That doesn't make the experience any more asinine. Clearly the point is to screen for hazardous products - and TSA doesn't when they just pat around the knee, and avoid the knee brace.

As for not removing it - I've never gone through security with it before. I figured any metal parts in the brace would be titanium - the same ones in my body which wouldn't set off a metal detector. When you get to the security line, you're in their ballpark. I didn't know what they'd want to do which is why I enquired (whether verbally or not - this was three trips ago - I may have just pointed).

http://www.breg.com/knee-bracing/lig...fusion-xt.html

As you can see, lots of room to conceal things (esp. cash - and this was a Swiss flight to Zurich - though not Geneva so I guess they weren't as cautious).