Trabecular matrix like protectors and method

• US 7,941,875 B1
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brownmed Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Brown Medical Industries
• Inventors: Doctor, David G., Brown, Ivan E.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, TAJASH D
• Application Number:
  US11/363,077
• Time in Patent Office: 1,905 Days
• Field of Search: 2 2/2, 2 2/4, 245/5, 245/6, 2 6/9, 215/9, 2 1/6, 246/5
• US Class Current: 2/455
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/015 with shock-absorbing means A41D13/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/05 protecting only a particular body part ear protectors A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/28 Shock absorbing

Abstract

An impact pad containing body cushioning device with the impact pad filled with a viscoelastic polymeric material which mimics the trabecular architecture of cancellous bone allowing the device to enhance this ability to cushion impact forces against various sensitive parts of the human body.

Claims

1. An impact pad containing orthotic device for cushioning body parts comprising:

a covering pad for placement in close proximity to body parts to be protected; and

a compressible viscoelastic organic polymeric material shaped to have random voids defined by walls of polymeric material, which voids and walls together mimic the random but uniform trabecular architecture of cancellous bone and provide a viscoelastic cushioning response to impact forces.

2. The impact pad containing orthotic device of claim 1 wherein the viscoelastic polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetates, polyurethanes, polyisocyanates, polystyrenes, polyvinyls and polyalphaolefins.

3. The impact pad containing orthotic device of claim 1 wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of heel cushions, hip pads, bone spur pads, wrist pads, elbow pads, shoulder pads, thigh pads, forearm pads, head protectors, shin protectors, and ankle protectors.

4. The impact pad containing orthotic device of claim 1 wherein the viscoelastic polymeric material is one which has been formed in a mold to provide voids in the polymerized material to mimic the trabecular architecture of cancellous bone.

5. The impact pad containing orthotic device of claim 4 which has the mechanobiology of cancellous bone.

15. The impact pad of claim 1 shaped to have voids, plates and struts.

6. A method of forming an organic viscoelastic polymeric material which mimics the trabecular architecture of cancellous bone, comprising:

selecting the desired viscoelastic polymer ingredients;

combining the ingredients in a mold to form the polymerized material;

said mold having a random lattice structure configuration of voids defined by walls of polymeric material to allow the final polymerized polymer shape to mimic the random but uniform trabecular architecture of cancellous bone; and

removing the final polymerized material from the mold.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the viscoelastic polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl-acetates, polyurethanes, polyisocyanates, polystyrenes, polyvinyls and poly-alpha-olefins.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the formed viscoelastic polymer is placed in an impact pad of an orthotic device for cushioning body parts from impacts.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the impact pad orthotic device is selected from the group consisting of heel cushions, hip pads, bone spur pads, wrist pads, elbow pads, shoulder pads, thigh pads, forearm pads, head protectors, shin protectors, and ankle protectors.

10. An impact pad containing orthotic device for cushioning body parts consisting essentially of:

a covering pad for placement in close proximity to body parts to be protected; and

a molded compressible viscoelastic organic polymerized material having a random lattice structure of voids configured within the pad so that the final organic polymerized molded polymer shape mimics the trabecular architecture of cancellous bone and provides a viscoelastic response to impact.

11. The orthotic device of claim 10 wherein the viscoelastic organic polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetates polyurethanes, polyisocyanates, polystyrenes, polyvinyls and polyalphaolefins.

12. The orthotic device of claim 10 wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of heel cushions, hip pads, bone spur pads, wrist pads, elbow pads, shoulder pads, thigh pads, forearm pads, head protectors, shin protectors, and ankle protectors.

13. The orthotic device of claim 10 which includes a random lattice structure in the organic polymerized material.

14. The orthotic device of claim 10 wherein the viscoelastic organic polymeric material is one which has been formed in a mold to provide voids in the polymerized material to mimic the trabecular architecture of cancellous bone.

16. The impact pad of claim 10 shaped to have random voids, plates and struts.