FUNCTIONAL SHOULDER SUPPORT BRACE WITH CABLING SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention relates to a shoulder brace for the rehabilitation of patients that suffer from shoulder instability. The shoulder brace uses a novel elevation and compression cabling system to stabilize and approximate the humerus to glenoid fossa. More specifically, the present invention allows an individual that suffers from shoulder instability to easily put on and, while wearing the device, adjust all forces that approximate their shoulder without the assistance of another individual. The design will also allow the individual the ability to have functional movement. This will give someone who has become dependent on others to regain a greater degree of independence.

Claims

1. A shoulder brace, comprising: a sleeve having a portion adapted for wearing over a user's glenohumeral joint and at least a portion of the user's humerus, and having another portion adapted for wearing over the user's upper arm below the user's glenohumeral joint; a shoulder-tightening mechanism on said sleeve; a first series of anchor points located on said sleeve; an elevation cable passing through said first series of anchor points and bound by said shoulder-tightening mechanism such that said elevation cable is constricted by said shoulder-tightening mechanism; an arm-tightening mechanism on said sleeve; a second series of anchor points located on said sleeve; a compression cable passing through said second series of anchor points and bound by said arm tightening mechanism such that said compression cable is constricted by said arm tightening mechanism to compress said sleeve.

2. The shoulder brace of claim 1, wherein at least one of said shoulder-tightening mechanism and said arm-tightening mechanism operates as a cable-on-reel device.

3. The shoulder brace of claim 1, wherein said first series of anchor points are situated along said sleeve in such a way that when said elevation cable is constricted by said shoulder-tightening mechanism, said sleeve of the shoulder brace is elevated.

4. The shoulder brace of claim 1, wherein said second series of anchor points are located about said sleeve in such a way that when said compression cable is constricted by said arm-tightening mechanism, the sleeve is adapted to be compressed about a user's arm, enabling said sleeve to be lifted by said elevation cable without slipping from the user's arm.

5. The shoulder brace of claim 1, wherein said compression cable is laced through said second series of anchor points in a crisscross fashion.

6. The shoulder brace of claim 1, wherein said second series of anchor points, said arm-tightening mechanism, and said compression cable are located on an anterior portion of said sleeve.

7. The shoulder brace of claim 1, wherein said second series of anchor points, said arm-tightening mechanism, and said compression cable are located medially between a posterior portion and an anterior portion of said sleeve.

8. The shoulder brace of claim 4, wherein said shoulder-tightening mechanism is located on the portion of said sleeve adapted for being worn over the user's glenohumeral joint.

9. The shoulder brace of claim 5, wherein said arm-tightening mechanism is located on the portion of said sleeve adapted for being worn over the user's upper arm.

10. The shoulder brace of claim 1, further comprising an outer layer of fabric for preventing said cables from catching on an exterior element of the user's environment.

11. A shoulder brace, comprising: a first sleeve adapted for wearing over a user's glenohumeral joint and at least a portion of the user's humerus; a second sleeve adapted for wearing over the user's arm at a location below the user's shoulder; an intermediate connecting sleeve portion interconnecting said first sleeve portion and said second sleeve portion; a shoulder-tightening mechanism on said first sleeve; a first series of anchor points wherein a portion of said anchor points is located on said first sleeve and a portion of said anchor points is located on said second sleeve; an elevation cable passing through said first series of anchor points and bound by said shoulder-tightening mechanism such that said elevation cable is constricted by said shoulder-tightening mechanism; an arm-tightening mechanism on said second sleeve; a second series of anchor points located on said second sleeve; a compression cable passing through said second series of anchor points and bound by said arm tightening mechanism such that said compression cable is constricted by said arm tightening mechanism to compress said sleeve.

12. The shoulder brace of claim 11, wherein at least one of said shoulder-tightening mechanism and said arm-tightening mechanism operates as a cable-on-reel device.

13. The shoulder brace of claim 11, wherein said first series of anchor points are situated along said first sleeve and said second sleeve in such a way that when said elevation cable is constricted by said shoulder-tightening mechanism, said sleeves of the shoulder brace are elevated, and thereby the user's humerus is elevated toward the user's glenohumeral joint.

14. The shoulder brace of claim 11, wherein said second series of anchor points are located about said second sleeve in such a way that when said compression cable is constricted by said arm-tightening mechanism, the sleeve is adapted to be compressed about a user's arm, enabling said sleeve to be lifted by said elevation cable without slipping from the user's arm.

15. The shoulder brace of claim 11, wherein said compression cable is laced through said second series of anchor points in a crisscross fashion.

16. The shoulder brace of claim 11, wherein said second series of anchor points, said arm-tightening mechanism, and said compression cable are located on an anterior portion of said sleeve.

17. The shoulder brace of claim 11, wherein said second sleeve is adapted for being worn over a user's arm at a location below the user's elbow so as to be adapted for further immobilizing the user's arm and shoulder.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] In consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments, the invention may be more completely understood in connection with the following drawings.

[0026] FIG. 1a is a perspective view of at least an aspect and an embodiment of the invention.

[0027] FIG. 1b illustrates the forces generated on a sleeve portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1a by an elevation cable according to that embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of at least an aspect of the present invention according to at least one embodiment.

[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates a lateral view of the elevation cable system and the compression cable system according to at least one embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the elevation cable system, the compression cable system, and the trunk straps according to at least one embodiment.

[0031] FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of the shoulder brace, wherein the compression cable system is located on the front of the arm according to at least one embodiment.

[0032] FIG. 6 illustrates a lateral view of the shoulder brace, wherein the arm compression cable system is located on the front of the arm according to at least one embodiment.

[0033] FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the shoulder brace, wherein an arm compression portion of the brace is located just above a user's elbow and is separated from an upper-sleeve compression portion of the brace with lighter-weight fabric designed to protect the user's arm from abrasive contact with cabling extending between the two portions.

[0034] FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the shoulder brace, wherein an arm compression portion of the brace is located just below a user's elbow to provide greater stability and is separated from an upper-sleeve compression portion of the brace with lighter-weight fabric designed to protect the user's arm from abrasive contact with the cabling extending between the two portions.

[0035] Although the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail such that the disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. However, it should be understood, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] The present invention relates to a shoulder brace for the rehabilitation of patients that suffer from shoulder instability. The shoulder brace uses novel elevation and compression cable systems to stabilize and approximate the glenohumeral joint through a range of motion particular to appropriate treatment parameters. More specifically, the present invention provides customizable support and approximation of the glenohumeral joint. Additionally, the present invention allows the individual to don, fit, and customize the shoulder brace independently using the elevation and compression cable systems, whether the brace is currently being worn by a user, or not.

[0037] Referring specifically to FIGS. 1a and 1b, there is illustrated an embodiment of a shoulder brace 2 comprising a main body portion 17 for wearing by a user, or which is adapted for wrapping around, as with a strap 13, a user. The strap 13 is preferably provided with a hook and loop (e.g., Velcro brand) enclosure system 1 which works together with a retaining loop 15 to hold the brace 2 securely on the user. FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate the forces generated on a sleeve 12 of the shoulder brace 2 by an elevation cable 8. According to this embodiment, a shoulder brace 2 is provided which may comprise an elevation cable 8 that runs or feeds through a first series of anchor points 5. The first series of anchor points 5 are located primarily along an arm sleeve 12 preferably with a lowermost anchor point 7 having a semi-circular guide portion for re-routing the cable 8 back and upwardly along the sleeve.

[0038] Each of the anchor points 5, and anchor point 7, serve as guides for smooth functioning of the cable while passing longitudinally through the guides and along the sleeve 12. Therefore the cable 8 may be free to run longitudinally, linearly, through guides of the anchor points 5, 7 (e.g., the anchor points may be lined with a nylon insert, or other suitable material, as a guide), as the cable is constricted, all the while being constrained (i.e., anchored) in one or more lateral directions to allow the creation of desired force characteristics (namely elevation, compression, and vector pull) for the brace 2 as shown. The sleeve 12 itself also serves to protect the wearer's arm from abrasive contact with the cable 8, and likewise an outer sleeve (not shown in FIG. 1a or FIG. 1b) may be employed to keep the cable 8 from catching on corners and the like in the wearer's environment while wearing the brace 2.

[0039] The elevation cable 8 is bound by a shoulder tightening mechanism 6, for instance a dial or cable-on-reel device, that is shown preferably located near the top of the sleeve 12. The elevation cable 8 is constricted by the shoulder tightening mechanism 6, as the shoulder tightening mechanism is dialed in the constricting rotational direction, and this in-turn elevates the sleeve 12 and leads the head of the wearer's humerus toward the wearer's glenoid fossa.

[0040] FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of an embodiment of the invention similar to that shown and described in connection with FIGS. 1a and 1b, in that there is illustrated an embodiment of a shoulder brace 2 comprising a main body portion 10 for wearing by a user, or which is adapted for wrapping around, as with a strap 13, a user. The strap 13 is preferably provided with a hook and loop (e.g., Velcro brand) enclosure system 1 which works together with a retaining loop 15, and optional elastic portion 3, to hold the brace 2 securely on the user.

[0041] The brace 2 of FIG. 2 is similar to that of the brace 2 described in connection with FIGS. 1a and 1b, except that the brace 2 of FIG. 2 further illustrates the preferable addition of a separate arm-tightening mechanism 10, together with a second plurality, or series, of anchor points 11 with guides, and which has a compression cable 9 passing through each of the anchor points 11. Thus, as with the shoulder brace 2 of FIGS. 1a and 1b, there is provided a shoulder brace 2 having a sleeve 12 having attached to a surface thereof, as with glue, or by sewing or riveting, a plurality of, or series of, anchor points 5.

[0042] The first series of anchor points 5 are located primarily along the arm sleeve 12 preferably with a lowermost anchor point 7 having a semi-circular guide portion for re-routing the cable 8 back and upwardly along the sleeve. Each of the anchor points 5, and anchor point 7, as well as each of the second series of anchor points 11, serves as a guide for smooth functioning of the respective cables, 8 and 9 running therethrough, and longitudinally along the sleeve 12. Therefore the cables 8 and 9 are free to run longitudinally, linearly, through guides of the anchor points 5, 7 and/or 11 (e.g., the anchor points are preferably lined with a nylon, or other suitable material, insert as a guide), as the cable is constricted, all while being constrained (i.e., anchored) in one or more lateral directions to allow the creation of desired force characteristics (namely elevation, compression, and vector pull) for the brace 2.

[0043] The sleeve 12 itself also serves to protect the wearer's arm from abrasive contact with the cables 8 and 9, and likewise an outer sleeve (not shown in FIG. 2) may be employed to keep the cables 8 and 9 from catching on corners and the like in the wearer's environment while wearing the brace 2.

[0044] The elevation cable 8 is bound by a shoulder tightening mechanism 6, for instance a dial or cable-on-reel device, that is shown preferably located near the top of the sleeve 12. The elevation cable 8 is constricted by the shoulder tightening mechanism 6, as the shoulder tightening mechanism is dialed by the user, or wearer, in the constricting rotational direction, and this in-turn elevates the sleeve 12 and leads the head of the wearer's humerus toward the wearer's glenoid fossa.

[0045] Non-slippage of the brace 2 along a user's arm is facilitated by tightening of the arm-tightening mechanism 10 before tightening of the shoulder tightening mechanism 6, thus assuring that the entire arm is held in proper position relative to the glenohumeral joint, to allow circumscribed movement in a beneficial range of motion according to a treatment plan.

[0046] FIG. 3 illustrates a lateral-view of the elevation cable system (comprised of shoulder-tightening mechanism 6, cable 8, and anchor points 5 and 7) and the compression cable system (comprised of arm-tightening mechanism 10, cable 9, and anchor points 11) according to an embodiment of the shoulder brace 2. The compression cable 9 is run through the second series of anchor points 11 located about the arm sleeve 12. The compression cable 9 is bound by an arm tightening mechanism 10, for instance a dial or cable-on-reel device, which is located on the sleeve 12. The compression cable 9 is constricted by the arm tightening mechanism 10 which in turn compresses the sleeve 12 around the wearer's arm. By first compressing the sleeve 12 about the wearer's arm, the elevation cable 8 can effectively lift the arm without causing the sleeve 12 to slip along the wearer's arm.

[0047] Suitable tightening mechanisms include various cable-on-reel devices such as those available under the name BOA from Boa Technology, Inc. of Denver, Colo., and described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,954,204 and No. 7,992,261, incorporated by reference in their entireties.

[0048] As illustrated in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6, some embodiments feature the second series of anchor points 11 and arm tightening mechanism 10 situated such that the compression cable 9 is located on the front of the arm. Some embodiments feature the second series of anchor points 11 and arm tightening mechanism 10 situated such that compression cable 9 is located on the side of the arm, as illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. Some embodiments feature a separate sleeve, or cuff, 19 extending to just above the elbow on the forearm (see FIG. 7) or alternatively extending to below the elbow on the forearm (see FIG. 8), allowing for additional stability if needed. Additionally, in some embodiments, the compression cable 9 is laced through the second series of anchor points 11 in a crisscross fashion as illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0049] Referring now specifically to FIG. 7, there is provided an alternative embodiment of a shoulder brace 2′ comprising a separate arm sleeve 12b (in addition to a shoulder sleeve 12a), which is adapted to be located on, to cover just above, the elbow of the user. Wherein, as with the other embodiments herein described, there is provided the elevation cable system (comprised of a shoulder-tightening mechanism 6, a cable 8, and anchor points 5 and 7) and a compression cable system (comprised of an arm-tightening mechanism 10, a cable 9, and anchor points 11). The compression cable 9 passes through the second series of anchor points 11 located about the arm sleeve 12b. The compression cable 9 is bound by the arm tightening mechanism 10, for instance a ratcheting/easy-releasing dial or cable-on-reel device, which is located on the sleeve 12b. The compression cable 9 is constricted by the arm tightening mechanism 10 which in turn compresses the sleeve 12b around the wearer's arm. By first compressing the sleeve 12b about the wearer's arm, the elevation cable 8 can then more effectively lift the arm without causing the sleeve 12b to slip along the wearer's arm.

[0050] The cable 8 of the elevation cable system of shoulder brace 2′ extends from the sleeve 12a down to sleeve 12b adapted to be located just above the user's elbow, as the cable runs through upper anchor points 5 on sleeve 12a and lower anchor point 7 on sleeve 12b. In this manner, after the sleeve 12b is compressed about the wearer's arm, the cable elevation system is more effective in elevating the arm, and particularly the humerus of the arm, into proper location relative to the glenohumeral joint of the user. This elevated position is able to be maintained during movement of the user's arm, and this position may be achieved both by adjusting the elevation cable system before putting on the brace 2′, or even after putting on the brace. In this way the system is fully customizable to the user's needs.

[0051] Referring now specifically to FIG. 8, there is provided yet another alternative embodiment of a shoulder brace 2″ comprising a separate arm sleeve 12b′ (in addition to a shoulder sleeve 12a), which is adapted to be located on, to cover, the user's arm just below the elbow. Wherein, as with the other embodiments herein described, there is provided the elevation cable system (comprised of a shoulder-tightening mechanism 6, a cable 8, and anchor points 5 and 7) and a compression cable system (comprised of an arm-tightening mechanism 10, a cable 9, and anchor points 11). The compression cable 9 is run through the second series of anchor points 11 located about the arm sleeve 12b′. The compression cable 9 is bound by an arm tightening mechanism 10, for instance a dial or cable-on-reel device, which is located on the sleeve 12b′. The compression cable 9 is constricted by the arm tightening mechanism 10 which in turn compresses the sleeve 12b′ around the wearer's arm. By first compressing the sleeve 12b′ about the wearer's arm, the elevation cable 8 can then more effectively lift the arm without causing the sleeve 12b to slip along the wearer's arm.

[0052] The cable 8 of the elevation cable system of shoulder brace 2″ extends from the sleeve 12a down to sleeve 12b′ adapted to be located just below the user's elbow, as the cable runs through upper anchor points 5 on sleeve 12a and lower anchor point 7 on sleeve 12b′. In this manner, after the sleeve 12b′ is compressed about the wearer's arm by tightening with the compression cable system, the cable elevation system is more effective in elevating the arm, and particularly the humerus of the arm, into proper location relative to the glenohumeral joint of the user (because slippage of the sleeve 12b around the arm is prevented). This position is able to be maintained during movement of the user's arm, and this position may be achieved both by adjusting the elevation cable system before putting on the brace 2″, or even after putting on the brace. In this way the system is fully customizable to the user's needs, and with the lower sleeve, or cuff, 12b′ even further stability and immobilization may be provided if desired.

[0053] The present invention allows an individual that suffers from shoulder instability to easily put on and adjust all forces that approximate their shoulder while wearing the brace and without the assistance of another individual. The design will also allow the individual the ability to have functional movement. This will give someone who has become greatly dependent on others to regain a greater amount of their independence.

[0054] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

[0055] The various components of the present invention may be constructed generally out of any materials known to be suitable in the art.

[0056] Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains and having the benefit of the teaching presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it should be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclose and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.