Surgery: splint – brace – or bandage – Orthopedic bandage – Splint or brace
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-02
2002-04-23
Brown, Michael A. (Department: 3764)
Surgery: splint, brace, or bandage
Orthopedic bandage
Splint or brace
C602S027000, C128S882000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06375633
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to devices and methods for stabilizing and supporting the foot, in particular the heel, of a human body. The invention, more specifically, is an inflatable device that provides protection for, and relieves pressure on the foot, and particularly the heel area of the foot, when the body is in a supine or semi-Fowler's position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,259 to Jacobs et al. relates to a pressure-normalizing single-chambered static pressure device for supporting and protecting a body extremity, in particular a heel. That device has an inflatable member with an exterior and interior surfaces, a plurality of seams to connect the exterior and interior surfaces together along a line corresponding to the Achille's tendon and the ankle bones, a plurality of apertures along those seams, and a nozzle.
The nozzle is an important aspect of Jacobs et al.'s device. The nozzle allows the static pressure device to be inflated when the uninflated device is applied to the body extremity. When the device is inflated to a predetermined pressure by a third party or the patient, then the device is left alone (static) and allegedly conforms to the extremity.
A problem with the present invention is that the device may be over-inflated or even under-inflated. Such results may become deleterious to the patient. To overcome this potential problem, the present invention was conceived and reduced to practice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a protective and pressure normalizing device for a body extremity, having a topside, an underside and two other sides. The device has, at a minimum, a support member and a joint aperture. In each embodiment, the support member has a lower portion, an intermediate portion, and an upper portion. The lower, intermediate, and upper portions, each contact at least a part of the body extremity.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3345654 (1967-10-01), Noble
patent: 4266298 (1981-05-01), Graziano
patent: 5020523 (1991-06-01), Bodine
patent: 5277695 (1994-01-01), Johnson, Jr. et al.
patent: 5328445 (1994-07-01), Spahn et al.
patent: 5372576 (1994-12-01), Hicks
patent: 5389065 (1995-02-01), Johnson, Jr.
patent: 5403265 (1995-04-01), Berguer
patent: 5489259 (1996-02-01), Jacobs et al.
patent: 5603690 (1997-02-01), Barry
patent: 5634890 (1997-06-01), Morris
patent: 5954676 (1999-09-01), Kramer
Buchanan Richard
Endress Scott A.
Martin Keith E.
Pepe Gregory J.
Brown Michael A.
Gaymar Industries Inc.
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