Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ARM BRACE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to braces in general and in particular to a
method and apparatus for positioning the arm of a wearer.
2. Description of Related Art
Shoulder injuries commonly require immobilization of the shoulder after
initial
medical treatment has been applied. In particular, for shoulder dislocations,
it
is common treatment to first return the shoulder to its normal position.
Thereafter, the shoulder is immobilized so as to prevent further rotation of
the
shoulder and to promote healing. Conventional methods of immobilizing the
shoulder have been to place the arm corresponding to the injured shoulder in
a sling. The use of a sling has also conventionally been utilized post-
operatively in shoulder surgeries.
Arm slings 4 typically comprise a sheet of material 6 sized to receive the
forearm of the user therein and at least one strap 8 to suspend the sling from
the neck of the user as illustrated in Figure 1. Slings typically locate the
forearm of the user in a generally horizontal position across the body of the
user. Such slings therefore place the arm in internal rotation (across the
body).
Although an arm sling is an accepted and common treatment for dislocated
shoulders, recent studies have discovered locating the arm in internal
rotation
does not greatly assist healing of the injured shoulder and may for some
injuries impair healing. Rather, internal shoulder rotation has been shown to
pronounce the detachment of the glenoid labrum from the glenoid fossa and
thereby reduce the likely hood of the glenoid labrum from healing to the
glenoid fossa.
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It has also been discovered that placing the arm in external rotation (with
the
forearm angled away from the body) has been more effective reopposing the
glenoid labrum to the glenoid rim which is required for proper healing of the
injured shoulder. Previous proposals for locating the injured arm in external
rotation require rotating the forearm to be angled away from the body of the
user. It will be appreciated that such a support will commonly be cantilevered
away from the body and will accordingly, be required to be formed of stronger
materials than a conventional sling which may be cumbersome and heavy.
Such an orientation of the arm extending away from the body may also be
prone to catching or impacting external objects thereby risking further injury
to
the shoulder.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed an
apparatus for immobilized a shoulder of a user comprising an elbow engaging
member receivable on a first elbow of a user and a shoulder engaging
member receivable on an opposed shoulder from the first elbow. The
apparatus further comprises a first tension member extending between the
elbow engaging member and the shoulder engaging member behind the back
of the user, the first tension member being tightenable so as to draw the
first
elbow behind the frontal plane of the torso of the user and retain the elbow
proximate to the torso. The apparatus further comprises a second tension
member extending from a wrist corresponding to the shoulder to be
immobilized, the second tension member being securable to the user so as to
support and maintain the wrist proximate to the user's torso.
The second strap may extend from the wrist to the shoulder engaging
member. The second strap may be securable to an article of clothing of the
user. The first and second tension members may comprise straps. The
straps may be formed of a material selected from the group consisting of
leather, fabric, elastics, plastic or rubber.
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The first and second tension members may include tightening devices for
reducing a length of the first and second tension members so as to tighten the
first and second tension members. The tightening devices may comprise
buckles. The tightening devices may comprise selectably attachable hook
and loop fasteners. The shoulder engaging member may comprise a
shoulder cap receivable over the shoulder.
The elbow engaging member may comprise a tubular sleeve. The tubular
sleeve may have a central passage having a curvature corresponding to the
shape of the first elbow. The first tension member may be permanently
secured to the shoulder engaging member and the elbow engaging member
and the second tension member may be permanently secured to the shoulder
engaging member. The first tension member may be selectably attachable to
the shoulder engaging member and the elbow engaging member and the
second tension member may be selectably attachable to the shoulder
engaging member. The first tension member may be secured to the elbow
engaging member proximate to the cubital fossa of the first elbow.
The apparatus may further comprise a wrist strap at a distal end of the second
tension member. The apparatus may further comprise a connector at a distal
end of the second tension member operable to engage an article of clothing
around the wrist of the user.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed
a
method of immobilizing a shoulder of a user comprising connecting a first
tension member between an elbow corresponding to the shoulder to be
immobilized to an opposed shoulder of the user behind the back of the user.
The method further comprises connecting a second tension member between
a wrist corresponding to the shoulder to be immobilized and the user's torso
so as to support and maintain the wrist proximate to the user's torso and
tightening the first tension member so as to draw the elbow behind a frontal
plane of the user's torso proximate to the user's torso.
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According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed
an
apparatus for immobilizing a shoulder of a user comprising a first body strap
sized to surround the torso of the user and a first arm retainer operably
connected to the first body strap proximate to the side of the torso of a
user,
the first arm retainer being sized to surround the arm corresponding to the
shoulder to be immobilized and connected to the first arm retainer. The
apparatus further comprises a second body strap sized to surround the thigh
of the user and a second arm retainer operably connected to the second body
strap proximate to the outside of the thigh of the user, the second arm
retainer
being sized to surround the arm corresponding to the shoulder to be
immobilized.
The first and second members may comprise body straps. The body straps
may be formed a flexible material. The flexible material may be selected from
the group consisting of leather, fabric, plastic or rubber.
The straps may include semi-rigid portions located to retain the first and
second arm retainers proximate to a side of the user. The first and second
members may include fasteners for securing first and second ends thereof
together to form a continuous loop. The fasteners may comprise buckles.
The fasteners may comprise hook and loop fasteners. The fasteners may
comprise free distal first and second ends operable to be tied to each other.
The first and second arm fasteners comprise arm straps. The first and
second arm straps may be biased around the arm of the user. The first and
second arm straps may elastic. The first and second arm straps may form
continuous loops. The first arm retainer may be securable proximate to the
elbow of the user. The second arm member may be securable proximate to
the wrist of the user.
The first and second arm retainers may have a connector therebetween. The
connector may comprise a tubular member. The connector may have a
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frusto-conical shape. The connector may have a shape corresponding to the
forearm of a user.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed
a
method of immobilizing the shoulder of a user. The method comprises
securing a first member to the torso of the user and securing the elbow
corresponding to the immobilized shoulder of the user to the first member in
close proximity to the side of the user corresponding to the immobilized
shoulder. The method further comprises securing a second member about
the thigh of the user corresponding to the shoulder to be immobilized and
securing the wrist corresponding to the immobilized shoulder to the second
member at a location proximate to the outside of the thigh.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to
those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description
of
specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying
figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar
characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view,
Figure 1 is a front view of a user with a prior art arm sling applied to the
arm of an injured shoulder.
Figure 2 is a front view of a user having an apparatus for immobilizing the
shoulder according to a first embodiment of the present invention
applied thereto.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 2 according to a
first embodiment.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of an apparatus for immobilizing the
shoulder applied thereto according to a further embodiment.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 2 having position
retaining portions.
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Figure 6 is a front perspective view of a user having an apparatus for
immobilizing the shoulder according to a further embodiment of
the present invention applied thereto.
Figure 7 is a rear view of the apparatus of Figure 6 applied to a user.
Figure 8 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 6 applied to a user.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to Figure 2, an apparatus for stabilizing or immobilizing the
shoulder
12 of a user 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown
generally at 30. The apparatus 30 is applied to the arm 14 corresponding to a
shoulder 12 of a user 10 that is to be immobilized. The apparatus 30
comprises a top arm immobilizer 32 and a bottom arm immobilizer 34. As
illustrated in Figure 2, the top arm immobilizer 32 is located proximate to an
elbow 16 of the shoulder 12 to be immobilized and is adapted to retain the
upper arm 18 of the wearer proximate to the torso 20 of the user. The bottom
arm immobilizer 34 is located proximate to the wrist 22 of the user and
retains
the forearm 24 of the wearer proximate to the thigh 26 of the user.
As illustrated in Figure 2, the apparatus retains the elbow 16 proximate to
the
lateral side of the torso 20 corresponding to the shoulder 12 that is to be
immobilized. Correspondingly the wrist 22 is also retained proximate to the
outside lateral surface of the thigh 26. It will be seen in Figure 2 that in
this
position, the arm 14 is retained in a substantially straight orientation
generally
downwardly from the shoulder 12 along the outer lateral surface of the user's
body. Retaining the arm 14 of the user 10 proximate to their torso 20
maintains the shoulder 12 at a position that is more neutral and prevents
internal rotation of the arm which will impede healing. Maintaining the arm 14
proximate to the torso 20 of the user 10 as shown in Figure 2 also maintains
the arm in a position that is less prone to catching or impacting external
objects which could further injure the user. In particular, maintaining the
wrist
22 proximate to the thigh 26 prevents the elbow from bending by a significant
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degree and thereafter internally rotated. The apparatus 30 is utilized to
immobilizing the shoulder 12 of a user 10 such as by way of non-limiting
example after they have suffered a dislocated shoulder. It will be appreciated
that the apparatus 30 may be utilized for immobilizing the shoulder of the
user
10 for other purposes as well such as post-operatively in shoulder surgeries.
It will also be seen that securing the wrist to the thigh of the user will
maintain
proper alignment of the shoulder during most movements of the user such as
sitting, walking and the like.
Turning now to Figures 3 and 4, the top arm immobilizer 32 comprises a first
member 36 and an adjoining first arm retainer 38. The first member 36 may
comprise a strap that is either a continuous loop or having first and second
ends 42 and 44, respectively. The first and second ends 42 and 44 may be
connectable to each other with a fastener 40 or the like. In particular, the
first
and second ends may be connected together by hook and loop fastener, a
buckle as illustrated in Figure 4 or tied to each other. It will also be
appreciated that other fastener types may be utilized for connecting the first
and second ends 42 and 44 of the first member 36 to each other. The first
arm retainer 38 may comprise an arm strap being either formed as a
continuous loop or having ends which may be connected to each other similar
to the first member.
The first member 36 is sized to closely surround the torso 20 of the user. The
first member 36 and first arm retainer 38 may be formed of any suitable
elastic or flexible material such as, by way of non-limiting example, leather,
fabrics plastics or rubbers. The first arm retainer 38 may secured to the
first
member 36 at a connection point 46 by any known method such as, utilizing
adhesives, sewing, rivets or heat welding. In some embodiments, the first
arm retainer 38 may be rotatably connected to the first member 36 about an
axis generally indicated at 48 so as to permit some bending of the elbow while
maintaining the elbow proximate to the lateral side of the user. Such rotation
may be useful where some degree of movement of the arm is desirable such
as when sitting and the like.
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The bottom arm immobilizer 34 comprises a second member 50 and an
adjoining second arm retainer 52. The second member 50 may comprise a
strap that is either a continuous loop or having first and second ends 54 and
56, respectively. The first and second ends 54 and 56 may be connectable to
each other with a fastener 58 or the like. In particular, the first and second
ends may be connected together by hook and loop fastener, a buckle as
illustrated in Figure 4 or tied to each other. It will also be appreciated
that
other fastener types may be utilized for connecting the first and second ends
54 and 56 of the second member 50 to each other. The second arm retainer
52 may comprise an arm strap being either formed as a continuous loop or
having ends which may be connected to each other similar to the first
member.
The second member 50 is sized to closely surround the thigh 26 of the user.
The second member 50 and second arm retainer 52 may be formed of any
suitable elastic or flexible material such as, by way of non-limiting example,
webbing, leather, fabrics, neoprene, plastics or rubbers. The second arm
retainer 52 may secured to the second member 50 by any known method
such as, utilizing adhesives, sewing, rivets or heat welding. In some
embodiments, the second arm retainer 52 may be rotatably connected to the
second member 50 about an axis generally indicated at 62 so as to permit
some bending of the elbow while maintaining the wrist proximate to the lateral
side of the user's thigh. Such rotation may be useful where some degree of
movement of the arm is desirable such as when sitting and the like.
As illustrated in Figure 4, an alternative embodiment of the invention is
illustrated having a connector 70 between the first and second members 36
and 50. The connector may include the first and second arm retainers 38 and
52 and may be secured therein or may optionally be connected directly to the
first and second members 36 and 50 by any known means. The connector 70
comprises a rigid or semi-rigid elongate tubular member extending between
top and bottom ends 72 and 74, respectively and includes an open bore 76
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therethrough. The bore 76 is sized to retain the forearm 24 of the user 10
therein so as to prevent rotation of the arm away from the torso. The may
have a frusto-conical shape with the bottom end 74 being smaller than the top
end 74 with a taper angle generally indicated at 78 therebetween. Optionally
the bore 76 may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the forearm 24
of the user 10 so as to securely hold the forearm therein.
Turning no to Figure 5, an alternative embodiment is illustrated in which the
first member 36 includes a position retaining portion 80. The first member
position retaining portion 80 may comprise as rigid or semi-rigid member
inserted into or adhered to the first member at a position corresponding to
the
back of the user. Accordingly when the first member is secured around the
torso of the user the first member retaining portion 80 will maintain the
first
member in a position such that the first arm retainer 38 is located to a
lateral
side of the torso of the user. Similarly, the first and second arm retainers
38
and 52 may also include first and second arm band locators, 82 and 84
corresponding to the front of the elbow of the user and the front or back of
the
wrist of the user so as to maintain the elbow located therein at an
orientation
as desired by the user, such as, by way of non-limiting example to maintain
the palm of the hand facing forward. The retaining portions may be formed of
any suitable material such as, leather, plastic or the like and may be
selected
to have a stiffer bending stiffness or thicker cross-section than the
remainder
of the apparatus which may remain flexible and comfortable to wear.
Optionally, the second member 50 may also include a retaining portion 86
located to at a position to be maintained against a side of the leg of the
user
so as to maintain second arm retainer 52 at the side of the leg.
Turning now to Figures 6 through 9, an apparatus 100 according to an
alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated having an elbow
engaging member 102, a shoulder engaging member 120 and first and
second tension members, 130 and 140 respectively. The elbow engaging
member 102 is receivable on a first elbow of a user corresponding to the
shoulder to be immobilized. The shoulder engaging member 120 is
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receivable on an opposed shoulder from the first elbow and the first tension
member 130 extends between the elbow engaging member 102 and the
shoulder engaging member 120 behind the back of the user. The second
tension member supports and maintains the wrist proximate to the user's
torso while the first tension member 130 is tightened so as to draw the elbow
of a wearer behind the frontal plane of a user and thereby to maintain the
shoulder to be isolated in external rotation.
The elbow engaging member 102 may comprise an elbow strap 104 as
illustrated in Figure 6 or may optionally comprise a curved elbow sleeve 106
as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. The elbow strap 104 may be sized to receive
the elbow of a user therein and may be formed of a continuous loop or a
selectably closable loop which is closable with hook and loop fasteners,
buckles or the like. The elbow sleeve 106 may be formed to have an elbow
shape with a central cavity therethrough having inlet and outlet ends, 108 and
110, respectively adapted to surround the arm of a user above and below the
elbow, respectively. The elbow strap 104 or elbow sleeve 106 may be formed
of any suitable material, such as, by way of non-limiting example, webbing or
netting, leather, fabrics, neoprene, plastics or rubbers. It will also be
appreciated that the elbow engaging member 102 may be formed of a pair of
elbow straps corresponding to the inlet and outlet ends 108 and 110 of the
elbow sleeve 106 such that one strap surrounds the upper arm and the other
strap surround the lower arm proximate to the elbow of the user.
The shoulder engaging member 120 may be formed of a shoulder loop 122 as
illustrated in Figure 6 or a shoulder cap 124 as illustrated in Figure 7.
Additionally the shoulder loop 122 may be formed of a single loop as
illustrated in Figure 9 or a pair of angularly oriented loops as illustrated
in
Figure 7 for extending around the top and side of the shoulder, respectively.
The shoulder engaging member 120 may be formed of any suitable material,
such as, by way of non-limiting example, webbing or netting, leather, fabrics,
neoprene, plastics or rubbers. The shoulder loop 122 may optionally include
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a pull tab 126 extending therefrom for a user to grasp to facilitate pulling
the
loop onto their shoulder.
The first tension member 130 extends between the elbow engaging member
102 and the shoulder engaging member 120. The first tension member 130
may comprise an elongate strap having first and second ends, 132 and 134,
respectively. The first end 132 is secured or connectable to the elbow
engaging member 102 and the second end 134 is secured or connectable to
the shoulder engaging member 120. The first tension member 130 may be
permanently secured to either or both of the elbow engaging member 102 and
shoulder engaging member 120 by any known means, such as, by way of
non-limiting example, stitching, adhesives, fabric welding or being formed
integrally therewith or may also be selectably attachable by any known
means, such as, by way of non-limiting example, fasteners, buttons, clips,
snaps, hook and loop fasteners or ties.
According to one embodiment, the first end 132 may be attachable or affixed
to the elbow engaging member 102 at the cubital fossa 28 of the elbow 16 as
illustrated in Figure 8. Similarly, the second end 134 may be secured to a
rearmost portion of the shoulder engaging member 120 or proximate to the
rear of the armpit of the opposed shoulder as illustrated in Figure 7. The
first
tension member 130 has a length selected to retain the elbow behind the
frontal plane 160 of a user and may optionally also be retained behind the
back of the user as illustrated in Figure 8. Similarly, the first tension
member
130 is also selected to retain the elbow 16 proximate to the torso 20 of the
user such that the forearm 24 is substantially parallel to the median plane
162
of the user. It will be appreciated that maintaining tension on the elbow 16
in
a direction towards the opposed shoulder behind the back of the user will
prevent the elbow from moving away from the body and thereby prevent the
shoulder from internally rotating.
The first tension member 130 may be formed of any suitable material, such
as, by way of non-limiting example, webbing or netting, leather, fabrics,
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neoprene, plastics or rubbers. Optionally the first tension member 130 may
be formed of an elastic material, such as an elasticized fabric such that the
first tension member 130 will provide some degree of movement for the user
while maintaining a biasing force towards the opposite shoulder behind the
back as described above. In other embodiments, the first tension member
130 may have a tightening device, such as, by way of non-limiting example, a
buckle 136, such as a slide release buckle, belt-style buckle, friction buckle
or
the like having a free end 138 which may be grasped by a user so as to
shorten the first tensioning member to apply the desired amount of tension
thereto. The first tension member may optionally be formed as two strap
sections having mating hook and loop fasteners therebetween so as to permit
connection at one of a plurality of locations.
The second tension member 140 extends from the wrist 22 of the user so as
to maintain the wrist proximate to the torso 20 of the user. The second
tension member 140 may include a wrist loop 142 at a fist end thereof sized to
receive the wrist 22 of the user therein. As illustrated in Figure 6, the
second
tension member 140 may comprise an elongate strap having first and second
ends, 144 and 146, respectively. The first end 144 is secured or connectable
to the wrist loop 142 and the second end 146 is secured or connectable to the
shoulder engaging member 120. The second tension member 140 may be
permanently secured to either or both of the wrist loop 142 and shoulder
engaging member 120 by any known means, such as, by way of non-limiting
example, stitching, adhesives, fabric welding or being formed integrally
therewith or may also be selectably attachable by any known means, such as,
by way of non-limiting example, fasteners, buttons, clips, snaps, hook and
loop fasteners or ties.
Optionally, the second tension member 140 may secure the wrist 22 to a
portion of the user's clothing, such as, by way of non-limiting example a belt
or belt loop as illustrated in Figure 9. In such embodiments, the second
tension member 140 may comprise a pair of opposed straps 150 extending
from the wrist loop 142 which are operable to be passed through the belt or
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belt loop of a user and thereafter secured to each other through the use of
hook and loop fasteners, ties or the like.
According to one embodiment, the second end 146 may be attachable or
affixed to the frontmost portion of the shoulder engaging member 120 or
proximate to the front of the armpit of the opposed shoulder as illustrated in
Figure 6. The second tension member 140 has a length selected to retain the
wrist in front of the frontal plane 160 of a user and may optionally also be
retained in front of the torso of the user as illustrated in Figure 8.
Similarly,
the second tension member 140 is also selected to retain the wrist 22
proximate to the torso 20 of the user such that the forearm 24 is
substantially
parallel to the median plane 162 of the user and to support the wrist of the
user so as to maintain the elbow 16 in a bent position. It will be appreciated
that maintaining the elbow 16 in a bent position will prevent rotation of the
writs 22 from being translated into shoulder rotation as would be possible
with
a straight arm. It will also be appreciated that maintaining the wrist
proximate
to the torso 20 will prevent the shoulder from externally rotating further
than
the orientation at which the forearm 24 is substantially parallel with the
median pane 162 of the user.
The second tension member 140 may be formed of any suitable material,
such as, by way of non-limiting example, webbing or netting, leather, fabrics,
neoprene, plastics or rubbers. Optionally the second tension member 140
may be formed of an elastic material, such as an elasticized fabric such that
the second tension member 140 will provide some degree of movement for
the user while maintaining a biasing force to retain the wrist 22 proximate to
the torso 20 of the user. In other embodiments, the second tension member
140 may have a tightening device similar to the tightening device of the first
tension member 130 as described above.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and
illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the
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invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance
with the accompanying claims.
