DE102016003630A1 - Modular functional bandage for setting an effective parameter and associated method - Google Patents

Abstract

With the present invention, finely dosed therapy effects by pressure therapy and cooling or heating to support the treatment of periostitis z. B. generated on the tibia. According to the invention, the functional bandage comprises a flexible carrier and a module with at least one active element. The flexible carrier has means for receiving the module. The modules have a skin-friendly layer and a frame. With the active elements of the modules can be applied to the affected body part z. B. a metered local pressure or a certain temperature can be applied.

Description

The invention relates to a modular functional bandage for setting an effective parameter (for example a dosable pressure or a specific temperature) in medical technology, preferably for the supportive treatment of periostitis.

From the prior art, medical systems are known which, both with pressure and with thermal effect to alleviate the symptoms caused by different diseases and other disorders of health.

Constructions that work with pressure are often designed specifically for joints, such as WO 15106317 A1 , The system presented here works with pressure on the complete joint, that is, the user is unable to treat only one affected zone. Other systems work with compression of the damaged area. In the US 5741220 A as well as in the DE 4219392 C2 solutions are presented which have a joint supporting effect. However, this is achieved only by the bandage material placed around the limbs and fastened.

A solution in which a specialized, caused by screws pressure is generated from the AU 2005269228 BB known. The threaded screw developed for this purpose is fastened in a mounting plate and rests on the affected body part without a support. The script describes the application on the forearm. However, direct contact of the screw with the tissue can cause undesirable irritation at the contact site.

With bandages, the healing of bone fractures can be supported. In the CN 204337105 U For this purpose, an adjustable rail arrangement is described. Also in this construction screws are used. However, these only allow the change of the inner rail geometry by turning in or out of adjusting screws. In addition to the stabilization of the fracture but no effect on the affected area is exercised, which could additionally favor the healing.

Some already known systems also work with pressure in conjunction with a thermal effect. With the US 2006155350 A is z. B. proposed a solution in which a cooling pad is fixed to the body part concerned with pressure. The pressure is therefore not specifically applied to the body and can not be dosed. Furthermore, the cooling effect by the cooling pad is very irregular. The temperature of the pillow increases due to the contact with the warm body, so that its cooling effect is no longer sufficient after a short time.

In addition to the use of cooling pads, there are also solutions, eg. B. WO 15106317 A1 . DE 3015787 C2 , which allow a temperature control with the help of hoses and a heat transfer medium located in this. The adjustment of the temperature of the heat transport medium is realized with Peltier elements. However, much more energy is consumed for the cooling of the heat transfer medium, as in the direct cooling of the body parts with the help of Peltier coolers. When in the WO 15106317 A1 In addition, careful safety precautions should be taken, as glycol acts as a cooling medium. The pressure chamber must therefore always be well sealed.

A system with replaceable cooling modules is used in the US 5741220 A presented. In this case too, a loss of the intensity of the cold is inevitable, since a permanently supplying source of energy is missing.

Another way to treat wounds is from the AU 2005269228 BB known. Here you work with heat instead of cold. Local heating is also produced in this solution by the Peltier element, but on the non-body side of the very complex construction with numerous small components. In addition, only open wounds are treated here.

A long-term cooling with integrated batteries or batteries can with the DE 4219392 C2 will be realized. It supports healing processes at the joints. Also in this case, not the long bones, such as. As the tibia, considered.

In addition, in known solutions, multifunctional elements or transducers are used (eg. WO 09090682 A1 ). By electrical, thermal, chemical, mechanical, magnetic or electromagnetic stimulation, target sizes of tissues are changed to achieve a desired effect. Thus, the Peltier cooler is used on body parts and tissues. However, this construction is very complicated and the description is very general. To operate a complex control of matrix-placed transducers is necessary.

One of the few bandages, which is not designed exclusively for the applications of joints, is with the US 7022093 BB proposed. This can be used next to the shoulder, knee and elbow on the back. The Temperature change at the tissue is caused by a Peltier element. However, no optimized adaptation to the tibia and the special requirements for periostitis are considered.

From the prior art, according to the preceding considerations, no medical systems are known which are sufficiently suitable for the treatment of periostitis. In particular, with such a functional bandage an optimal adaptation to the tibia, a dosable pressure effect (such as by the thumb of the physiotherapist in periostactic therapy), a sufficient compression of the affected body site and an optimal temperature for the treatment of periostitis (z. B. a cooling temperature of 7 ° C) can be realized, while having a simple structure, which allows easy operation by the patient. Thanks to the use of different modules, the functional bandage can be used in many ways and expanded with new modules.

According to the invention the object is achieved with the features of the first and fourth claims.

Exemplary embodiments of the solution according to the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The detailed description and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description part, in which the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings is explained in more detail. It shows:

1 - A functional bandage for the treatment of periostitis on the tibia

2 - A flexible carrier

3 - An embodiment of a manually actuatable active element of a printing module

4 - An embodiment of an electrically actuatable active element of a printing module

5 - An embodiment of a fluidically actuatable active element of a printing module

6 - An embodiment of a thermal active element in a temperature module

The functional bandage according to the invention for setting an effective parameter is shown in FIG 1 shown. The functional bandage consists of a flexible carrier ( 2 ) which is capable of modules ( 3 ) with different functions. The modules comprise at least one active element ( 4 ).

The flexible carrier ( 2 ), shown in 2 , is made in two parts and made of an elastic material and has a tapered down shape. The two parts of the flexible support ( 2 ) are connected via several connecting elements ( 6 ), which form several recesses, connected. The outer connecting elements ( 6 ) include attachment pockets ( 5 ) for receiving the modules. The flexible carrier ( 2 ) via a Velcro fastening system ( 7 ) attached to attach the functional bandage to the body part concerned (eg on the tibia), so that it also has a supporting function due to its elasticity.

The modules ( 3 ) one or more active elements ( 4 ). The length (along the relevant body part (leg)) of the modules is designed so that they do not restrict the freedom of movement of the adjacent joints. The functional bandage is versatile because it can be equipped with further, new modules.

In the following, a module for setting a partial pressure is described by way of example. It includes a soft silicone layer ( 13 ) and several active elements for generating a partial pressure ( 9 ) that exert partial mechanical pressure on the tibia. The pressure can be generated manually, pneumatically or electrically.

An embodiment of an active element for generating a pressure with manual actuation is shown in FIG 3 shown. In the example shown, the printing module consists of a silicone layer ( 13 ) with recesses that serve to increase their flexibility. The silicone layer is in direct contact with the skin of the relevant body part (leg) ( 1 ). In the silicone layer are several pots ( 12 ) with concave, spherical in this example, inner surfaces integrally incorporated so that they are positioned between the recesses. On the silicone layer is a frame ( 11 ) made of plastic, in which several components with internal thread (nuts) ( 10 ) are fixed positively. In every mother ( 10 ) is a component with external thread (screw) ( 9 ) with a cap attached thereto ( 8th ) against the spherical inner surface of the pot ( 12 ) brought in. During a manual or electrical actuation, the nuts ( 10 ) relative rotational movement relative to the pots and move them to the respective body part locations.

An embodiment of an electrically actuated active element is in 4 shown. By the rotation of the engine ( 14 ) with a high translation (translation into the slow) becomes a slow movement to one or more active elements, z. B. by means of a traction device ( 15 ) from a motor-side disc ( 16 ) on a screw drive side disc ( 18 ), transfer. As a result, the screws transmit forces across the silicone layer ( 13 ) on several local parts of the body part (tibia) ( 1 ). The motor ( 14 ) allows movement of the screws in both directions. A motor can be used for all screws together. It is also possible to use several motors, either one motor per active agent or one motor per active agent group. The voltage source for the actuators ( 14 ) is rechargeable and can be used both with and without mains connection.

In 5 an embodiment of a fluidically actuated active element for generating a pressure is shown. In this example, an air bulb is driven by pneumatic hoses ( 20 ) with one or more air cushions ( 23 ) connected. The air cushions are preferably made of a non-elastic sleeper airtight fabric. An increase in pressure in the pneumatic system with the air bulb ( 21 ) and a check valve ( 22 ) inflates the air cushion ( 23 ). The pillows are in recesses in the frame ( 11 ) and change the position of individual in the frame ( 11 ) parallel plunger ( 19 ). The pestles ( 19 ) transmit the forces through the silicone layer ( 13 ) on the affected body part (tibia) ( 1 ). The pneumatic system includes a venting device for quick discharge of air.

The described different active elements can also be combined with each other in a module.

Based on 6 A module for setting the temperature (temperature module) is described below. It includes a fixed frame ( 25 ) of a thermally conductive material, several Peltier elements ( 28 ), a skin-friendly, heat-insulating removable fabric layer ( 24 ) and a battery-powered voltage source ( 26 ), which provides a constant voltage. To reduce weight, the flat frame ( 25 ) provided with several recesses. The Peltier elements ( 28 ) are on their warming sides with the frame ( 25 ) firmly connected. The connection is preferably realized by a thermally conductive adhesive in order to prevent the heat dissipation to the flat frame (FIG. 25 ). The heat dissipation to the outside is also favored by the recesses in the flexible carrier. The Peltier elements ( 28 ) can also be used on their cooling sides with the frame ( 25 ) are firmly connected. In this case, it is a temperature module, with the heat partially applied to the affected body part (tibia). The electrical supply cables ( 27 ) of the Peltier elements are electrically isolated and through the nearest recess in the flat frame ( 25 ) led to the other side and connected to the voltage source. The voltage source may include batteries or one or more batteries and a switch with which the power supply can be regulated. It becomes on the flat frame ( 25 ) are mounted so that they are on the outside of the flexible support ( 2 ) is positioned. On the side of the Peltier elements is a removable fabric layer on the flat frame ( 25 ) fixed. The fabric layer is made of a skin-friendly, heat-insulating material and includes windows that have approximately the same size as a Peltier element. In order to avoid direct contact of the skin with the Peltier elements, a thin thermally conductive layer of fabric ( 29 ) made of a skin-friendly material, so that both layers of fabric ( 24 ) and ( 29 ) a plane to the tibia ( 1 ) form. At the ends of the fabric layer fasteners to the frame, z. B. by means of a hook-and-loop fastener or by means of fastening tabs for invagination on the flat frame provided. As a result, the substance layer coming into contact with the skin can be removed, cleaned and disinfected. The Peltier elements are either powered by the power source in the cooling module so as not to leave a temperature range acceptable for the application, or a means for monitoring the temperature and maintaining a desired temperature is incorporated into the system. The power source is rechargeable and can be used both with and without a mains connection.

When using the functional bandage, a corresponding module is attached to the flexible carrier (depending on the desired effective parameter). 2 ) by placing the module in the mounting pockets ( 5 ) is introduced. The functional bandage is placed on the affected body part (eg leg) so that the active elements are located at the desired positions on the body part (leg) and attached to the leg by the Velcro fastening system.

• I. Im Falle der manuellen Betätigung der Wirkelemente der Druck durch Eindrehen der Schrauben so eingestellt, dass es zu einer erwünschten Wirkung am Schienbein kommt. Durch Ein- und Ausdrehen der Schrauben können die Druckkräfte auf die lokalen Stellen des Beines verändert werden, um einen gewünschten Therapieeffekt zu erreichen.
• II. Im Falle der elektrischen Aktuierung der Wirkelemente wird der Aktuator bzw. einzelne Aktuatoren angeschaltet. Es kommt zu einer langsamen Bewegung, wodurch ein Druck auf die betroffenen lokalen Stellen ausgeübt wird. Der Aktuator bzw. Aktuatoren werden entweder ausgeschaltet, wenn ein gewünschter Druck erreicht wurde, oder umgeschaltet, um eine entgegengesetzte, entlastende Bewegungsrichtung zu realisieren, wenn der Druck vermindert werden soll.
• III. Im Falle einer kombinierten (manuell und elektrisch) Aktuierung der Wirkelemente werden die Schritte wie in (II) ausgeführt, wobei die Möglichkeit einer manuellen Einstellung einzelner Wirkelemente erlaubt wird. Die manuelle Einstellung wird vor oder/und nach dem ein oder mehrere elektrische Aktuatoren angeschaltet bzw. ausgeschaltet werden, vorgenommen.
• IV. Im Falle einer pneumatischen Aktuierung des Wirkmittels wird die Luftbirne (21) mehrmals mit der Hand betätigt um Druck in die Luftkissen zu pumpen. Dabei werden die Stößel (19) in Richtung des Beines bewegt und der Druck wird auf die lokale Stellen des Beines übertragen. Es wird soweit gepumpt, bis ein gewünschter Druck erreicht wird. Das Entlüftungsmittel wird zur Minimierung des Druckes auf das Bein bzw. zur Beendigung des Vorganges betätigt.
• V. Im Falle der Verwendung einer kombinierten Aktuierung der Wirkelemente zur Erzeugung eines Druckes, durch manuelle (I) und pneumatische (IV) Betätigung, werden die Schritte wie in (IV) ausgeführt, wobei die Möglichkeit einer manuellen Einstellung einzelner Wirlelemente erlaubt wird. Die manuelle Einstellung wird vor oder/und nach dem die Luftbirne (21) betätigt wird, vorgenommen.

When using a print module, the following steps are then performed:

• I. In the case of manual operation of the active elements of the pressure adjusted by screwing the screws so that it comes to a desired effect on the tibia. By turning in and out the screws, the pressure forces on the local parts of the leg can be changed to achieve a desired therapeutic effect.
• II. In the case of electrical actuation of the active elements of the actuator or individual actuators is turned on. There is slow movement, which puts pressure on the affected local area. The actuator or actuators are either turned off when a desired pressure is reached was, or switched to realize an opposite, relieving movement direction when the pressure is to be reduced.
• III. In the case of a combined (manual and electrical) actuation of the active elements, the steps are carried out as in (II), the possibility of a manual adjustment of individual active elements is allowed. The manual adjustment is made before or / and after the one or more electric actuators are turned on or off.
• IV. In the case of a pneumatic actuation of the active agent, the air bulb ( 21 ) several times by hand to pump pressure in the air cushion. The plungers ( 19 ) is moved in the direction of the leg and the pressure is transferred to the local parts of the leg. It is pumped until a desired pressure is reached. The venting means is operated to minimize the pressure on the leg or to end the process.
• V. In the case of using a combined actuation of the active elements to generate a pressure, by manual (I) and pneumatic (IV) actuation, the steps are carried out as in (IV), allowing the possibility of manually adjusting individual elements of the scroll. The manual adjustment is made before or / and after the air bulb ( 21 ) is actuated.

• VI. Die Spannungsquelle (26) wird angeschaltet und eine gewünschte Temperatur eingestellt. Wenn die Kühlung oder Erwärmung nicht mehr erwünscht ist, wird die Spannungsquelle ausgeschaltet.

When using a temperature module, the following steps are performed.

• VI. The voltage source ( 26 ) is turned on and set a desired temperature. If cooling or heating is no longer desired, the power source is turned off.

Then the Velcro system is released and the flexible support ( 2 ) with the module used ( 3 ) removed from the leg.

The present invention is characterized by a number of advantages. By elastic materials of the flexible carrier, the functional bandage is adaptable to different sized legs. Pressure treatment as well as cooling or heating takes place using skin-friendly materials.

The functional bandage has a modular structure and is therefore versatile and expandable with new modules. Since the functional bandage without supply (cable, pneumatic hoses) can be used from the outside, this is autonomous and can be used at any location, eg. B. at home or on the road, are used. This is facilitated by the fact that the functional bandage is compact and constructed in the sense of lightweight construction.

To use the functional bandage no professional qualification is needed because the application is simple and the therapeutic effects by the user can be dosed and selected according to his own feelings (choice of the respective module) can be. The therapeutic effect can be adjusted continuously by the user. The functional bandage is safe to use because the voltages used are small and dangerous to health. In addition, they are electrically isolated.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

affected body part (leg)

2

flexible carrier

3

module

4

knitting elements

5

mounting bags

6

fasteners

7

Velcro system

8th

cap

9

Active element: screw

10

Component with internal thread (nut)

11

Frame of the print module

12

pot

13

silicone layer

14

Actuator, engine

15

traction means

16

motor-side disc

17

motor shaft

18

screw drive side disc

19

Active element: ram

20

Pneumatic hose

21

air bulb

22

check valve

23

air cushion

24

skin-friendly removable fabric layer

25

Flat frame of the cooling module made of a thermally conductive material

26

battery powered voltage source

27

electrical supply cable

28

Peltier element

29

thin heat-conductive fabric layer

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 15106317 A1 [0003, 0007, 0007]
• US 5741220 A [0003, 0008]
• DE 4219392 C2 [0003, 0010]
• AU 2005269228 BB [0004, 0009]
• CN 204337105 U [0005]
• US 2006155350 A [0006]
• DE 3015787 C2 [0007]
• WO 09090682 A1 [0011]
• US 7022093 BB [0012]

Claims (4)

Modular functional bandage for setting an effective parameter with an elastically deformable flexible carrier, characterized in that it comprises a module ( 3 ) with at least one active element ( 4 ), wherein with the active element ( 4 ) The effect parameter is locally limited infinitely adjustable. Modular functional bandage according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a module ( 3 ) for adjusting a localized pressure, wherein the active element ( 4 ) as a component with external thread ( 9 ) or as a ram ( 19 ) is executed. Modular functional bandage according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a module ( 3 ) for adjusting a localized temperature, wherein the active element ( 4 ) a Peltier element ( 28 ), which with a frame ( 25 ) is connected to the temperature compensation. Method for setting an effective parameter with a functional bandage according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the active agents ( 4 ) stepless and defined dosed manually, electrically and / or fluidly actuated.

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