Orthopedic brace having a vacuum chamber and associated methods
AssigneeVacuity, Inc.
InventorsWilliam S. Patterson, Robert Gailey, Augusto Sarmiento, Maitland C. MacKenzie, Roy P. McMurray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The vacuum orthopedic brace and method include the use of an inner sleeve or liner, first and second cuffs, and a hinge connecting the cuffs. The cuffs 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 cuff for drawing air from between the cuff and the liner, i.e. to create a vacuum. Furthermore, an external, internal or integrated chamber or rigid reservoir is preferably included, and in communication with the wick filled area between the cuff and liner, to hold a vacuum.
Claims20
An orthopedic device for treatment of a body portion including a joint comprising:
- an inner sleeve to surround the body portion;
- a first cuff for attachment to the body portion on the inner sleeve adjacent the joint;
- a second cuff for attachment to the body portion on the inner sleeve adjacent the joint and opposite to the first cuff;
- and
- at least one hinge for positioning adjacent an axis of the joint and connecting the first and second cuffs together;
- each of the first and second cuffs 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 sealing gasket 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 sealing gasket, a vacuum interface area in fluid communication with the vacuum reservoir via the at least one hole;
- and
- a valve carried by the outer rigid wall for evacuating the vacuum reservoir and the vacuum interface area.
An orthopedic device for treatment of a body portion comprising:
- a first cuff for attachment to the body portion;
- a second cuff for attachment to the body portion;
- and
- at least connecting member connecting the first and second cuffs together;
- each of the first and second cuffs comprising
- a rigid member including a vacuum interface area, a vacuum reservoir and at least one hole in fluid communication therebetween;
- and
- a valve carried by the rigid member for evacuating the vacuum reservoir and the vacuum interface area.
A method of treating a body portion with an orthopedic device comprising:
- attaching a first cuff to the body portion;
- attaching a second cuff to the body portion;
- connecting the first and second cuffs together with a connecting member;
- each of the first and second cuffs comprising
- a rigid member including a vacuum interface area, a vacuum reservoir and at least one hole in fluid communication therebetween;
- and
- a valve carried by the rigid member for evacuating the vacuum reservoir and the vacuum interface area;
- and
- evacuating the vacuum reservoir and the vacuum interface area to secure the first and second cuffs to the body portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.