Orthotic device

Abstract

An orthotic device 10 comprising a body 20 having a base 30, a first support surface 40. In use, the first support surface 40 supports a selected region of a patient's neck 70 whilst suspending the patient's head 80.

Claims

1. An orthotic device, comprising: a body having a base and at least one support surface disposed above the base; and front and rear terminal ends that extend from the base to the at least one support surface; wherein the at least one support surface comprises a first convex surface having a first diameter and an apex, a second convex surface having an apex, and a concave surface having a second diameter; wherein the first convex surface is disposed between the second convex surface and the front terminal end; wherein at least a portion of the second convex surface is disposed between the first convex surface and the rear terminal end; wherein the concave surface is disposed between the second convex surface and the front terminal end; wherein the apex of the first convex surface is vertically farther from the base than the apex of the second convex surface; wherein the device is configured so that, when the device is located between a substrate surface and a patient's neck with the patient in a supine position and at least a portion of the front terminal end of the device in contact with the patient's lower neck and/or shoulders, at least a portion of the patient's head is suspended above the substrate surface rearwardly of the rear terminal end; and the first convex surface supports and stretches the patient's neck; wherein the base has a depth from the front terminal end to the rear terminal end; and wherein the depth is less than the sum of the first and second diameters.

2. The orthotic device of claim 1, wherein at least the first convex surface is made from a cushioning material.

3. The orthotic device of claim 1, wherein the base is an elongate planar surface.

4. The orthotic device of claim 1, wherein the orthotic device comprises at least one side face that tangentially meets with the at least one support surface.

5. The orthotic device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured so that a surface area of the first convex surface in contact with the patient's neck is less than a surface area of the base in contact with the substrate surface.

6. The orthotic device of claim 1, wherein the concave surface is configured to support at least one of the patient's lower neck and a portion of the shoulders to restrict cervical over-extension.

7. The orthotic device of claim 6, wherein the concave surface is curved and wherein the first convex surface tangentially meets the concave surface.

8. The orthotic device of claim 1, wherein the concave surface is disposed between the first convex surface and the second convex surface.

9. The orthotic device of claim 8, further comprising a second concave surface disposed between the first convex surface and the front terminal end.

10. The orthotic device of claim 1, wherein the second convex surface is at least partially curved and the rear terminal end tangentially meets with the second convex surface.

11. The orthotic device of claim 8, wherein the second convex surface is curved and tangentially meets the concave surface.

12. The orthotic device of claim 8, wherein the apex of the second convex surface tangentially meets the concave surface.

13. The orthotic device of claim 1, wherein the first convex surface is at least partially curved, and wherein the second convex surface is at least partially curved and has a degree of curvature greater than a degree of curvature of the first convex surface.

14. The orthotic device of claim 8, wherein the concave surface and the first and second convex surfaces are at least partially curved, and wherein a degree of curvature of the concave surface is greater than a degree of curvature of at least one of the first and second convex surfaces.

15. An orthotic device, comprising: a body having a base, front and rear terminal ends, and at least one support surface disposed above the base; wherein the at least one support surface comprises a first convex surface having a first diameter and an apex and a concave surface having a second diameter and an apex; wherein the first convex surface is disposed between the concave surface and the rear terminal end; wherein at least a portion of the concave surface is disposed between the first convex surface and the front terminal end; wherein the apex of the first convex surface is vertically farther from the base than the apex of the concave surface; wherein the device is configured to suspend at least a portion of a supine patient's head rearwardly of the device, and the first convex surface is configured to support and stretch the patient's neck, when the device is disposed between the patient's neck and a substrate surface with the base in contact with the substrate surface, at least a portion of the first convex surface in contact with the patient's neck and at least a portion of the front terminal end in contact with the patient's shoulders; wherein the base has a depth from the front terminal end to the rear terminal end; and wherein the depth is less than the sum of the first and second diameters.

16. The orthotic device of claim 15, wherein the first convex surface is curved.

17. The orthotic device of claim 15, wherein the device is configured so that no portion of the device extends rearwardly of the patient's head when the device is disposed between the patient's neck and a substrate surface so that the base is in contact with the substrate surface, at least a portion of the first convex surface is in contact with the patient's neck and at least a portion of the front terminal end is in contact with the patient's shoulders.

18. The orthotic device of claim 15, wherein the base is wider than it is deep.

19. The orthotic device of claim 1, wherein the second convex surface comprises at least a portion of the rear terminal end.

20. The orthotic device of claim 1, wherein the second convex surface is at least partially curved.

21. An orthotic device, comprising: a body having a base and at least one support surface disposed above the base; and front and rear terminal ends that extend from the base to the at least one support surface; wherein the at least one support surface comprises a first convex surface having a first diameter and an apex, a second convex surface having an apex, and a concave surface having a second diameter; wherein the first convex surface is disposed between the second convex surface and the front terminal end; wherein at least a portion of the second convex surface is disposed between the first convex surface and the rear terminal end; wherein the concave surface is disposed between the second convex surface and the front terminal end; wherein the apex of the first convex surface is vertically farther from the base than the apex of the second convex surface; wherein the device is configured so that, when the device is located between a substrate surface and a patient's neck with the patient in a supine position and the front terminal end of the device disposed beneath the patient's lower neck and/or shoulders, at least a portion of the patient's head is suspended above the substrate surface rearwardly of the rear terminal end of the device; and the first convex surface supports and stretches the patient's neck; wherein the base has a depth from the front terminal end to the rear terminal end; and wherein the depth is less than the sum of the first and second diameters.

22. The orthotic device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured so that a vertical distance between the substrate surface and a lowermost point on the portion of the patient's head suspended rearwardly of the rear terminal end is less than a vertical distance between the substrate surface and the concave surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an orthotic device according to the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in use;

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an orthotic device according to the present invention; and

(5) FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) FIGS. 1 to 3 show an example of an orthotic device 10 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The orthotic device 10 comprises a body 20 comprising a base 30 and a first support surface 40. In use, the first support surface 40 supports a selected region of a patient's neck 70 whilst suspending the patient's head 80. The first support surface 40 acts as a positional fulcrum such as to gently bend the patient's neck 70 over the first support surface 40 whilst suspending the patient's head 80 above a substrate surface 130.

(7) In one form, the orthotic device 10 comprises a second support surface 50 for supporting either a region of the patient's neck located lower than the selected region 70 supported by the first support surface 40 or the patient's shoulders 90 such as to restrict cervical over-extension. Spacing between an apex 60 of the first support surface 40 and the base 30 is greater than spacing between the second support surface 50 and the base 30.

(8) The first support surface 40 is in the form of a first convex surface 100 and the second support surface 50 is in the form of a first concave surface 110. The first convex surface 100 and the first concave surface 110 are shaped to support the curvature of a patient's neck 70, head 80 and shoulders 90. The first convex surface 100 comprises a degree of curvature which is less than the degree of curvature of the first concave surface 10. In this form the first convex surface 100 tangentially meets the first concave surface 110 to provide a gradual curvature of the support surfaces. This tangential meeting of the convex support surface 100 and the concave support surface 110 allows the first support surface 40 to be placed at selected regions of the patient's neck 80.

(9) As clearly shown in the side view of the orthotic device 10 in FIG. 2, the first convex surface 100 is part of a bulbous portion of the body 20 and the first concave surface 110 is part of a recess in the body 20. In one form the bulbous portion is substantially a half cylindrical protrusion extending from the body 20 and the recess is substantially a quarter cylindrical recess in the body. As illustrated by the dotted lines in FIG. 2, the half cylindrical protrusion comprises radius 123 greater than a radius 126 of the quarter cylindrical recess where the degree of curvature of the quarter cylindrical recess is greater than the degree of curvature of the half cylindrical protrusion.

(10) In one form, the orthotic device 10 comprises side faces 120 extending from the base 30 to the first support surface 40 and second support surface 50. At least one side face 120 tangentially meets with the first convex surface 100. At least one side face 120 is substantially vertical in a normal position and wherein the base 30 is orthogonal to the at least one side face 120. Additionally, the base 30 comprises a substantially elongate planar surface such as to provide a stable support surface to rest on a substrate surface 130 which the patient lies upon in use. In use, the surface area of the first support surface 40 in contact. with the patient is less than the surface area of the elongate planar surface in contact with substrate surface.

(11) As shown clearly in the side view of FIG. 2, the first convex surface 100 tangentially meets at least one of the side faces 120. This tangential meeting between the first convex surface 100 and the adjacent side face 120 allows for the patient's head to be supported whilst being suspended, restricting cervical over-extension. By attempting to restrict cervical over-extension, an increase in movement of the patient's neck 70 within optimal limits can be obtained and additionally improve the functional relationship between soft tissue structures and the joints in the spine. Furthermore, by providing a large contact surface in the form of a bulbous portion of the body 20, cervical over-extension is further reduced.

(12) The first support surface 40 may be made from a cushioning material. Alternatively the first and second support surface 40, 50 may be made from cushioning material or substantially the entire orthotic device 10 may made from a cushioning material. The cushioning material may be resilient. In use, the orthotic device 10 resiliently compresses such that the weight of the patient's neck 70, head 80 and shoulders 90 are supported. This configuration alleviates neck soreness caused by more rigid material used in prior art devices. Additionally, due to the bulbous portion of the orthotic device 10, the patient's head 80 is slightly lifted from the substrate surface 130 whilst the patient lies in a supine position, suspending the patient's head 80 from the substrate surface 130 and applying a gentle stretch to the patient's neck 70 and spine. The cushioning material can resiliently compress between 5% to 35% when supporting the selected region of the patient's neck 70. Preferably, the cushioning material compresses between 10% to 25% when supporting the selected region of the patient's neck. In one form, the resiliently cushioned material can take the form of synthetic foam. The synthetic foam may be in the form of closed cell cross-linked polyethylene foam.

(13) Another example of the orthotic device 135 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the orthotic device 135 and FIG. 5 shows a side view of the orthotic device 135. The orthotic device 135 comprises a third support surface 140 adjacent the first contact surface 40 for supporting the back of the patient's head 80. The third support surface 140 forms a generally higher positional fulcrum point at the first convex surface 100. The third support surface 140 comprises a second convex surface 150 and a second concave surface 160. The second concave surface 160 is located adjacent the first convex surface 100, and the second concave surface 160 is located adjacent the second convex surface 150. The side faces 120 extend from the base to the first 40, second 50 and third support surfaces 140. When the patient's neck 70 is supported by the first support surface 40 and third support surface 140, a gap between the first convex surface 100 and the second convex surface 150 leaves a portion of the patient's neck 80 failing to be in contact with the orthotic device 135 such as to focus the stretching applied to the patient's neck 80 in contact with the first support surface 40.

(14) The second convex surface 150 tangentially meets the second convex surface 160. This provides a gradual curved surface for supporting the back of the patient's head 80. An apex 155 of the second convex surface 150 tangentially meets the second concave surface 160. In this form, spacing between the apex 155 of second convex surface 150 and the base 30 is less than spacing between the first convex surface 100 and the base 30 such as to suspend the patient's head 70 above the substrate surface 130. The degree of curvature of second convex surface 150 in this form is greater than the degree of curvature of the first convex surface 100. Additionally, the degree of curvature of the second concave surface 160 is greater than the degree of curvature of the first convex surface 100, the second convex surface 150 and the first concave surface 110.

(15) Optional embodiments of the present invention may also be said to broadly consist in the parts elements and features referred to or indicated herein, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of the parts, elements or features, and wherein specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which the invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

(16) Although a preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.