GB2415909A

GB2415909A - Back support

Info

Publication number: GB2415909A
Application number: GB0415502A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ahmed Yahya
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-07
Filing date: 2004-07-07
Publication date: 2006-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 2024-07-07
Also published as: GB0415502D0; GB2415909B

Abstract

A back support comprising an elasticated chest strap and a waist or hip strap connected by a mechanical spine along the users back and a soft rubber outer skin 1 which covers the internal framework and frictionally grips the users skin. Preferably the base of the mechanical spine may be adjusted to suit the user. The mechanical spine may have a full range of movement and shock absorbing properties to mimic a natural spine. The mechanical spine may be constructed from overlapping segments (11, fig 5) with rollers (12, fig 5) on each edge connected by rubber strips (13, fig 5) which permit expansion and contraction. Also claimed is the use of fluids in the mechanical spine in place of the rubber strips.

Description

24 1 5909 Medical Aid This invention is a medical aid for people with

lower back disk problems. Frequently these people suffer with pain in there hips Buttocks, back, legs, or feet. As well as this the invention also applies to those whom are unfortunate enough to suffer with all these symptoms, which is commonly known as sciatica. The possibility of this aid benefiting other spinal conditions cannot be ruled out and is in actuality very likely.

This artificial support allows the individual wearing it to remain held and supported whilst in an upright position i.e. standing, sitting and walking etc. The support elevates the pressure on the damaged disc or discs, hence reducing the pain that individual feels.

Currently the only supports available for sciatica suffers, are rigid traction type arrangements of supports, belts and shoulder straps. These have been designed to limit the movement of the body in a specific manor and are mostly intended for post surgery recovery. This invention is different in that it is designed and constructed with the human body as its design criteria. That is to say the invention allows a full range of movement an individual needs. Coupled with shock absorber type qualities the support closely mimics the natural actions ofthe discs in the spine.

The present invention uses known common materials in a unique way. The techniques employed to achieve the design criteria mention above are the mechanical spine and structure anchoring via friction. There are also known techniques used for partially securing at the waist and chest portion of the device. These are hook and loop fasteners as well as the conventional belt and buckle type arrangements.

The closest comparable design to the lower portion of the invention is the back brace, in that it uses the hook and loop type fastening arrangement to secure to the waist.

This back brace has a stiffened portion located at the rear, which is anchored just under the ribs of the individual to provide support. The present invention is different to the back brace as it uses hook and loop fasteners but not as its primary method of securing at the waist, as it uses friction. There is no stiffened inserts or plates anchored under the ribs to the waist, as all the upper support is implemented through the mechanical spine. All the present supports which are available, rely on securing by means of constriction at the waist and hips. This method in itself can cause further pressure on the damaged region ofthe spine, so making the everyday use ofthe support impractical or to restricting. This invention would be useful for those who cannot under go surgery or have under gone invasive surgical procedures, which has failed to help them. This noninvasive option could suite those that do not wish to take the chance with the risky surgical option. Therefore providing an alternative where there was little or none.

This aid is currently comprised of upper and lower portions, which are interconnected via the mechanical spine. The mechanical spine is a series of flat rectangle hard plastic segments. These rectangles overlap each other and increasing in size as they descend towards the lower portion of the aid.

On the leading edge of each segment there are rollers in place, which are made of stainless steel or a similar material. These are fixed to the segment via connecting pins about the axis of the rollers leaving them free to rotate. The first segment is interconnected with the second segment via a strip of rubber. This rubber strip is held to the topside of the first segment using adhesives. The rubber then feeds out over the roller on the leading edge, to the rear of the second segment where it is held in place by adhesives. This is then repeated with the second segment as it was with the first until the bottom segment is reached. On both sides of the mechanical spine there is a guard plate. This serves two functions, firstly to ensure that the compression ofthe segment stack is in a generally vertical motion. Secondly to eliminate the rollers from trapping skin and clothing as they move. A stiffened plastic framework is stitched and glued into the soft rubber garment ofthe upper and lower portions. The mechanical spine is fixed to the upper potion of the framework and to lower portion of the framework via an adjustable point. The guard plates are fixed to the upper portion of the framework and at the base there are slots into which they fit which allows them a limited amount of movement. The upper framework ofthe aid is held to the body via an elastic belt and buckle. The upper portion of the soft rubber garment has an opening used for partial securing across the chest. This is held to the body by means of hook and loop type fasteners, which also help to facilitate easy access to the top half of the garment. The lower portion of the structural framework is secured to the hips of the body by means of a belt and buckle with no elastic properties. This alone would not be enough to secure the lower portion hence resistance between the skin and the soft rubber properties of the outer part of this aid forms the main method of anchoring to the hips and waist. The soft rubber lower portion of the garment has an opening, which is used for easy access to lower portion of the garment. Hook and loop type fasteners are used again for partial securing across the waist. The only difference between the lower and upper securing method is that the belt used in the lower portion of this aid has no elastic properties. This is because there is no expansion and contraction required in the lower belt of this garment at the hips.

This aid has been designed for a male and in order to accommodate a female modifications would be required to the securing method at the chest. The materials and esthetic attributes used to construct this aid are subject to change and modification.

The design of the mechanical spine may also be subject to change, for example fluids may be used instead of rubber strips. Numerous types of materials and arrangements in the construction of a mechanical spine could be used to achieve a system with shock absorber type qualities and a full scope of movement an individual would need.

A typical arrangement of the materials used in a mechanical spine aid will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG U RE 1 illustrates a front elevation of the soft rubber garment, as worn by the individual; FIG U R E 2 shows a rear elevation of the soft rubber garment, only the guard plate of the mechanical spine is visible and its expansion and contraction point at the waist of the individual, FIG U R E 3 the complete internal framework with the openings for the upper and lower portions farthest away in the view FIG U R E 4 the complete internal framework with the openings for the upper and lower portions nearest in the view FIG U RE 5 shows a front elevation of the mechanical spine without the guard plates; FIG U R E 6 illustrates a cross sectional view of the mechanical spine system, guard plates, rubber strips, rollers, expansion and contraction slots, FIG U R E 7 illustrates a cross sectional view ofthe bottom segment the interconnecting adjustable bolt and bolt block. Also the guard plates and expansion and contraction slots can be seen in this view.

In figure 1, the soft rubber garment 1 can be seen worn by the individual 2. The hook and loop type fastenings 3 ofthe upper and lower portions can be seen in this view also.

In figure 2, the soft rubber garment can be seen worn by the individual and the guard plate 5 has an expansion and contraction slot 4 which is visible immediately at the end of the guard plate at the lower portion of the garment. The mechanical spine cannot be seen in this view because the guard plates covered it up.

In figure 3, the internal structure 6 or framework can clearly be seen to have, an upper and lower portions. The mechanical spine interconnects the two but only the guard plates can be seen from this view. The buckle 8 of the upper and lower portions can be seen from the inside. The guard mounting point 7 can be seen from the outside In figure 4, the internal structure can be seen from a front perspective, having upper and lower portions. The inside guard plate is visible and expansion slot at the lower portion of the framework. The guard mounting point can also be seen from the inside.

The upper framework has an elastic belt 9 attached to the framework. The lower portion of the framework has a non-elastic belt 10 connected.

Figure 5 shows the components that make up a mechanical spine. The individual segments 11 can be seen increasing in size as they descend to the adjusting bolt 14.

The adjusting bolt then enters the bolt block 15, which is fixed to the lower structural framework. The interconnecting rubber strips 13 can be seen passing over the rollers 12 located at the leading edge of each segments. Also from this view the mechanical spine fixing point 7, being fixed to the upper structural framework 6, can be seen along with the guard plate expansion and contraction slot 4, although not clearly from this perspective.

Figure 6 a cross sectional area of the mechanical spine with the segments 11 interconnected via the rubber strips 13 can clears be seen. Only from this view can the rollers connecting pins 16 be seen exiting the rollers and entering the segments. The adjustable bolt enters, the bolt block 15 which can be adjusted from the base ofthe block.

From this perspective the best view of the guard plate expansion slots can be seen 4, which allow movement when the aid is in use.

In figure 6, a cross sectional view ofthe adjustable bolt head 17, which interconnects with the bottom segment 11 is clearh,r shown. The bolt head is free to spin within the segment as it is the threaded bolt block, which allows it to extend and retract the bolt.

This is done via the base of the block through the opening 18. Again the guard plates and the expansion slots can be seen from this view as well. Ads 1.

Claims

A back support, which is currently comprised of upper and lower portions,

these are interconnected via a mechanical spine at the back of the individual The upper and lower portion of this aid, are made of a son rubber material, which forms the outer skin ofthe gannent. This assists in the securing ofthe gannent to the individuals hips and waist by meant of friction between the skin and the mentioned rubber garment.

The strength ofthe aid is achieved through an internal framework structure, which is stitched and glued into the rubber garment. The upper and lower structural framework is held to the body by means of conventional belts and buckles, the upper belt being elastic in nature. The outer rubber skin of the garment is held to the body by hook and loop type fasteners across the chest and waist.
2.

A mechanical spine which supports the individual as mention in claim 1. This mechanical spine rises up the individual's back where it joins with the upper structural framework. The base of the mechanical spine can be adjusted to suite to the user.
3.

A medical aid as claimed in 1 or 2 where the function of the mechanical spine is to mimic the action of a natural spine, having shock absorber type qualities with a full range of movement an individual would need.
4.

The artificial support as claimed in any preceding claim, where the materials and esthetic attributes used to construct this aid are subject to change and modification.

The design of the mechanical spine may also be subject to change, for example fluids may be used instead of rubber strips. Numerous types of materials and arrangements in the construction of a mechanical spine could be used to achieve a system with shock absorber type qualities and a full scope of movement an individual would need.