Shoulder brace

• US 7,207,963 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fountainhead, LLC
• Original Assignee: Fountainhead, LLC
• Inventors: Kania, Bruce G., Harding, Warren, Zimmerman, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu; Justine R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALI, SHUMAYA B
• Application Number:
  US10/949,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20050119595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 602/19, 602/20, 602/4, 602/5, 602/16, 602/32, 602/6, 602/61, 2 4/4, 2 4/5
• US Class Current: 602/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0118 for the arms, hands or fingers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/3738 Slings

Abstract

A shoulder brace including a shoulder member mountable to a patient'"'"'s shoulder, and a positioning device that increases pressure to the shoulder in accordance with the position of the patient'"'"'s arm. In one embodiment, the shoulder brace includes a shoulder member with an open portion forming substantially rigid first and second arms and a positioning device that varies the spacing of the first and second arms according to the position of the patient'"'"'s arm. In another embodiment, the positioning device includes a tensioning ring and first and second tension triggering straps that provide anterior and posterior compression of the shoulder joint when the arm is moved into a danger zone. In another embodiment, the shoulder brace includes a first mounting member mountable to the pectoral area, a second mounting member mountable to the upper arm, and a connecting member that connects the first and second mounting members.

Claims

1. A shoulder brace comprising:

a shoulder member mountable to a shoulder of an individual'"'"'s arm; and

a positioning device configured to increase a pressure on the shoulder of the individual'"'"'s arm in accordance with a movement of the individual'"'"'s arm,

wherein said shoulder member comprises an open portion forming substantially rigid first and second arms,

wherein said positioning device is configured to vary a spacing between said and first and second arms of said shoulder member according to a position of the individual'"'"'s arm, and

wherein said positioning device comprises;

a first tension triggering strap having a first and second end;

an anchor mountable to a predetermined position on a individual'"'"'s body; and

a positioning unit communicating with said first and second arms of said shoulder member;

said first end of said first tensioning strap communicating with said positioning unit;

said second end attached to said anchor strap such that a tension is generated in said first tension triggering strap according to movement of the arm, and said first tension triggering strap communicating with said positioning unit according to the tension generated in said first tension triggering strap.

2. A shoulder brace according to claim 1, wherein the positioning device further comprises:

at least a second tension triggering strap having a first and second end and communicating with the positioning unit;

said first end of the second tension triggering strap being attached to an arm band placed on an upper arm of the patient;

said second end of the second tension triggering strap looping through a ring provided in the anchor strap and being attached to a portion of the second tension triggering strap;

said second tension triggering strap communicating with the positioning unit according to a tension generated in said second tension triggering strap according to the movement of the arm.

3. A shoulder brace according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder brace conforms closely to the contour of the individual'"'"'s body.

4. A shoulder brace comprising:

a shoulder member mountable to a shoulder of a individual'"'"'s arm; and

compression means for increasing a pressure on said shoulder member in accordance with a movement of the individual'"'"'s arm;

wherein said compression means comprises a positioning device configured to increase a pressure on the shoulder of the individual'"'"'s arm in accordance with a movement of the individual'"'"'s arm;

at least a second tension triggering strap having a first and second end and communicating with the positioning unit;

said first end of the second tension triggering strap being attached to an arm and placed on an upper arm of the patient;

said second end of the second tension triggering strap looping through a ring provided in the anchor strap and being attached to a portion of the second tension triggering strap; and

said second tension triggering strap communicating with the positioning unit according to a tension generated in said second tension triggering strap according to the movement of the arm.

5. A shoulder brace according to claim 4, wherein said compression means comprises means for constricting said shoulder member in accordance with a movement of the individual'"'"'s arm.

6. A shoulder brace according to claim 4, wherein said compression means comprises a tension strap configured to be anchored at a first end to a predetermined portion of a individual'"'"'s body beneath the shoulder and connected at a second end to said shoulder member such that said shoulder member is constricted in accordance with a movement of the arm away from the individual'"'"'s body.

7. The shoulder brace according to claim 4, wherein a bacteria static material is provided on skin-touching portions of the shoulder brace.

8. The shoulder brace according to claim 4, wherein the shoulder brace conforms closely to the contour of the individual'"'"'s body.