Uses | Injury Types
Osteoarthritis
The Problem
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting nearly 1 in 10 people worldwide. It occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down over time. No braces on the market adequately unload the patellofemoral compartment.
The Solution
The Icarus brace generates a force that opposes the bending of the knee, so the knee feels significantly less weight. This results in reduced contact force between the patella and femur and therefore reduces pain in arthritic knees.
The Problem
A weakened quad muscle can make the knee more likely to buckle or give out, increasing the chances of a dangerous fall. The lack of mobility, due to a disease or injury, can result in muscle wasting.
The Solution
The Icarus brace generates a force that opposes the bending of the knee, taking some weight off the quadriceps. This stabilizes the knee and can give the user better protection and may help prevent a fall.
quadriceps weakness
Nerve or Stroke Damage
The Problem
Nerve damage or damage from a stroke may result in muscle weakness and control, muscle atrophy, twitching (also known as fasciculation), and paralysis.
The Solution
The Icarus brace stabilizes the joint and the tensioning mechanism allows the user to modify the amount of assistance to address their needs.
The Problem
Most knee braces used post-operatively are “immobilizing” and are not appropriate with helping the patient gain range-of-motion.
The Solution
The variable-tension system on the Icarus brace can immobilize the joint at a high-tension setting, and can protect the knee while gradually decreasing the tension and assistance level.
Post-operative support
Performance enhancement
The Problem
No other knee brace technology can help users jump off the football line faster and jump higher in the air.
The Solution
The energy stored during flexion in the Icarus brace is returned to user to assist the quadriceps to extend the leg. This system called the “external muscle-tendon system” has shown promise to compliment the quadriceps for a range of athletic activities.
The Problem
Skiing is hard. Not in terms of difficulty, but in its impact on your knees. During highly strenuous winter sports, the health of one’s knee joints is commonly neglected, which can prove detrimental in the future.
The Solution
A medical-grade knee brace can be an effective solution for avid skiers and snowboarders. A study on the effect of medical knee braces found that of the surveyed users, 59% of patients experienced pain reduction, 37% reported improved function, and 87% reported increased activity.
Skiing & Snowboarding
Veterans
The Problem
Did you know that knee pain is the #1 reason soldiers leave the military? Osteoarthritis of the knee affects veterans at a rate 2x higher than the average individual.
The Solution
At Icarus Medical, we understand your pain, literally. Our mission is to restore your function and reduce pain to get you back to the life you deserve. In developing the new VA-version of our knee brace, we aim to achieve this goal.