Kirby I Smith

US Patent:

54336996, Jul 18, 1995

Filed:

Mar 8, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/207780

Inventors:

Kirby Smith - Marietta GA

International Classification:

A61F 500

US Classification:

602 26

Abstract:

Knee braces for various uses, e. g. , restricting anterior tibial movement. The braces include a frame, leg mounting straps, and a pressure applicator. The frame is made up of an integral unit including a pair of elongated support rods and a bridging member connecting the rods. In one embodiment the pressure applicator comprises a posterior thigh restraining strap, a portion of the bridging member and a calf cuff pivotally connected to that portion of the bridging member by a single anterior pivot so that the calf cuff can pivot about plural axes with respect to the bridging member. The frame is movably coupled to the upper leg of the person so that the rods can translate forwardly, along the medial and lateral sides of the upper leg, respectively, until the restraining strap resists such forward movement. With the pressure applicator projecting outward from the axes of the rods for fixed anterior positioning relative to the tibia tubercle of the person and with the forward translation of the rods being restrained, resistance to anterior movement of the tibia increases as the person's knee is extended. In another embodiment the brace is arranged to be mounted on the lower leg of the person so that the bridging member applies pressure to the patella and thereby isolate it from the irritated tibia tubercle to reduce the pain associated with Osgood Schlatter's Disease.

US Patent:

RE372978, Jul 24, 2001

Filed:

Jun 24, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/339646

Inventors:

Kirby Smith - Marietta GA

International Classification:

A61F 500

US Classification:

602 26

Abstract:

A knee brace assembly for various uses, e. g. , restricting anterior tibial movement. The knee brace assembly includes a proximal cuff for engaging the wearer's leg above the knee and a distal cuff for engaging the wearer's leg below the knee. The proximal and distal cuffs are linked together by a hinge that permits pivotal movement of the proximal cuff relative to the distal cuff. The proximal cuff has lateral and medial portions each having a slot extending there along. A strap guiding assembly is slidably mounted within each of the slots. Each strap guiding assembly is arranged to slide between a proximal extreme when the wearer's leg is in flexion and a distal extreme as the wearer extends his or her leg. A biasing device biases each strap guiding assembly towards its proximal extreme. A cross-strap, having free ends and a length, is provided for engagement with the wearer's leg.

US Patent:

53243188, Jun 28, 1994

Filed:

Jun 28, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/545295

Inventors:

Kirby Smith - Marietta GA

International Classification:

A61F 700

US Classification:

607104

Abstract:

A cryotherapeutic apparatus is disclosed for treating an injury with a cold compress system that has a flexible application bag coupled with a cold liquid supply container via a flexible tube. The flexible application bag is secured about a body member with the bag in contact with the area of injury. The supply container is elevated above the bag so that cold liquid gravitates from the supply container into the application bag causing it to fill and to apply cold and pressure to the area of injury. The height of the supply container above the application bag is adjusted to establish the desired pressure exerted by the application bag upon injury.

US Patent:

55140823, May 7, 1996

Filed:

Mar 20, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/406449

Inventors:

Kirby Smith - Marietta GA

International Classification:

A61F 500

US Classification:

602 26

Abstract:

Knee braces for various uses, e. g. , restricting anterior tibial movement. The braces include a frame, leg mounting straps, and a pressure applicator. The frame is made up of an integral unit including a pair of elongated support rods and a bridging member connecting the rods. In one embodiment the pressure applicator comprises a posterior thigh restraining strap, a portion of the bridging member and a calf cuff pivotally connected to that portion of the bridging member by a single anterior pivot so that the calf cuff can pivot about plural axes with respect to the bridging member. The frame is movably coupled to the upper leg of the person so that the rods can translate forwardly, along the medial and lateral sides of the upper leg, respectively, until the restraining strap resists such forward movement. With the pressure applicator projecting outward from the axes of the rods for fixed anterior positioning relative to the tibia tubercle of the person and with the forward translation of the rods being restrained, resistance to anterior movement of the tibia increases as the person's knee is extended. In another embodiment the brace is arranged to be mounted on the lower leg of the person so that the bridging member applies pressure to the patella and thereby isolate it from the irritated tibia tubercle to reduce the pain associated with Osgood Schlatter's Disease.

US Patent:

58579893, Jan 12, 1999

Filed:

Nov 24, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/977094

Inventors:

Kirby Smith - Marietta GA

International Classification:

A61F 500

US Classification:

602 26

Abstract:

A knee brace assembly for various uses, e. g. , restricting anterior tibial movement. The knee brace assembly includes a proximal cuff for engaging the wearer's leg above the knee and a distal cuff for engaging the wearer's leg below the knee. The proximal and distal cuffs are linked together by a hinge that permits pivotal movement of the proximal cuff relative to the distal cuff. The proximal cuff has lateral and medial portions each having a slot extending there along. A strap guiding assembly is slidably mounted within each of the slots. Each strap guiding assembly is arranged to slide between a proximal extreme when the wearer's leg is in flexion and a distal extreme as the wearer extends his or her leg. A biasing device biases each strap guiding assembly towards its proximal extreme. A cross-strap, having free ends and a length, is provided for engagement with the wearer's leg.

US Patent:

51707837, Dec 15, 1992

Filed:

Jan 17, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/822379

Inventors:

Kirby Smith - Marietta GA

International Classification:

A61F 700

US Classification:

128400

Abstract:

A cryotherapeutic procedure is disclosed for treating an injury with a cold compress system that has a flexible application bag coupled with a cold liquid supply container via a flexible tube. The flexible application bag is secured about a body member with the bag in contact with the area of injury. The supply container is elevated above the bag so that cold liquid gravitates from the supply container into the application bag causing it to fill and to apply cold and pressure to the area of injury. The height of the supply container above the application bag is adjusted to establish the desired pressure exerted by the application bag upon injury.

US Patent:

50852108, Feb 4, 1992

Filed:

Oct 9, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/594766

Inventors:

Kirby Smith - Marietta GA

International Classification:

A61F 500

US Classification:

602 26

Abstract:

A sleeve to hold an orthopedic knee brace in place on the knee of a person. The sleeve is elastic, e. g. , neoprene, to enable it to be stretched to encircle the person's calf, and has a top end, an inner surface, an outer surface. A strap is secured to the top end of the sleeve. A brace mount is secured on the outer surface of the sleeve. The inner surface of the sleeve is resistant to sliding on the skin of the person when the sleeve is in place on the person's calf. The strap has an elongated free end portion arranged to be wrapped around at least a portion of the sleeve adjacent the top end and to be releasably secured in that position, whereupon the inside diameter of the portion of the sleeve underlying the strap is confined to a diameter which is less than the diameter of the widest portion of the wearer's calf so that the sleeve is precluded from slipping down the calf. The brace mount comprises either a Velcro (TM) component, fixedly secured to the sleeve and arranged to be releasably secured to a cooperating Velcro component fixedly secured on the first portion of the brace or a pocket into which the first portion of the brace is disposed.

US Patent:

55140831, May 7, 1996

Filed:

Mar 20, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/406606

Inventors:

Kirby Smith - Marietta GA

International Classification:

A61F 500

US Classification:

602 26

Abstract:

Knee braces for various uses, e. g. , restricting anterior tibial movement. The braces include a frame, leg mounting straps, and a pressure applicator. The frame is made up of an integral unit including a pair of elongated support rods and a bridging member connecting the rods. In one embodiment the pressure applicator comprises a posterior thigh restraining strap, a portion of the bridging member and a calf cuff pivotally connected to that portion of the bridging member by a single anterior pivot so that the calf cuff can pivot about plural axes with respect to the bridging member. The frame is movably coupled to the upper leg of the person so that the rods can translate forwardly, along the medial and lateral sides of the upper leg, respectively, until the restraining strap resists such forward movement. With the pressure applicator projecting outward from the axes of the rods for fixed anterior positioning relative to the tibia tubercle of the person and with the forward translation of the rods being restrained, resistance to anterior movement of the tibia increases as the person's knee is extended. In another embodiment the brace is arranged to be mounted on the lower leg of the person so that the bridging member applies pressure to the patella and thereby isolate it from the irritated tibia tubercle to reduce the pain associated with Osgood Schlatter's Disease.