DYNAMIC HIP STABILIZER
First Claim
1. A dynamic hip stabilizer for reducing the risk of hip dislocation of a wearer, the stabilizer comprising:
- a pelvic girdle having an upper portion configured for defining an upper opening for the wearer'"'"'s waist, a lower portion configured for defining a lower opening for the wearer'"'"'s hips, and a posterior portion configured for engaging the wearer'"'"'s lower back when the pelvic girdle is worn by the wearer;
at least one thigh cuff defining lower and upper openings for the wearer'"'"'s thigh;
means for generating an elastic tensile force between the pelvic girdle and the thigh cuff in a longitudinal direction of the dynamic hip stabilizer so as to hold the wearer'"'"'s thigh to the wearer'"'"'s pelvis;
means for engaging the wearer'"'"'s shoulders to limit movement of the pelvic girdle toward the thigh cuff caused by the elastic tensile force; and
means for stiffening the posterior portion of the pelvic girdle relative to the upper and lower portions of the pelvic girdle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dynamic hip stabilizer utilized to reduce the risk of postoperative and recurrent traumatic hip dislocations. The hip stabilizer includes a pelvic girdle, at least one thigh cuff, and one or more elements for generating an elastic tensile force between the girdle and cuff. The girdle has an upper portion configured for defining an upper opening for the wearer'"'"'s waist, a lower portion configured for defining a lower opening for the wearer'"'"'s hips, and a posterior portion configured for engaging the wearer'"'"'s lower back. The hip stabilizer further includes one or more elements for engaging the wearer'"'"'s shoulders to limit movement of the girdle toward the thigh cuffs caused by the elastic tensile force, and one or more elements for stiffening the posterior portion of the girdle.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A dynamic hip stabilizer for reducing the risk of hip dislocation of a wearer, the stabilizer comprising:
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a pelvic girdle having an upper portion configured for defining an upper opening for the wearer'"'"'s waist, a lower portion configured for defining a lower opening for the wearer'"'"'s hips, and a posterior portion configured for engaging the wearer'"'"'s lower back when the pelvic girdle is worn by the wearer;
at least one thigh cuff defining lower and upper openings for the wearer'"'"'s thigh;
means for generating an elastic tensile force between the pelvic girdle and the thigh cuff in a longitudinal direction of the dynamic hip stabilizer so as to hold the wearer'"'"'s thigh to the wearer'"'"'s pelvis;
means for engaging the wearer'"'"'s shoulders to limit movement of the pelvic girdle toward the thigh cuff caused by the elastic tensile force; and
means for stiffening the posterior portion of the pelvic girdle relative to the upper and lower portions of the pelvic girdle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A dynamic hip stabilizer worn by a wearer to reduce the risk of hip dislocation of the wearer, the stabilizer comprising:
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a pelvic girdle comprising an outer layer of a fabric material overlying an inner layer of a soft lining material, the pelvic girdle being narrower at an uppermost extent thereof to define an upper opening for the wearer'"'"'s waist and being wider at a lowermost extent thereof to define a lower opening for the wearer'"'"'s hips;
means for adjusting the sizes of the upper and lower openings of the pelvic girdle;
at least one thigh cuff formed of an outer layer of fabric material overlying an inner layer of a soft lining material, the thigh cuff being wider at an uppermost extent thereof to define an upper opening for a thigh of the wearer and being narrower at a lowermost extent thereof to define a lower opening for the wearer'"'"'s thigh;
means for adjusting the sizes of the upper and lower openings of the thigh cuff;
elastic cables attached to the pelvic girdle and the thigh cuff and individually generating elastic tensile forces between the pelvic girdle and the thigh cuff to inhibit rotation of the pelvic girdle on the wearer, control excessive adduction, flexion and extension, provide hip stability by controlling and modifying hip motions through increasing tension as extremes of a hip motion are approached, and provide hip stability by maintaining elevated abductor tension;
means associated with the pelvic girdle for guiding and controlling movement of the elastic cables in the longitudinal direction of the stabilizer and for inhibiting movement of the elastic cables in directions transverse to the longitudinal direction of the stabilizer during movement of the wearer'"'"'s hips and the wearer'"'"'s thighs relative to the wearer'"'"'s hips;
shoulder straps attached to the upper portion of the pelvic girdle for engaging the wearer'"'"'s shoulders to limit movement of the pelvic girdle toward the thigh cuff caused by the elastic tensile force; and
an insert within the posterior portion of the pelvic girdle, the insert stiffening the posterior portion relative to the upper and lower portions of the pelvic girdle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification