Fracture brace
AssigneeDjo, LLC
InventorsDavid C. Hargrave, Eugene Prais
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Braces are disclosed that are capable of stabilizing an injured limb, particularly an injured wrist. An exemplary brace fits across the injury in contact with the user's hand or foot and, in certain embodiments, in contact with the thumb and/or fingers or toes. The brace typically contains an adjustable casing and in some embodiments a removable support connecting one portion of the user's arm to another. The brace also includes compressible material such as an air cell. Systems and method for use and manufacture of the braces are also contemplated.
Claims37
A brace for treating a fractured arm, comprising:
- an adjustable casing having a lateral shell and a medial shell, the medial shell having a stiff component extending across the medial side of the wrist of the fractured arm, and the adjustable casing immobilizing the wrist with respect to the forearm of the fractured arm, wherein the adjustable casing includes a thumb hole protruding through the medial shell, the thumb hole comprising a first edge,
- at least one inflatable cell at least partially enclosed by the lateral shell and the lateral shell extends distal to the wrist, wherein the at least one inflatable cell includes a thumb hole comprising a second edge that extends continuously around the user's thumb for the user's thumb to extend through while allowing the user's thumb to flex, and
- wherein the medial shell at least partially encloses a foam pad.
A method for treating a fractured arm, comprising:
- providing an inflatable cell that is at least partially enclosed in an adjustable stiff casing, wherein:
- the adjustable stiff casing extends along a substantial portion of the fractured arm;
- the adjustable stiff casing includes a thumb hole, the thumb hole comprising a first edge;
- and
- the inflatable cell includes a thumb hole comprising a second edge that extends continuously around the user's thumb for the user's thumb to extend through while allowing the user's thumb to flex;
- fitting a user's thumb through the thumb hole of the adjustable stiff casing and through the thumb hole of the inflatable cell;
- and
- securing the adjustable stiff casing about the fractured arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.