# US 7,744,551 B2 · Temperature regulated compression brace > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,551 B2 - Document ID: US7744551B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/493,152 - Filed: 2006-07-25 - Published: 2007-07-12 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2005-07-25 - Assignees: Djo, LLC - Inventors: Erez Pick; Johan de Ruiter; Hermann Otto Mayr - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744551B2 ## CPC - A61F 5/48: Devices for preventing wetting or pollution of the bed - A61F 5/0102: {specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations} - A61F 7/02: Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling - A61F 7/08: Warming pads, pans or mats; Hot-water bottles - A61F 7/103: {refillable} - A61F 2007/0001: {Body part} - A61F 2007/0024: {Back} - A61F 2007/0032: {Elbow} - A61F 2007/0035: {Wrist} - A61F 2007/0042: {Knee} - A61F 2007/0044: {Ankle} - A61F 2007/0054: {with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water} - A61F 2007/0091: {inflatable} - 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 systems and methods described herein include systems and methods for applying temperature regulated compression and support to certain injured portions of the human body. In particular, the systems and methods relate to a brace to be fitted around a joint of a human for applying therapeutic temperature regulated compression to the joint and having rigid supports disposed therein to provide support for the limb while a patient recuperates from surgery or other injury. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bracing system for a human limb, comprising: a flexible shell configured to be removably secured about a limb, a fluid compartment formed within the flexible shell, the fluid compartment having a fluid input port for connecting to an external fluid source, two rigid members being removably coupled to the flexible shell for bracing the limb, and a hinge coupled to the rigid members for allowing a pivoting motion of the rigid members and therefore a controlled movement of the limb, and at least one of a heater or a cooler to regulate temperature of fluid in the external fluid source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bracing system of claim 1, comprising pockets attached to the flexible shell for housing the rigid members. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The bracing system of claim 2, wherein the rigid member are removably disposed within the pockets. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bracing system of claim 1, wherein the fluid compartment is inflexible and is compressed against the limb by at least one strap. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bracing system of claim 1, wherein the fluid compartment is flexible and adapted to compress the limb when fluid is placed therein. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The bracing system of claim 1, wherein the flexible shell comprises an aperture for receiving a portion of the limb. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bracing system of claim 1, wherein the flexible shell is configured to support at least one of a knee, an elbow, an ankle, a spine, a shoulder and a wrist. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The bracing system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of straps. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The bracing system of claim 1, comprising at least one strap to secure the system about the limb. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The bracing system of claim 9, wherein the at least one strap includes a layer of foam attached thereto. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The bracing system of claim 1, comprising a separate closeable fluid output port in fluid communication with the at least one of the heater or the cooler. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The bracing system of claim 11, wherein the fluid input port and the separate fluid output port are kept open in partially overlapping intervals of time allowing the brace to provide a steady compression along with alternating periods of hot and cold therapy. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The bracing system of claim 11, comprising a pump connected to the at least one of the heater or the cooler and the fluid output port to facilitate a fluid draining process. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The bracing system of claim 1, wherein the fluid compartment is formed from a material capable of receiving at least one of a high temperature fluid and a low temperature fluid. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The bracing system of claim 1, wherein the fluid compartment is formed from a material capable of holding at least one of a high temperature thermal fluid and a low temperature thermal fluid. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The bracing system of claim 1, further comprising a siphon disposed within the flexible shell and in fluid communication with the fluid port and the fluid compartment. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The bracing system of claim 1, further comprising an air release valve in fluid communication with the fluid compartment. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The bracing system of claim 1, wherein the fluid compartment includes a layer of insulation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The bracing system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of rigid members. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The bracing system of claim 19, comprising at least two rigid members disposed on lateral and medial portions of the limb. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The bracing system of claim 1, wherein the rigid members include at least one of metal, plastic and fiberglass. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The bracing system of claim 1, wherein the rigid members are joined at a pre-determined angle with respect to each other by the hinge. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The bracing system of claim 22, wherein the pre-determined angle is less than 180°. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The bracing system of claim 23, wherein the selectable hinge is configured to allow the rigid member to rotate from about 10 degrees to about 15 degrees. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The bracing system of claim 1, wherein the hinge includes a ratchet mechanism. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The bracing system of claim 1, comprising a fluid reservoir connected to a fluid port for providing fluid to the fluid compartment. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The bracing system of claim 26, wherein the fluid reservoir is connected to the fluid port using a removable valve. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The bracing system of claim 27, wherein the valve includes a one-way valve configured to allow fluid storage within the fluid compartment. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The bracing system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is supplied to the brace in an intermittent manner so as to provide periods of compression and de-compression. ### Claim 30 A method of bracing a patient's limb, comprising applying a fluid compartment about the limb, applying at least one rigid member along at least one of lateral, medial, posterior and anterior sides of the limb, the rigid member being removably coupled to the fluid compartment and providing patient controlled pivotable movement of the braced limb, and inserting a temperature regulated fluid into the fluid compartment to compress the limb while concomitantly bracing the limb by the at least one rigid member. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, comprising the step of strapping the fluid compartment about the limb to compress the joint. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, comprising the step of inserting cold fluid into the fluid compartment. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the rigid member is hinged to form proximal and distal rigid members. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, comprising controlling the movement of the proximal and distal rigid members by adjusting the angle of the hinge. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, comprising the step of locking the hinge to position the rigid member at an angle that prevents the limb from hyper-extending. ### Claim 36 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, comprising supporting the limb while the patient walks. ### Claim 37 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, comprising introducing air into an outer compartment formed about the fluid compartment to compress the limb. ### Claim 38 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, comprising positioning a portion of the limb within an aperture. ### Claim 39 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, comprising the step of providing a fluid reservoir in communication with the fluid compartment such that the temperature regulated fluid is introduced from the fluid reservoir into the fluid compartment. ### Claim 40 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, comprising the step of holding the temperature regulated fluid in the fluid compartment. ### Claim 41 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, comprising the step of removing the temperature regulated fluid from the fluid compartment. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, wherein the steps of introducing the temperature regulated fluid and removing fluid from the expandable fluid compartment are carried out iteratively thereby providing a continuous supply of temperature regulated fluid to a portion of the limb. ### Claim 43 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, comprising the step of providing a fluid input port and a separate fluid output port in connection with the fluid compartment for introducing and removing, respectively, temperature regulated fluid. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, wherein the fluid input port and the separate fluid output port are kept open in partially overlapping intervals of time allowing the brace to provide a steady compression along with alternating periods of hot and cold therapy. ### Claim 45 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the fluid is supplied to the brace in an intermittent manner so as to provide periods of compression and de-compression. ### Claim 46 A bracing system for a human limb, comprising: a flexible shell configured to be removably secured about a limb, a fluid compartment formed within the flexible shell, the fluid compartment having a fluid input port for connecting to an external fluid source and a separate fluid output port, a rigid member being coupled to the flexible shell for bracing the limb and providing patient controlled pivotable movement of the braced limb, and at least one of a heater or a cooler to regulate temperature of fluid in the external fluid source. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The bracing system of claim 46, wherein the separate fluid output port is in fluid communication with the at least one of the heater or the cooler. ### Claim 48 (depends on 46) The bracing system of claim 46, wherein the fluid compartment is inflexible and is compressed against the limb by a least one strap. ### Claim 49 (depends on 46) The bracing system of claim 46, wherein the fluid compartment is flexible and adapted to compress the limb when fluid is placed therein. ### Claim 50 (depends on 46) The bracing system of claim 46, wherein the flexible shell comprises an aperture for receiving a portion of the limb. ### Claim 51 (depends on 46) The bracing system of claim 46, wherein the flexible shell is configured to support at least one of a knee, an elbow, an ankle, a spine, shoulder and a wrist. ### Claim 52 (depends on 46) The bracing system of claim 46, comprising at least one strap to secure the system about the limb. ### Claim 53 (depends on 52) The bracing system of claim 52, wherein the at least one strap includes a layer of foam attached thereto. ### Claim 54 (depends on 46) The bracing system of claim 46, further comprising an air release valve in fluid communication with the fluid compartment. ### Claim 55 (depends on 46) The bracing system of claim 46, wherein the fluid compartment includes a layer of insulation. ### Claim 56 (depends on 46) The bracing system of claim 46, wherein the rigid member includes at least one of metal, plastic and fiberglass.