Surgery: splint – brace – or bandage – Orthopedic bandage – Splint or brace
Patent
1994-06-23
1996-12-10
Dvorak, Linda C.
Surgery: splint, brace, or bandage
Orthopedic bandage
Splint or brace
602 19, 602 20, 602 23, 2 69, 22431, A61F 500
Patent
active
055825834
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a dynamic postural stability splint in the form of a garment and a method of manufacturing same, and relates particularly, though not exclusively, to such a garment for assisting in controlling involuntary muscle movement and providing postural stability for a wearer with cerebral palsy or other neurological dysfunction.
Throughout this specification the terms "posture" and "postural" are used in a general sense to refer to the relative position of parts of the body, whether considered in relation to the body as a whole or in relation to isolated anatomical structures.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described with particular reference to its application to people with brain damage syndromes referred to as cerebral palsy. However, it is to be understood that the dynamic postural stability splint according to the invention has wider application such as, for example, in assisting persons with temporary or permanent neuromotor disabilities. It is thought the dynamic postural stability splint can help improve muscle tone of the trunk and extremities and also decrease the degree of associated involuntary movement. Throughout this specification the term "tone" refers to the resistance within muscles to both passive and active movement. Hypotonia is a condition of under activity in the muscle and hypertonia is a condition of over activity in the muscle. Because cerebral palsy is non-reversible, therapy must focus on means of circumventing the effects of the cerebral lesion by surgical, medical or physical interventions. Various types of orthotic devices have been used with a view to preventing orthopaedic complications and functional enhancement, for example, braces and splints which provide support and/or immobilise parts of the wearer's body.
A typical prior art thermoplastic splint is moulded to suit the shape of the wearer's body and provides static support and effectively immobilizes part of the body. There are a number of disadvantages of the conventional static splint. Firstly, the splint does not allow dynamic movement of the part of the body supported by the splint and hence the problem of muscle tone is not adequately addressed. Secondly, the splint is uncomfortable and hot to wear and doesn't allow the skin to breath freely, hence there is a tendency to sweat leading to discomfort, unpleasant body odors and skin maceration and damage. Furthermore, the thermoplastic material tends to soften in hot weather and thus loses its shape.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention was developed with a view to providing a dynamic postural stability splint capable of effecting both a bio-mechanical change similar to a conventional static splint while simultaneously allowing a degree of dynamic movement of the wearer.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a dynamic postural stability splint in the form of a garment for a wearer with anatomical anomalies, the garment comprising: form the garment and wherein selected pieces of said flexible elastic material are configured and positioned in the garment so as to provide lines of pull applied through circumferential skin contact on the wearer's body in predetermined directions whereby, in use, said garment can provide a bio-mechanical correction of the anatomical anomalies and thereby help to improve postural stability of the wearer.
In one embodiment said garment is in the form of a body suit covering substantially the whole of the trunk of the wearer. The body suit may also cover one or more of the limbs of the body.
In another embodiment said garment is in the form of a glove or gauntlet covering the wrist of a wearer and/or parts of the hand, including the fingers.
In a preferred form of the invention the garment comprises a body suit made from a base material having said selected pieces fastened to the base material, the material of the selected pieces having a higher modulus or coefficient of elasticity than the base material.
According to ano
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Dvorak Linda C.
Second Skin Pty Ltd.
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