Chest brace and method of using same

• US 6,533,739 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2000
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Respironics Incorporated (Koninklijke Philips N.V.), Penn State Research Foundation (Pennsylvania State University)
• Original Assignee: Respironics Incorporated (Koninklijke Philips N.V.), Penn State Research Foundation (Pennsylvania State University)
• Inventors: Scarberry, Eugene N., Matula, Jerome Jr., Busch, Lance, Palmer, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): DeMille, Danton D.
• Application Number:
  US09/528,878
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 601/41-44, 601/152, 128/202.12, 434/265, 602/20, 602/19
• US Class Current: 601/41
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2031/002 fixed on the chest by adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/00 Artificial respiration or heart stimulation, e.g. heart massage artificial respiration by treatment with gas or air, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration A61M16/00; applying electric currents by contact electrodes for stimulation, e.g. heart pace-makers A61N1/36 ; teaching or training models, demonstration models for medical purposes G09B23/288
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/006 Power driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/007 Manual driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/008 Supine patient supports or bases, e.g. improving air-way access to the lungs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 601/06 Artificial respiration conforming to shape of torso

Abstract

A chest brace and method of using same that prevents the chest wall from buckling inwards during patient breathing by providing a distending force on the patient'"'"'s thorax. The chest brace also restores the normal anterior-to-posterior chest dimensions by providing a distending force in this direction. The chest brace includes an anterior member adapted to overly a patient'"'"'s chest. An adhesive mechanism secures the anterior member to a surface of such a patient. A support structure is coupled to the anterior member such that, in use, the support structure imparts a force on the anterior member in a manner so as to distend a thorax of such a patient.

Claims

1. A method of providing a distending force on a thorax of a patient, comprising:

adhering a chest plate to an anterior surface of such a patient;

securing the chest plate to an anterior member;

imparting a force on the anterior member so as to distend a thorax of such a patient; and

releasing the chest plate from a surface of such a patient by injecting a solvent between the chest plate and such a surface of the patient via a channel defined in the chest plate.

2. A method of providing a distending force on a thorax of a patient, comprising:

adhesively securing an anterior member to a patient'"'"'s chest;

providing a posterior member adapted to overly such a patient'"'"'s back;

coupling the posterior member to the anterior member via a mechanical linkage;

adhering a back plate a posterior surface of such a patient;

securing the back plate to the posterior member; and

moving the anterior member relative to the posterior member in a ratchet-like fashion using the mechanical linkage.

3. A method of providing a distending force on a thorax of a patient, comprising:

providing an anterior member;

adhesively securing a chest plate to a patient'"'"'s chest;

securing the chest plate to the anterior member;

imparting a force on the anterior member so as to distend a thorax of such a patient;

maintaining the thorax in the distended position so as to prevent collapse of the thorax during inspiration; and

releasing the chest plate from a surface of such a patient by injecting a solvent between the chest plate and such a surface of the patient via a channel defined in the chest plate.

4. A method of providing a distending force on a thorax of a patient, comprising:

(a) adhesively securing an anterior member to a patient'"'"'s chest;

(b) imparting a force on the anterior member so as to distend a thorax of such a patient, wherein imparting a force on the anterior member includes;

(1) providing a posterior member adapted to overly such a patient'"'"'s back,

(2) coupling the posterior member to the anterior member via a mechanical linkage, and

(3) moving the anterior member relative to the posterior member in a ratchet-like fashion using the mechanical linkage;

(c) maintaining the thorax in the distended position so as to prevent collapse of the thorax during inspiration;

(d) adhering a back plate to a posterior surface of such a patient; and

(e) securing the back plate to the posterior member.

5. A chest brace adapted to provide a distending force on a thorax of a patient, comprising:

a chest plate adapted to adhere to a surface of a patient;

a hydrogel adhesive applied to a surface of the chest plate to secure the chest plate to a surface of such a patient, wherein the chest plate includes a channel defined therethrough such that a solvent can be injected to the hydrogel via the channel;

an anterior member adapted to overly a patient'"'"'s chest;

coupling means for securing the chest plate to the anterior member; and

a support structure operatively coupled to the anterior member such that, in use, the support structure imparts a force on the anterior member in a manner so as to distend a thorax of such a patient.

6. A chest brace adapted to provide a distending force on a thorax of a patient, comprising:

an anterior member adapted to overly a patient'"'"'s chest;

a chest plate adapted to be coupled to a surface of such a patient;

coupling means for securing the chest plate to the anterior member;

an adhesive mechanism adapted to operatively couple the chest plate to a surface of such a patient, wherein the adhesive mechanism is a hydrogel adhesive applied to a surface of the chest plate, and wherein the chest plate includes a channel defined therethrough such that a solvent can be injected to the hydrogel via the channel; and

supporting means for supporting the chest plate at least a first distance from a fixed reference point during use of the chest brace, wherein the supporting means imparts a force on the chest plate in a manner so as to distend a thorax of such a patient and prevents the chest plate from exerting a compressive force on the thorax responsive to the chest plate being located the first distance from the fixed reference point.

7. A chest brace adapted to provide a distending force on a thorax of a patient, comprising:

an anterior member adapted to overly a patient'"'"'s chest;

an adhesive mechanism adapted to operatively secure the anterior member to a surface of such a patient;

a posterior member adapted to overly a patient'"'"'s back;

a mechanical linkage coupling the posterior member to the anterior member such that the anterior member is maintained at least at first distance relative to the posterior member during use of the chest brace by such a patient, and wherein the first distance is a distance sufficient to prevent collapse of such a patient'"'"'s thorax during inspiration;

a chest plate adapted to be secured directly to a surface of a patient;

a first coupling member that couples the chest plate to the anterior member;

a back plate adapted to be secured directly to a surface of a patient; and

a second coupling member that couples the back plate to the posterior member.

8. A chest brace adapted to provide a distending force on a thorax of a patient, comprising:

(a) an anterior member adapted to overly a patient'"'"'s chest;

(b) an adhesive mechanism adapted to operatively couple the anterior member to a surface of such a patient;

(c) supporting means for supporting the anterior member at least a first distance from a fixed reference point during use of the chest brace, wherein the supporting means imparts a force on the anterior member in a manner so as to distend a thorax of such a patient and prevents the anterior member from exerting a compressive force on the thorax responsive to the anterior member being located the first distance from the fixed reference point wherein the supporting means comprises;

(1) a posterior member adapted to overly a patient'"'"'s back, wherein a portion of the posterior member defines the fixed reference point, and

(2) at least one mechanical linkage coupling the posterior member to the anterior member such that the anterior member is selectively moveable relative to the posterior member in a ratchet-like fashion;

(d) a back plate adapted to adhere to a surface of a patient; and

(e) coupling means for securing the back plate to the posterior member.

9. A chest brace adapted to provide a distending force on a thorax of a patient, comprising:

(a) an anterior member adapted to overly a patient'"'"'s chest;

(b) an adhesive mechanism adapted to secure the anterior member to a surface of such a patient;

(c) a support structure operatively coupled to the anterior member such that, in use, the support structure imparts a force on the anterior member in a manner so as to distend a thorax of such a patient, wherein the support structure comprises;

(1) a posterior member adapted to overly a patient'"'"'s back, and

(2) at least one mechanical linkage coupling the posterior member to the anterior member such that the anterior member is selectively moveable relative to the posterior member in a ratchet-like fashion;

(d) a back plate adapted to adhere to a surface of a patient; and

(e) coupling means for securing the back plate to the posterior member.