the knee of the patient. 
     
     
         13 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric web framework comprises a plurality of interconnected elastomeric segments that define at least one alignment opening configured to receive a patellar portion of the knee of the patient. 
     
     
         14 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the thigh cuff and the calf cuff are heat-formable in a temperature range at least partially overlapping 160-180 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         15 . A customizable knee brace for use in the treatment of osteoarthritis, comprising:
 a lateral upright comprising at least:
 a first semi-rigid support, 
 a second semi-rigid support, and 
 a hinge physically coupling the first semi-rigid support and the second semi-rigid support; 
   an elastomeric web framework coupled to the lateral upright and configured to secure an area of a knee of a patient when wearing the customizable knee brace; and   at least one tensioning element configured to adjust a tension of the elastomeric web framework.   
     
     
         16 . The brace of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a thigh cuff constructed of formable material and coupled to the first semi-rigid support; and   a shin cuff constructed of formable material and coupled to the second semi-rigid support.   
     
     
         17 . A customizable knee brace for use in the treatment of osteoarthritis, comprising:
 a lateral upright comprising at least:
 a first semi-rigid support, 
 a second semi-rigid support, and 
 a hinge physically coupling the first semi-rigid support and the second semi-rigid support; 
   a thigh cuff constructed of formable material and coupled to the first semi-rigid support;   a shin cuff constructed of formable material and coupled to the second semi-rigid support; and   an elastomeric web framework coupled to the lateral upright and configured to secure an area of a knee of a patient when wearing the customizable knee brace.   
     
     
         18 . The brace of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one tensioning element configured to adjust a tension of the elastomeric web framework, the at least one tensioning element selected from the group consisting of a reel-and-lace tensioning element, a lever-based tensioning element, a screw-based tensioning element, a lace-and-cleat tensioning element, buckles, a rigid post-and-strap tensioning element comprising holes, a hook-and-loop tensioning element, and a notched band-and-pawl tensioning element. 
     
     
         19 . A method for treating osteoarthritis utilizing a customizable knee brace, the method comprising:
 forming a thigh cuff of the customizable knee brace to conform to a thigh of a patient;   forming a shin cuff of the customizable knee brace to conform to a shin of the patient, wherein the customizable knee brace further comprises a lateral upright comprising at least:
 a first semi-rigid support configured to be coupled to the thigh cuff, 
 a second semi-rigid support configured to be coupled to the shin cuff, and 
 a hinge physically coupling the first semi-rigid support and the second semi-rigid support; 
   securing an area of a knee of a patient utilizing an elastomeric web framework coupled to the lateral upright; and   adjusting a tension of the elastomeric web framework utilizing at least one tensioning element.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one tensioning element comprises at least one reel element and a lace that physically couples the elastomeric web framework to the lateral upright and wherein adjusting the tension of the elastomeric web framework comprises adjusting the at least one reel element to adjust a tension in the lace. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one tensioning element is selected from the group consisting of a reel-and-lace tensioning element, a lever-based tensioning element, a screw-based tensioning element, a lace-and-cleat tensioning element, buckles, a rigid post-and-strap tensioning element comprising holes, a hook-and-loop tensioning element, and a notched band-and-pawl tensioning element. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising bending at least one of the first semi-rigid support and the second semi-rigid support to a desired angle based at least in part on an alignment of the knee so as to redistribute a portion of a load from a medial compartment of the knee of the patient. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein adjusting the tension of the elastomeric web framework redistributes at least a portion of a load from a medial compartment of the knee of the patient. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein adjusting the tension of the elastomeric web framework comprises increasing an amount of vertical tension of the elastomeric web framework while simultaneously increasing an offloading of a portion of a load on a desired compartment of the knee. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising disposing at least one removable condyle pad between the hinge and the knee of the patient, thereby providing a desired spacing between the hinge and the knee of the patient. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising wrapping at least one strap, coupled to the lateral upright, around at least a posterior portion of the knee of the patient thereby securing the brace to the patient. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising disposing a formable pad at the thigh or shin of the patient. 
     
     
         28 . A kit for providing a customizable knee brace for use in the treatment of osteoarthritis, the kit comprising:
 the customizable knee brace, comprising:
 a lateral upright comprising at least:
 a first semi-rigid support, 
 a second semi-rigid support, and 
 a hinge physically coupling the first semi-rigid support and the second semi-rigid support; 
 
 a thigh cuff constructed of formable material and coupled to the first semi-rigid support; 
 a shin cuff constructed of formable material and coupled to the second semi-rigid support; 
 an elastomeric web framework coupled to the lateral upright and configured to secure an area of a knee of a patient when wearing the customizable knee brace; and 
 at least one tensioning element configured to adjust a tension of the elastomeric web framework; 
   the kit further comprising a plurality of heating pads configurable to heat the thigh cuff and the shin cuff for forming to the patient's thigh and shin, respectively.   
     
     
         29 . The kit of  claim 28 , further comprising packaging configured to reduce or substantially eliminate alteration of a shape of any portion of the customizable knee brace during transit within the kit. 
     
     
         30 . The kit of  claim 28 , further comprising a plurality of removable condyle pads having various thicknesses, the removable condyle pads configured to provide desired spacings, associated with the various thicknesses, between the hinge and the knee of the patient when the customizable knee brace is worn by the patient. 
     
     
         31 . The kit of  claim 28 , further comprising at least one strap coupled to the lateral upright and configured to wrap around at least a posterior portion of the knee of the patient thereby securing the brace to the patient. 
     
     
         32 . The kit of  claim 28 , further comprising a formable pad configured to provide cushioning to the thigh or shin of the patient. 
     
     
         33 . The kit of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one tensioning element comprises a lace coupled to the elastomeric web framework and at least one reel element configured to adjust a tension in the lace, thereby adjusting the tension of the elastomeric web framework. 
     
     
         34 . The kit of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one tensioning element is configured to increase an amount of vertical tension of the elastomeric web framework while simultaneously increasing an offloading of a portion of a load on a desired compartment of the knee. 
     
     
         35 . The kit of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one tensioning element is selected from the group consisting of a reel-and-lace tensioning element, a lever-based tensioning element, a screw-based tensioning element, a lace-and-cleat tensioning element, buckles, a rigid post-and-strap tensioning element comprising holes, a hook-and-loop tensioning element, and a notched band-and-pawl tensioning element. 
     
     
         36 . The kit of  claim 28 , wherein the thigh cuff is heat-formable and configured to conform to a thigh of the patient. 
     
     
         37 . The kit of  claim 28 , wherein the shin cuff is heat-formable and configured to conform to a shin of the patient. 
     
     
         38 . The kit of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the first semi-rigid support and the second semi-rigid support are configured to be adjusted, based on anatomical needs of the patient, so as to redistribute a portion of a load from a medial compartment of the knee of the patient. 
     
     
         39 . The kit of  claim 28 , wherein the elastomeric web framework comprises silicone. 
     
     
         40 . The kit of  claim 28 , wherein, when under tension, the elastomeric web framework is configured to both customize a fit of the brace around the knee of the patient and redistribute at least a portion of a load from a medial compartment of the knee of the patient. 
     
     
         41 . The kit of  claim 28 , wherein the elastomeric web framework comprises a plurality of interconnected elastomeric segments that define at least one alignment opening configured to receive a patellar portion of the knee of the patient. 
     
     
         42 . The kit of  claim 28 , wherein the thigh cuff and the shin cuff are heat-formable in a temperature range at least partially overlapping 160-180 degrees Fahrenheit.