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US 5,514,081 AGranted
Elbow orthosis having an inflatable bladder support and method of use
AssigneeD'Mannco, Inc.
InventorDonaerl B. Mann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cloth body having a central elbow portion wrapped around a patient's elbow to treat elbow flexion contractures. Hook and loop material secure the cloth body to the patient's elbow. A longitudinally extending pocket contains an air bladder. Inflation of the air bladder supports the patient's elbow in a rigid position. Latitudinally extending pockets surrounding the anterior portion of the forearm and upper arm contain a flexible support element.
Claims9
An orthopedic appliance for surrounding an elbow of a patient to treat elbow flexion contractures, the appliance comprising,
- a cloth body having a top and bottom layer, a foam layer located intermediate the top and bottom layers, and a generally centrally located portion for receiving a patient's elbow, the top layer covered by a tightly woven fabric, the bottom layer covered by a soft non-abrasive material for contact with the skin of the patient, the cloth body wrapped around the elbow of the patient such that an area is provided from which an anterior portion of the elbow can protrude through at least the bottom and foam layer of the cloth body,
- hook or loop material attached to a top and bottom portion of the top layer of the cloth body at opposed ends for securing the cloth body in a wrapped position,
- a longitudinal pocket integrally attached to the top layer of the cloth body, the longitudinal pocket having an opening formed therein,
- an air bladder mounted within the longitudinal pocket, the air bladder permitting inflation to set the elbow in a desired position and deflation so that the patient can flex the elbow, the air bladder having been inserted through the opening in the longitudinal pocket, and
- two latitudinal pockets at right angles to the air bladder, a support element mounted within each latitudinal pocket for providing support to the orthopedic appliance.
2 more elements
An orthopedic appliance for surrounding an elbow of a patient to treat elbow flexion contractures, the appliance comprising,
- a cloth body having a top and bottom layer, a foam layer located intermediate the top and bottom layers, and a generally centrally located portion for receiving a patient's elbow, the top layer covered by a tightly woven fabric, the bottom layer covered by a soft non-abrasive material for contact with the skin of the patient, the cloth body wrapped around the elbow of the patient,
- hook or loop material attached to the top layer of the cloth body at opposed ends for securing the cloth body in a wrapped position,
- a longitudinal pocket integrally attached to the top layer of the cloth body, the longitudinal pocket having an opening formed therein,
- an air bladder mounted within the longitudinal pocket, the air bladder adapted to be inflated from an air pump to rigidly set the elbow in a desired position and deflation so that the patient can flex the elbow, the air bladder having been inserted through the opening in the longitudinal pocket, and
- an exoskeleton frame surrounding the cloth body and having a pair of stiff support portions rotatably attached to a pair of flexible support portions at opposed ends of the stiff and flexible support portions respectively, the pair of the flexible support portions for surrounding an anterior portion of a forearm and upper arm of the patient, the stiff support portions for positioning along opposed sides of the elbow adjacent the air bladder, the flexible support portions having an outer surface for attaching a pair of hook and loop straps by hook and loop material, and the hook and loop straps securing the exoskeleton frame around the cloth body of the orthopedic appliance.
2 more elements
A method of moving a contracted arm of a patient to a more extended position comprising:
- wrapping a forearm and upper arm of the patient in a cloth body having multiple layers with hook or loop material attached to a top and bottom portion of the cloth body at opposed ends for securing the cloth body in a wrapped position,
- inserting an air bladder into a longitudinal pocket in the cloth body,
- inserting a rigid support element into one or more latitudinal pockets in the cloth body,
- inserting a stem leading to a hand held air pump into the air bladder and alternating inflating and deflating the air bladder to exercise the patient's contracted arm.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.