Secure fit orthopedic brace having a vacuum chamber and associated methods
AssigneeVacuity, Inc.
InventorsWilliam Patterson, Robert Gailey, Augusto Sarmiento, Maitland MacKenzie, Roy McMurray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The vacuum orthopedic brace and method include the use of an inner sleeve or liner, and at least one rigid member. The rigid member includes a fabric liner or other porous material to act as a wick, and a gasket surrounding the wick material. A valve is preferably provided in the rigid member for drawing air from between the rigid member and the liner, i.e. to create a vacuum. Furthermore, an external, internal or integrated chamber or rigid reservoir is preferably included, and is in communication with the wick filled area between the rigid member and liner, to hold a vacuum.
Claims17
An orthopedic device for treatment of a body portion comprising:
- an inner sleeve to surround the body portion;
- at least one rigid member for attachment to the body portion on the inner sleeve, and comprising
- an inner rigid wall for placement towards the body portion and including at least one hole therein;
- an outer rigid wall carried by the inner wall and defining a vacuum reservoir therebetween;
- a seal around a periphery of the inner rigid wall adjacent the inner sleeve;
- and
- a wick layer carried by the inner rigid wall within the periphery thereof adjacent the inner sleeve to define, with the seal, a vacuum interface area in fluid communication with the vacuum reservoir via the at least one hole;
- and
- a valve connected to the vacuum reservoir for evacuating the vacuum reservoir and the vacuum interface area.
An orthopedic device for treatment of a body portion comprising:
- at least one rigid member for attachment to the body portion and comprising
- a vacuum interface area, a vacuum reservoir and at least one hole in fluid communication therebetween, and
- a valve for evacuating the vacuum reservoir and the vacuum interface area;
- and
- a seal adjacent the rigid member and defining the vacuum interface area.
A method of treating a body portion with an orthopedic device comprising:
- attaching at least one rigid member to the body portion, the rigid member comprising
- a vacuum interface area, a vacuum reservoir and at least one hole in fluid communication therebetween, and
- a valve for evacuating the vacuum reservoir and the vacuum interface area;
- providing a seal adjacent the vacumm interface area;
- and
- evacuating the vacuum reservoir and the vacuum interface area to secure the rigid member to the body portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.