Surgery: splint – brace – or bandage – Bandage structure
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-26
2003-09-09
Lucchesi, Nicholas D. (Department: 3764)
Surgery: splint, brace, or bandage
Bandage structure
C602S005000, C602S023000, C602S027000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06617485
ABSTRACT:
The invention describes a bandage for injuries to the ankle joint, for example distortions, mild sprains, extension injuries in the fibular area and the lateral ligament structure, and incipient degenerative changes of the upper and/or lower parts of the ankle joint.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Depending on their design and on the indications for which they are intended, orthopedic bandages exert a fixing, guiding, bracing and/or supporting action on the extremities of the human body.
These medical bandages must have a shape which corresponds to the anatomical circumstances in order to be able to act externally on the human body with a form fit and a force fit.
Medical bandages of this kind are produced by cutting out blanks from planar material, for example neoprene, knitted fabrics or woven fabrics. The anatomically appropriate shape is obtained via the shape of the blanks or darts, for example with gussets, and subsequent joining together of the blanks, as is also customary in articles of clothing.
This joining together can be done by sewing, gluing or other conventional methods. The great disadvantage of these bandages is that the exact anatomical fit can be achieved only with difficulty and there are a large number of connection points, for example seams. These connection points change the properties of the material used, and there is the danger of pressure points on the skin.
Ankle joint ortheses or bandages are used preferably for the early functional treatment of recent fibular ligament ruptures and of mild and moderately severe tarsal distortions, and are also used in cases of chronic instability.
DE-A-38 40 714 discloses an ankle joint orthesis with a U-shaped support stirrup, the branches of which run together to form a bridge under the foot, reach upwards across the malleoli and are held together in their end region by a securing tape. The outer branch is in this case guided upward laterally in front of its malleolus, and the inner branch opposite the outer branch is guided upward in front of the Achilles tendon. Both branches, in the direction toward the bridge, are guided to a position in front of the heel, and, in the direction toward their ends, they extend upward in such a way that they ascend laterally along the lower-leg ridges and approximately parallel to these, and a holding tape is fitted in the lower area of the branches, which holding tape extends from the one branch obliquely upward across the instep to the other branch, and can be fastened thereon, engages above the malleoli about the Achilles tendon and, overlapping on the instep, ends on the other branch in a holding part. An ankle joint orthesis designed in this way is intended to prevent twisting, primarily in the lateral anterior direction, that is to say in the direction of a talipes equinus position. Since the U-shaped support stirrup of this ankle joint orthesis has its outer branch guided upward laterally in front of the malleolus and has its inner branch guided upward in front of the Achilles tendon, and is held together by a bridge running under the foot, the medial margin of the metatarsus is not gripped, with the result that the use of this ankle joint orthesis is limited.
DE-A-39 09 922 describes a foot fixation splint. This foot fixation splint is used in particular for the postoperative treatment of an injured ankle joint, with a foot part which surrounds the foot and to which there is joined a holding part extending upward into the calf area and provided with closure straps. The holding part is in this case divided into two side parts which are joined to the foot part and are of cup-shaped design. The area of each side part covering the malleolus is provided with a window-type recess. The area of the Achilles tendon on the foot part and on the holding part is in this case left open. The adjustable and fixable tape-like closure straps are made of an inextensible material, and one closure strap is arranged on the foot part in such a way that it engages over the back of the foot and so fixes the first radius of the metatarsus against supinatory elevation. A foot fixation splint of this kind is intended, on the one hand, to ensure a satisfactory immobilization of the foot that is to be treated, and, on the other hand, to avoid the disadvantages of a plaster cast, since after injuries and operations involving the external ligament apparatus the foot is often put in plaster in order to immobilize it, and postoperative treatment of operation wounds is not possible on account of a great many serious disadvantages. In the case of this foot fixation splint, the starting point is a U-shaped joint cuff with a full-surface sole part which covers the middle and front portions of the foot as far as the ball of the small toe, but which does not provide sufficient suppleness in the metatarsal area.
DE-C-43 18 588 likewise discloses an ankle joint orthesis consisting of a U-shaped joint cuff which is made of thermoplastic material and is composed of an outer malleolar splint and an inner malleolar splint. These malleolar splints are connected via a bridge running underneath the heel. The malleolar splints additionally have anatomically correct depressions for adaptation to the malleolar contours and for a correct anatomical fit. A further element of the orthesis is its metatarsal part, which is likewise made of thermoplastic material. This part of the orthesis runs obliquely under the sole of the foot, proximal to the capitula of metatarsals I-V, and is formed into a loop shape medially and laterally. The loops thus formed enclose the outer and inner margins of the foot. They guide the metatarsus on the one hand, and on the other hand serve for securing cross and transverse belts. The metatarsal part is in this case connected on the sole side by a bridge which is again made of thermoplastic material but is highly flexible. This bridge has the function of an articulation and acts analogously to an integral hinge. The pivot axis of this articulation formed in the highly flexible bridge runs from dorsomedial to anterolateral and forms with the long axis of the foot an angle of approximately 10°, in accordance with the anatomy of the lower part of the ankle joint.
DE 42 91 109 C2 discloses a support device for an ankle joint with a closable main support body, which has a lower-leg part and a foot part, and with an inner and/or outer support part in each case fitted on a side part of the main support body, the lower-leg part and the foot part being perpendicular to each other. The support parts are arranged on the main support body in such a way that they can be removed from it. Both the lower-leg part and the foot part have velcro-type fasteners which can be closed in order to apply the support device.
At their end toward the sole of the foot, the support parts also have the possibility of being connected via a connecting tape which runs under the sole. Finally, the foot part has at least one stretchable tape which is secured at one end on the outside of the sole area and can be guided away from the sole area via the back of the foot in order to be wound in a spiral formation around the lower-leg area.
It is an object of the invention to design a bandage which has a high degree of functionality with proprioceptive action, but which at the same time is easy and uncomplicated for the patient to apply and which, by means of dispensing with rigid elements, offers a high degree of dynamics. Moreover, the bandage should be inexpensive to produce.
This object is achieved by the bandage defined in accordance with the main claim. The subclaims relate to advantageous developments of the bandage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the invention relates to a bandage for the ankle joint with a lower-leg part and with a foot part with two straps.
The lower-leg part has at least one strap, and the foot part has a first strap on the medial side and a second strap on the lateral side.
According to the invention, the lower-leg part and the foot part are connected to one another, in particular by sewing, in such a way t
Beiersdorf AG
Hamilton Lalita M
Lucchesi Nicholas D.
Norris & McLaughlin & Marcus
LandOfFree
Bandage for the ankle joint does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Bandage for the ankle joint, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Bandage for the ankle joint will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3039829