ADJUSTABLE LENGTH ORTHOTIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR USING THE SAME

• US 20140058306A1
• Filed: 10/17/2012
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bio Cybernetics International
• Original Assignee: Bio Cybernetics International
• Inventors: BANNISTER, ED
• Application Number:
  US13/653,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20140058306A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/02 Orthopaedic corsets arm-rests for use as writing aids B43L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/028 Braces for providing support to the lower back, e.g. lumbo sacral supports

Abstract

Described herein is an adjustable length orthotic device and a method for adjusting the length of said orthotic device. The adjustable length orthotic device can comprise a center brace segment having first and second pockets, and first and second end pieces for inserting into the first and second pockets, respectively. The subject invention addresses the problem of a patient being unable to adjust the length of his or her orthotic device in response to changes in the patient'"'"'s size. The subject invention also addresses the problem of prior art adjustable length orthotic devices that are either overly complicated and cumbersome or have securing means on the outside of the brace that may snag on foreign objects, causing the brace to become undone or causing further injury to the patient. In one embodiment, the length of the orthotic device is adjusted by securing the two end segments inside the two pockets.

Claims

1. An adjustable length orthotic device comprising:

a center brace segment having a first pocket and a second pocket;

a first end segment that is configured to be inserted into the first pocket; and

a second end segment that is configured to be inserted into the second pocket,

wherein the length of the adjustable length orthotic device may be adjusted by adjusting the respective positions of the first and second end segments inside the first and second pockets, respectively.

2. The adjustable length orthotic device of claim 1, further comprising a securing means for securing the first and second end segments within the first and second pockets, respectively.

3. The adjustable length orthotic device of claim 2, wherein the securing means is hook and loop fastener.

4. The adjustable length orthotic device of claim 1, wherein the adjustable length orthotic device is a back brace.

5. A method for adjusting the length of an adjustable length orthotic device, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining an adjustable length orthotic device comprising

a center brace segment having a first pocket and a second pocket,

a first end segment that is configured to be inserted into the first pocket, and

a second end segment that is configured to be inserted into the second pocket;

inserting the first end segment into the first pocket; and

inserting the second end segment into the second pocket.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the adjustable length orthotic device further comprises securing means for releasably securing the first and second end segments within the first and second pockets, respectively;

the step of inserting the first end segment into the first pocket further comprises the step of releasably securing the first end segment within the first pocket at a first position; and

the step of inserting the second end segment into the second pocket further comprises the step of releasably securing the second end segment within the second pocket at a second position.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the securing means is hook and loop fastener.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the orthotic device is a back brace.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

unsecuring the first end segment from the first pocket;

adjusting the first end segment'"'"'s position within the first pocket;

re-securing the first end segment within the first pocket at a first adjusted position that is different from the first position;

unsecuring the second end segment from the second pocket;

adjusting the second end segment'"'"'s position within the second pocket; and

re-securing the second end segment within the second pocket at a second adjusted position that is different from the second position.

10. A method for using an adjustable length orthotic device, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining an adjustable length orthotic device comprising

a center brace segment having a first pocket and a second pocket,

a first end segment that is configured to be inserted into the first pocket,

a second end segment that is configured to be inserted into the second pocket; and

securing means for releasably securing the first and second end segments within the first and second pockets, respectively;

inserting the first end segment into the first pocket and releasably securing the first end segment within the first pocket using the securing means at a first position;

inserting the second end segment into the second pocket and releasably securing the second end segment within the second pocket using the securing means at a second position;

unsecuring the first end segment from the first pocket and releasably securing the first end segment within the first pocket using the securing means at a first adjusted position that is different from the first position; and

unsecuring the second end segment from the second pocket and releasably securing the second end segment within the second pocket using the securing means at a second adjusted position that is different from the second position.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the securing means is hook and loop fastener.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the orthotic device is a back brace.