Orthopedic back brace
AssigneeDjo, LLC
InventorsMark Joseph, Kristian Gamble, Colleen Ankeny
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Orthopedic braces and associated methods are described for treatment of lower back injuries and chronic back pain. An orthopedic brace may include a pair of back panels, a pair of front panels, and a closure system. A lateral end of each front panel is releasably coupleable to a lateral end of each back panel at a desired angle. A ventral end of each front panel includes an attachment provision configured to allow one of the front panels to releasably attach to the other of the front panels generally over an abdomen of a wearer. The brace also includes a pocket on the ventral end of at least one of the front panels, the pocket configured to temporarily receive a hand of the wearer to aid in donning the orthopedic brace.
Claims20
An orthopedic brace, comprising:
- a pair of back panels, each having a dorsal end and a lateral end;
- a closure system, including
- a first lace coupled to a first tensioning mechanism, the first lace and the first tensioning mechanism configured to control the tension of a superior portion of the orthopedic brace, and
- a second lace coupled to a second tensioning mechanism, the second lace and the second tensioning mechanism configured to control the tension of an inferior portion of the back brace, and each of the first and the second tensioning mechanisms operable independently of the other to adjust the fit of the brace to the wearer;
- and
- a pair of front panels, each having a lateral end and a ventral end, the lateral end of each front panel is releasably coupleable to the lateral end of each back panel at a desired angle, and the ventral end of each front panel includes an attachment means configured to allow one of the front panels to releasably attach to the other of the front panels generally over an abdomen of a wearer.
A method, comprising:
- providing an orthopedic brace to a wearer, the orthopedic brace including:
- a pair of back panels, each having a dorsal end and a lateral end, and a closure system, including
- a first lace coupled to a first tensioning mechanism, the first lace and the first tensioning mechanism configured to control the tension of a superior portion of the orthopedic brace, and
- a second lace coupled to a second tensioning mechanism, the second lace and the second tensioning mechanism configured to control the tension of an inferior portion of the back brace, and each of the first and the second tensioning mechanisms being operable independently of the other to adjust the fit of the brace to the wearer, and
- a pair of front panels, each having a lateral end and a ventral end, the lateral end of each front panel releasably coupleable to the lateral end of each back panel at a desired angle, and the ventral end of each front panel including an attachment means configured to allow one of the front panels to releasably attach to the other of the front panels generally over an abdomen of a wearer;
- and
- operating the tensioning mechanism to tighten the orthopedic brace around the wearer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.