Low Extensibility Strips for Prosthetic and Orthotic Applications

Abstract

A low extensibility material for use in prosthetics and orthotics. The low extensibility material is adhered to the fabric portion of a prosthetic liner or orthotic liner either internally or externally and limits the longitudinal movement while allowing for transversal movement. The customizable nature of the invention allows for shaping and personalization depending on the needs of the user.

Claims

1. A prosthetic apparatus, comprising: a prosthetic liner having a closed distal end and an open proximal end, the prosthetic liner further comprising an elastomer layer and a fabric layer; a single-piece low extensibility material in between said elastomer layer and said fabric layer extending up to six inches from the open proximal end and having a width between 0.5 and 4 inches, the single-piece low extensibility material further comprising a central aperture; and wherein longitudinal stretch of the prosthetic liner is reduced by more than 50% as compared to a non-reinforced prosthetic liner.

2. A prosthetic apparatus, comprising: a prosthetic liner having a closed distal end and an open proximal end, the prosthetic liner further comprising an elastomer layer and a fabric layer having an external face; at least one strip of a low extensibility material affixed to the external face of the fabric layer within six inches of the proximal end creating a reduced stretch area, the low extensibility material having a width between 0.5 and 4 inches; and wherein the reduced stretch area has a reduced longitudinal stretch of more than 50% as compared to a non-reinforced liner area.

3. The prosthetic apparatus of claim 2 wherein at least two strips of low extensibility are affixed to the external face of the fabric layer in a T-shape.

4. A low extensibility apparatus, comprising: an orthotic device comprising an elastomer layer and a fabric layer having an extern face; at least one strip of a low extensibility material placed on the external face of the fabric layer within six inches of the proximal end creating a reduced stretch area, the low extensibility material having a width between 0.5 and 4 inches; and wherein the reduced stretch area has a reduced longitudinal stretch of more than 50% as compared to a non-reinforced liner area.

5. The low extensibility apparatus of claim 3 wherein the orthotic device is a wrist brace.

6. The low extensibility apparatus of claim 3 wherein the orthotic device is a back brace.

7. The low extensibility apparatus of claim 3 wherein the orthotic device is an ankle brace.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following descriptions, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a liner incorporating the low extensibility material internally;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a top view of the low extensibility material in one preferred shape;

[0021] FIG. 3 is a top view of the low extensibility material in a second preferred shape;

[0022] FIG. 4 is a top view of the low extensibility material in a third preferred shape and configuration;

[0023] FIG. 5 is a top view of the low extensibility material in a second preferred configuration;

[0024] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a liner with an alternative arrangement of low extensibility material placed either internally or externally;

[0025] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view with an alternative arrangement of low extensibility material placed either internally or externally;

[0026] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a wrist orthotic with the low extensibility material adhered externally;

[0027] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a back orthotic with the low extensibility material adhered externally;

[0028] FIG. 10A is a perspective view of an ankle orthotic with the low extensibility material adhered externally;

[0029] FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of the ankle orthotic shown in FIG. 10A;

[0030] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a knee orthotic with the low extensibility material adhered externally; and

[0031] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an elbow orthotic with the low extensibility material adhered externally.

[0032] Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0033] The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.

[0034] The present invention relates to a low extensible material 10 for use with prosthetic or orthotic devices. As shown in FIG. 1, this low extensibility material 10 can be used with a prosthetic liner 12 having a distal attachment plate 14 at a distal end 16. The low extensibility material 10 for use with a prosthetic or orthotic assembly preferably comprises a strip of material 26 preferably made of strips of silk, fiberglass cloth, and other non-elastic materials like carbon fiber and thermoplastics. The prosthetic liner 12 comprises an elastomer layer 18 having a limb face 20 and a fabric face 22 wherein the fabric face 22 of the elastomer layer 18 is adhered to the external fabric 24 of the prosthetic liner 12. In relation to the prosthetic liner 12, the low extensibility material 10 can be adhered to the fabric 24 either internally or externally. If internal placement is desired, the low extensibility material 10 is placed between the elastomer layer 18 and the fabric 24 in the desired region and adhered only to the fabric 24 as shown in the exploded view Part B. Preferably, the low extensibility material 10 is placed at the distal end 16 of the prosthetic liner 12 and extends towards the proximal end 28 of the prosthetic liner 12. The low extensibility material 10 preferably extends upward towards the proximal end 28 of the prosthetic liner 12, stopping at least an inch from the proximal end 12, when placed at the distal end 16. Similarly, the width of the low extensibility material 10 is between 0.5-4 inches such that it can be placed in a variety of locations and positions.

[0035] FIGS. 2-7 show the low extensibility material 10 is a variety of configurations. FIG. 2 shows the low extensibility material 10 as a strip of material having a central aperture 30 with a bulged mid-region 32. The locking pin 34, as shown in FIG. 1, can be fed through the aperture 30 if the low extensibility material 10 is adhered externally to the fabric 24. As shown in FIG. 3, the low extensibility material 10 can also be configured to have multiple arms 36 extending radially outward from the central aperture 30. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the aperture 30 is optional. The low extensibility material 10 can be shaped such that a distal strip end 38 is convex while a proximal strip end 40 is concave. This allows for the low extensibility material 10 to be placed around the distal attachment plate 14 if desired or around the user's joint without impinging on joint movement.

[0036] As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the low extensibility material 10 can be placed in a variety of configurations according to the needs of the user. The T-shape and single strip configuration shown are not the only configurations that would be helpful to a user and any configuration determined by a medical professional to be medically helpful can be used.

[0037] Use of low extensibility material 10 as described herein has been tested and conclusively shows that use of the low extensibility material 10 limits the longitudinal stretch of the liner 12 while maintaining transversal stretch. In the first table, transversal stretch was tested:

TABLE-US-00001 Reinforced Not Reinforced before after change % before after change % 1 13 21 8 61.53846 1 13 20.375 7.375 56.73077 2 13 22 9 69.23077 2 13 21.5 8.5 65.38462 3 13 20.125 7.125 54.80769 3 13 22 9 69.23077 Average 61.85897 Average 63.78205

[0038] As seen in the table above, “before” refers to the liner in a static state, meaning no weight was applied, and “after” refers to the liner at failure (i.e. until the strip tore). The number measured is circumference in inches. As can be seen from the test data, the transversal stretch was essentially the same whether the liner was reinforced with the low extensibility material 10 or not.

[0039] A similar test was performed testing the longitudinal stretch:

TABLE-US-00002 Reinforced Not Reinforced before after change % before after change % 1 4.25 4.5 0.25 5.882353 1 4 4.75 0.75 18.75 2 4.25 4.5 0.25 5.882353 2 4.25 4.75 0.5 11.76471 3 4.5 4.75 0.25 5.555556 3 4.25 4.625 0.375 8.823529 Average 5.77342 Average 13.11275

[0040] As can be seen from this test, the longitudinal stretch was reduced by more than half when the low extensibility material 10 was used.

[0041] The low extensibility material 10 can also be used with orthotics which is useful to limit joint flexion both as a therapeutic aid in the case of injuries or as a means of injury prevention. As seen in FIG. 8, the low extensibility material 10 works with a wrist brace 42 and can be adhered externally or internally as described above. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 9, the low extensibility material 10 can be integrated with a back brace orthotic 44. Likewise, the low extensibility material 10 can be used with an ankle orthotic 46, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, where the low extensibility material 10 preferably has a thickness to prevent ankle movement. FIG. 11 depicts the use of the low extensibility material 10 with a knee orthotic 48 and FIG. 12 depicts the use of the low extensibility material 10 on an elbow orthotic 50. In all configurations when in use with an orthotic, the low extensibility material 10 can be in a strip or in a specific shape, as determined by an orthotic physician, and be adhered to the fabric 24 either internally or externally.

[0042] When the low extensibility material 10 is desired to be used internally, the low extensibility material 10 is first adhered to the fabric 24 using conventional means and then the combination is placed in a mold wherein the gel, silicon, or urethane is molded over, creating a composite. Alternatively, exterior use is performed by adhering the low extensibility material 10 onto the outside of the fabric 24 in the desired location.

[0043] The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0044] Now that the invention has been described,