ITMC20090228A1 - SHOULDER TUTOR. - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

accompanying a patent application for an industrial invention entitled:

“SHOULDER BRACE”.

TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

The present patent application for industrial invention relates to a shoulder brace for treating orthoses.

The word “orthosis” (derives from the Greek orthos, which means to correct or straighten) is used in the jargon of the sector to generally indicate the complete range of devices currently produced for the care of orthoses.

The orthosis is any externally applied device used to modify the structural and functional characteristics of the neuromuscular skeletal system.

Orthoses are used to:

- assist the injured function;

- reduce mechanical stresses;

- decrease pain;

- control the movement;

- correct a deformity or slow down its worsening.

In the hemiplegic subject there is a modification of the normal joint relationships between the scapula and humerus due to the absence / reduction of muscle activity, with in most cases:

- scapular instability;

- anteposition;

- internal rotation and downward descent of the humeral head (subluxation) (as shown in figure 1).

Currently there are the following models to treat this pathology:

1) Shoulder orthosis with shoulder elbow wrist support. This type of brace consists of a band that supports the arm, forearm and wrist, keeping them in contact with the trunk.

There are completely closed models or models with arm and wrist grip, as shown in the attached figures 2 and 3.

These models perform a support function by favoring the reduction of subluxation, but do not correct the internal rotation of the shoulder and the retraction of the adductor and internal rotation muscles.

It should also be noted that, although easy to wear, they force the patient to bend the elbow, not allowing the use of the hemiplegic limb; they also alter the balance functions in walking.

2) Shoulder orthosis with support band with proximal humerus cuff.

This second type of brace, shown in fig. 4, consists of a cap in light and elastic material that is placed around the arm and helps to support the humeral head.

3) Shoulder brace for hemiplegics (EUMEDICA).

This third typology, shown in fig. 5 and 6, supports the upper limb affected by hemiplegia with a rigid bandage at the level of the humerus and a posterior figure-eight bandage.

4) Omotrain (bauerfeind).

This fourth type of brace, shown in figure 7, consists of an elastic bandage with grip on the contralateral shoulder and trunk for the early functional treatment of the scapulohumeral joint. (More used in recurrent dislocations ")

5) HEMISAFE shoulder orthosis (CAMP)

This type of brace, therefore, shown in fig. 8, is made with an elastic cuff to the humerus, contralateral grip to the trunk and abductor wedge.

6) Omo neurexa

This sixth type of brace, shown in fig. 9, was created with a grip on the humerus and contralateral to the trunk in neoprene and silicone; there is also the possibility of adding forearm support.

All the types of orthoses described above:

- they push the humerus vertically upwards, limiting the lowering of the humeral head in the glenoid joint;

- they have little control over the internal rotation of the shoulder and the hypertonus of the pectoralis major muscle;

- they must be well positioned for them to be effective.

Bandages are then used as an alternative to orthoses.

The use of bandages to obtain a brace suitable for treating such a disease:

- allows a good alignment of the humerus in its seat avoiding slipping;

- it is difficult to apply and in any case a professional is needed for the application;

- it cannot be removed and therefore once done it is worn for about three days even at night.

The purpose of the present invention is to devise a new type of brace that reduces the patient's pain, restores normal joint relationships and finally can ensure greater stability at the proximal level.

A further object of the present invention is to devise a brace that can also be used to prevent shoulder trauma due to incorrect maneuvers, providing the patient who uses it with a perceptive and continuous stimulation over time.

Since the only brace that really works for the positioning of the humerus on the glena is the bandage, it was decided to devise a brace that maintains the same advantages of a bandage, but reduces its disadvantages.

To make the new brace it is planned to:

- measure the proximal circumference of the patient's humerus (Fig. 10);

- measure the circumference of the distal humerus about three centimeters from the patient's axillary cavity (Fig. 11);

- measure the length of the humerus from the line of the cable to the axillary taken externally to the "crease" of the patient's elbow (Fig. 12);

- measure the length of the figure-of-eight bandage on the patient (fig. 13);

- report all the measurements taken on a sheet of styrene gel with a “standardized shape” of the brace (fig. 14);

- prepare the brace, the anchoring buckles, the velcro for the closure on the humerus and the eight support bandage with the "cotton string" covered with styrene gel except in the axillary section where only the styrene gel is present (fig. 15).

Once all the parts that make up the brace according to the invention have been completed, the latter can be assembled and tested on the patient, to check the circumferences and lengths taken in advance (fig. 16).

Hopefully the parts:

- they are sewn with Velcro for grip on the humerus;

- the front anchorage is removed and the bandage is sewn;

- the covering is arranged to ensure that the whole brace is in contact with the skin only through the styrene gel.

Such a guardian is therefore:

- functional (allows the correct positioning of the joint);

- personalized because it is made to measure for the subject;

- dynamic because it does not limit the movements and functionality of the limb;

- ecstatically not bulky as it is positioned in contact with the skin (does not bind the user's clothing);

- easy to use, both in positioning and in its hygiene.

Figures 18 to 24 show the brace according to the invention and the methods of its implementation.

With particular reference to fig. 18 it is possible to see that the brace according to the invention comprises a rear tie rod, a front tie rod, an anchor and a belt.

To position it you must:

- place the anchor in the arm of the subject (the base of the cuff must rest on the crease of the elbow, the center of its tie rods must correspond to the base of the deltoid "V" (ie outside the arm) and the closure must be very precise , that is, the two ends must match without overlapping the material or creating skin folds (see fig. 19 and 20).

As shown in fig. 21 the anterior tie, before being fixed, must first be pulled upwards and then towards the back of the humerus and then placed on the skin.

Figure 22 shows how to position the belt by passing it under the axillary hollow against the lateral side (healthy limb) from back to front, and then moving back towards the shoulder blade (posterior tie-rod), without making any traction (therefore resting it only on the skin).

With reference to fig. 23, the rear tie must be grasped and positioned on the outside and towards the back towards the center of the spine, to then be hooked to the belt.

Lastly, Figure 24 shows the device in an operational setting.

Claims (1)

CLAIM 1) Shoulder brace and related construction method as described above and illustrated in the attached figures 18 to 24.