Soft braces to prevent injury to a joint or body segment
A soft brace to prevent injury to one or more target joints or body segments is disclosed. The soft brace includes one or more tensile elements configured to limit motion of one or more target joints based on placement of the one or more tensile elements relative to the one or more target joints such that the placement and tension of each of the one or more tensile elements provides resistance against motion of the one or more target joints; one or more soft tissue anchors positioned on a body around the one or more target joints, the one or more anchors being configured to anchor one or more of the one or more tensile elements to the body to provide force distribution relative to the one or more target joints; and wherein at least one of the one or more tensile elements is routed in parallel with the approximate center of rotation of at least one of the one or more target joints.
1. A soft brace comprising:
one or more tensile elements configured to limit excessive movement of a knee joint;
wherein a placement of the one or more tensile elements and a tension of each of the one or more tensile elements provides resistance against excessive movement of the knee joint,
wherein at least one of the one or more tensile elements is configured to extend from a position proximal the knee joint to a position distal the knee joint around at least one of a medial aspect or a lateral aspect of the knee joint to provide resistance against knee rotation in at least one of a frontal plane or a transverse plane;
a plurality of soft tissue anchors configured to be positioned on a body around the knee joint, the one or more anchors being configured to anchor one or more of the one or more tensile elements to the body to provide force distribution relative to the knee joint; and
at least one anchor support cable directly connected to:
at least two soft tissue anchors of the plurality of soft tissue anchors, and
the at least one of the one or more tensile elements,
wherein the at least one anchor support cable is configured to restrict the at least one of the one or more tensile elements from deviating from an approximate center of rotation of the knee joint;
wherein, as configured to limit excessive movement of the knee joint, the one or more tensile elements do not generate tension during normal movement of the knee joint.
2. The soft brace of claim 1 , wherein the one or more tensile elements provides customizable protection to the knee joint by providing customizable resistance against motion of the knee joint; have a length at rest and a length in motion such that the one or more tensile elements provide tension during motion.
3. The soft brace of claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment mechanism configured to customize an amount of resistance against motion imposed on the knee joint.
4. The soft brace of claim 3 , wherein the adjustment mechanism customizes the amount of resistance manually such that a length of the one or more tensile elements is configured to be adjusted to customize the amount or resistance against motion or automatically using at least one of motors, sensors, and actuators such that the length of the one or more tensile elements is configured to be adjusted to customize the amount or resistance against motion.
5. The soft brace of claim 3 , wherein a tension level of the one or more tensile elements is gradually and continuously controlled using a passive mechanical system or in at least one of the one or more tensile elements is adjusted to provide a predefined resistance against a motion of the knee joint.
6. The soft brace of claim 1 , further comprising a guiding system configured to route the one or more tensile elements across the brace to maintain an orientation of the one or more tensile elements during a range of motion of the knee joint or configured to route at least one of the one or more tensile elements through the approximate center of rotation of at least one of the knee joint.
7. The soft brace of claim 1 , wherein the brace is configured to provide targeted joint protection such that the brace is configured to protect against an excessive range of motion in one or more degrees of freedom.
8. The soft brace of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of soft tissue anchors include semi-rigid non-textile components or are in the form of compression mechanisms.
9. The soft brace of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors to provide feedback on the tension of the one or more tensile elements.
10. The soft brace of claim 1 , further comprising dynamic control in the form of one or more sensors configured to measure activity of the knee joint to provide feedback in real time regarding at least one of the load and motions of the knee joint.
11. The soft brace of claim 10 , further comprising one or more motors configured to control tension in the one or more tensile elements based on feedback information from the one or more sensors.
12. The soft brace of claim 1 , further comprising one or more remote joint anchors positioned remote from the knee joint, the one or more remote joint anchors configured to couple one or more of the one or more tensile elements to a remote joint to provide force distribution relative to the knee joint.
13. The soft brace of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more tensile elements is routed through an approximate center of rotation of at least one of the knee joint.
14. The soft brace of claim 1 , further comprising one or more flexible hinges that are configured to bend to provide resistance against motion of the knee joint.
15. The soft brace of claim 1 , wherein the one or more tensile elements are configured to be slack during normal movement of knee joint.
16. The soft brace of claim 1 , wherein the one or more tensile elements are configured to resist knee abduction and internal rotation without affecting knee flexion.