Dynamically reactive spinal support system

• US 8,708,940 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2011
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pemaquid Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Permaquid Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Jenkins, Arthur L. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US13/195,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20120174302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 602/19, 602/32, 128869-870, 562/4, 563/0, 563/6
• US Class Current: 602/18
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0531 Spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02042 Determining blood loss or bleeding, e.g. during a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6812 Orthopaedic devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6822 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/702 Posture restraints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0102 specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/30 Pressure-pads corn-pads, corn-rings A61F13/06; tourniquets A61B17/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/32 Adjustable pressure pads

Abstract

A brace device for the spinal support of a wearer. The brace device comprises a plurality of component parts operable in combination to be placed over substantially the thoracic, lumbar and/or cervical portions of the spine of the wearer, each component part being moveable relative to at least one other component part. Movement resisting means are provided on one or more of said component parts and operable upon activation to prohibit, restrict and/or resist movement of at least one component part relative to at least one other component part. One or more predetermined regions of the combination of component parts are in a substantially flexible configuration when the movement resisting means are not activated, facilitating positioning, fitment and/or adjustment of the brace device around the wearer. Upon activation of the movement resisting means the one or more predetermined regions are caused to assume a substantially rigid configuration and thereby partially or substantially support and/or immobilize of at least a portion of the spine of the wearer.

Claims

1. A brace device for the spinal support of a wearer, the brace device comprising:

a plurality of component parts operable in combination to be placed over substantially the thoracic, lumbar and/or cervical portions of the spine of the wearer, each component part being moveably connected relative to at least one other component part adjacent thereto over one or more interfacing regions of partial overlap; and

movement resisting means, provided on one or more of said component parts and operable upon activation to prohibit, restrict and/or resist movement of at least one component part relative to at least one other component part adjacent thereto;

wherein one or more predetermined regions of the combination of component parts are in a substantially flexible configuration when the movement resisting means are not activated, facilitating positioning, fitment and/or adjustment of the brace device around the wearer, and upon activation of the movement resisting means are operable to cause the one or more predetermined regions to assume a substantially rigid configuration and thereby partially or substantially support and/or immobilize of at least a portion of the spine of the wearer.

2. The brace device according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the component parts, alone or in combination with other component parts, are operable to substantially or partially encircle and/or lie adjacent to one or more portions of the spine of the wearer.

3. The brace device according to claim 2, wherein one or more of the component parts are shaped and/or contoured to correspond with a body habitus of an average wearer.

4. The brace device according to claim 1, wherein the movement resisting means are adapted to resist linear, shear and/or rotational movement.

5. The brace device according to claim 4, wherein the movement resisting means are typically located in one or more of the regions of possible overlap.

6. The brace device according to claim 5, wherein the movement resisting means are electromagnetic lock assemblies.

7. The brace device of claim 6, wherein the movement resisting means are operable to provide pre-tensioning around the wearer prior to locking.

8. The brace device according to claim 5, wherein the movement resisting means are mechanical, electrical, magnetic and/or chemical locking mechanisms.

9. The brace device of claim 8, wherein the movement resisting means are operable to provide pre-tensioning around the wearer prior to locking.

10. The brace device according to claim 1, wherein the component parts are operable to articulate, relative to one another, at the one or more interfacing regions of partial overlap, whereby a tendency for a motion of one component part relative to another component part is prohibited, restricted and/or resisted.

11. The brace device according to claim 1, wherein the component parts are adapted from overlapping plates that are moveable in rotational, shear and/or linear orientations within predetermined parameters.

12. The brace device according to claim 1, wherein at least one rod, having engaging means to engage the brace device, is operable to facilitate positioning of the brace device behind the wearer.

13. The brace device according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the component parts are radiolucent and one or more radio-opaque component parts and/or movement resistant means are positioned to minimize potential overlap with the spinal anatomy of the wearer.

14. The brace device of claim 1, wherein the brace device further comprises sensors for monitoring the physical condition or the wearer.

15. The brace device according to claim 14, wherein the sensors monitor the heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure and/or the presence and/or location of bleeding.

16. The brace device of either claim 1, wherein one or more predetermined regions are selectively activated or deactivated.

17. A brace device for the spinal support of a wearer, the brace device comprising:

a plurality of component parts operable in combination to be placed over substantially the thoracic, lumbar and/or cervical portions of the spine of the wearer, each component part being moveable relative to at least one other component part; and

movement resisting means in the form of electromagnetic lock assemblies, provided on one or more of said component parts in the region of possible overlap and operable upon activation to prohibit, restrict and/or resist linear, shear and/or rotational movement of at least one component part relative to at least one other component part;

wherein one or more predetermined regions of the combination of component parts are in a substantially flexible configuration when the movement resisting means are not activated, facilitating positioning, fitment and/or adjustment of the brace device around the wearer, and upon activation of the movement resisting means are operable to cause the one or more predetermined regions to assume a substantially rigid configuration and thereby partially or substantially support and/or immobilize of at least a portion of the spine of the wearer.