Posture Correction Girdle and the Method of Correcting Spinal Deformity

• US 20140303535A1
• Filed: 04/07/2013
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Original Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Inventors: YIP, Yiu Wan, Joanne, YICK, Kit Lun, TSE, Chi Yung, YUEN, Chun Wah, Marcus, NG, Sun Pui, LIU, Pak Yiu, LAW, Ka Ming
• Granted Patent: US 9,398,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/02 Orthopaedic corsets arm-rests for use as writing aids B43L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/026 Back straightening devices with shoulder braces to force back the shoulder to obtain a correct curvature of the spine for clavicle fractures A61F5/05808; restraining devices A61F5/37

Abstract

A posture correction girdle comprises a body wrapping shell, a plurality of pockets and a plurality of paddings is disclosed. The paddings are configured to be inserted into pockets at predetermined positions. Thereby, when the posture correction girdle is worn by the user, pressure is exerted onto a corresponding predetermined section of the user'"'"'s spine for posture correction purpose. The posture correction girdle further comprises a pair of elastic shoulder straps, an elastic waist strap and a plurality of elongated bones to provide additional support to the user'"'"'s spine. A micro-system comprising a processor, an output device and a plurality of sensors can also be embedded into the posture correction girdle to provide information regarding the efficiency of the posture correction girdle and the progression of the treatment. Such information is provided to the users using the output device.

Claims

1. A posture correction girdle comprising

a) a body wrapping shell;

b) a plurality of pockets disposed on said body wrapping shell at predetermined positions; and

c) a plurality of paddings;

wherein said paddings are configured to be inserted into at least one of said pockets;

thereby pressure is exerted onto a corresponding predetermined section of a user'"'"'s spine for posture correction purpose when said posture correction girdle is worn by said user.

2. The posture correction girdle according to claim 1, wherein said pockets are sewn onto the inner surface of the back portion of said body wrapping shell.

3. The posture correction girdle according to claim 1 further comprising a pair of elastic shoulder straps;

wherein one end of each said elastic shoulder strap is attached to the upper portion of said body wrapping shell.

4. The posture correction girdle according to claim 3, wherein each said elastic shoulder strap comprises a first coupling means for coupling said pair of elastic shoulder straps together.

5. The posture correction girdle according to claim 1 further comprising an elastic waist strap disposed on the middle back portion of said body wrapping shell.

6. The posture correction girdle according to claim 5, wherein said elastic waist strap comprises a second coupling mean for coupling two ends of said elastic waist strap together.

7. The posture correction girdle according to claim 5, wherein said elastic waist strap comprises a third coupling mean for coupling one end of said elastic waist strap to said body wrapping shell.

8. The posture correction girdle according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of elongated bones longitudinally disposed from the upper portion to the lower portion of said body wrapping shell for supporting said user'"'"'s spine.

9. A posture correction girdle comprising

a) a body wrapping shell;

b) at least one sensor disposed on said body wrapping shell;

c) a processor; and

d) an output device;

wherein said processor is configured to receive signal from said sensor and to maintain a record thereof and said output device is configured to provide information of said received signal from said sensor.

10. The posture correction girdle according to claim 9, wherein said processor is configured to compare said signal with at least one predetermined value and said output device is configured to provide notification when said signal deviates from said predetermined value.

11. The posture correction girdle according to claim 9, wherein said senor is a temperature sensor disposed on the inner surface of said body wrapping shell or a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure profile exerted onto said user'"'"'s spine.

12. The posture correction girdle according to claim 9, wherein said sensor is a displacement sensor disposed along the dorsal line of a user or a displacement sensor disposed along the midaxillary line of a user or a combination of both.

13. The posture correction girdle according to claim 9 further comprising

a) a plurality of pockets disposed on said body wrapping shell at predetermined positions;

and

b) a plurality of paddings;

wherein said paddings are configured to be inserted into at least one of said pockets;

thereby pressure is exerted onto a corresponding predetermined section of said user'"'"'s spine for posture correction purpose when said posture correction girdle is worn by said user.

14. The posture correction girdle according to claim 9 further comprising a pair of shoulder straps attached to the upper portion of said body wrapping shell.

15. The posture correction girdle according to claim 9 further comprising an elastic waist strap attached to the middle back portion of said body wrapping shell.

16. The posture correction girdle according to claim 9 further comprising a plurality of elongate bones longitudinally disposed from the upper portion to the lower portion of said body wrapping shell;

said bones further configured to support said user'"'"'s spine.

17. A method for correction of spinal deformity, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a posture correction girdle;

b) wrapping said posture correction girdle to a user; and

c) selectively exerting pressure onto predetermined sections of said user'"'"'s spine through said posture correction girdle;

wherein said pressure exerts a corrective force to correct the spinal deformity of said user.

18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising the step of electronically monitoring the corrective effect said correction method.

19. The method according to claim 18 further comprising the steps of providing feedback to said user on the efficiency of said correction method.