Conforming Rigid Cast, Brace and Splint Comprising a Curable Polymeric Material
OwnerH. Mark Estrada, JR.inventor
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Abstract
A formable cast (100), brace (180) or splint is provided herein which comprises a padding (101), an outer shell (103) spaced apart from the padding, and a ridge (109) disposed along the perimeter of the shell. The ridge, shell and padding define an interior space (115), with a curable polymeric material disposed in the interior space. The curable polymeric material undergoes a phase transition, upon curing, from a liquid or gel phase to a substantially rigid solid phase. The cast (100), brace (180) or splint may be readily customized to the patient by fitting the cast to the patient's body, positioning the cast in the desired orientation, and curing the curable polymeric material through exposure to actinic radiation or by other suitable means.
Claims21
1-20. (canceled)
A formable cast, comprising:
- an inner shell;
- an outer shell;
- and
- ridges disposed along the edges of the either the outer shell or the inner shell, wherein the ridges, the outer shell and the inner shell define an interior space;
- and
- a curable polymeric material disposed in the interior space,
- wherein the curable polymeric material is a liquid or gel in a first phase and in a first shape and, upon exposure to an energy source for curing the curable polymeric material, cures to a hardened material in a second phase, while remaining in the first shape.
The energy-sensitive, formable cast of claim 28, further comprising a mesh positioned within the energy-sensitive polymeric material.
An energy-activated, formable cast, comprising:
- an inner shell adapted to cushioning the cast against the skin of a patient;
- an outer shell;
- ridges disposed along edges of either the outer shell or the inner shell, wherein the ridges serve as a point of attachment to connect the inner shell and the outer shell and create an interior space between the inner shell and outer shell;
- and
- an energy-sensitive polymeric material that fills the interior space, wherein the energy-sensitive polymeric material is formable when placed into the interior space and hardens when exposed to the type of energy to which the energy-sensitive polymeric material is sensitive such that the cast is configurable to conform to a particular body part of the patient when the energy-sensitive polymeric material is formable and provide support to the particular body part once the energy-sensitive polymeric material has hardened.
An energy-sensitive, formable brace, comprising:
- one or more pads for cushioning the brace against the skin of a patient;
- one or more flexible outer shells, each flexible outer shell corresponding to one and only one of the one or more pads;
- ridges positioned along edges of either the one or more pads or one or more outer shells, wherein the ridges serve as a point of attachment to connect a particular pad and the corresponding outer shell and serves to create a gap between the particular pad and the corresponding outer shell;
- an energy-sensitive polymer that fills the gap, wherein the energy-sensitive polymer is formable when placed into the gap and hardens when exposed to the type of energy to which the polymer is sensitive such that the brace is able to be configured to conform to a particular body part of the patient when the energy-sensitive polymer is formable and the brace provides support to the body part once the energy-sensitive polymer has hardened;
- and
- hardware for a attaching the brace to the body part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.