Abstract
A trunk orthosis including a bandage that is designed to be put on a patient's trunk, and a supporting device which is connected to the bandage and which the supporting device is designed as a frame with frame sections that are hingedly or elastically secured to one another, are spring-biased, and are pre-stressed by the bandage when worn on the patient's trunk.
Claims
1-11. (canceled)
12. A trunk orthosis, comprising: a bandage designed to be applied to a patient's trunk; a support device connected to the bandage and designed to be applied to the patient's trunk, the support device having a single-piece frame with frame portions movable relative to each other to provide flexion in at least one of a frontal direction and a dorsal direction, the frame portions being spring-loaded and, in an applied state, being pre-stressed by the bandage; at least one tightening strap secured to or guided on the support device and secured to the bandage, the at least one tightening strap configured to be tensioned.
13. The trunk orthosis of claim 12, wherein the frame portions are mounted to each other in an articulated manner or elastically with a hinge.
14. The trunk orthosis of claim 13, wherein the at least one tightening strap is secured to or guided on the hinge and configured to apply a force centrally to a pivot axis of the hinge.
15. The trunk orthosis of claim 12, wherein the frame portions are movable elastically relative to each other.
16. The trunk orthosis of claim 12, wherein the frame portions include an upper frame part configured to be supported in the area of the patient's thoracic spine and a lower frame part configured to be supported in the area of the patient's lumbar spine.
17. The trunk orthosis of claim 12, wherein the frame portions are mounted on the hinge with first and second hinge mechanisms, which are positioned medially and laterally with respect to the trunk.
18. The trunk orthosis of claim 12, wherein cushioning elements or pads are arranged on the frame portions.
20. The trunk orthosis of claim 12, wherein the bandage includes at least two bandage elements, which are connected to each other with a securing member.
21. The trunk orthosis of claim 20, wherein the securing member is designed as form-fit elements.
22. The trunk orthosis of claim 12, wherein the bandage comprises at least one of a flexible material and elastic material.
23. The trunk orthosis of claim 12, wherein the at least one tightening strap is guided on the bandage.
24. The trunk orthosis of claim 12, wherein the at least one tightening strap is designed as a pulley system.
25. The trunk orthosis of claim 12, wherein the at least one tightening strap is secured reversibly on the bandage.
26. The trunk orthosis of claim 12, wherein the support device has a multi-part design.
27. The trunk orthosis of claim 12, wherein the bandage is configured to be applied ventrally to the patient's trunk and the support device is configured to be applied dorsally to the patient's trunk.
28. The trunk orthosis of claim 12, wherein the bandage is configured to be applied dorsally to the patient's trunk and the support device is configured to be applied ventrally to the patient's trunk.
29. The trunk orthosis of claim 12, wherein the frame portions are arranged in an area of designated flexion in the trunk orthosis.
30. The trunk orthosis of claim 12, wherein the frame is designed as a coil spring or spiral spring.
31. The trunk orthosis of claim 12, wherein the at least one tightening strap includes a pulley system.
32. A trunk orthosis, comprising: a bandage configured to be applied to a patient's trunk; a support device connected to the bandage and configured to be applied to the patient's trunk, the support device having a frame with frame portions mounted to each other with elastic joints, the frame portions being movable relative to each other to provide flexion in at least one of a frontal direction and a dorsal direction, the frame portions being spring-loaded and, in an applied state, being pre-stressed by the bandage; at least one tightening strap secured to or guided on the support device and secured to the bandage, the at least one tightening strap configured to be tensioned.
Description
[0020] Illustrative embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a first embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 2 shows a side view of FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a rear view of FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 4 shows a detailed view;
[0025] FIG. 5 shows a front view of a variant;
[0026] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the variant according to FIG. 5; and
[0027] FIG. 7 shows a rear view of the variant according to FIG. 5.
[0028] FIG. 1 shows a front view of an orthosis 1 applied to a patient's trunk. At the front, the trunk orthosis 1 has a bandage 2 composed of several bandage elements 21, 22. The bandage elements 21, 22 themselves can consist of several components which are arranged on one another releasably or fixedly. The bandage elements 21, 22 are arranged to the left and right of the trunk on a frame 3, which has an upper frame portion 31 and a lower frame portion 32. To apply the trunk orthosis 1, the two bandage elements 21, 22 are opened, the frame 3 is applied to the back, and the bandage elements 21, 22 are then secured to each other via securing means 25 which, in the illustrative embodiment shown, are designed as hook-and-loop fasteners. In this way, the trunk orthosis 1 encloses the patient's body all the way around but the bandage elements 21, 22 are only arranged in the area of the abdomen. After the two bandage elements 21, 22 have been laid one over the other and have been secured by form-fit engagement, for example via a hook-and-loop fastener 25, the frame 3 presses with the upper frame portion 31 and the lower frame portion 32 against the back and against the pelvis, respectively, at their supporting points. In order to increase this pressure, tightening straps 6 are arranged on the front of the trunk orthosis 1 and can be secured on the upper bandage portion 21. After the bandage elements 21, 22 have been closed, the securing is advantageously effected via a hook-and-loop fastener, in order to achieve an almost stepless adaptation of the pressing force by adjusting the length or position of the tightening straps 6. The left-hand tightening strap 6 in the view in FIG. 1 is secured with its first end on the lower edge of the bandage element 21, is then guided through an eye 72, which is secured on a tab 71 on the 3, and is then guided back onto the bandage element 21 and secured there on a fleeced area by means of a hook area of a hook-and-loop fastener. By means of this deflection, an increased tensile force can be achieved, at the same time with precise introduction of the forwardly pulling force by the tightening strap 6. The right-hand tightening strap 6 in the view is simply secured on a correspondingly shaped tab on the frame 3 and is fixed on the front of the upper bandage element 21 via a hook-and-loop fastener.
[0029] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the trunk orthosis 1 according to the illustrative embodiment in FIG. 1. It will be seen that the bandage element 22 is composed of three individual components 221, 222, 223 which can be secured on a, for example via a large number of hook-and-loop fasteners. It is thereby possible to obtain a modular configuration of the bandage 2 in order to provide adjustments in length. With its rear part 223, the bandage element 22 is secured via tabs 27 on the two frame portions 31, 32 designed as separate frame elements. The frame elements 31, 32 are designed as a tube structure with a round tube cross section, in particular with a hollow cross section, in order to obtain a design that is light and at the same time stable and, if appropriate, elastically resilient. In order to position the orthosis on the body, a first tensile force is applied via the tabs 27 and via the frame elements 31, 32 in the frontal direction and, therefore, a slight pressure is also applied to the patient's back and pelvis.
[0030] Cushioning elements 51, 52 or also pads, arranged on the frame elements 31, 32, distribute forces and increase the comfort with which the frame elements 31, 32 bear on the body. The cushioning elements 51, 52 provide cushioning both in the area of the thoracic spine and also in the area of the lumbar spine, and also laterally on the trunk. The frame portions 31, 32 run in a double C shape and initially extend upward and downward, respectively, in a straight line from the point of connection of the two frame portions 31, 32 and run in a double arc, which runs both from the top downward and from the bottom upward and from front to rear, to the connection point on the other side.
[0031] The two frame portions 31, 32 are mounted pivotably on each other on a hinge mechanism 42. A corresponding hinge mechanism is likewise provided on the other side and permits substantially free pivoting of the frame elements 31, 32 about the hinge mechanism 42. By way of a tab 73, and an eye 74 mounted thereon in an articulated manner, the tightening strap 6 is tensioned frontally, and a force acting centrally on the pivot axis of the hinge mechanism 42 permits precise introduction of force into the hinge area. The greater part of the effective force exerted on the back and the pelvis is exerted via the tightening strap 6 and the tabs 73, which are guided laterally on the body. By way of the tab 73, the tightening strap 6 acts directly on the hinge area and pulls forward the hinge area substantially in the middle between the upper transverse arc and the lower transverse arc.
[0032] FIG. 3 shows the orthosis 1 in a rear view depicting the two separately produced frame elements 31, 32, the upper cushioning elements 51 in the area of the thoracic spine, the lower cushioning element 52 in the area of the lumbar spine, and also the lateral cushioning elements. Instead of or in addition to the cushioning elements, it is also possible for pads to be secured on the frame or the frame elements. The frame elements 31, 32 are mounted pivotably on each other on both sides via hinge mechanisms 41, 42 and are applied around the patient's body via the tightening straps 6 (not shown) and bandage elements 21, 22. The orthosis 1 is thus designed closed circumferentially about the patient's trunk. The hinge mechanisms 41, 42 can be provided with springs, for example compression springs, tension springs, spiral springs or elastomer elements, so as to be able to be pre-stressed relative to each other. The spring force advantageously acts such that bending forward is assisted, i.e. a forwardly acting force is present in the area of the thoracic spine and the area of the lumbar spine. As an alternative to a separate spring element, it is possible to connect the frame elements 31, 32 to each other such that an elastic pre-stressing force prevails. It is likewise possible for the frame 3 to be designed in one piece and, by a suitable configuration of the frame portions 31, 32, to achieve the desired effect of flexion in the frontal direction.
[0033] FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the orthosis in the area of the point of connection of the two frame elements 31, 32. The tabs 27 of the rear bandage element 213 are secured on the frame elements 31, 32, likewise the tab 71 in the area of the pivot point of the hinge mechanism 41. An eye 72 is secured pivotably on the tab 71 and serves to deflect the tightening strap 6. A torsion spring 8 is arranged inside the hinge mechanism 41 in order to load the two frame elements 31, 32 in the desired direction, to load them in the frontal direction in the illustrative embodiment shown, so as to achieve a bending and widening of the vertebral canal. The tabs 27 can be secured on the frame elements 31, 32 via reversible fastening elements such as hook-and-loop fasteners, press studs or the like; it is also possible in principle to provide a permanent connection by welding, sewing or, for example, cable ties.
[0034] FIG. 5 shows a variant of the invention in which the securing means 25 are shown in the form of hook-and-loop fasteners; it will also be noted that both tightening straps 6 are mounted on the respective connections or in the middle between the frame portions 31, 32 via deflection devices of the kind shown in detail in FIG. 4, in order to achieve a pulley-like construction. It is thereby possible to achieve an increase in force when the tightening straps 6 are drawn and are secured frontally on fleeced areas on the top of the bandage element 21.
[0035] Slides 91, 92, which are explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 6, are arranged on the tightening straps 6.
[0036] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the orthosis according to FIG. 5 and illustrates that the frame portions 31, 32 are mounted elastically on each other without a hinge-like mechanism, either via a plug system, for example an elastic connecting rod, or by sleeves secured or formed on the frame portions 31, 32. The bandage element 22 is secured on the frame portions 31, 32 via the tabs 27; between the tabs 27 a free space is formed through which the tightening strap 6 is guided, so as to ensure a spatial assignment of the deflection point of the tightening strap 6. Force is introduced centrally at the point of deflection of the tightening strap 6 which is guided through behind the frame 3 and then secured on the front of the bandage elements 21, 22, for example via hook-and-loop fasteners. The slide 92 is provided with a loop 94, by way of which it is possible to obtain an improved grip, in order to exert tensioning forces on the tightening strap 6.
[0037] FIG. 7 shows the rear of the orthosis with two upper cushioning elements 51, which are arranged to both sides of the spine, and with a lower cushioning element 52, which lies on the patient in the area of the sacrum. It will be seen that the tightening straps 6 are placed around the frame 3 in the area between the upper and lower frame portions 31, 32.
