Device for managing patellofemoral pain and methods of use thereof

Abstract

A device for managing patellofemoral pain includes a wearable anchor structure configured to be positioned adjacent to the knee joint of a user. A spring mechanism is attachable, during use, to the anchor structure at first and second attachment positions located laterally and medially of the knee joint, respectively. An attachment component is coupled to the spring mechanism and has an attachment surface configured to be removably attached, during use, to the skin over the patella of the user such that the spring mechanism applies a tension force on the attachment component in an anterior direction. Methods for managing patellofemoral pain and realigning the patella and a patellofemoral pain management kit are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for managing patellofemoral pain comprising:
 a wearable anchor structure configured to be positioned adjacent to the knee joint of a user;   a spring mechanism attachable, during use, to the anchor structure at first and second attachment positions located laterally and medially of the knee joint, respectively;   an attachment component coupled to the spring mechanism, the attachment component having an attachment surface configured to be removably attached, during use, to the skin over the patella of the user such that the spring mechanism applies a tension force on the attachment component in an anterior direction.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the wearable anchor structure is a sleeve or wrap. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the sleeve or wrap comprises a medial connector and a lateral connector. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the spring mechanism comprises first and second connectors that matingly engage with one or both of the medial and lateral connectors. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the wearable anchor structure comprises a medial anchor member having an adhesive layer on one side of the medial anchor member and a medial connector on the other side of the medial anchor member, and a lateral anchor member having an adhesive layer on one side of the lateral anchor member and a lateral connector on the other side of the lateral anchor member. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the spring mechanism comprises first and second connectors that matingly engage with one or both of the medial and lateral connectors. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the spring mechanism is a flexible strip. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the spring mechanism comprises one or more connectors at a first end of the flexible strip and one or more connectors at a second end of the flexible strip. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second attachment positions are adjustable to adjust the tension force on the attachment component. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , where a length of the spring mechanism is adjustable to adjust the tension force on the attachment component. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a spacer element coupling the attachment component to the spring mechanism, wherein the spacer element is adjustable with respect to the spring mechanism to adjust a distance between the spring mechanism and the attachment component to adjust the tension force on the attachment component. 
 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the spacer element is configured such that the distance between the spring mechanism and the attachment component is between about 0.125 inches to about 3 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the spacer element is a loop structure coupled to the spring mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the coupling between the loop structure and the spring mechanism is adjustable to adjust an angle of the tension force on the attachment component. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment surface of the attachment component comprises an adhesive layer. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a shield component configured to cover the attachment component in the anterior direction during use. 
 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the shield component is dome-shaped. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a spring support structure configured to be located about the patella of the user, wherein the spring mechanism is a flexible fabric configured to be located over the support structure, the flexible fabric configured such that attachment of the flexible fabric to the anchor structure at the first and second attachment positions located laterally and medially of the knee joint, respectively, and at third and fourth attachment positions located above and below the knee joint, respectively, provides the tension force on the attachment component in the anterior direction. 
 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the spring support structure is donut shaped. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the attachment component is fixedly attached to the spring mechanism. 
     
     
         21 . A method of managing patellofemoral joint pain, the method comprising:
 providing the device of  claim 1 ;   positioning the wearable anchor structure adjacent to the knee joint of the user;   attaching the spring mechanism to the anchor structure at first and second attachment positions located laterally and medially of the knee joint; and   attaching the attachment surface of the attachment component to the skin over the patella of the user to apply a tension force on the attachment component in an anterior direction from the spring mechanism.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 adjusting the first and second attachment positions to adjust the tension force on the attachment component. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 adjusting a length of the spring mechanism to adjust the tension force on the attachment component. 
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the spring mechanism is coupled to the attachment device by a threaded screw, the method further comprising:
 adjusting the position of the screw to determine the distance between the spring mechanism and the attachment component to adjust the tension force on the attachment component.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 providing a spacer element coupling the attachment component to the spring mechanism; and 
 adjusting the spacer element with respect to the spring mechanism to adjust a distance between the spring mechanism and the attachment component to adjust the tension force on the attachment component. 
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 adjusting the positioning of the coupling between the spacer element and the spring mechanism to adjust an angle of the tension force on the attachment component. 
 
     
     
         27 . A method of managing patellofemoral joint pain, the method comprising:
 applying a prosthetic device about the knee of a user to apply a traction force anteriorly to displace the patella, thereby managing patellofemoral joint pain.   
     
     
         28 . A patellofemoral pain management kit comprising:
 a wearable anchor structure configured to be positioned adjacent to the knee joint of a user;   a plurality of spring mechanisms having different gauges, each of the plurality of spring mechanisms configured to be attached to the anchor structure at first and second attachment positions located laterally and medially of the knee joint, respectively; and   an attachment component configured to be coupled to one of the plurality of spring mechanisms, the attachment component having an attachment surface configured to be removably attached, during use, to the skin over the patella of the user such that the one of the plurality of spring mechanisms to which the attachment component is attached applies a tension force on the attachment component in an anterior direction.   
     
     
         29 . A device for managing patellofemoral pain comprising:
 an attachment surface configured to be removably attached, during use, to the skin over the patella of a user;   an attachment component connected to the attachment surface, the attachment component being configured for releasably coupling to a spring mechanism such that the spring mechanism, during use, applies a tension force on the attachment component in an anterior direction.   
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 29  further comprising:
 a spacer element coupled to the attachment component, the spacer element configured to couple the attachment component to the spring mechanism, wherein the spacer element is adjustable with respect to the spring mechanism to adjust a distance between the spring mechanism and the attachment component to adjust the tension force on the attachment component. 
 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the spacer element is configured such that the distance between the spring mechanism and the attachment component is between about 0.125 inches to about 3 inches. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the spacer element is a loop structure coupled to the spring mechanism. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the attachment component comprises an anchor linkage, and wherein the loop structure passes through the anchor linkage such that, during use, the loop structure extends anteriorly of the attachment component, and the spring mechanism passes through the loop structure. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the coupling between the loop structure and the spring mechanism is adjustable to adjust an angle of the tension force on the attachment component. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the attachment surface comprises:
 a first side having an adhesive layer configured to be removably attached, during use, to the skin over the patella of a user; and   a second side connected to the attachment component.   
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the second side is adhesively connected to the attachment component. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the second side is removably or adjustably connected to the attachment component. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the second side and the attachment component are connected by mating fasteners. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the attachment component comprises an anchor linkage, and during use the spring mechanism passes through the anchor linkage whereby the portion of the spring mechanism passing through the anchor linkage is free slide in a medial or lateral direction but not in the anterior direction. 
     
     
         40 . A patellofemoral pain management kit comprising:
 a wearable anchor structure configured to be positioned adjacent to the knee joint of a user;   a plurality of spring mechanisms having different gauges, each of the plurality of spring mechanisms configured to be attached to the anchor structure at first and second attachment positions located laterally and medially of the knee joint, respectively;   an attachment surface configured to be removably attached, during use, to the skin over the patella of a user;   an attachment component connected to the attachment surface, the attachment component being configured for releasably coupling to one of the plurality of spring mechanisms such that the spring mechanism, during use, applies a tension force on the attachment component in an anterior direction.   
     
     
         41 . The kit of  claim 40  further comprising:
 a plurality of wearable anchor structures configured to be positioned adjacent to the knee joint of the user. 
 
     
     
         42 . A method of realigning a user's patella, the method comprising:
 applying a prosthetic device about the knee of a user having a mis-aligned patella to apply a traction force anteriorly to displace the patella, whereby said applying is carried out repeatedly and periodically over a period of time to cause a realignment of the patella by increasing the space between the patella and the femur.