# US 2017/0281384 A1 · Functional shoulder support brace with cabling system

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- Number: US 2017/0281384 A1
- Document ID: US20170281384A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/478,131
- Filed: 2017-04-03
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-01
- Inventors: Silas Efraim Bezerra de Araujo Pimentel; Austen David Archibald; Bryce David Mortensen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170281384A1

## CPC

- A61F 5/0102: {specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations}
- A61F 5/05: for immobilising (A61F5/042 takes precedence)
- A61F 13/146: {Shoulder bandages or bandaging garments}
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a shoulder brace for the rehabilitation of patients that suffer from shoulder instability. The shoulder brace uses a novel elevation and compression cabling system to stabilize and approximate the humerus to glenoid fossa. More specifically, the present invention allows an individual that suffers from shoulder instability to easily put on and, while wearing the device, adjust all forces that approximate their shoulder without the assistance of another individual. The design will also allow the individual the ability to have functional movement. This will give someone who has become dependent on others to regain a greater degree of independence.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A shoulder brace, comprising:
a sleeve having a portion adapted for wearing over a user's glenohumeral joint and at least a portion of the user's humerus, and having another portion adapted for wearing over the user's upper arm below the user's glenohumeral joint;
a shoulder-tightening mechanism on said sleeve;
a first series of anchor points located on said sleeve;
an elevation cable passing through said first series of anchor points and bound by said shoulder-tightening mechanism such that said elevation cable is constricted by said shoulder-tightening mechanism;
an arm-tightening mechanism on said sleeve;
a second series of anchor points located on said sleeve;
a compression cable passing through said second series of anchor points and bound by said arm tightening mechanism such that said compression cable is constricted by said arm tightening mechanism to compress said sleeve.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The shoulder brace of claim 1, wherein at least one of said shoulder-tightening mechanism and said arm-tightening mechanism operates as a cable-on-reel device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The shoulder brace of claim 1, wherein said first series of anchor points are situated along said sleeve in such a way that when said elevation cable is constricted by said shoulder-tightening mechanism, said sleeve of the shoulder brace is elevated.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The shoulder brace of claim 1, wherein said second series of anchor points are located about said sleeve in such a way that when said compression cable is constricted by said arm-tightening mechanism, the sleeve is adapted to be compressed about a user's arm, enabling said sleeve to be lifted by said elevation cable without slipping from the user's arm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The shoulder brace of claim 1, wherein said compression cable is laced through said second series of anchor points in a crisscross fashion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The shoulder brace of claim 1, wherein said second series of anchor points, said arm-tightening mechanism, and said compression cable are located on an anterior portion of said sleeve.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The shoulder brace of claim 1, wherein said second series of anchor points, said arm-tightening mechanism, and said compression cable are located medially between a posterior portion and an anterior portion of said sleeve.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The shoulder brace of claim 4, wherein said shoulder-tightening mechanism is located on the portion of said sleeve adapted for being worn over the user's glenohumeral joint.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The shoulder brace of claim 5, wherein said arm-tightening mechanism is located on the portion of said sleeve adapted for being worn over the user's upper arm.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The shoulder brace of claim 1, further comprising an outer layer of fabric for preventing said cables from catching on an exterior element of the user's environment.

### Claim 11

A shoulder brace, comprising:
a first sleeve adapted for wearing over a user's glenohumeral joint and at least a portion of the user's humerus;
a second sleeve adapted for wearing over the user's arm at a location below the user's shoulder;
an intermediate connecting sleeve portion interconnecting said first sleeve portion and said second sleeve portion;
a shoulder-tightening mechanism on said first sleeve;
a first series of anchor points wherein a portion of said anchor points is located on said first sleeve and a portion of said anchor points is located on said second sleeve;
an elevation cable passing through said first series of anchor points and bound by said shoulder-tightening mechanism such that said elevation cable is constricted by said shoulder-tightening mechanism;
an arm-tightening mechanism on said second sleeve;
a second series of anchor points located on said second sleeve;
a compression cable passing through said second series of anchor points and bound by said arm tightening mechanism such that said compression cable is constricted by said arm tightening mechanism to compress said sleeve.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The shoulder brace of claim 11, wherein at least one of said shoulder-tightening mechanism and said arm-tightening mechanism operates as a cable-on-reel device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The shoulder brace of claim 11, wherein said first series of anchor points are situated along said first sleeve and said second sleeve in such a way that when said elevation cable is constricted by said shoulder-tightening mechanism, said sleeves of the shoulder brace are elevated, and thereby the user's humerus is elevated toward the user's glenohumeral joint.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The shoulder brace of claim 11, wherein said second series of anchor points are located about said second sleeve in such a way that when said compression cable is constricted by said arm-tightening mechanism, the sleeve is adapted to be compressed about a user's arm, enabling said sleeve to be lifted by said elevation cable without slipping from the user's arm.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The shoulder brace of claim 11, wherein said compression cable is laced through said second series of anchor points in a crisscross fashion.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The shoulder brace of claim 11, wherein said second series of anchor points, said arm-tightening mechanism, and said compression cable are located on an anterior portion of said sleeve.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The shoulder brace of claim 11, wherein said second sleeve is adapted for being worn over a user's arm at a location below the user's elbow so as to be adapted for further immobilizing the user's arm and shoulder.