GB2216799A

GB2216799A - Orthopaedic device

Info

Publication number: GB2216799A
Application number: GB8806803A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Stallard; Richard Edward Major; Penelope Barbara Butler
Original assignee: SECR SOCIAL SERVICE BRIT; UK Secretary of State for Social Services
Current assignee: SECR SOCIAL SERVICE BRIT; UK Secretary of State for Social Services
Priority date: 1988-03-22
Filing date: 1988-03-22
Publication date: 1989-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2008-03-22
Also published as: GB2216799B; GB8806803D0

Abstract

An orthopaedic device for use in the treatment of contractures comprises a frame which has means for articulation at one or more joints and makes use of at least one gas strut for producing forces to apply torque at the joints to be treated, the magnitude of which can be varied by varying the pressure of the gas contained within the gas strut or struts.

Description

Orthopaedic Device for the Treatment of Contractures This invention relates to orthopaedic devices for the treatment of contractures.

Contractures limit the free range of movement of a joint due to shortening of the muscles or soft tissue around the joint. If a constant stretching torque is applied at the joint the condition can be greatly improved.

In the past contractures have been treated in a number of ways, with one of the most common physical forms of treatment being physiotherapy employing exercises that apply a stretching torque to the disabled joint. The disadvantage of this treatment is that sufficient physiotherapy time is rarely available for the treatment to be wholly effective. other ways of treating contractures have utilised orthopaedic devices consisting of some kind of framework with means for applying physical forces at the joints. The means have conventionally been elasticated webbing or steel springs. However, these existing devices cannot provide high force and long travel coupled with a very low spring rate which gives small variation of force, within an acceptable shape. In addition to this long moment arms are required to produce large enough torques at the joints.

There is, therefore, a need for an orthopaedic device for the treatment of contractures which is efficient, reduces physiotherapist supervision time, has the ability to produce large enough torques at the joints, these torques being easily varied, and which allows movement of the patient to easy any discomfort felt whilst fitted with the device.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for the treatment of contractures comprising a frame extending, in use, across at least one anatomical joint, there being at least one anatomical joint to be treated, means for articulation adjacent the or each anatomical joint over which the frame extends, and means for applying torque at the or each anatomical joint to be treated, wherein the means for producing force to apply torque comprises at least one gas strut.

The means for articulation which is preferably in the form of hinges is so that the patient can move if any discomfort is felt. The gas struts surly forces which remain substantially constant and Thinear and wncse magi-.itude can be varied simply by valylng the p-essw e ^ rac2 contained within the gas struts. In addition to this, a large force can be obtained from a relatively small gas strut. These are all advantages over the previously used elasticated webbing or coil springs.

When the device is being used to treat the lower part of a patient's body a first gas strut proferably extends from a point on the frame between the hip and knee joints to a point on the lower leg portion of the frame and a second gas strut extends from a point on the frame between the hip and knee joints to a point on the frame above the hip joint, both situated on the outward facing surface of the frame.

The two gas struts can be used in relevant combinations to provide a substantially constant force to apply torque at- the knee and hip joints in order to stretch the contractures.

The frame is preferably made from a plastics material, which may be reinforced with metal, moulded to the patient and is provided with fastening elements to secure the patient within the frame.

The advantage of having the frame custom moulded to the patient is that it provides more comfort to the patient by reducing pressures applied to soft tissue and much better results are achieved.

The device for particular use in treating the lower part of a patient's body will be herein described.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Fig 1 is a plan view of the device; and Fig 2 is a side elevation of the device.

As shown in Fig 1 the device 10 comprises a frame 11 which is preferably made from a plastics material, which may be reinforced with metal and is custom-moulded to fit the legs and lower trunk of a patient. The device 10 is provided with a chest plate 12 and a first set of fastening elements 13 to secure the upper part (relative to a patient's body) of the frame 11 to the body of the patient. As shown in Fig 2 the frame 11 has hinges 20 and 21 adjacent the patient's knee and hip joints, respectively. A first gas strut 22 has one end fixed at point 24 on the frame 11 adjacent a point between the patient's hip and knee joints.The other end of the gas strut 22 is fixed at a point 25 on the frame 11 remote from the patient's knee joint and adjacent the loWe: leg f the aA. ent. second gas strut 23 h.is one end fixed at point 24 and the c her end fixed at point 26 on the J'#'ame i 11rca )te from the patient's knee joint and above the patient's hip joint. A second set of fastening elements 15 are disposed at intervals along the lower (relative to a patient's body) part of the frame 11 to secure the patient's legs into the device 10.

In operation, the patient is secured into the device 10 by placing the chest plate 12 on the upper part of the body and securing with the fastening elements 13. The second set of fastening elements 15 are also fastened to secure the patient's legs into the device 10. The gas struts 22 and 23 are filled with gas to a pre-determined pressure causing a torque to be applied at the knee and hip joints. This causes a substantially constant stretching torque to be applied to the contracture(s). The patient is left in the device 10 for the treatment session and, by virtue of hinges 20 and 21, may move the legs to ease any discomfort felt whilst in the device 10. The constant stretching torque applied to the contracture(s) produces a reduction in the degree of contracture.

The same concept is utilised when physiotheraphy is used to treat contractures. That is, exercises are employed which have the effect of applying a stretching torque to the contracture(s). However, for the treatment to be effective the patient must undergo many lengthy and expensive sessions with a trained physiotherapist. The present invention provides a device for the treatment of contractures which is effective and only requires minimal physiotherapist supervision during a treatment session.

The present invention has been described with the device having hinges about each joint to be treated. However, the device may have hinges about joints not being treated for contractures to enable th patient to have movement of these joints whilst fitted with the device.

Further embodiments of the invention are possible. For example, treatment of the ankle joint as well as the knee and hip joints may be required. The device will then have additional hinges at the ankle joint and additional gas struts to apply torque at the ankle joint.

Although the only means for articulation described herein before is hinges it will be realised that other means for articulation are possible, such as flexible joints.

It will be further realised by a person skilled in the art that the invention may also be used for the treatment of physical disabilities other than contractures and also for parts of the body other than the leg.;.

Claims

1. An orthopaedic device for the treatment of contractures comprising a frame extending, in use, across at least one anatomical joint, there being at least one anatomical joint to be treated, means for articulation adjacent the or each anatomical joint over which the frame extends, and means for applying torque at the or each anatomical joint to be treated, wherein the means for producing force to apply torque comprises at least one gas strut.

2. An orthopaedic device according to Claim 1 wherein the means for articulation are hinges.

3. An orthopaedic device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the amount of gas contained in one or more gas strut can be varied so as to enable the torque applied at the joint to be varied.

4. An orthopaedic device according to any previous claim wherein the lower part of a patient's body is to be treated and wherein a first gas strut extends from a point on the frame between the hip and knee joints to a point on the lower leg portion of the frame and a second gas strut extends from a point on the frame between the hip and knee joints to a point on the frame above the hip joint and wherein the means for articulation are hinges adjacent the patient's knee and hip joints.

5. An orthopaedic device according to claim 4 wherein the device is provided with a chest plate and fastening elements so as to secure the patient in the frame.

6. An orthopaedic device according to any previous claim wherein the frame is made from a plastics material,

7. An orthopaedic device according to claim 6 wherein the plastics material is reinforced with metal.

8. An orthopaedic device according to Claims 6 or 7 wherein the frame is custom moulded to the patient.

9. An orthopaedic device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.