Myofascial strap

• US 6,958,048 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Issued: 10/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bonutti IP LLC, Bonutti Research Incorporated (Bonutti IP LLC), The Bonutti 2003 Trust A
• Original Assignee: Bonutti IP LLC
• Inventors: Bonutti, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dahbour, Fadi H.
• Application Number:
  US10/439,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 602/4, 602/19, 602/26, 602 41- 47, 602 60- 63, 602 75- 77, 602/903, 602/904, 128/100.1, 128/101.1, 128/875, 128/876, 128/898, 128/DIG.15, 128/869, 233/8, D26/27
• US Class Current: 602/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/022 having more than one layer with different fluid retention characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0273 Adhesive bandages for winding around limb, trunk or head, e.g. cohesive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/06 specially adapted for feet or legs; Corn-pads; Corn-rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/108 Openable readjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/00 Orthopaedic methods or devices for non-surgical treatment of bones or joints surgical instruments or methods for treatment of bones or joints, devices specially adapted therefor A61B17/56; Nursing devices; Anti-rape devicesbandages, dressings or absorbent pads A61F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0104 without articulation
• 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: A61N 1/00 Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor A61N2/00 takes precedence; irradiation apparatus A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0404 for external use A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0472 Structure-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/18 Applying electric currents by contact electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 602/903 Surgical tape

Abstract

An improved strap has a base end portion, a second end portion and a main portion which is disposed between the base and the second end portions of the strap. A first side of the strap has a layer formed of foam. A second side of the strap has a layer formed of fabric. The second side of a base end portion of the strap has a layer formed of foam. The layer formed of foam on the first side of the strap is placed in engagement with skin on a body of a patient. The base end portion of the strap is retained against movement relative to the body of the patient by wrapping the strap around a portion of the body of the patient and positioning a portion of the layer formed of foam and disposed on the first side of the strap in engagement with foam disposed on the second side of the base end portion of the strap. A second end portion of the strap is connected with the fabric layer on the second side of the strap at a location between the end portions of the strap.

Claims

1. A method of treatment of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a strap, the strap having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a main portion disposed between the first end portion and second end portion, the first end portion having first and second sides with surfaces formed of foam, the main portion of the strap has a first side with a surface which is formed of foam and faces in the same direction as the surface on the first side of the first end portion, the main portion of the strap has a second side with a surface formed of fabric and faces in the same direction as the surface on the second side of the first end portion;

positioning the layer formed of foam on the first end portion in engagement with skin on a body of the patient,

retaining the first end portion of the strap against movement relative to the body of the patient by wrapping the strap around a portion of the body of the patient and positioning a portion of the layer formed of foam and disposed on the first side of the main portion of the strap in engagement with foam disposed on the second side of the first end portion, and

connecting the second end portion of the strap to the second side of the main portion of the strap at a location between the first and second end portions of the strap.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of connecting the second end portion of the strap to the second side of the main portion of the strap includes connecting the second end portion of the strap to a layer of fabric which extends along the second side of the main portion of the strap from the foam disposed on the second side of the main portion of the strap to the second end portion of the strap.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of wrapping the strap around the portion of the body of the patient includes:

winding the strap about an axis that extends through the portion of the body of the patient; and

applying force having a component that extends along the axis to myofascial tissue in the body of the patient.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of wrapping the strap around a portion of the body and positioning a portion of the layer formed of foam disposed on the first side of the main portion of the strap in engagement with foam disposed on a second side of the first end portion includes:

forming a first loop that extends around the portion of the patient'"'"'s body;

tensioning the strap to apply force to the first loop;

pulling fascia in the patient'"'"'s body away from one location toward another location under the influence of tension in the strap; and

forming a second loop that extends around the portion of the patient'"'"'s body.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of wrapping the strap around a portion of the body and positioning a portion of the layer formed of foam disposed on the first side of the main portion of the strap in engagement with foam disposed on a second side of the first end portion includes:

forming a first loop that extends around a leg of the patient at a location adjacent to a knee of the patient and is at least partially offset in a first direction from a center of the knee of the patient;

tensioning the strap to apply force to the first loop;

forming a second loop that extends around the patient'"'"'s leg at a location adjacent to the knee of the patient and is at least partially offset in a second direction from the center of the knee of the patient; and

moving a bone in the knee of the patient under the influence of force transmitted to the bone from at least one of the first and second loops.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein said step of forming a second loop that extends around the patient'"'"'s leg includes intersecting the first loop with the second loop, and said step of moving a bone in the knee of the patient under the influence of force transmitted to the bone from at least one of the first and second loops includes transmitting force from an intersection between the first and second loops to the bone.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of wrapping the strap around a portion of the body and positioning a portion of the layer formed of foam disposed on the first side of the main portion of the strap in engagement with foam disposed on a second side of the strap includes:

forming a first loop which extends around a hand of the patient;

tensioning the strap to apply force to the first loop;

forming a second loop at a region of the patient'"'"'s body where the hand and a wrist are interconnected; and

transmitting force between the first and second loops through the strap.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of positioning the layer formed of foam disposed on the first end portion in engagement with skin on the body of the patient includes engaging the layer of foam with skin on the body of the patient in a region where a first arm of the patient is joined with a trunk of the body of the patient, and the step of wrapping the strap around a portion of the body of the patient includes wrapping the strap around the trunk of the patient and engaging skin on the body of the patient with the layer of foam in a region where a second arm of the patient is joined with the trunk of the patient.