JP2023176876A - Support medium, brace and joint orthosis - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a support medium, a brace and a joint orthosis with enhanced fixing force and fitting property of a fixing material.SOLUTION: Provided is a sheet-like support medium 1 to be attached to a joint portion, with a central region having an elongation percentage higher than those of both end regions in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction when expanding or contracting in the first direction. Provided is also a brace 10 to be attached to an affected part including the joint portion, comprising: a body part 2 that houses a fixing material for fixing the affected part; at least one mounting part 4 for mounting the body part 2 on the affected part; and the sheet-like support medium 1 to be attached to the affected part. The support medium 1, when attached, covers the affected part, and has the central region having an elongation percentage higher than those of both end regions in the second direction orthogonal to the first direction when expanding or contracting in the first direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to supports, braces, and joint braces.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, in medical fields such as orthopedics, for example, a treatment has been performed to fix the affected area by attaching a fixing member such as a cast stay formed to the shape of the affected area of the patient to the affected area.

As an orthosis used for such treatment, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a joint orthosis including a stay storage pocket in which a cast stay is stored. The cast stay of Patent Document 1 supports the medial and lateral malleolus of the foot.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-154430

However, when the affected joint region has a three-dimensional curved surface, the fixing material may not be able to follow the shape of the joint region. This may reduce the fixing force and fit of the fixing material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a support, an orthosis, and a joint orthosis that improve the fixing force and fit of a fixation material.

The present invention is a sheet-like support that is attached to a joint region, and when it expands and contracts in a first direction, the elongation rate of the central region is higher than the elongation rate of both end regions in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Provides support with high efficiency.
The support body may have a plurality of pleat lines extending in the second direction.
The support may be made of non-stretchable material.
Further, the present invention provides an orthosis to be attached to an affected part including a joint part, which comprises: a main body part accommodating a fixing material for fixing the affected part; at least one attachment part attaching the main body part to the affected part; and a sheet-like support that is attached to the affected area, and the support covers the joint region when attached and expands and contracts in the first direction in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. To provide an orthosis in which the elongation rate in the central region is higher than the elongation rate in both end regions.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a joint brace that includes at least the brace and the fixing material that can be accommodated in the brace.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a support, a brace, and a joint brace that improve the fixing force and fit of a fixing material. Note that the effects described here are not necessarily limited, and may be any of the effects described in this specification.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a support body 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a support body 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a simplified cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of a support body 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a support body 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a brace 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a brace 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a rear view showing a configuration example of a brace 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a joint brace 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing an example of the position where support body 1 concerning one embodiment of the present invention is attached.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are examples of typical embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and the scope of the gist thereof is limited. Various combinations, modifications, and changes are possible within.

In the following description of the embodiments, the configuration may be described using terms that include "approximately", such as approximately parallel and approximately orthogonal. For example, "substantially parallel" does not only mean completely parallel, but also includes substantially parallel, that is, a state deviated from a completely parallel state by, for example, several percent. The same applies to other terms with "omitted". Furthermore, each figure is a schematic diagram and is not necessarily strictly illustrated.

Unless otherwise specified, in the drawings, "above" means the top or upper side of the drawing, "bottom" means the lower or lower side of the drawing, and "left" means the upper side of the drawing. "Right" means the right direction or right side in the figure. Furthermore, in the drawings, the same or equivalent elements or members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

<1. First embodiment (Example 1 of support)>
BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, in medical fields such as orthopedics, for example, a treatment has been performed to fix the affected area by attaching a fixing member such as a cast stay formed to the shape of the affected area of the patient to the affected area.

However, when treating an affected area that includes a joint site that has a three-dimensional curved surface, there is a possibility that the fixing material may not be able to follow the shape of the joint site. This may create a gap between the fixative and the skin surface. This gap may reduce the fixing force of the fixing member or cause the fixing member to be misaligned. Additionally, this gap may cause wrinkles in the fixing material. Furthermore, stress concentration occurring in these wrinkles may reduce the strength of the fixing material.

Therefore, the present invention provides a sheet-like support that is attached to a joint region, and when it expands and contracts in a first direction, the elongation rate of the central region is greater than the elongation rate of both end regions in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Provides a support with a high elongation rate.

A support according to one embodiment of the present invention is a support that is attached to a joint site. The joint parts to which the support body 1 is attached include, for example, the ankle joint, the elbow, and the knee, but are not limited to these joint parts, and any joint part having a three-dimensional curved surface may be used. For example, when worn on the ankle or elbow, the support 1 can support the fixation material by bending it at an angle of 80 to 100 degrees. For example, when worn on the knee, the support body 1 can support the fixing member by bending it at an angle of 150 to 170 degrees. The position at which the support body 1 is attached, for example when attached to an ankle joint, will be explained with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a position where the support body 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted. As shown in FIG. 9, the support 1 is mounted at a position A that covers the area from the vicinity of the Achilles tendon attachment point or the minimum circumference of the lower leg to the vicinity of the heel.

A support according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a support body 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a direction D1 in which tensile stress is applied is a first direction, and a direction perpendicular to the first direction D1 is a second direction D2. The first direction D1 may be the longitudinal direction of the brace 10. The second direction D2 may be the lateral direction or the circumferential direction of the brace 10.

The support body 1 can be attached to the brace 10. In this configuration example, one end portion 12 of the support body 1 in the first direction is fixed to the main body portion 2 with which the brace 10 is provided. The support body 1 and the main body part 2 may be sewn to each other, may be bonded together with an adhesive, or may be integrally molded.

The other end 13 of the support 1 in the first direction does not need to be fixed to the main body 2. Thereby, the fixing material can be inserted from this end 13.

It is preferable that the support body 1 has a plurality of pleat lines 11 extending in the second direction D2. Pleated lines refer to folds formed at regular or irregular intervals. Note that, in the present invention, gathers are also included in pleat lines.

By providing the pleat lines 11 on the support 1, the support 1 can have a three-dimensional shape. Thereby, the support body 1 can support the fixing material along the joint region having a three-dimensional curved surface. The support body 1 can apply pressure substantially uniformly to the three-dimensional curved surface of the fixing material. In other words, the support body 1 allows the fixing material to follow the shape of the joint region. Thereby, the support body 1 can suppress the gap generated between the fixing material and the skin surface, and can suppress the displacement of the fixing material. As a result, the support 1 can improve the fixing force and fit of the fixing material.

Further, since the support body 1 allows the fixing material to follow the shape of the joint region, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles in the fixing material. This can prevent stress concentration from occurring in the wrinkles. As a result, the strength of the fixing material is improved.

Furthermore, since the support body 1 covers the fixing material, the fixing material is less likely to be exposed. This increases the beauty of the appearance and makes the fixing material less likely to be damaged.

These effects similarly occur in other embodiments described below. Therefore, in the description of other embodiments, the description may be omitted again.

It is preferable that the support 1 has a predetermined elongation rate. The elongation rate will be explained with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of the support body 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the width of the support body 1 in the first direction (Z-axis direction) when the pleat lines 11 are not expanded is defined as W1. When the pleat line 11 is expanded, the width at the approximate center of the support body 1 in the first direction is defined as W2. At this time, the elongation rate E of the support 1 can be calculated from the following equation (1).

E=W2/W1...(1)

When the support body 1 expands and contracts in the first direction, it is preferable that the elongation rate of the central region A1 is higher than the elongation rate of the both end regions A2 in the second direction (X-axis direction) perpendicular to the first direction. Specifically, the central region A1 preferably has an elongation rate in the first direction that is approximately twice to seven times that of both end regions A2. More preferably, the central region A1 has an elongation rate in the first direction that is approximately 3 to 5 times that of both end regions A2. Thereby, as described above, the fixing force and fit of the fixing material can be improved.

The elongation rate of the support 1 varies depending on the width between the pleat lines 11, the number of pleat lines 11, the folding method, and the like. This will be explained with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a simplified cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of the support body 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A shows an example of the structure of the support 1 having an elongation rate of about 3 times. Two pleat lines 11 are formed in the thickness direction of the support 1. The width W between each pleat line 11 is approximately the same. When this support 1 is unfolded in the first direction, the folded pleats are opened. As a result, the width at the substantially center of the support 1 in the first direction is approximately three times the width in the first direction when the pleats are not expanded.

FIG. 3B shows an example of the structure of the support 1 having an elongation rate of approximately 5 times. Four pleat lines 11 are formed in the thickness direction of the support 1. The width W between each pleat line 11 is approximately the same. When this support 1 is unfolded in the first direction, the folded pleats are opened. As a result, the width of the support 1 at the approximate center in the first direction is approximately five times the width in the first direction when the pleats are not expanded.

FIG. 3C shows an example of the structure of the support 1 having an elongation rate of about 7 times. Six pleat lines 11 are formed in the thickness direction of the support 1. The width W between each pleat line 11 is approximately the same. When this support 1 is unfolded in the first direction, the folded pleats are opened. As a result, the width at the substantially center of the support 1 in the first direction is approximately seven times the width in the first direction when the pleats are not expanded.

FIG. 3D shows an example of the structure of the support 1 having an elongation rate of about 3 to 5 times. Four pleat lines 11 are formed in the thickness direction and the first direction of the support 1. When this support 1 is unfolded in the first direction, the folded pleats are opened. As a result, the width at the approximate center of the support 1 in the first direction is approximately 3 to 5 times the width in the first direction when the pleats are not expanded. Since the pleat lines 11 are formed to be shifted in the first direction, the elongation rate may be smaller than in a configuration example in which the pleat lines 11 are not shifted in the first direction as shown in FIG. 3B.

As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, when the widths W between the respective pleat lines 11 are approximately the same and the pleat lines 11 are formed without shifting in the first direction, the support body 1 It has an elongation rate proportional to the number of 11. As shown in FIG. 3D, when the pleat lines 11 are shifted and folded in the first direction, the support 1 has an elongation rate within a predetermined range. By adjusting the width between the pleat lines 11, the number of pleat lines 11, the folding method, etc., the support 1 having a desired elongation rate can be manufactured.

The number of pleat lines 11 that the support 1 has is preferably two or more. More preferably, the number of pleat lines 11 that the support 1 has is 3 or more. Thereby, as described above, the fixing force and fit of the fixing material can be improved.

The width W between the pleat lines 11 is preferably in the range of about 5 to 20 mm. If the width W of the pleat line 11 is smaller than this range, processing may become difficult. If the width W between the pleat lines 11 is larger than this range, the fixing force and fit of the fixing material may be reduced.

A design example of the support body 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of the support body 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the width of the fixing member 20 in the second direction (X-axis direction) is defined as W4. The width in the second direction of the portion of the support 1 where the pleat lines 11 are formed is defined as W5. The width of the support body 1 in the second direction is assumed to be W6.

Table 1 shows an example of the dimensions of the support body 1 when worn by a general adult male. The dimensions shown in FIG. 5 are just examples, and the dimensions may vary depending on the physique of the person wearing the device.

As can be seen from Table 1, W5 is preferably approximately 40 mm larger than W4, and W6 is preferably approximately 20 to 30 mm larger than W5. When the support body 1 is worn on the knee, W4 is preferably approximately 180 mm. At this time, W5 is preferably approximately 220 mm, and W6 is preferably approximately 250 mm.

When the support body 1 is attached to the ankle joint, W4 is preferably approximately 125 mm. At this time, W5 is preferably approximately 165 mm, and W6 is preferably 185 mm. Further, W4 may be approximately 100 mm. At this time, W5 is preferably approximately 140 mm, and W6 is preferably 160 mm.

When the support 1 is worn on the elbow, W4 is preferably approximately 75 mm. At this time, W5 is preferably approximately 115 mm, and W6 is preferably 135 mm. Further, W4 may be approximately 50 mm. At this time, W5 is preferably approximately 90 mm, and W6 is preferably 110 mm.

In addition, although the pleat line 11 is formed to extend in the second direction (X-axis direction) in this embodiment, the pleat line 11 may be formed to extend in the first direction (Z-axis direction). When the support body 1 is worn, for example, on the knee, the pleat lines 11 may be formed to extend in the first direction.

In this embodiment, the support body 1 is attached to the brace 10 and can be attached to a joint site, but the embodiment is not limited to this. The support body 1 may be attached to the joint site by, for example, a bandage or a band.

The above description of the support according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied to other embodiments of the present technology unless there is a particular technical contradiction.

<2. Second embodiment (Example 2 of support)>
An example of the configuration of a support body 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 again. It is preferable that the second direction (X-axis direction) of the support 1 has a higher elongation rate than the first direction (Z-axis direction). The support 1 preferably includes a material that is stretchable in the second direction (X-axis direction) and non-stretchable in the first direction (Z-axis direction). As a result, when tension is applied in the second direction, pressure is applied substantially uniformly to the fixing member. As a result, the fixing force and fit of the fixing material can be improved.

Furthermore, by forming the pleat lines 11, the support body 1 has a three-dimensional shape, and it is possible to suppress the generation of gaps between the ends 12 and 13 of the support body 1 in the first direction.

It is preferable that the support 1 has an elongation force in the second direction of approximately 3 to 5N. At this time, the stretching force of the support 1 in the first direction may be approximately 70N. The elongation force in the second direction means that when the tensile elongation of the support 1 in the initial state is 0%, the support 1 is pulled in the second direction, and when the tensile elongation reaches 20%, the tensile elongation of the support 1 is 0%. This is the stress acting on the The stretching force in the first direction means that when the tensile elongation of the support 1 in the initial state is 0%, when the support 1 is pulled in the first direction and the tensile elongation reaches 20%, the tensile elongation of the support 1 is 0%. This is the stress acting on the The tensile elongation is the ratio of the length that the support 1 extends in the second direction or the first direction.

For measuring the elongation force, a constant speed elongation type tensile tester (“Autograph (registered trademark)” AG-20KNI manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation, 1 kN load cell) can be used. A test piece is prepared by cutting the support 1 to a predetermined length, and the test piece is attached to a constant speed extension type tensile tester with a test piece width of 25 mm and a chuck interval of 100 mm. Then, the test piece is stretched to a tensile elongation of 20% at a rate where the tensile elongation increases at 100% per minute, and the stress at that time can be measured as the stretching force (N). Note that this measuring method is one example, and the method for measuring the stretching force is not particularly limited. Stretching force can be measured by a known method.

The material constituting the support body 1 is not particularly limited as long as the stretching force is set within the above range. The material constituting the support 1 may be either natural fiber or chemical fiber, such as polyamide fiber, polyester fiber, acrylic fiber, cellulose fiber (cotton, rayon, polynosic, lyocell, etc.), polyurethane fiber. , polyolefin fibers (polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.), acetate fibers, polyvinylidene chloride fibers, polyvinyl chloride fibers, wool (wool, animal hair, etc.), etc., or yarns using a mixture of these fibers. can be used. As for the type of yarn, monofilament, multifilament, twisted yarn, covered yarn, core yarn, etc. can be used, and yarns that have been subjected to stretching or bulking processing may also be used.

As for the knitting of the support body 1, various knitting structures such as warp knitting or weft knitting can be used. For example, double raschel fabric, flat knit fabric, rubber knit (rib knit) fabric, purl knit fabric, tuck knit fabric, circular knit fabric, flat knit fabric, tricot fabric, raschel fabric, pile knit fabric, plied knit fabric, etc. Available. Among these, fabrics that can have an elongation force within the above range, ensure breathability, and improve wearing comfort are preferred, and double raschel fabrics are preferred.

Double raschel fabric is made by making stitches from a single thread and connecting rings called loops. In double raschel fabric, the elasticity of the loops can contribute to stretching force, and the loops can allow air to pass through. Therefore, by using double raschel fabric, breathability can be ensured. The stretching force can be adjusted by inserting elastic threads such as covered yarns made of polyurethane fibers or rubber threads into the threads that make up these knitted structures, or by adjusting the number of inserted elastic threads. It is possible. It can be suitably knitted using a circular knitting machine or a sock knitting machine as a cylindrical rubber knitted fabric (rib knitted fabric) in which elastic yarns such as polyurethane yarn or rubber yarn are inserted into a ground yarn such as polyamide yarn.

The above description of the support according to the second embodiment of the present invention can be applied to other embodiments of the present technology unless there is a particular technical contradiction.

<3. Third embodiment (Example 3 of support)>
The support 1 may be made of a non-stretchable material. Although at least the first direction of the support 1 is preferably non-stretchable, the second direction of the support 1 may be stretchable or non-stretchable. It is more preferable that the support 1 has elasticity in the second direction. Thereby, the fixing force and fit of the fixing material can be improved.

Furthermore, by forming the pleat lines 11, the support body 1 has a three-dimensional shape, and gaps are less likely to be formed between the ends 12 and 13 of the support body 1 in the first direction.

The above description of the support according to the third embodiment of the present invention can be applied to other embodiments of the present technology unless there is a particular technical contradiction.

<4. Fourth embodiment (example of brace)>
The present invention provides an orthosis that is attached to an affected area including a joint area, which includes a main body part that houses a fixing material for fixing the affected part, at least one attachment part that attaches the main body part to the affected part, and a seat that is attached to the affected part. The support body covers the joint region when worn, and when expanding and contracting in the first direction, the elongation rate of both end regions in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction is To provide an orthosis with a high elongation rate in the central region.

An example of the configuration of an orthosis according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the brace 10 includes at least a sheet-like support 1 that is attached to the affected area. The direction D1 in which tensile stress is applied is defined as a first direction, and the direction orthogonal to the first direction D1 is defined as a second direction D2. At this time, it is preferable that the support body 1 has a plurality of pleat lines 11 extending in the second direction D2.

The brace 10 further includes a main body 2 that accommodates a fixing material for fixing the affected area, and at least one attachment part 4 that fixes the main body 2 to the affected area. The shape of the main body part 2 is not particularly limited as long as it can accommodate the fixing material. In this embodiment, the main body portion 2 has a pocket portion 3 that accommodates a fixing material for fixing the joint region.

The main body portion 2 can be constructed by appropriately knitting, sewing, and/or laminating fibrous materials such as knitted fabrics, woven fabrics, or nonwoven fabrics. The main body portion 2 may have stretchability or elasticity. Specifically, the main body portion 2 is made of, for example, double raschel fabric, flat knit fabric, rubber knit (rib knit) fabric, pearl knit fabric, tuck knit fabric, circular knit fabric, flat knit fabric, tricot fabric, raschel fabric, It is made of pile knitted fabric, plated knitted fabric, etc. The fiber material such as knitted fabric, woven fabric, or non-woven fabric constituting the main body portion 2 may be natural fiber, chemical fiber, and/or a combination thereof. Further, when a water-curable resin is used as the fixing material, the material of the main body portion 2 is preferably a water-repellent material such as nylon or polyester. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the transmission of water contained in the water-curable resin for hardening to the joint region via the main body portion 2. As a result, patient discomfort can be reduced.

The dimensions of the pocket portion 3 are set in accordance with the dimensions of the fixing material so that the fixing material can be accommodated therein. The dimensions of the main body portion 2 are set so as to cover part or all of the joint region. A fixing material is removably housed between the pocket part 3 and the main body part 2.

The support body 1 is attached to the pocket part 3. A support body 1 is attached so as to cover a part of the fixing material. Thereby, as described above, the fixing force and fit of the fixing material can be improved. Moreover, the strength of the fixing material is improved. Furthermore, the appearance is more beautiful and the fixing material is less likely to be damaged.

Further, the orthosis 10 will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the brace 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the brace 10 includes a main body 2 and at least one attachment part 4 that fixes the main body 2 to the affected area. The attachment part 4 includes a first attachment part 41 , a second attachment part 42 , and a third attachment part 43 . The first attachment portion 41 fixes the main body portion 2 proximal to the joint site. The second attachment portion 42 fixes the main body portion 2 near the joint site. The third attachment portion 43 fixes the main body portion 2 distal to the joint site. Note that the number of attachment parts is not particularly limited.

The shape of the attachment part 4 is not particularly limited as long as the main body part 2 can be fixed to the joint site. In this embodiment, a belt-shaped member is used as an example of the attachment part 4. The free end of the attachment part 4 is formed with, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener, a hook, or a button. The other end of the attachment part 4 is fixed to the main body part 2 by, for example, sewing or gluing. The free end of the attachment part 4 can be attached to and detached from the main body part 2 through, for example, a belt loop. The attachment portion 4 can be adapted to the circumferential size (thickness) of the joint region by using a belt loop or the like.

Although not shown, the attachment portion 4 may have a string-like shape, for example. Nothing need be formed on the free end of the string-like attachment part 4. The other end of the attachment part 4 is fixed to the main body part 2 by, for example, sewing or gluing. By tying the free ends of the attachment parts 4 together, the main body part 2 can be fixed to the joint site.

The main body part 2 can further include a holding part 5. The holding portion 5 holds the inside (flexion side) of the joint region. Thereby, the main body part 2 can bend and hold the joint part at an appropriate angle.

Furthermore, the orthosis 10 will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the brace 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the free end of the attachment part 4 is removed from the main body part 2 and the main body part 2 is opened.

As shown in FIG. 6, the main body portion 2 is formed into a substantially rectangular shape, and is formed into a substantially L-shape when viewed from the side so as to follow a joint region having a three-dimensional curved surface.

Furthermore, the orthosis 10 will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a rear view showing a configuration example of the brace 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a view of the brace 10 in the state shown in FIG. 6, viewed from the side where the pocket portion 3 is arranged.

As shown in FIG. 7, the pocket portion 3 is opened. The shape of the pocket portion 3 may be a pocket shape that can be opened and closed on one side or in an L shape. In this embodiment, a joint portion 31 is formed in a part of the pocket portion 3. The coupling part 31 allows the pocket part 3 to be closed. This makes it difficult for the fixing material to fall off. The coupling portion 31 may be a button as in this embodiment, or may be a hook and loop fastener, a flap, a zipper, a hook, or the like.

Conventionally, a bandage is used when attaching a fixation material to an affected area. However, the work of attaching a fixing material to a joint site having a three-dimensional curved surface requires advanced technology. For example, fixing materials that harden by reacting with water or light begin to harden as soon as the package is opened. Therefore, when attaching a fixing material along a three-dimensional curved surface, complicated tasks such as wrapping a bandage in stages must be performed quickly.

According to the present invention, the brace 10 containing the fixing material may be attached to the affected area. A support body 1 supports the fixing material along a three-dimensional curved surface. This makes it easier to attach it to the affected area. The affected area can be fixed without requiring advanced techniques.

The above description of the orthosis according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention can be applied to other embodiments of the present technology unless there is a particular technical contradiction.

<5. Fifth embodiment (example of joint brace)>
The present invention provides a joint brace that includes at least the brace according to the fourth embodiment and a fixing material that can be accommodated in the brace.

A configuration example of a joint brace according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a joint brace 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, a joint orthosis 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes at least an orthosis 10 and a fixing member 20 that can be accommodated in the orthosis 10. A fixing material 20 is housed in a pocket portion 3 provided in the brace 10.

The fixing material 20 is manufactured by being bent along the joint site. The fixing member 20 is made of, for example, a material that is hardened by water or light, or a material that is softened and moldable by heat. More specifically, the fixing material 20 may be a base material in which a plurality of layers of fiber materials are laminated together, and a resin is held therein. The joint region can be fixed by hardening the fixing material 20 after the fixing material 20 is brought into contact with the joint region and molded.

As the fiber material of the base material, for example, base cloth such as plastic fiber or glass fiber can be used. As the resin, for example, a photocurable resin that is cured by light, or a water-curable resin such as a polyurethane resin that is cured by drying after being hydrated can be used. Alternatively, a thermoplastic resin that is softened by heat and moldable can be used as the resin. More specifically, the water-curable resin includes, for example, a polyurethane prepolymer composition comprising a polyurethane prepolymer having an isocyanate group at the end obtained by reacting a polyol and a polyisocyanate, a catalyst, and other additives. is preferably used. As the photocurable resin, for example, acrylate resin such as urethane (meth)acrylate resin is suitably used. As the thermoplastic resin, for example, polyester resin is preferably used. Furthermore, part or all of the surface of the fixing material 20 may be covered with a nonwoven fabric, woven fabric, or knitted fabric made of fibers such as natural fibers or chemical fibers. In this case, these nonwoven fabrics, woven fabrics, or knitted fabrics can also function as a protective film when molding the fixing material 20 in contact with the joint site.

According to such a fixing material 20, the entire fixing material 20 is hardened after being deformed into a desired shape. Thereby, the fixing material 20 is molded into a shape suitable for the shape of the joint region of the wearer, which varies from person to person. Therefore, displacement of the fixing member 20 can be reduced.

The above description of the joint orthosis according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention can be applied to other embodiments of the present technology unless there is a particular technical contradiction.

10 Orthosis 1 Support 11 Pleated wire 2 Main body 3 Pocket 31 Joint 4 Attachment 41 First attachment 42 Second attachment 43 Third attachment 5 Holding section 20 Fixing material 100 Joint orthosis

Claims (5)

A sheet-like support that is attached to a joint site,
When expanding and contracting in the first direction,
The support body has a higher elongation rate in the central region than the elongation rate in both end regions in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The support according to claim 1, having a plurality of pleat lines extending in the second direction. 3. A support according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support is made of a non-stretchable material. A brace that is attached to an affected area including a joint area,
a main body portion that accommodates a fixing material for fixing the affected area;
at least one attachment part for attaching the main body to the affected area;
A sheet-like support body attached to the affected area,
The support covers the joint region when worn, and when expanding and contracting in the first direction, the elongation rate of the central region is higher than the elongation rate of both end regions in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Braces. A joint orthosis comprising at least the orthosis according to claim 4 and the fixing material that can be accommodated in the orthosis.