Orthopedic braces and casts with aerating arrangements

• US 20070191749A1
• Filed: 02/14/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alessandro Barberio
• Original Assignee: Alessandro Barberio
• Inventors: Barberio, Alessandro
• Granted Patent: US 8,012,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/23
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/07 Linings therefor lining laminated with upper A43B23/026
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/08 with air-holes, with or without closures
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/20 Ankle-joint supports or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0104 without articulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0106 for the knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0118 for the arms, hands or fingers

Abstract

A brace for providing therapeutic pressure to a person'"'"'s or animal'"'"'s body part is provided together with a venting device for use with a cast or brace. The brace has a rigid exterior shell which is perforated over a substantial portion of its surface. An interior resilient liner is arranged in the shell and this liner is also perforated. At least a portion of the liner comprises two inner and outer layers of flexible material and spacer members connecting these layers and forming air passageways. At least the inner layer is porous. The venting device comprises two half sections which, when combined together, enclose a body part. Each half section is preformed to closely fit around a curved side of the body part and comprises spaced-apart inner and outer layers of flexible material with at least the inner layer being porous. Again, spacer members are arranged between and connect these layers and form air passageways.

Claims

1. A brace for providing therapeutic pressure to a person'"'"'s or animal'"'"'s body part said brace comprising:

a rigid exterior shell adapted to fit around at least a major portion of said body part and having interior and exterior surfaces, said shell being perforated over a substantial portion of each of said interior and exterior surfaces so as to allow air to pass through the shell between said surfaces;

an interior liner arranged in said shell to cushion said body part, said liner including two, spaced-apart, inner and outer layers of flexible material that extend substantially parallel to each other and spacer members arranged between and connecting said inner and outer layers, at least said inner layer being porous so as to allow air to pass through the inner layer, said spacer members forming air passageways between adjacent spacer members so that air can pass along said passageways to allow air circulation in said liner and through said inner layer during use of the brace; and

at least one connector for securing said brace on the body part.

2. A brace according to claim 1 wherein at least said inner layer of the liner is elastomeric, is made of ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA), and has numerous holes distributed evenly over inner and outer surfaces thereof and extending through the inner layer.

3. A brace according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said spacer members are flexible, elongate members each of which extends parallel to adjacent spacer members.

4. A brace according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said brace is a walking brace adapted for providing therapeutic pressure to a lower leg of a person and having a foot section adapted to cover at least a major portion of the sole of a foot of said person.

5. A brace according to claim 4 including at least one inflatable air cell located between said outer layer and said shell and capable of providing an adjustable desired therapeutic pressure to said lower leg during use of said brace.

6. A brace according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said exterior shell is made of a rigid, strong plastics material formed with numerous, closely spaced, small perforations extending over at least most of said interior and exterior surfaces of the shell.

7. A brace according to claim 4 or 5 wherein said walking brace includes a lower leg section adapted to cover at least a portion of said person'"'"'s lower leg above his or her ankle.

8. A brace according to any one of claims 4, 5 and 7 wherein said foot section includes a rigid sole member shaped to and sized to support at least a major portion of said sole of the person'"'"'s foot, said sole member having a network of air passageways formed in a top surface of the sole member, said network including aperture means for allowing air to flow into and out of said air passageways during use of said walking brace.

9. A brace according to claim 8 including an inner, flexible, sole layer covering said rigid sole member, said sole layer being perforated with numerous small air holes to permit air to flow between said air passageways and a top surface of the sole layer.

10. A brace according to any one of claims 4, 5 and 7 to 9 wherein said exterior shell includes a rigid, front shell section adapted to cover a front area of said lower leg and a top surface of said foot of said person, said liner extends between said front shell section and said lower leg during use of said brace, and said at least one connector is adapted to secure said front shell section to a rear shell section forming a remainder of said exterior shell.

11. A brace according to any one of claims 4, 5 and 7 to 10 including a detachable foot piece of tough, elastomeric material mountable on a bottom of said foot section, said foot piece having a bottom surface adapted to engage the ground during use of said brace.

12. A venting device for use with an orthopedic cast or brace, said venting device comprising two half sections which form the venting device when combined together to enclose a person'"'"'s or animal'"'"'s body part, each half section having a length extending from one end thereof to an opposite end thereof and a width, each half section being preformed to fit closely around a respective curved side of the body part and comprising:

two spaced-apart inner and outer layers of flexible resilient material that extend substantially parallel to each other, the resilient material of at least said inner layer being porous; and

spacer members arranged between and connecting the two layers and forming numerous air passageways between adjacent spacer members so that air is free to pass along said passageways from one or more open ends of the passageways located at least one of the two ends of the half section,

wherein, when said venting device is used, the two half sections are placed around the selected body part so that they meet along respective lengthwise extending edges thereof and surround the body part and then said cast or brace is applied over the venting device so that the venting device is pressed between the body part and the cast or brace.

13. A venting device according to claim 12 wherein each half section is substantially U-shaped in widthwise cross-section and is bent in the lengthwise direction.

14. A venting device according to claim 12 or 13 wherein at least said inner layer is made of ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) and has numerous, small perforations distributed over its inner and outer surfaces.

15. A venting device according to any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein said spacer members are solid, elongate members that extend in the lengthwise direction of their respective half section.

16. A venting device according to claim 12 or 13 wherein said inner and outer layers are made of NYPLEX™

.

17. A venting device according to claim 12 or 13 wherein the two half sections are custom formed so as to snuggly fit around a lower leg portion, ankle, and foot portion of a selected patient.

18. A venting device according to claim 12 or 13 wherein the two half sections are custom formed so as to snuggly fit around an elbow region of a selected patient.

19. A supporting and ventilating device for a walking cast enclosing a foot of a human or animal, said device comprising:

a rigid base plate adapted for mounting in said walking cast and shaped and sized to support firmly at least a major portion of a sole of said foot, said base plate having a network of open topped air passageways formed in a top surface of the base plate and aperture means for allowing air to flow into and out of said air passageways when said base plate is mounted in the walking cast, and

a flexible sole layer adapted to cover substantially said top surface of said base plate, said sole layer being porous to permit air to flow between said air passageways and a top surface of said sole layer.

20. A supporting and ventilating device according to claim 19 wherein said base plate is made of rigid plastics material and has a rounded bottom that forms a convex curve extending substantially from a heel end to a toe end of the base plate.

21. A supporting and ventilating device according to claim 19 or 21 wherein said sole layer is elastomeric and made of ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA).

22. A supporting and ventilating device according to any one of claims 19 to 21 including a flexible venting arrangement connected to said rigid base plate and adapted to cover at least a top and sides of said foot prior to application of cast material to form the walking cast, said venting arrangement being capable of circulating air to at least said top and sides of the foot.

23. A supporting and ventilating device according to claim 22 wherein said venting arrangement includes two spaced part inner and outer layers of flexible material that extend substantially parallel to each other, the material of at least said inner layer being porous, and spacer members arranged between and connecting the two layers and forming numerous air passageways between adjacent spacer members so that air is normally free to pass along said passageways from open ends thereof.

24. A supporting and ventilating device according to claim 22 or 23 wherein said flexible venting arrangement is connected by stitches to opposite ends of the base plate.

25. A supporting and ventilating device according to claim 23 wherein said inner and outer layers are elastomeric and made of ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA).

26. A supporting and ventilating device according to claim 23 wherein said inner and outer layers are elastomeric and made of Nyplex™

.

27. A brace for providing therapeutic pressure to a person'"'"'s or animal'"'"'s body part, said brace comprising:

a rigid exterior shell adapted to fit around at least a major portion of said body part and having interior and exterior surfaces, said shell being perforated over a substantial portion of each of said interior and exterior surfaces so as to allow air to pass through the shell between said surfaces;

an interior liner arranged in said shell to cushion said body part, said liner being perforated over at least a substantial portion thereof so as to allow air to pass between inner and outer surfaces of the liner; and

at least one connector for securing said brace on the body part.

28. A brace according to claim 27 wherein said liner is elastomeric and is made of ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA).

29. A brace according to claim 27 or 28 wherein said brace is a walking race having a lower leg section adapted to cover at least a portion of a person'"'"'s lower leg above his or her ankle and a foot section adapted to cover at least a major portion of the sole of the person'"'"'s foot, said foot section being pivotably and adjustably attached to said lower leg section, said foot section being selectively pivotable about a pivot axis extending transversely of said brace when adjustment of its relative position is required.

30. Footwear for a person'"'"'s foot comprising:

an exterior shell adapted to fit around at least the foot of a person and having interior and exterior surfaces, said shell being perforated with a large number of small closely spaced perforations over a substantial portion of each of said interior and exterior surfaces so as to allow air to pass through the shell between said surfaces;

an interior flexible liner arranged in the shell adapted to cushion at least said foot, said liner being perforated over at least a substantial portion thereof so as to allow air to pass between inner and outer surfaces of the liner; and

at least one fastener for securing the footwear on the foot.

31. Footwear according to claim 30 wherein said liner is elastomeric and is made of ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA).

32. Footwear according to claim 31 or 32 wherein said exterior shell includes a rigid base plate adapted and arranged to support the sole of said foot, said base plate having a network of open topped air passageways formed in a top surface of the base plate and apertures for allowing air to flow into and out of said air passageways when said footwear is being worn on said foot, and wherein said liner includes a flexible sole layer covering the top surface of said base plate, said sole layer being porous to permit air to flow between said air passageways and a top surface of the sole layer.