WO2013080144A1

WO2013080144A1 - Orthopedic aid

Info

Publication number: WO2013080144A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/056800
Authority: WO
Inventors: Flavio Forner
Original assignee: Flavio Forner
Priority date: 2011-11-29
Filing date: 2012-11-28
Publication date: 2013-06-06
Also published as: ITTV20110048U1

Abstract

An orthopedic aid constituted by a support, which can be associated detachably with a selected part of the human body, provided with a plurality of seats for the temporary and selective accommodation of one or more magnets, with the desired polarity directed toward the human body, and of one or more devices comprising at least one metallic body provided with a first metallic layer and with at least one second metallic layer based on a metal selected from ruthenium, rhodium and platinum and at least partially superimposed on the first layer, and an insulating layer that covers at least partially the metallic body.

Description

ORTHOPEDIC AID

The present invention relates to an orthopedic aid suitable to reduce pain, increase balance, reduce fatigue during the carrying out of daily activities and facilitate the elimination of lactic acid during sports activity.

Cuffs or similar devices are currently known which, when they are worn by the user, apply a given pressure to predefined points of the body, which are known and widely used in reflexology so as to stimulate reflexes that are transmitted to the brain of the user.

By doing so, the brain receives a greater flow of neurological information, to which it responds by increasing the functional capabilities of the body of the user.

The beneficial effects arising from direct or indirect contact of some metals with some parts of the human body are also known.

It is known, therefore, to cure some forms of pain by applying for example metallic plates or magnetic elements in adapted regions of application of the body.

Application WO 2010/100587, claiming an Italian priority dated March 2, 2009, is also known which claims a device for improving the physical performance and the balance-keeping ability of a person, the device being adapted to be placed adjacent to a skin portion of the person and comprising at least one metallic body provided with a first metallic layer and with at least one second metallic layer based on a metal selected from ruthenium, rhodium and platinum and at least partially superimposed on the first layer and comprising an insulating layer that covers at least partially the metallic body.

These solutions of a known type have several drawbacks. The aim of the invention is to provide an orthopedic aid that can be used quickly and easily in order to achieve an analgesic and/or biostimulating treatment that is always available, easy to transport and ready for use at any time and place, with an evident and considerable advantage with respect to classic analgesic treatments.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide an orthopedic aid that can be used even by the individual user without requiring help by third parties for its use, allowing to achieve a selected treatment according to the choice of the placement of the magnets (15) and of the devices (16).

Another object is to provide an orthopedic aid that is structurally simple and has low manufacturing costs.

This aim and these objects, as well as others that will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by an orthopedic aid, characterized in that it is constituted by a support, which can be associated detachably with a selected part of the human body, provided with a plurality of seats for the temporary and selective accommodation of one or more magnets, with the desired polarity directed toward said human body, and of one or more devices adapted to be arranged adjacent to said human body and comprising at least one metallic body provided with a first metallic layer and with at least one second metallic layer based on a metal selected from ruthenium, rhodium and platinum and at least partially superimposed on said first layer, and an insulating layer that covers at least partially said metallic body.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the orthopedic aid according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the orthopedic aid according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a view of the orthopedic aid according to the invention worn by a user;

Figures 4 to 17 illustrate the possible arrangements of the magnets and of the devices in the seats.

In the exemplary embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.

With reference to the figures cited above, the numeral 1 designates an orthopedic aid constituted by a support 2, which is made of soft material having the desired shape so that it can be adapted to the desired body part of the user 3 with which it is temporarily associated.

The support 2 can thus be associated with the back 4 or with a shoulder 5 or with an arm 6 or with an elbow 7 or with a lower limb.

The support 2, in the particular embodiment shown, is constituted by two first layers 8a, 8b of non-woven fabric which is preferably non- allergenic, between which a second layer 9 of soft sponge-like foamed material, such as neoprene, is interposed.

The support 2 has, in plan view, substantially the shape of a parallelepiped from the longitudinal sides of which two pairs of tabs 10a, 10b, 1 1a, l ib protrude proximate to the transverse sides.

The support 2 in fact can be associated detachably with a selected part of the human body by means of adapted elasticized bands 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, one end of which is coupled to one of the tabs 10a, 10b, 1 1a, l ib and the other end of which has means 13 for temporary coupling, such as for example layers of the material known by the trademark Velcro and/or adapted and known guiding elements or rings.

The support 2 has, at the first layer 8 that is in contact with the skin of the user, a plurality of seats 14 for the temporary and selective accommodation of one or more magnets 15 and of one or more devices 16 that are adapted to be arranged adjacent to the human body and comprise at least one metallic body provided with a first metallic layer and with at least one second metallic layer, based on a metal selected from ruthenium, rhodium and platinum and at least partially superimposed on the first layer, and an insulating layer that covers at least partially the metallic body.

Each one of the plurality of seats 14 is constituted advantageously by pockets of suitable depth in order to accommodate inside them the magnets 15 or the devices 16 and has an opening 17 that is directed upward and therefore toward the head of the user once the support 2 has been put on.

The seats 14 are arranged in a selected sequence with respect to each other; moreover, they are arranged mutually adjacent along a single direction, which is straight or curved or inclined, or according to an echelon or matrix, as in the illustrated solution, which shows for example twelve of them arranged on three rows by four columns.

The shape of the magnets 15 and of the devices 16 is of course such as to allow their temporary and selective placement within one of the seats 14.

Advantageously, both the magnets 15 and the devices 16 have a disklike shape.

The magnets 15 are arranged within the seats 14 so that either the south pole 18 or the north pole 19 are directed toward the body of the user once the support 2 has been put on.

The magnets 15 are advantageously of the neodymium type.

The devices 16 are of the type known by the trademark AURA ACTIVATOR and have the shape of a plate that has a preferably circular cross-section in plan view and are constituted by a metallic body that preferably has a thickness comprised between approximately 0.2 mm and approximately 5 mm, with a diameter comprised between approximately 10 mm and approximately 40 mm.

Preferably, if the thickness of the metallic body is approximately 0.3 mm, the diameter is approximately 15 mm; if the thickness of the metallic body is approximately 0.3 mm, the diameter is approximately 10 mm, i.e., so that the metallic body comprises a certain total mass of metal.

Preferably, the metallic body comprises a central layer based on silver (Ag), coated with an intermediate layer based on ruthenium (Ru), on the outside of which the insulating coating is provided.

The central layer has a thickness comprised between approximately 0.2 and 0.5 mm, while the intermediate layer has a thickness comprised between approximately 2 and 6 μ.

The intermediate layer 5 is shaped so as to cover both of the opposite main surfaces S I, S2 of the central layer 4.

In other versions, the intermediate layer can cover only one of the two opposite surfaces of the central layer, optionally partially.

As an alternative, the metallic body furthermore comprises an outer layer based on rhodium (Rh), which is arranged outside the intermediate layer based on ruthenium, so as to be interposed between the latter and the insulating coating.

The outer layer can be applied to both opposite main surfaces of the intermediate layer or on just one of the two surfaces and/or so as to partially cover it/them.

The outer layer has a thickness comprised between approximately 2 and 3 μ.

As an alternative, the metallic body comprises a central layer based on silver (Ag), coated by a middle layer based on rhodium (Rh), on the outside of which the insulating coating is applied.

The middle layer has a thickness comprised between approximately 2 and 6 μ.

The middle layer also is shaped so as to cover both opposite main surfaces of the central layer.

As an alternative, the middle layer can cover only one of the two opposite surfaces of the central layer, optionally partially.

In order to provide the outer layer based on ruthenium, ruthenium for plating baths at a concentration comprised between 2 and 9 g/1 is used.

In order to provide the layers based on rhodium, rhodium for plating baths having a concentration comprised between 1 and 8 g/1 is used.

These concentration values allow the use of very short contact times between the metallic body and the plating bath, i.e., in the order of seconds, and at the same time obtain the thicknesses cited above.

The contact time is comprised between 2 and 10 seconds, although the metallic body can be left in contact with the plating bath even for 10 minutes.

By reducing contact times it is possible, moreover, to prevent the layer based on rhodium from blackening and to use even low voltages for the plating bath, i.e., in the order of 6-10 volts.

Moreover, in order to obtain the thicknesses cited above and at the same time prevent the rhodium-based layer from tending to separate from the metallic body to which it is applied, provisions are made for immersing the body in the plating bath for a desired time interval that is suitable to yield a rhodium-based layer of the desired thickness, such as to prevent its separation from said body, repeatedly alternating these immersion operations with washes and degreasing operations as explained in more detail hereinafter.

As an alternative, the central layer is based on gold (Au).

As an alternative, the metallic body comprises a central layer based on gold (Au), coated by an intermediate layer based on ruthenium (Ru), on the outside of which there is a polymeric coating.

As an alternative, the metallic body furthermore comprises a layer based on platinum (Pt), which is interposed between the central layer based on gold (Au) and the intermediate layer based on ruthenium (Ru), in addition to the outer layer based on rhodium (Rh), and, on the outside of the latter, the insulating coating.

As an alternative, the metallic body comprises a central layer based on gold (Au), coated by a layer based on rhodium (Rh), on the outside of which the insulating coating is applied.

As an alternative, the central layer of the metallic body can be based on platinum, copper, steel, aluminum, or any other desired metal.

The central layer of the metallic body can also be made of an alloy based on silver and/or gold and/or platinum and/or copper and/or aluminum or any other desired metallic alloy.

In order to obtain the central layer it is possible to use high-purity silver, for example .999 silver.

As an alternative, the device 16 can have shapes other than a plate, for example it can be in the form of a wire that preferably has a diameter comprised between 0.2 mm and 1.2 cm.

At the first layer 8b that is directed away from the body of the user, there is, longitudinally and in a middle region of the support 2, a pocket 20 that accommodates a rigid or semirigid and extractable rod 21 that is adapted to reinforce the sacrolumbar portion without interfering with the muscles.

The arrangement of the magnets 15 and of the devices 16 in the seats

14 can vary according to the requirements and to the treatment that one wishes to obtain on the body.

Figures 4 to 17 illustrate some possible arrangements of the magnets

15 and of the devices 16; thus, in Figure 4 there is an arrangement that is selected to treat preferably pain in the dorsolumbar spine; in Figure 5, to treat pain at the sacrolumbar spine; in Figure 6, to treat a pain in the left lumbar region; in Figure 7, to treat pain of the dorsolumbar column; in Figure 8, to treat pain of the sacrolumbar column; in Figure 9, to treat pain at the left lumbar region; in Figure 10, to treat vertebral instability; in Figure 1 1 , to treat fibromyalgia; in Figure 12, to treat vertebral fracture; in Figure 13, to treat left L5-S 1 radiculalgia; in Figure 14, to treat osteoporosis of the lumbar column; in Figure 15, to treat right hip arthrosis; in Figure 16, for right hip postoperative treatment; in Figure 17, for use in sports.

It has been found that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, an invention having been devised that can be applied quickly and easily to the human body to achieve an analgesic and/or biostimulating treatment that is always available, easy to transport and ready for use at any time and place, with an evident and substantial advantage over classic analgesic treatments, which often require sessions lasting several minutes per day over weeks.

The invention can also be used by the individual user without requiring aid by third parties for its use, allowing, depending on the choice of the placement of the magnets 15 and of the devices 16, to achieve a selected treatment of pain affecting the spinal column and the pelvis, improving the results obtained with manipulation treatment, as well as in the treatment of osteoporosis and fibromyalgia, against chronic fatigue and, in orthopedics, for the consolidation of vertebral fractures, whereas in the field of sports it increases the concentration of Ca++ ions on the cell membrane, facilitating the elimination of lactic acid and furthermore achieving an increase in balance and reduced fatigue when carrying out everyday activities, better elimination of lactic acid during sports activities.

The use of the invention can also be extended to animals or can be applied for example to a trunk or a branch or a stem of a plant.

The invention is of course susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the accompanying claims.

The materials used, as well as the dimensions that constitute the individual components of the invention, may of course be more pertinent according to specific requirements.

The various means for performing certain different functions need not certainly coexist only in the illustrated embodiment but can be present per se in many embodiments, including embodiments that are not illustrated.

The characteristics indicated as advantageous, convenient or the like can also be omitted or be replaced with equivalents.

The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application no. TV201 1U000048, from which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. An orthopedic aid (1), characterized in that it is constituted by a support (2), which can be associated detachably with a selected part of the human body, provided with a plurality of seats (14) for the temporary and selective accommodation of one or more magnets (15), with the desired polarity directed toward said human body, and of one or more devices (16) adapted to be arranged adjacent to said human body and comprising at least one metallic body provided with a first metallic layer and with at least one second metallic layer based on a metal selected from ruthenium, rhodium and platinum and at least partially superimposed on said first layer, and an insulating layer that covers at least partially said metallic body.

2. The aid according to claim 1 , characterized in that said seats (14) are arranged with respect to each other in a selected sequence, one adjacent to the other along a single straight or curved or inclined direction or according to an echelon or matrix.

3. The aid according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said support (2), made of soft material having the desired shape, can be associated with the back (4) or with a shoulder (5) or with an arm (6) or with an elbow (7) or with a lower limb.

4. The aid according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support (2) is constituted by two first layers (8a, 8b) of non-woven fabric which is preferably non-allergenic, between which a second layer (9) of soft spongy foamed material such as neoprene is interposed.

5. The aid according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support (2) has, in plan view, substantially the shape of a parallelepiped from the longitudinal sides of which two pairs of tabs (10a, 10b, 1 1a, l ib) protrude proximate to the transverse sides.

6. The aid according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support (2) can be associated detachably with a selected part of the human body by means of adapted elasticized bands (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), one end of which is coupled to one of said tabs (10a, 10b, 1 1a, l ib) and the other end of which has means (13) for temporary coupling, such as layers of material known by the trademark Velcro and/or adapted and known guiding elements or rings.

7. The aid according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support (2) has, at the first layer (8a) that is in contact with the skin of the user, a plurality of seats (14) for the temporary and selective accommodation of one or more of said magnets (15) and of one or more of said devices (16).

8. The aid according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each one of said plurality of seats (14) is constituted by pockets of suitable depth in order to accommodate inside them said magnets (15) or said devices (16) and has an opening (17) that is directed upward and therefore toward the head of the user once the support (2) has been put on.

9. The aid according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said seats (14) are arranged according to an echelon or matrix that comprises three rows and four columns.

10. The aid according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shapes of said magnets (15) and devices (16) are such as to allow their temporary and selective placement within one of said seats (14).

1 1. The aid according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said magnets (15) and said devices (16) have a disklike shape.

12. The aid according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said magnets (15) can be arranged within said seats (14) so that either the south pole (18) or the north pole (19) are directed toward the body of the user once said support (2) has been put on.

13. The aid according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said magnets (15) are of the neodymium type.

14. The aid according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pocket (20) is provided at said first layer (8b) that is directed away from the body of the user, longitudinally and in a central region with respect to the support (2), and accommodates a rigid or semirigid and extractable rod (21) adapted to reinforce the sacrolumbar portion without interfering with the muscles.

15. The aid according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it can be used on animals or on a trunk or on a branch or on a stem of a plant.