SHOULDER BRACE AND REHABILITATION METHOD USING SHOULDER BRACE

Abstract

A shoulder brace includes a shoulder cuff that can be worn to cover the shoulder of a user, an upper arm cuff that can be worn to cover the elbow joint of the user, a belt that can secure the shoulder cuff to the shoulder of the user, and an actuator that is the McKibben artificial muscle which can optionally expand and contract in entire length. The actuator contains a main actuator to link the vicinity of the acromion on the shoulder cuff and a side face of the upper arm cuff across the shoulder joint, an anterior auxiliary actuator to link a front face of the shoulder cuff and a front face of the upper arm cuff across the shoulder joint, and a posterior auxiliary actuator to link a back face of the shoulder cuff and a back face of the upper arm cuff across the shoulder joint.

Claims

1. A shoulder brace comprising at least: a shoulder cuff that can be worn to cover the shoulder of a user; an upper arm cuff that can be worn to cover the elbow joint of the user; a belt that can secure the shoulder cuff to the shoulder of the user; and an actuator made of a McKibben artificial muscle that can optionally expand and contract in entire length in response to external input and output, the actuator including a main actuator to link a side face of the shoulder cuff and a side face of the upper arm cuff across the shoulder joint, an anterior auxiliary actuator to link a front face of the shoulder cuff and a front face of the upper arm cuff across the shoulder joint, and a posterior auxiliary actuator to link a back face of the shoulder cuff and a back face of the upper arm cuff across the shoulder joint, wherein the upper end of the main actuator is fixed at a position on the inner side than the shoulder joint on the upper face of the shoulder cuff.

2. (canceled)

3. The shoulder brace according to claim 1, wherein the upper arm cuff can immobilize the elbow joint from the back side and has a shape to allow flexion and extension of the elbow joint of the user when worn.

4. (canceled)

5. A rehabilitation support apparatus of shoulder joint inferior subluxation, obtained by connecting an electrical stimulation apparatus to the shoulder brace according to claim 1, wherein functional electrical stimulation (FES) can be added to shoulder girdle muscles of a user who wears the shoulder brace.

6. A rehabilitation support apparatus of shoulder joint inferior subluxation, obtained by connecting an electrical stimulation apparatus to the shoulder brace according to claim 3, wherein functional electrical stimulation (FES) can be added to shoulder girdle muscles of a user who wears the shoulder brace.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of shoulder joint subluxation (inferior luxation).

[0058] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of shoulder joint subluxation (anterior luxation and posterior luxation).

[0059] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a positional relationship between the glenoid cavity and the humerus head.

[0060] FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a difference in structure between a known technology and the present invention.

[0061] FIG. 5 is a side view of a shoulder brace according to an embodiment.

[0062] FIG. 6 is a front view of a shoulder brace according to an embodiment.

[0063] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a wearing state of a shoulder brace according to an embodiment.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0064] 1 shoulder brace

[0065] 10 shoulder cuff

[0066] 11 upper arm cuff

[0067] M1 main actuator

[0068] M2 anterior auxiliary actuator

[0069] M3 posterior auxiliary actuator

[0070] B belt

[0071] S strap

[0072] G steel gas cylinder

[0073] V1 to V3 pressure adjusting valve

[0074] c1 to c3 connector

[0075] t terminal

[0076] f1 attachment member (fixing)

[0077] f2 attachment member (retaining)