Orthoses

• US 20050043660A1
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IZEX Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IZEX Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Oven, Duane P., Stark, John G.
• Application Number:
  US10/403,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20050043660A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0106 for the knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/012 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/024 having pressure pads connected in a frame for reduction or correction of the curvature of the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/028 Braces for providing support to the lower back, e.g. lumbo sacral supports

Abstract

Exercise orthoses are described that include a frame, a fluid bladder held by the frame, a pressure sensor attached to the fluid bladder and a microprocessor receiving the pressure measurements. The microprocessor monitors variations in pressure and determines differences between the measured pressures and predetermined target values. The frame can be designed to support a hinge joint or at least one vertebra. Furthermore, corrective back orthoses are described that include a frame force applicators connected to the frame to apply force to the patient'"'"'s spine, a sensor that measures forces associated with the force applicators and a control unit that monitors forces measured by the sensor. The corrective back orthosis can include fluid bladders as force applicators. The control unit can include a microprocessor.

Claims

1. A method of correcting spinal misalignment comprising the step of applying appropriate corrective forces to said spine using a back orthosis comprising:

a) force applicators connected to a frame that fits around at least a portion of a patient'"'"'s torso to surround a portion of said patient'"'"'s spine, b) a sensor that measures forces associated with said force applicators and c) a control unit that displays values related to said measured forces.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said appropriate corrective forces are oriented along a plurality of vectors.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said back orthosis further comprises a microprocessor, which monitors pressures measured by said sensor and determines variation in said measured pressure and predetermined desired values.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said microprocessor is interfaced to a graphic display to provide a graphic analysis of spinal position and of the vectors of corrective forces used to correct said position.

5. An ambulatory monitoring apparatus comprising an accelerometer and a controller wherein the accelerometer communicates measurements to controller, the controller comprising a microprocessor that monitors the accelerometer values.

6. The monitoring apparatus of claim 5 wherein the controller comprises a display that shows values related to the accelerometer measurements.

7. The monitoring apparatus of claim 5 wherein the controller comprises a radio transmitter.

8. The monitoring apparatus of claim 5 wherein the controller comprises non-volatile memory.

9. The monitoring apparatus of claim 5 wherein the controller provides an alarm upon detecting an acceleration beyond a cut-off value.

10. The monitoring apparatus of claim 5 wherein the accelerometer is connected to a frame that fits around a body portion.

11. The monitoring apparatus of claim 10 wherein frame comprises a brace that supports flexibly connected body portions.

12. A method of monitoring human performance, the method comprising monitoring the output of an accelerometer associated with a patient, wherein the monitoring is performed with an ambulatory controller comprising a microprocessor.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the attributes of a physically active patient are monitored.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the attributes of an injured patient are monitored.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the controller transmits radio waves to a base station.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the controller displays values relating to the accelerometer measurements.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the controller is remotely programmable.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the controller provides an alarm when an acceleration beyond a cut-off value is measured.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the accelerometer measures acceleration of a patient'"'"'s back.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the controller provides feedback with respect to actual performance relative to target performance.