JPH02185246A - Supporting appliance for orthopedic and making material thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent a user of a supporter for orthopedics from sweating and unpleasant fever feeling at a long period use by making a first layer for skin protection consisting of soft, flexible, resilient, and porous cloth and a second layer for skin protection adhere to a second face opposite to the base layer. CONSTITUTION: A material to constitute a composite material includes a sheet- like, flexible, and foldable elastomer base layer 28 formed of a closed cell material. Since a number of pores 30 distributed on the whole surface of a neoprene rubber layer and penetrating through the whole depth of the neoprene layer are bored in the neoprene layer 28, fluid can pass through those pores from one side of the layer to the other side. The composite material includes also a soft, flexible, resilient, and porous inner layer 32 for skin protection. An outer layer and an inner layer cover each opposite face of the porous neoprene base layer 28. A knee supporter made of this composite material has porosity sufficient to substantially prevent inner heat accumulation on use and never produces excessive sweating and other unpleasant fever feeling.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to composite materials used in the manufacture of orthopedic supports with improved use properties.

More specifically, this composite material has a novel property of elasticity and good compressive support, shear resistance, and sufficient air and water porosity to avoid user thermal discomfort and perspiration during long-term use. Offer a combination.

(Background of the invention) Orthopedic supports come in a variety of forms.

A popular orthopedic brace is a rigid knee brace worn by those who suffer from knee instability and those who engage in sports activities to prevent knee damage. The general purpose of knee braces is to provide external support to the knee joint to prevent unnatural movements of the knee joint that could damage or re-injure the knee joint, while still allowing normal rotational movement of the knee joint. It is to be.

This type of knee immobilizer is commonly used for post-operative patients undergoing knee surgery. Knee braces of this type generally include a metal rod and a pivot joint to provide a rigid means of support. Knee braces of this type are sold only by prescription and require a skilled orthotist to properly fit them on a patient.

Another orthopedic brace is the so-called 0-soft brace sold in pharmacies, hospitals and doctor's offices.

Soft braces provide moderate support to the injured joint. Supports of this type include hard metal rods or stays, simply made of soft elastic material. These are often sold without a prescription and do not require installation by a trained professional. Soft orthopedic braces have been used for many years and are used for knee, ankle, thigh, wrist, elbow,
Commonly obtained as a chest or lower back support. These soft supports are commonly used for sprains and strains, arthritis,
1i! Worn for inflammation, cystitis, inflammation, or to reduce discomfort during post-surgical use, or to treat post-traumatic discomfort.

Soft orthopedic supports are often made from neoprene rubber. This material is desirable because it has a combination of favorable properties that make it useful in orthopedic supports.

Neoprene rubber has good flexibility and relatively high density, which combination provides good compressive support and shear resistance.

Because neoprene rubber is a closed cell material, it does not necessarily dissipate heat very well in use. Its closed cell nature helps retain heat during use by reflecting emitted heat back into the bones and joints of the affected area.

This localized concentration of heat aids venous blood flow and helps reduce edema, which protects soft tissues from injury.

Although the use of neoprene rubber in orthopedic supports is useful because it can concentrate heat, the natural tendency of closed cell properties to prevent heat dissipation creates problems for the user. Neoprene rubber braces compress (stretch) the diseased area when worn. This tight compression fit, together with the material's high density and the material's lack of air circulation and dissipation, reduces thermal discomfort and Produces sweating and often causes heat evaporation. Prolonged use of such neoprene rubber braces can cause the user to sweat constantly, to the point that the user often stops wearing the brace prematurely. This results in discomfort. In effect, the material itself dictates how long an orthopedic brace can be worn. It is not unusual for a user to stop wearing this type of brace after about 1-2 hours.

Replacing closed cell neoprene rubber with open cell material does not provide an acceptable solution to the problem of thermal discomfort. Open cell materials, such as sponge rubber or plastic cell materials, such as high density polyester or polyurethane foams, are materials that are characterized by their "breathability". That is, they are porous to air and water. This type of material can ensure good air circulation and good heat dissipation and body fluid absorption during use. However, this type of open cell material does not inherently have the high density necessary for the material to have sufficient compressive strength for use as an orthopedic brace.

Therefore, it has sufficient elasticity and density to provide the required level of compression-type support, while being sufficiently elastic and dense during use to avoid excessive sweating and thermal discomfort when using the support for long periods of time. There is a need for an orthopedic support that dissipates heat.

There is also a need to provide a liner for use with an amputee prosthesis. Custom molding of permanent prosthetic liners is time consuming and expensive.

Additionally, these liners wear and must be replaced with custom liners, increasing this cost. Furthermore, as the patient gains or loses weight, the volume of the residual limb changes. Accordingly, there is a continuing need to provide a liner that fits accurately and comfortably between the residual limb and the socket of a permanent prosthesis. Closed cell materials can also cause thermal discomfort during long-term use because they cannot "vent", ie, provide sufficient air circulation to the protected area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In summary, the present invention provides a flexible, resilient composite material for use in the manufacture of elastic orthopedic supports for compressive support of body parts.

The composite material is in the form of a sheet and includes a base layer of a flexible elastomeric closed cell material having a large number of pores extending through the depth of the sheet and distributed over the surface of the sheet.

A first skin protective layer of a soft, flexible, resilient porous fabric is applied to the first side of the base layer. A second protective layer of soft resilient porous fabric suspension is applied to the second side opposite the base layer. The composite material is porous to air and water, which penetrate the depth of the composite material. When used as an orthopedic support, it allows sufficient air circulation to avoid sweating and thermal discomfort during long-term use. Together with the porous primary and secondary N, they enhance air circulation during use and reduce heat build-up.

The high density of closed cell materials provides sufficient compressive support to the diseased area during use. The first and second iM fabrics provide elasticity on each opposite side of the elastomeric base layer. These increase the strength of the composite material and overcome any degree of elasticity or strength lost due to the pore pattern added to the elastomeric base layer. Trial use of orthopedic supports made from this composite material demonstrated substantial improvement in the absence of sweating and associated thermal discomfort with long-term use.

The present invention also includes a novel orthopedic brace made from a novel composite material. Additionally, prosthetic limb socks made from this composite material have a useful combination of elasticity and compressive support, while being porous enough to avoid thermal discomfort and sweating during long-term use. It is.

These and other aspects of the invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a semi-schematic side elevational view of an eave support constructed from orthopedic material in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

2 is a semi-schematic perspective view of the knee support shown in FIG. 1; FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the components of the orthopedic composite material of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view showing the porous closed cell elastomer layer of the composite material of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an elbow support made from the composite material of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a wrist support made from the composite material of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of an ankle support made from the composite material of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a completed prosthetic stocking made from composite material in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a portion of a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 9--9 in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a partial plan view showing the porous closed cell elastomer layer of the composite material of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a knee brace 10 made from orthopedic material in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The orthopedic material is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The knee brace is a soft orthopedic brace constructed entirely from a flexible, resilient composite material 12 shown in flat form in FIGS. 3 and 4. The flat composite material is folded and sewn to form the final cylindrical knee brace 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

For Figures 1 and 2, the flat sheet composite piece is folded over and cut inward from the center of the overlapping longitudinal ends opposite the fold. The cutout is a V-shaped region extending from the overlapping longitudinal ends to the opposite fold. Along the central region of the folded material, each overlapping end is fastened with left and right stitched seams, 14 and 16, respectively. The overlapping longitudinal ends opposite the fold are fastened together by a long straight seam 18. This results in a generally cylindrical sloped knee support with an open top 20 and an open bottom 22. An edge stitch 24 at the top edge and a similar edge stitch 26 at the bottom edge provide the final termination for the completed knee brace.

The materials that make up the composite material 12 can best be understood by referring to FIGS. 3 and 4.
It includes an elastomeric base layer 28 that is capable of being heated. A preferred elastomeric closed cell material is neoprene/rubber. Neopre/
The rubber layer 28 has a number of holes 3 distributed over the entire surface of the neoprene rubber layer and penetrating the entire depth of the neoprene/rubber layer.
0 are perforated so that fluid can pass through these holes from one side of the layer to the other. Perforations 30 are not shown in FIG. 3 for simplicity.

Although the pattern of holes shown in Figure 4 is slightly exaggerated in relative dimensions, it is a uniform pattern in which all holes are of uniform diameter and uniformly spaced over the surface of the neoprene rubber layer. shows a preferred method of forming pores. In one form, the neoprene rubber layer is approximately 2.3+++i (0
, 090 inches), with a uniform pattern of adjacent holes having a diagonal spacing of about 6.4 inches (Z inches). Preferred ioprene-based materials are stock numbers G-231-N, G-207-N or 7<-411- by Lavatex Corporation (Bedsford, VA).
It is commercially available as #. These materials are about 0.12~
It has a density of 0.48y/α3 (about 10 to about 30 pounds/ft3). In testing, these materials gave good results when used in orthopedic supports. The size of the pores and their distribution on the surface of the neoprene/rubber layer are such that these pores can rapidly dissipate heat when this material is used in an orthopedic brace. The pores should not be so large or so closely spaced that the overall elasticity or density of the neoprene rubber layer is less than the material's ability to provide adequate orthopedic compressive support in use. Useful perforation patterns are such that the total area of the perforations within a section of flat material is about 3 to about 1 of the total area of the perforated sheet section.
It accounts for 0%. A preferred pore pattern occupies about 5% of the surface area of a perforated cell section. Increasing the aggregate area of holes within a given sheet reduces elasticity and retention. However, the softness of the material can be increased proportionately to compensate and maintain the required level of 541 injection and resulting orthopedic compression forces.

The desired thickness of the neoprene rubber layer is approximately 3.2 mm (
'A inch). Approximately 1.6 to approximately 6.4 m (approx.'
Excellent results were obtained with sheet thicknesses of As to about z inches).

A preferred method for forming the hole pattern in the neoprene/rubber layer is roller molding, in which the roller (not shown) has a cylindrical outer surface with protruding punches of the desired hole pattern; Thus, by moving the roller over the flat surface of the neoprene rubber sheet, holes in the desired pattern are punched out.

The +i6 material also includes a soft, flexible, resilient porous skin barrier inner layer 32. A currently preferred material is known under the trademark tricot. This material is a knitted, flexible, bendable, stretchable fabric and is porous to air and water due to the pores inherently formed by this knitted fabric. Therefore, the individual pores in the perforated neoprene/rubber layer are substantially larger in area than the individual pores formed in the knitted fabric. The neoprene rubber layer has fewer pores (both 1
The digits and area are large.

The composite material also includes a flexible elastic porous protective outer layer 34. It is also formed from a stretchable knitted fabric.

This protective outer layer is preferably formed from a material sold under the trademark Tricot.

The inner and outer layers, 32 and 34, may be made of other stretch knitted fabrics such as nylon/dacron or other synthetic fibers.

In the flat material shown in Figures 3 and 4, the inner and outer layers 32 and 34 are formed by drilling holes in the neoprene rubber layer at ui5° on each side opposite the perforated neoprene base layer 28, and then forming inner and outer fabric layers. Adhere to each opposite side of the pore base layer. The perforated base layer and the adjacent knitted fabric layer 32 are bonded together by a conventional adhesive.
and 34, the desired six-fold contact layer is obtained over the entire contact surface area. The adhesive is applied to the perforated base layer and the knitted fabric layer 32.
Does not interfere with the porosity of j6 and 34.

Knee braces made from this composite material have sufficient porosity that internal heat build-up is essentially avoided during use. Testing of a knee brace made from the composite material 12 of the present invention has shown that the knee brace is sufficiently breathable to be worn for two hours without excessive sweating or other thermal discomfort. has been proven. In contrast, the same knee brace made of a neoprene/non-perforated composite material with a non-perforated layer will sweat almost immediately;
It was uncomfortable to wear for the same 2 hours and was rare. It is believed that the knee brace of the present invention can be worn for an indefinite period of time without problems with sweating or thermal discomfort. The level of compression type support provided by the knee brace of the present invention was also sufficient for the purpose for which the knee brace was intended.

The knee brace is sufficiently elastic and dense enough to provide the necessary compression for use as a useful knee brace. Any loss of +4 properties due to the neoprene rubber layer can be compensated for by increasing the density of the neoprene rubber layer accordingly. Furthermore, the inner and outer layers, 32 and 34, of resilient and flexible knitted fabrics are themselves resilient and enhance the elasticity of the perforated neoprene rubber, so that the composite material has the level of elasticity required for child-shaped surgical applications. have. The inner and outer layers of resilient knitted fabric also add strength to the composite material. It has been found that the removal of the inner fabric layer does not result in a useful orthopedic support. This is because direct contact of relatively large pores in the perforated neoprene rubber layer with the skin causes discomfort to the user. The pores naturally formed in the knitted inner layer provide good porosity for air circulation. The inner layer of resilient fabric enhances comfort and adds useful levels of elasticity and strength to the overall covering material. A preferred combination is provided by inner and outer layers of knitted fabric each having a greater elasticity than the perforated neoprene rubber layer.

The materials forming the inner layer S and the outer layer may have different elasticities in directions perpendicular to each other. This material has greater elasticity in the resulting orthopedic brace in the transverse direction, i.e. parallel to its upper and lower edges, while the resulting orthopedic brace has greater elasticity in the longitudinal direction, i.e. parallel to the upper and lower edges of the brace. with greater tensile resistance in the direction perpendicular to
Can be used in combination with a perforated neoprene layer.

Figures 5-7 illustrate other uses of composite material 12 in orthopedic supports. An elbow support 36 is shown in FIG. 5, where the composite material is folded along its length and sewn along its length with a central seam 38, forming a slightly L-shaped A cylindrical elastomeric support is formed. The upper and lower ends of the cylindrical support have stitched edge seams 40 for edge reinforcement. FIG. 6 shows a wrist support 42 made from composite material 12. FIG. This occasion,
The material is folded lengthwise and sewn to form a right cylindrical support with edge stitches 44 at each opposite end for edge reinforcement. FIG. 7 shows an ankle support 46 made from a composite material. The ankle brace has edge stitching 48 on each opposite end thereof, edge stitching 50 on the end portion of the brace that fits around the user's heel, and L
Intermediate stitch 52 fastening the intermediate end of the shaped ankle support
It is formed as a generally L-shaped cylindrical support with a.

These supports are used to provide the required level of anatomical compression type support while improving air circulation to the support area to a degree sufficient to prevent discomfort caused by sweating and overheating. can. Thus, the improved composite materials of the present invention themselves contribute to the improved anatomical support provided by these orthopedic supports. Avoid prematurely removing the brace due to thermal discomfort (as the user may wear the brace for an unspecified period of time).

Figures 8-10 illustrate another form of the present invention comprising a prosthetic limb sock made from a flexible, resilient composite material. It includes a base layer of a thin sheet of flexible elastomeric closed cell material with a large number of holes extending through the depth of the sheet and distributed over the surface of the sheet. A first layer of skin protection made of a flexible resilient porous fabric is the first layer of the base layer.
attached to the surface. A soft resilient porous fabric is attached to the second side of the base layer. The composite material is porous to air 8 and water, which penetrate the depth of the composite material. When the composite material is formed into a prosthetic stocking,
This allows sufficient air circulation to avoid sweating and thermal discomfort during long-term use. The pores in the elastomeric base layer of closed cell material, together with the porous first and second layers of knitted fabric, enhance air circulation and reduce heat build-up during use. The high density closed cell material, enhanced by the strength and resiliency of the first and second fabric layers, provides a compression type support sufficient for use as a prosthetic stocking.

FIG. 8 shows a prosthetic stocking 62 made from the orthopedic composite material of the present invention. The orthopedic material is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. This flat shaped composite material is cut, folded, sewn at 66 and edge stitched at 68 to form the final prosthetic stocking shown in FIG.

The materials making up the composite material 64 include a thin sheet of flexible bendable elastomer base layer molded from a closed cell material, preferably neoprene rubber. The neoprene rubber layer 70 is perforated with holes 72 that are distributed over the entire surface of the neoprene rubber layer and penetrate the entire depth of the neoprene/rubber layer so that fluid can pass through these holes from one side of the layer to the other. can pass to.

The composite material also includes a soft, flexible, resilient porous skin barrier inner layer 74, preferably tricot.

The composite material also includes a flexible elastic porous protective outer layer 76. It is also made from a stretch knitted fabric, preferably tricot.

The inner and outer layers, 74 and 76, may be formed from other lI43 shrink knit fabrics made of nylon, Dacron, or other synthetic fibers.

In the flat form material shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the inner layer 74 and outer layer 76 are formed on each side opposite the perforated neoprene base layer. Adhere the layers to each opposite side of the perforated base layer. Conventional spray-applied adhesives provide the desired surface adhesion over the entire contacting surface area of the perforated base layer and the adjacent knitted fabric layers, 74 and 76.

Prosthetic stockings made from this composite material have sufficient porosity that internal heat build-up is essentially avoided during use. Testing of prosthetic stockings made from the composite materials of the present invention has shown that the prosthetic stockings are sufficiently breathable to be worn for two hours without excessive sweating or other thermal discomfort. Proven. On the other hand, is it the same except that the neoprene layer is not porous? The same prosthetic stocking made from FE material sweated almost immediately and was uncomfortable to wear for the same 2 hours. It is believed that the prosthetic stocking of the present invention can be worn for an indefinite period of time without problems with sweating or other thermal discomfort.

The prosthetic stocking of the present invention is sufficiently elastic and dense enough to provide the necessary compression for use as a useful prosthetic stocking. Any loss of elasticity due to verforation/of the neoprene/rubber layer can be compensated for by correspondingly increasing the density of the neoprene rubber layer.

Furthermore, the inner and outer layers of resilient and flexible knitted fabrics, 748 and 76, are themselves resilient and enhance the elasticity of the perforated neoprene rubber, thus ensuring that the composite material meets the standards required for orthopedic applications. It has elasticity.

The inner and outer layers of resilient knitted fabric also add strength to the composite material. It has been found that removing the inner fabric layer does not result in a useful orthopedic support, as direct contact of the perforated neoprene rubber layer with the skin causes discomfort to the wearer. The inner layer of 16 suspensions enhances comfort and adds useful levels of elasticity and strength to the overall composite material. The preferred combination is
Provided by inner and outer layers of knitted fabric each having an elasticity greater than the elasticity of the perforated neoprene rubber layer.

The materials constituting the inner layer and the outer layer may have different elasticities in directions perpendicular to each other. This material allows the resulting orthopedic brace to have greater elasticity in the transverse direction, i.e. parallel to its upper edge, while the resulting orthopedic brace has greater elasticity in the longitudinal direction, i.e. in the direction perpendicular to the upper edge of the brace. It can be used in combination with a perforated neoprene layer, with a high tensile resistance.

Temporary prosthetic stockings and permanent prosthetic stockings can be obtained using this orthopedic composite material. These prosthetic stockings are used in the manner described above for the temporary and permanent stockings shown in FIGS. 1-7.

Prosthetic stockings made from this composite material provide the required level of anatomical compression type support while also allowing sufficient air circulation to the support area to prevent discomfort caused by sweating and overheating. Improve. Thus, the improved composite material of the present invention itself contributes to the improved anatomical support provided by this prosthetic stocking. This is because the user can wear these stockings for an indefinite period of time without prematurely removing them due to thermal discomfort.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a lateral elevational view of a knee brace made from the orthopedic composite material of the present invention, shown in biofilm style. FIG. 2 is a flat membrane perspective view of the knee support shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the structure of the composite material of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a partial plan view showing the perforated closed cell elastomer layer of the composite material of the present invention. Figures 5-7 are perspective views of elbow, wrist and ankle supports, respectively, made from the composite material of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a prosthetic stocking made from the composite material of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a portion of a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 9--9 in FIG. FIG. 1O is a plan view showing the porous closed cell elastomer layer of the composite material of the present invention. In each figure, the numbers represent the following: 12. 14, 24. 28. 30. 32. 36, : Knee support 64: Composite material I6.18.38.48.52.66: Seam: Upper part (
Open): Bottom (open) 26. 40. 44. 50. 68: Edge step 70: Base layer 72: Hole 74: 1st layer (inner layer) 76: 2nd layer (outer layer) One wrist support, two front supports : Stockings for prosthetic limbs (3 other people)

Claims (25)

[Claims] 1. A flexible resilient composite material (12) used for manufacturing an elastic orthopedic compression support for surrounding and compressive support of a body part, the material being in the form of a thin sheet and having a depth of the sheet. a porous base layer (28) of a flexible closed cell elastomeric material having a plurality of pores (30) therethrough and distributed over the surface area of the sheet, the closed cell elastomeric material being of an orthopedic compression type; Sufficient elasticity to provide support and at least about 10 pounds/ft^3 (0.12 g/cm^3)
) having a density of: a first skin protective layer (32) of a flexible resilient elastic porous fabric adhered to a first side of the base layer (28); and an opposite second side of the base layer (28). a protective second layer (34) of a soft, resilient, porous fabric adhered to the base layer (34), the first layer (32) and the second layer (34) providing a means of increasing the resiliency of the porous base layer (28); , so that the composite material (12) comprising the combination of base layer, first layer and second layer maintains sufficient elasticity and density to provide a useful level of orthopedic compression type support, and the composite material Porous to air and water, which penetrate the depth of the composite material and provide a means for heat and moisture dissipation to the enclosed body parts during use of these orthopedic compression supports. composite material (12). 2. the first layer and the second layer are knitted fabrics having pores naturally formed in the fabric, wherein each pore in the base layer has an area substantially greater than the area of each pore formed in the knitted fabric; The material according to claim 1, comprising: 3. 3. A material according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base layer consists of neoprene rubber. 4. 3. The material of claim 1 or 2, wherein the pores occupy about 3-10% of the surface area of the base layer. 5. The thickness of the base layer is about 1.6 to about 6.4 mm (about 1/16
3. The material of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the material is approximately 1/4 inch). 6. For supporting knees, elbows, wrists, etc., manufactured from a composite material according to claim 1 or 2, in which the composite materials are sewn together to form a cylindrical support with open ends. orthopedic support device. 7. An ankle brace made from a composite material according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the composite materials are sewn together to form a generally L-shaped cylindrical brace open at each opposite end. . 8. A flexible resilient composite material (12) used for manufacturing an elastic orthopedic compression support for surrounding and compressive support of a body part; a porous base layer (28) consisting of a flexible, resilient neoprene rubber closed cell material having a large number of pores (30) extending therethrough and distributed over the surface area of the sheet, the closed cell elastomeric material being an orthopedic material; from about 0.12 to about 0.48 g/cm^3 (about 1
a skin protective first layer (32) consisting of a soft resilient elastic porous fabric adhered to a first side of the base layer (28); ) a protective second layer (34) of a flexible resilient elastic porous fabric adhered to the opposite second side of the resilient first (32) and second resilient (34) layers. (28) so that the composite material (12) comprising the combination of base layer, first layer and second layer has sufficient elasticity to provide a useful level of orthopedic compression type support. and density, and the composite material is porous to air and water that penetrates the depth of the composite material, thereby making the enclosed body less difficult to use when using these orthopedic compression supports. Composite materials provided with means for dissipating heat and moisture to the part (
12). 9. 9. The material of claim 8, wherein the pores occupy from about 3 to about 10% of the surface area of the base layer. 10. 10. The material of claim 9, wherein the pores are substantially uniformly sized and substantially uniformly spaced across the surface of the base layer. 11. The thickness of the neoprene layer is about 1.6 to about 6.4 mm (
9. The material of claim 8, wherein the material is about 1/16 to about 1/4 inch. 12. A cylindrical orthopedic compression-type support for providing compression-type support to an enclosed body part, comprising: a cylindrical orthopedic compression-type support: in the form of a thin sheet, extending through the entire depth of the seat and distributed over the entire surface area of the seat; a porous base layer (28) comprising a flexible, resilient elastomeric closed cell material having a plurality of pores (30), the closed cell elastomeric material having sufficient elasticity to provide orthopedic compression type support and at least about 0.12g/cm^3 (10lb/ft^3
); a skin protective first layer (32) consisting of a flexible resilient elastic porous fabric attached to the inner surface of the base layer (28); and a flexible resilient elastic porous layer attached to the outer surface of the base layer (28); The first layer (32) and the second layer (34) are composed of a porous base layer (28).
), such that the composite material (12) comprising the combination of base layer, first layer and second layer has sufficient elasticity and density to provide a useful level of orthopedic compression type support. and that the composite material is porous to air and water that penetrate the depth of the composite material, thereby reducing heat to the enclosed body part during the use of these orthopedic compression supports. and a cylindrical support manufactured from a composite material (12) provided with means for dissipating moisture. 13. 13. The support of claim 12, wherein the pattern of holes occupies about 3 to about 10% of the surface area of the base layer. 14. The density of the base layer is about 0.12 to about 0.48 g/cw^
14. The support of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the support is about 10 to about 30 pounds/ft^3. 15. 14. A support according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the elastomeric closed cell base layer comprises neoprene rubber. 16. 13. The brace of claim 12, wherein the resulting orthopedic brace has mutually orthogonal lateral and longitudinal dimensions, and wherein the brace has greater stretch in the lateral direction than in the longitudinal direction. 17. A flexible resilient composite material (12) used for manufacturing an elastic orthopedic compression support for surrounding and compressive support of a body part; a porous base layer (28) of a flexible closed cell elastomeric material having a plurality of pores (30) therethrough and distributed over the surface area of the sheet, the closed cell elastomeric material being of an orthopedic compression type; of sufficient elasticity and density to provide support; a skin protective first layer (32) consisting of a soft resilient elastic porous fabric adhered to a first side of the base layer (28); and a protective second layer (34) of a flexible resilient elastic porous fabric adhered to the opposite second side, the first layer (32) and the second layer (34) being attached to the porous base layer (28); The first and second fabric layers each have an elasticity that is greater than the elasticity of the perforated closed cell elastomeric base layer, providing a means for increasing the elasticity of the composite material (12 ) maintains sufficient elasticity and density to provide a useful level of orthopedic compression-type support, and the composite material is porous to air and water that penetrate the depth of the composite material. , a composite material (12) thereby providing a means for heat and moisture dissipation to the enclosed body part during use of these orthopedic compression supports. 18. The base layer material is at least about 0.12 g/cm^3 (
Claim 17 having a density of 10 lb/ft^3)
Materials listed in Section. 19. 19. The material of claim 18, wherein the pores occupy from about 3 to about 10% of the surface area of the base layer. 20. the first layer and the second layer are knitted fabrics having pores naturally formed in the fabric, wherein each pore in the base layer has an area substantially greater than the area of each pore formed in the knitted fabric; 18. The material according to claim 17, comprising: 21. A cylindrical orthopedic compression-type support for providing compression-type support to an enclosed body part; in the form of a thin sheet, extending through the entire depth of the seat and distributed over the surface area of the seat; a porous base layer (28) comprising a flexible closed cell elastomeric material having a large number of pores (30), the closed cell elastomeric material having sufficient elasticity and density to provide orthopedic compression type support; a skin protective first layer (32) consisting of a flexible resilient elastic porous fabric adhered to the inner surface of the base layer (28); and a protective first layer (32) consisting of a flexible resilient elastic porous fabric attached to the outer surface of the base layer (28). The first layer (32) and the second layer (34) are composed of a porous base layer (28).
), the first and second fabric layers each have a resiliency greater than the resiliency of the perforated closed cell elastomer base layer, thereby providing a means for increasing the resiliency of the composite comprising the combination of the base layer, first layer and second layer. The material (12) maintains sufficient elasticity and density to provide a useful level of orthopedic compression type support, and the composite material is porous to air and water so that these A cylindrical support made of a composite material (12) which extends through the body and thereby provides a means for the dissipation of heat and moisture to the enclosed body part during use of these orthopedic compression supports. 22. at least about 0.12 g of elastomeric base material
/cm^3 (10 lb/ft^3) density,
A support according to claim 21. 23. 23. The support of claim 22, wherein the pores occupy about 3 to about 10% of the surface area of the base layer. 24. The first layer and the second layer are knitted fabrics having pores naturally formed in the fabric, and each pore in the base layer has an area substantially greater than the area of each pore formed in the knitted fabric. , the support according to claim 21. 25. 22. The support of claim 21, wherein the first layer and the second layer are surface adhesively attached to each opposite side of the foraminous base layer over substantially the entire contacting surface area.