Orthosis

Abstract

An orthosis for treating a spine, the orthosis comprising a body having a base to support the orthosis on a surface and an upwardly facing surface having an undulating profile to align the spine of a user and support thoracic spinous processes of the spine, the upwardly facing surface including a longitudinal channel for receiving thoracic spinous processes of the user and a plurality of transverse channels that are arranged transversely to the longitudinal channel, wherein the undulating profile includes crests that are located on either side of the longitudinal channel.

Claims

1. An orthosis for treating a spine, the orthosis comprising: a body having a base to support the orthosis on a surface and an upwardly facing surface having an undulating profile to align the spine of a user and support thoracic spinous processes of the spine, the upwardly facing surface including a longitudinal channel for receiving thoracic spinous processes of the user and a plurality of transverse channels that are arranged transversely to the longitudinal channel, wherein the undulating profile includes crests that are located on either side of the longitudinal channel; and wherein the crests have different heights along the longitudinal channel to form a generally convex profile.

2. The orthosis according to claim 1, wherein a portion of an underside of the body is hollow.

3. The orthosis according to claim 2, wherein the underside of the body includes ribs to increase the structural integrity of the body.

4. The orthosis according to claim 3, wherein the ribs extend transversely to a length of the body.

5. The orthosis according to claim 3, wherein the ribs extend from the transverse channels into the underside of the body.

6. The orthosis according to claim 1, wherein the crests are in the form of nodules are located between the longitudinal channel and the transverse channels.

7. The orthosis according to claim 6, wherein the nodules are shaped to accommodate the spinous processes of the thoracic spine of the user.

8. The orthosis according to claim 1, wherein the orthosis includes a head rest.

9. The orthosis according to claim 8, wherein the head rest is concave.

10. The orthosis according to claim 1, wherein the transverse channels intersect the longitudinal channel.

11. The orthosis according to claim 1, wherein crests are formed on at least one side of each transverse channel.

12. The orthosis according to claim 1, wherein the crests increase in height from either end of the body to the middle of the body.

13. The orthosis according to claim 1, wherein the body has a lateral cross-sectional profile that is “M” shaped, wherein crests on either side of the longitudinal channel form an arches of the “M” shape and the longitudinal channel forms a valley of the “M” shape.

14. The orthosis according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal channel is discontiguous.

15. The orthosis according to claim 1, wherein the body is formed from a compressible foam.

16. The orthosis according to claim 1, wherein the base includes a flange to increase the stability of the orthosis when placed on a ground.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) A preferred embodiment of the present invention is hereinafter described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an orthosis according to one form of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of the orthosis of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a conventional foam roller.

(5) FIG. 4 is an illustration of a typical thoracic vertebra.

(6) FIG. 5 is an underside view of the orthosis of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) One aspect of an orthosis as defined by the invention is marked as 10 in FIG. 1.

(8) The orthosis 10 comprising a body 12 having a flat base 38 and an upwardly facing surface having an undulating profile.

(9) The orthosis 10 also includes a head rest 14. In FIG. 1, the body 12 and the head rest 14 are integrally formed.

(10) The upwardly facing surface includes a longitudinal channel 36 and a plurality of transverse channels 18 which intersect the longitudinal channel 36. Crests form on either side of the longitudinal channel 36 and on at least one side of the transverse channels 18 to form the undulating profile.

(11) In FIGS. 1 and 2, the crests are in the form of nodules 16A-F with a transverse channel 18 located between each nodule. Each transverse channel 18 has a width of about 5 mm. The head rest comprises two nodules 16G-H.

(12) The body 12 has a generally convex profile which corresponds with the kyphotic profile of a user's thoracic spine. This provides support along a substantial portion of the user's spine during treatment and creates extension and traction through the spine. This can be done without the need for further manipulation of the orthosis 10 or movement from the user. However, the user may adjust their arm position to facilitate treatment. For example, the user can have their arms at 90° abduction and at 180° abduction.

(13) The underside of the orthosis 10 is substantially hollow and has four 25 mm thick ribs 13 to maintain its shape and form (FIG. 5).

(14) The nodules 16A-C and 16D-F have different heights such that the nodules increase in height from either ends of the body 12 (i.e. 16A or 16F) to the middle of the body 12 (i.e. 16C and 16D). This creates the generally convex profile of the body 12 (FIG. 2).

(15) Each of the nodules 16A-F provides a flat longitudinal cross-sectional profile 20. Each of nodules 16B-F further includes a sloped longitudinal cross-sectional profile 22. More specifically, beginning at nodule 16A, the variation in profile of the body 12 follows a flat-sloped-flat profile until nodule 16C. From nodule 16D, the flat-sloped-flat profile is repeated until nodule 16F (FIG. 2). It is believed this profile variation enhances support of the user's thoracic spine.

(16) Additionally, each of nodules 16A-F has a generally “M” shaped lateral cross-sectional profile 24 along the A-A axis, wherein a valley 26 is located between the two crests 28 of the “M” shape (FIG. 1). The width of each nodule 16A-H is about 65 mm.

(17) The “M” shape of each of nodules 16A-F supports the thoracic vertebrae 30 (FIG. 4) of the user's spine by having a profile which complements the profile formed by the spinous 32 and transverse processes 34 (FIG. 4).

(18) The longitudinal channel 36 is formed by alignment of the valleys 26 of the “M” shaped nodules 16A-F, such that each valley 26 forms part of the longitudinal channel 36. Each of the six nodules 16A-F can accommodate two of a user's 12 thoracic vertebrae.

(19) The longitudinal channel 36 aligns and supports the spine of a user. It is believed that the surface profile of each nodule 16A-F, particularly the crests of each nodule, enhances the support provided to a user's spine by supporting the transverse processes 34 and thus reducing the amount of weight exerted on the spinous processes 32.

(20) The transverse channels improve distribution of the user's weight on the orthosis 10 and enable independent movement of the nodules 16A-H.

(21) The head rest 14 is curved to accommodate the head of a user and includes a sloped edge 37. The head rest, provides cervical support and reduces hypertension of the cervical spine. The head rest 14 has a height of about 93 mm.

(22) The flat base 38 includes a flange 40 to increase the stability and minimise movement of the orthosis 10 when placed on the ground. In contrast, a conventional spinal orthosis 110 (FIG. 3) is typically cylindrical in shape and would roll when placed on the ground.

(23) The body 12 of the orthosis 10 comprises a single piece of pEVA foam.

(24) The compressible body provides a soft surface for the user to lie on and to minimise injury.

(25) The orthosis 10 is formed by injection moulding. This is done by heating pEVA foam to a temperature to reach a desired viscosity, injecting pEVA foam into a mould having the profile of the body, cooling the pEVA foam, and demoulding the body. The profile of the mould may include a head rest as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(26) A comparison would now be made between treatment using a conventional spinal orthosis and an orthosis according to the present invention.

(27) During conventional treatment, a conventional spinal orthosis 110 (FIG. 3) comprising a foam roller 112 having a plurality of projections 114 along the length of the roller is used.

(28) During this treatment, a user lies on the foam roller 112 (FIG. 3) such that the foam roller is positioned transverse to the user's spine. Because the foam roller 112 can only contact a small surface area of the user's spine at any one time, either the foam roller 112 to be manipulated or the user has to move during treatment to treat all parts of the user's spine. Disadvantageously, the spine of the user at any one time during treatment would be strained into an unnatural shape because the foam roller 112 is unable to support the entire length of the spine at any one time.

(29) In contrast, during treatment using the orthosis 10, a user lies on the orthosis 10 such that their thoracic spine rests on the six nodules 16A-F, and their head rests on the head rest 14. In this position, most if not all of the user's spine is elevated and supported by the orthosis 10. This provides simultaneous alignment of the thoracic vertebrae of the user's spine.

(30) The thoracic spinous processes 32 of the user rests on the valleys 26 of the nodules 16A-F, and the crests 28 of the nodules 16A-F support the transverse processes 34 of the thoracic vertebrae. This provides lateral stability and reduces lateral deviation and rotation of the thoracic spinous processes 32. This also reduces direct body weight on the thoracic spinous processes and minimises strain or injury to the user.

(31) No further manipulation of the orthosis is required during treatment as the nodules 16A-F stimulate muscular trigger points, and provide extension and traction to the thoracic spine.