Orthotic device and methods for limiting expansion of a patient's chest

• US 20010034498A1
• Filed: 01/17/2001
• Published: 10/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bio Cybernetics International
• Original Assignee: Bio Cybernetics International
• Inventors: Heinz, Tom, Heyman, Arnold M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,517,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/03 Corsets or bandages for abdomen, teat or breast support, with or without pads trusses A61F5/24, pressure-pads A61F5/30; brassieres A41C3/00

Abstract

An orthotic device includes a pair of panel members and a mechanical advantage device that bridges the pair of panel members together to form a belt with two free end portions detachably connectable to each other. The mechanical advantage device has a drawstring element that causes the mechanical advantage device to move from an expanded state wherein the bridged end portions are disposed apart from one another to a contracted state wherein the respective bridged end portions are drawn towards each other. Methods are also described. One method includes the steps of donning the orthotic device about the patient'"'"'s chest, connecting the free end portions of the orthotic device together with the mechanical advantage device in the expanded state, and pulling the drawstring element a selected distance to move the mechanical advantage device from the expanded state to the contracted state for a desired level of tightening.

Claims

1. A method for limiting expansion of a patient'"'"'s chest, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an orthotic device sized and adapted to be donned around the patient'"'"'s chest, the orthotic device having a pair of panel members fabricated from a flexible material and a mechanical advantage device, the pair of panel members bridged at respective end portions to each other by the mechanical advantage device to form a belt with two free end portions detachably connectable to each other, the mechanical advantage device having a drawstring element operably connected to and extending from the mechanical advantage device for causing the mechanical advantage device to move from an expanded state wherein the respective bridged end portions are disposed apart from one another to a contracted state wherein the respective bridged end portions are drawn towards each other;

donning the orthotic device about the patient'"'"'s chest;

connecting the free end portions of the orthotic device together while the mechanical advantage device is in the expanded state; and

pulling the drawstring element a selected distance thereby moving the mechanical advantage device from the expanded state to the contracted state, the selected distance being commensurate with a desired level of tightening of the orthotic device about the patient'"'"'s chest to limit the expansion of the patient'"'"'s chest.

2. A method according to

claim 1

, further comprising the steps of grabbing the drawstring element releasably connected to one free end portion when the mechanical advantage device is in the expanded state, pulling the drawstring element the selected distance thereby moving the mechanical advantage device to the contracted state and releasably connecting the drawstring element to the other free end portion while the mechanical advantage device is in the contracted state.

3. A method according to

claim 2

, wherein releasably connecting the drawstring element to the other free end portion retains the mechanical advantage device in the contracted state.

4. A method according to

claim 2

, further comprising the step of releasably connecting the drawstring element to the one first free end portion when the mechanical advantage device is in the expanded state and before the step of grabbing the drawstring element.

5. A method according to

claim 4

, further comprising the step of disconnecting the releasably connected drawstring element from the one free end portion after the step of grabbing the drawstring element.

6. A method according to

claim 1

, further comprising the step of providing the drawstring element with an endless loop drawstring and a handle connected to a segment of the endless loop drawstring while another segment of the endless loop drawstring is operably connected to the mechanical advantage device.

7. A method according to

claim 6

, further comprising the step of providing the handle that is selectably and releasably connected to either one of the two free end portions of the pair of panel members.

8. A method according to

claim 7

, further comprising the steps of grabbing the handle releasably connected to the orthotic device when the mechanical advantage device is in the expanded state, disconnecting the releasably connected handle from the orthotic device, pulling the handle the selected distance thereby moving the mechanical advantage device to the contracted state and releasably connecting the handle to the orthotic device while the mechanical advantage device is in the contracted state.

9. A method according to

claim 8

, wherein the steps of grabbing the handle, disconnecting the releasably connected handle, pull the handle and releasably connecting the handle is achieved using one hand of the patient.

10. A method according to

claim 1

, further comprising the step of providing each one of the pair of panel members with hook-and-loop material attached exteriorly to at least respective ones of the front end portions.

11. A method according to

claim 10

, further comprising the step of providing the drawstring element with a handle having a tab portion fabricated from hook-and-loop material and a ring portion connected to the handle portion and fabricated from a stiff material.

12. A method according to

claim 1

, further comprising the step of providing the mechanical advantage device with two pulley banks, each pulley bank having a base member and a plurality of pulleys rotatably connected to the base member.

13. A method according to

claim 12

, further comprising the step of providing respective ones of the pulley banks so that the pulley banks are detachably connected to the bridged end portions of the panel members.

14. A method according to

claim 1

, further comprising the step of providing the orthotic device with a pair of shoulder straps, each strap interconnecting the bridged end portion and the free end portion of each respective panel member.

15. A method according to

claim 14

, further comprising the step of providing each one of the pair of shoulder straps as being adjustable.

16. A method according to

claim 1

, wherein the step of pulling the drawstring element occurs at discretion of the patient.

17. A method for mitigating chest pain in a patient'"'"'s chest resulting from expansion of a surgically repaired split sternum by limiting chest expansion, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an orthotic device sized and adapted to be donned around the patient'"'"'s chest, the orthotic device having a pair of panel members fabricated from a flexible material and a mechanical advantage device, the pair of panel members bridged at respective end portions to each other by the mechanical advantage device to form a belt with two free end portions detachably connectable to each other, the mechanical advantage device having a drawstring element operably connected to and extending from the mechanical advantage device for causing the mechanical advantage device to move from an expanded state wherein the respective bridged end portions are disposed apart from one another to a contracted state wherein the respective bridged end portions are drawn towards each other;

donning the orthotic device about the patient'"'"'s chest;

connecting the free end portions of the orthotic device together while the mechanical advantage device is in the expanded state; and

pulling the drawstring element a selected distance thereby moving the mechanical advantage device from the expanded state to the contracted state, the selected distance being commensurate with a desired level of tightening of the orthotic device about the patient'"'"'s chest to limit the expansion of the surgically repaired split sternum thereby minimizing the chest pain in the patient'"'"'s chest.

18. An orthotic device for limiting expansion of a patient'"'"'s chest, comprising:

a pair of panel members fabricated from a flexible material, each panel member having a first end portion and a free end portion with the free end portions detachably connectable to each other;

a mechanical advantage device bridging together respective ones of the first end portions to form a belt having bridged first end portions, the mechanical advantage device including a drawstring element operably connected thereto and extending therefrom for causing the mechanical advantage device to move from an expanded state wherein the respective bridged first end portions are disposed apart from one another to a contracted state wherein the respective bridged first end portions are drawn towards each other, and

a pair of shoulder straps, respective ones of the pair of shoulder straps interconnecting the mechanical advantage device and the free end portion of each one of the respective panel members for retaining the orthotic device about the patient'"'"'s chest when the mechanical advantage device is in the expanded state, wherein

the orthotic device is sized and adapted to be donned about the patient'"'"'s chest with the free end portions being connected together and with the mechanical advantage device being in the expanded state such that pulling the drawstring element a selected distance moves the mechanical advantage device from the expanded state to the contracted state, the selected distance being commensurate with a desired level of tightening of the orthotic device about the patient'"'"'s chest to limit the expansion of the patient'"'"'s chest.

19. An orthotic device according to

claim 18

, wherein the drawstring element is releasably connectable to either one of the pair of panel members.

20. An orthotic device according to

claim 18

, wherein the drawstring element includes an endless loop drawstring and a handle connected to a segment of the endless loop drawstring while another segment of the endless loop drawstring is operably connected to the mechanical advantage device.

21. An orthotic device according to

claim 20

, wherein the handle has a tab portion fabricated from hook-and-loop material and a ring portion connected to the tab portion and fabricated from a stiff material.

22. An orthotic device according to

claim 20

, wherein the handle is selectably and releasably connected to either one of the two free end portions of the pair of panel members.

23. An orthotic device according to

claim 18

, wherein each one of the pair of panel members includes hook-and-loop material attached exteriorly to at least respective ones of the free end portions.

24. An orthotic device according to

claim 18

, wherein the mechanical advantage device includes two pulley banks, each pulley bank having a base member and a plurality of pulleys rotatably connected to the base member.

25. An orthotic device according to

claim 24

, wherein respective ones of the pulley banks are detachably connected to the bridged first end portions of the panel members.

26. An orthotic device according to

claim 25

, wherein each base member has an opening formed therethrough, each opening sized to receive a respective one of the bridged first end portions of the panel members so that the respective received bridged first end portion can be folded back and releasably connected to itself.

27. An orthotic device according to

claim 26

, wherein each one of the bridged first end portions include hook and loop material.

28. An orthotic device according to

claim 24

, further comprising a pair of fasteners, each fastener interconnected to and between a respective one of the base members and a respective one of the shoulder straps.

29. An orthotic device according to

claim 28

, wherein each fastener is pivotably connected to a respective one of the base members.

30. An orthotic device according to

claim 28

, wherein each strap has a rear end strap portion and each fastener has a slot formed therethrough and sized to receive the rear end strap portion of a respective strap so that the rear end strap portion of the strap loops through the fastener.

31. An orthotic device according to

claim 30

, wherein each strap has a front end strap portion sized and adapted for being releasably connected to one of a respective one of the free end portions of the panel members and itself.

32. An orthotic device according to

claim 31

, wherein each front end strap portion of a respective strap includes hook and loop material.

33. An orthotic device according to

claim 31

, wherein each front end strap portion is sized to extend behind and bend about a respective one of the free end portions in order to connect to itself to form a strap loop slidable along the respective one of the free end portions.

34. An orthotic device according to

claim 33

, wherein each front end strap portion connects to itself by hook and loop material.

35. An orthotic device according to

claim 18

, further comprising a pair of adjustor elements, each adjustor element fixedly connected to a respective distal end of the rear end strap portion of a respective strap and slidably connected to the strap between the distal end and the front end strap portion, the adjustor element slidable along the strap for adjusting the belt at a desired vertical position about the patient'"'"'s chest.

36. An orthotic device according to

claim 18

, wherein each one of the pair of shoulder straps is adjustable.