GB2512504A

GB2512504A - Body jacket for prosthetic upper limb

Info

Publication number: GB2512504A
Application number: GB201407049A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven Michael Robinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-04-22
Filing date: 2014-04-22
Publication date: 2014-10-01
Also published as: GB201407049D0

Abstract

A jacket is durable and rigid, semi-rigid or flexible and provides a mounting platform H for prosthetic arms or shoulder joints. The jacket may comprise fiberglass or a thermoplastic and is preferably moulded from the body of an individual wearer. The jacket is preferably formed from two halves A, B held together by one or more belts D comprising a D-ring G and hook-and-loop fasteners. The jacket may also be used without a prosthetic limb to provide protection to a wearer and preferably comprises reinforced spinal protection running the length of the body jacket (F, figure 3). The jacket facilitates easy exchange of prosthetic limbs serving either a general or specific purpose via a standardised mounting system.

Description

Intellectual Property Office Application No. GB1407049.4 RT1\4 Date:27 August 20t4 The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: Velcro Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.govuk *1

Description

Body jacket for use with prosthetic arm/arms.

The body jacket was designed specifically for use with my quick release prosthetic shoulder joint (patent application number GB1316432.2) but is not litnited to use with my shoulder joint. It is intended to he a piece of dothing like tool and have the same level of comfort as wearing a jacket/coat or well-fitted jumper. The idea being that the prosthetic limbs can be easily changed for any purpose specific or general prosthetic, interchangeably of prosthetics by standardising the mounting system is its aim.

The main remit of my body jacket design is to provide a secure mounting platform for my, or other prosthetic arms/shoulder joints. From my recent experiences I discovered that belts/straps holding shoulder caps on are incredibly uncomfortable, restrictive and very hard to fit with one arm and do not provide enough control over a prosthetic upper limb. With shoulder caps held on with belts and straps too much of the applied pressure/force to move a prosthetic arm is lost with movement in a shoulder cap and via strap/belts flexing. What was needed was something that would apply all of that lost effort directly to the upper body/torso or remnants of the shoulder.

My body jacket design can be made from two parts of durable rigid/semi-rigid or even flexible material. My prototype used fibreglass over plaster of paris bandages and moulded directly from my torso. However, it could be thermoplastic, leather or any current or future material that would offer rigidity and flexibility. The body jacket comprises of two halves split up the back off centre of the spine. This is to allow extra spinal protection and so there is no discomfort from the joint/seem applying pressure to the spine when sitting or lying. The body jacket is designed and trimmed so that when sitting the lower edges do not dig into the body but are low enough to give maximum tipper torso coverage. The side where the remaining arm passes through is trimmed to allow maximum unrestricted movement of that arm while providing maximum upper torso coverage. The front is split up the centre. Both halves of the body jacket are held together by a single or multiple d ring belt/belts that secures back on itself with a Velcro patch at the front. The strap/straps pass through slotted eyelets/belt hoops, in the case of the prototype metal/flat pressed steel stand offs that allowed free movement of the belt/straps to be tightened or slackened without restricting strap/belt movement. This body jacket and the design concepts can he adapted for both left/right or both arm and/or shoulder amputees. Upper arm can also be made integral (i.e. the upper arm moulded into the body jacket) to the body jacket where shoulder movement is not required, for example, where maximum effort may he needed from the wearer and shoulder movement becomes an hindrance.

Key features of my invention are, its ability to transmit effort directly from the torso to the prosthetic arm and its comfort and ease to put on and take off the body jacket.

When used with my quick release prosthetic shoulder joint, the boss or boss connector would be connected to the body jacket and the prosthetic arm removed from the jacket by the quick release shoulder separation ability. Leaving the body jacket in place on the body but the prosthetic arm removed. The idea being that the prosthetic limbs can he easily changed for any purpose specific or general prosthetic, interchangeably of prosthetics by standardising the mounting system is its aim. The body jacket is a made to measure jacket where a mould is taken from the wearer's body/torso to ensure a perfect fit.

The problem my invention solves is the positive fittillg of a prosthetic arm to the torso via a rigid/semi-rigid/flexible (but close fitted) body jacket without the need for uncomfortable straps digging into the body and the restriction of other muscles of the torso. The body jacket comprises of two halves held firm on the body with a strap/straps that go around the two halves of the jacket. The beltlbelts never come into contact with the body, the only contact is on the body jacket., the smooth inner surface of the body jacket applies an all over even pressure to the body, the inner surface maybe padded if needed for extra comfort or simply worn over a T-shirt which is how I use my prototype. The belt that goes around the body jacket is maintained in position by positioning loops, on my initial prototype these are metal hut they can he of any material or even vented type slats in the body jacket. For ease of putting the body jacket on and taking off a Velcro strip is stitched to the belt end, this is so the belt can be stuck back on its self over the first loop, for securing the belt to the body jacket loop. This means when one half of the acket is removed from the shoulder, that half will not slip off the belt. This enables the wearer to take off the jacket without needing help for removal and the same for fitting. My body jacket offers a standardised mounting system that allows the ability to change prosthetics simply and easily.

The body jacket is intended to provide a good fit of a prosthetic arm to the torso.

When using the body jacket all upper strength from the torso can be directed at the prosthetic limb without risk of the limb becoming displaced or manipulating sensitive areas (stumps) which may be painful, it can be worn as a body jacket without an attached prosthetic for the purpose of protection from falls and impact to ribs, shoulder and that side of the torso that has no natural protection provided by an arm.

Where limited shoulder movement is present the whole torso maybe rotated offering the same direct rotational movement to the prosthetic limb without displacing a conventional shoulder cap and strap prosthetic configuration. Pressure sensors can be easily incorporated in the body jacket and the nature of the close/perfectly fitted jacket would give excellent pressure sensor controlling. Pressure sensors would/could be used for motorised movement of the prosthetic arm.

Reason for the body jacket My experience with prosthetic limbs has been limited hut this was due to the fact they were too uncomfortable to wear with all the strapping and amount of tension needed to get even a reasonable fit. However the fit was never positive enough to provide good control of a prosthetic limb. I am currently learning to fly a light aircraft but while trying some manoeuvres at 3500 feet the control load on the aircraft control column was such that it pulled the prosthetic shoulder cap off of my body. It was obvious that a better fitting would be needed.

I came up with this solution to work along side my quick release prosthetic shoulder joint. This meant a positive fit to the body could be accomplished yet the prosthetic arm could be released quickly via the quick release shoulder joint. The acket would not need to he removed to enable removal of the prosthetic arm hut the body jacket is not limited to my prosthetic shoulder joint. Any prosthetic limb can be attached/detached from the body jacket. Different arms can be fitted to suit certain purposes. The jacket is intended to he a universal type tool that allows different types of prosthetic arms to be fitted dependent on the type of prosthetic arm needed.

Key features: * Ease of fitting and removal.

* Moulded to the body for complete comfort.

* Securing strap/straps never come in direct contact with the body * A positive fitting mounting system for prosthetic limbs.

* The body jacket is a made to measure jacket where a mould is taken from the wearer's body/torso to ensure a perfect fit.

* Lightweight system that offers added spinal protection via the off centre rear opening and strengthened spinal piece.

* Re-inforced spinal protection.

* Re-inforced shoulder area to give extra protection to the shoulder.

* Made in any colour, not just skin tone, my preference as an amputee is any colour other than skin tone.

* Can be worn as a body jacket without an attached prosthetic for the purpose of protection from falls and impact to the spine and ribs, shoulder and that side of die torso that has no natural protection provided by an arm.

* Pressure sensors can be easily incorporated in the body jacket and the nature of the close fitted jacket would give an excellent pressure sensor response. Pressure sensors would/could be used for motorised movement of the prosthetic arm.

* This body jacket and the design concepts can he adapted for both leftlright or both arm amputees and shoulder amputees.

* Body jacket can also be made with integral upper armlarms (i.e. the upper armlarms moulded into the body jacket) where shoulder movement is not required, for example, where maximum effiwt may he needed from the wearer and shoulder movement becomes an hindrance.

* The prosthetic limbs can he easily changed for any purpose specific or general prosthetic.

* Interchangeably of prosthetics by standardising the mounting system is a major feature of my body jacket.

Explanation of figures/diagrams References such as Figure I refer to figure I if a reference is figure Ia this refers to figure 1 item a.

Figures 1 -10 Shows the body jacket and its components from different angles and perspectives. The labelling of those components are consistent throughout all the diagrams: A = right hand side of the body jacket.

B = left hand side of the body jacket.

C = metal belt hoops secured by mounting bolts, plain flat round headed inside so there is no discomfort to the wearer. These hoops may be made of any material, moulded/adhered to the jacket or even simply slatted holes to thread the belt/belts through.

D = the mounting/securing belt/strap/straps E = the doubled over portion of the belt that has Velcro patches on to enable of the two halves together when putting on and removing and to stop belt slip during wearing and use.

F = back spinal piece that has been re-inforced along its length.

o = double d-ring buckle, which are easier to operate one handed than a standard buckle.

H = re-inforced shoulder cap where a prosthetic arm is attached, in the case of using with a prosthetic/prosthetics.

Purpose/logic The purpose of the Velcro patch at the end of the d ring belt is an important feature not instantly apparent to a non-prosthetic wearer. When putting on and taking off the body jacket, if both halves were not temporarily connected the prosthetic side would simply slip out of the belt hoops and fall to the floor. Therefore when putting on or taking of the body jacket the Velcro part of the d ring belt is folded back on itself, over the belt hoop on the prosthetic side and the Velcro fastened. Now that side can he taken off first and simp'y allowed to dangle on the belt while the wearer removes the other side with his/her remaining arm.

The main purpose of this body jacket is make the wearing ofaprosthetic limb a more comfortable experience while at the same time allowing maximum strength to he applied to a prosthetic ann. The ideal usage would be to wear the jacket and simply remove the prosthetic from the jacket when not needed.