Knee orthosis and orthotic method

Abstract

A knee orthosis includes a medial tracking member and an inward tracking member. The medial tracking member includes a lateral element that is configured to be positioned adjacent to a lateral side of a patella, and is configured to cause the patella to track medially. The inward tracking member is configured to extend over the patella, and to apply an inward pressure against the patella, which may increase the contact surface area between patellofemoral articular tissue and an associated femoral trochlear groove. The inward tracking member may also be configured to provide continuous compressive force against the patella throughout a full extension or flexion motion of an associated knee. Orthotic methods for addressing patellofemoral joint disorders are also disclosed.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A knee orthosis, comprising:
 a medial tracking member, including:
 a lateral element configured to be positioned along a lateral side of a patella; 
 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, the upper element and the lower element 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 be positioned over and to apply inward pressure to the patella.   
     
     
         2 . The knee orthosis of  claim 1 , wherein the inward traction member has a plurality of intermittent inward pressure settings. 
     
     
         3 . The knee orthosis of  claim 1 , wherein the inward traction member is configured to directly overlay the patella and the lateral element of the medial tracking member so that medial traction can be placed on the patella. 
     
     
         4 . The knee orthosis of  claim 1 , wherein the medial tracking member is adjustable to enable selective adjustment of an amount of medial traction. 
     
     
         5 . The knee orthosis of  claim 1 , wherein the inward traction member is adjustable to increase or decrease an amount of inward pressure applied to the patella. 
     
     
         6 . The knee orthosis of  claim 1 , wherein the inward traction member is configured to provide a continuous compressive force against the patella throughout a full range of extension motion of a knee of which the patella is a part. 
     
     
         7 . The knee orthosis of  claim 6 , wherein the continuous compressive force is substantially the same throughout the extension motion. 
     
     
         8 . The knee orthosis of  claim 6 , wherein the continuous compressive force increases throughout the extension motion. 
     
     
         9 . The knee orthosis of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a polycentric hinge having an axis that maintains a parallel position with respect to an associated knee throughout a flexion or extension motion of the knee.   
     
     
         10 . The knee orthosis of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the polycentric hinge is bicentric;   the inward traction member is operatively attached to the polycentric hinge; and   the inward traction member is aligned substantially perpendicular to an axis of the polycentric hinge.   
     
     
         11 . The knee orthosis of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the inward traction member is mounted to the polycentric hinge; or   operatively loops through a ring that is aligned parallel to the axis of the polycentric hinge.   
     
     
         12 . The knee orthosis of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an elastic, breathable sleeve having attachment positions for anchoring and adjusting the medial tracking member and the inward traction member.   
     
     
         13 . The knee orthosis of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral element of the medial tracking member comprises a synthetic tube that is covered with an elastic material, a raised spacing member, or a raised extension member. 
     
     
         14 . The knee orthosis of  claim 1 , wherein the inward traction member is also configured to apply a medial pressure to the patella. 
     
     
         15 . The knee orthosis of  claim 1 , wherein the inward traction member comprises an elastic, adjustable strap. 
     
     
         16 . An orthotic method for tracking a patella, comprising:
 applying medial traction around a lateral side, a top and a bottom of a patella; and   applying an inward pressure to the patella.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein applying the inward pressure comprises intermittently and progressively increasing the inward pressure over time. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein intermittently and progressively increasing the inward pressure over time increasingly stretches lateral patellar connective tissue over time. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein applying the inward pressure increases a contact surface area between patellofemoral articular tissue associated with the patella and an associated femoral trochlear groove. 
     
     
         20 . A knee orthosis, comprising:
 a medial tracking member, including:
 a lateral element configured to be positioned along a lateral side of a patella; 
 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, the upper element and the lower element 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 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.