US 12,290,462 B2
Anatomical brace for dynamically stabilizing the elbow
Andrew Blecher, Encino, CA (US)
Assigned to Sports Medicine Sciences, LLC, Los Angeles, CA (US)
Filed by Sports Medicine Sciences, LLC, Encino, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 29, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/239,196.
Application 18/239,196 is a continuation of application No. 16/047,877, filed on Jul. 27, 2018, granted, now 11,737,903.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/538,042, filed on Jul. 28, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2024/0130884 A1, Apr. 25, 2024
Prior Publication US 2024/0225880 A9, Jul. 11, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61F 5/00 (2006.01); A61F 5/01 (2006.01); A61F 5/058 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 5/013 (2013.01) [A61F 5/0118 (2013.01); A61F 5/05858 (2013.01); A61F 2005/0137 (2013.01); A61F 2005/0158 (2013.01); A61F 2005/0167 (2013.01); A61F 2005/0181 (2013.01); A61F 2005/0188 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An anatomical brace for dynamically stabilizing the elbow during elbow articulation, said anatomical brace comprising:
a brace body comprising a distal portion for fitting over the forearm of a user and a proximal portion for fitting over the upper arm of a user;
a hinge mechanism comprising a distal segment, a proximal segment and a pivot for pivotally connecting said distal segment and said proximal segment, said distal segment of said hinge mechanism being mounted to said distal portion of said brace body and said proximal segment of said hinge mechanism being mounted to said proximal portion of said brace body;
a pivot cable guide mounted to the anterior portion of said pivot;
an upper arm cable guide mounted to at least one of said proximal segment of said hinge mechanism and said proximal portion of said brace body, said upper arm cable guide being configured to change the direction of a cable extending through said upper arm cable guide;
an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) cable guide mounted to said brace body and configured to direct a cable extending through said ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) cable guide over the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and toward said distal portion of said brace body; and
a cable having a first end and a second end;
said first end of said cable being mounted to said distal segment of said hinge mechanism, said second end of said cable being mounted to said distal portion of said brace body, and said cable being routed proximally along said distal segment of said hinge mechanism, through said pivot cable guide, proximally along said proximal segment of said hinge mechanism, through said upper arm cable guide, and through said ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) cable guide;
wherein, when said anatomical brace is mounted to the arm of a user so that said distal portion of said brace body is secured to the forearm of the user, and said proximal portion of said brace body is secured to the upper arm of the user, and when the elbow thereafter moves to full extension, said cable is tensioned, whereby to apply a force to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the user, and when the elbow thereafter moves to full flexion, said cable is relaxed, so that the force applied to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is released.