Modular orthosis closure system and method

A lumbo-sacral orthosis comprising:

• a first body member conforming to a portion of a user's torso;
• a second body member conforming to another portion of a user's torso, the combination of the first body member and second body member stabilizing a user's torso conforming to the user's torso, the first body member and the second body member further include one of a nap and hook texture surfaces for removable engagement to releasably fastening respective first ends of the first and second body members together about the user's torso;
• a closure unit operatively connected to second ends of the first and second body members for providing a mechanical advantage to exert a compressive force on the user's torso by drawing the first body member and second body member together, the closure unit includes a first connector member having a first support housing with a first plurality of support posts connected to the first body member, the first plurality of support posts are fixed and have axes which would extend approximately perpendicular to the surface of the user and are spaced and aligned, a second connector member having a second support housing with a second plurality of support posts connected to the second body member, the second plurality of support posts are fixed and have axes which would extend approximately perpendicular to the surface of the user and are spaced and aligned, and an elongated flexible pull member operatively extending for sliding movement directly between the respective first and second support posts to provide a mechanical force advantage when tightened by the user to draw the first body member and the second body member together to exert a compressive force against the user's body;
• and
• a fastener member attached to the elongated flexible pull member to enable the user to pull the fastener member for drawing the first body member and the second body member together to exert a compressive force on the user and holding the compressive force by removable attachment of the fastener member to one of the first body member and the second body member.

A lumbo-sacral orthosis comprising:

• a first body member conformable to a portion of a user's body, having one of a first nap and hook material extending on an exterior surface, the combination of the first body member and second body member stabilizing a user's torso by conforming to the user's torso, a first end of the first body member and a first end of the second body member further include one of a complementary nap and hook texture surface for removable overlapping engagement to releasably fasten the respective first ends of the first and second body members together about the front of the user's torso;
• a closure unit operatively connected to second ends of the first and second body members for providing a mechanical advantage to exert a compressive force on the user's torso when drawing the first body member and the second body member together, the closure unit includes a first connector member having a first support housing with a first plurality of plastic support posts connected to the first body member, the first plurality of plastic support posts are fixed and have axes which would extend approximately perpendicular to the surface of the user and are spaced and aligned, a second connector member having a second support housing with a second plurality of plastic support posts connected to the second body member, the second plurality of plastic support posts are fixed and have axes which would extend approximately perpendicular to the surface of the user and are spaced and aligned, and an elongated flexible low friction plastic pull member operatively extending for sliding movement directly between the respective first and second plastic support posts to provide a mechanical force advantage when tightened by the user to draw the first body member and the second body member to exert a compressive force against the user's body;
• and
• a fastener member attached to the elongated flexible pull member having the other of a nap and hook material relative to the first and second body member for releasable attachment to one of the first and second body members to enable the user to pull the fastener member for drawing the first body member and the second body member together to exert a compressive force on the user and holding the compressive force by attachment of the fastener member to one of the first body member and the second body member.