Importance

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Abstract

A light-weight brace adapted to be affixed externally of a patient's leg so that it lies partly above and partly below the person's knee. The apparatus includes first and second flexible sheets of cushioned material which are adapted to be snugly wrapped around the thigh and calf. The width of each of the flexible sheets is sufficient to circumferentially envelope at least most, and preferably all, of its associated leg member; and the length of each sheet is sufficient to encompass at least half of the length of the respective leg member. A preferred cushioning material is a sheet of polyurethane foam (about 9 mm thick) bonded to a sheet of pile-type material having sufficient 'nap' to serve as an anchor for resilient hooks of the Velcro type. Also provided are first and second pairs of elongated braces, which braces are relatively stiff so as to resist both torsion and bending loads. The pairs of elongated braces are adapted to lie on opposite sides of the wearer's thigh and calf. The elongated braces consist of structural cores which are preferably enclosed in non-metallic sheaths of vinyl or the like; the cores are bonded to said sheaths in order to inhibit any relative motion between the exterior sheaths and the interior cores. Permanently attached to the outer surface of the sheaths are pads of resilient hook material, such that the elongated braces may be selectively positioned next to and engaged with the pile side of the flexible sheets. Exact positioning of the elongated braces is a matter of choice, and a hinge which connects respective ones of the elongated braces is positioned in accordance with well-known medical principles. A plurality of non-elastic straps are provided for wrapping circumferentially around the respective leg members so as to tightly hold the respective sheet members about the thigh and calf. Additional Velcro-type fastening elements are mounted on the interior surface of the non-elastic straps and the exterior surface of the elongated braces, such that the braces may be more effectively anchored to the leg.

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First Claim