Surgery: splint – brace – or bandage – Orthopedic bandage – Sling
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-27
2003-12-09
Lucchesi, Nicholas D. (Department: 3764)
Surgery: splint, brace, or bandage
Orthopedic bandage
Sling
C602S013000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06659971
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an abduction and immobilization device, or “shoulder abduction sling” for use by a patient in conjunction with post-operative and other types of rehabilitative care provided to the patient by an orthopedic surgeon, sports medicine professional, or other health care provider. Intended to provide immobilization and abduction to treat a wide range of conditions affecting the pectoral girdle, the shoulder abduction sling of the present invention is particularly suited for use as a part of a postoperative or post-injury rehabilitation program for arthroscopic procedures, rotator cuff tears, thermal capsulorrhapy or other procedures to treat capsular shifts or tears, subluxations, dislocations, and other shoulder instabilities.
One of the challenges faced by physicians and therapists in treating patients who are recovering from injury or surgery to the shoulder region is to provide a means of immobilizing and abducting the patient's affected arm and shoulder during recovery without severely compromising the comfort and overall mobility of the patient. While prior art devices exist for abducting injured upper limbs, such devices are inadequate in that they utilize straps that irritate the patient's neck and fail to adequately distribute the weight of the injured limb across the patient's upper body, abduction pillows that are uncomfortable and unnecessarily restrict the use of the abducted hand, and sling pouches that fail to account for differences in bone sizes among patients.
The invention of the present application overcomes the problems associated with prior art devices by providing a shoulder abduction sling that incorporates a unique support cushion strap assembly and sling pouch. In particular, the strap assembly of the shoulder abduction sling is specifically structured to prevent the discomfort associated with shoulder straps used on conventional abduction slings. A conventional shoulder strap is connected directly to the sling pouch adjacent the wearer's elbow, extends across the wearer's back, passes over the wearer's uninjured shoulder adjacent the neck, and connects to the other end of the sling pouch adjacent the wearer's hand. This type of connection causes the strap to exert a painful lateral force against the wearer's neck when the conventional sling is worn. In contrast, the strap assembly of the present invention provides a set of three straps that cooperate together to distribute the weight of the abducted arm across the wearer's back and away from the wearer's neck region. The first ends of the straps are connected to one of either the sling pouch or the abduction cushion. The second ends of the straps are connected to a ring that is positioned on the patient's back adjacent the patient's uninjured scapula. This unique configuration of straps lifts and supports the abducted forearm and elbow without requiring any straps to be placed near the neck, and thus eliminates the neck pain associated with prior art devices. Although one of the straps does cross the patient's uninjured shoulder, the unique distribution of straps and placement of the ring on the wearer's back causes the strap on the wearer's uninjured shoulder to be pulled away from the wearer's neck.
The present invention also utilizes an abduction cushion having a unique shape designed to accommodate the anatomy of the wearer's forearm and hand. In particular, the surface of the cushion is contoured to account for the non-vertical angle of the humerus, which enhances the overall comfort of the wearer. Furthermore, unlike prior art devices which include thumb holders that restrict hand movement, the cushion included with the present invention does not require any type of thumb support, but instead has a face against which the wearer's hand rests that is specifically shaped to allow the wearer a wider range of hand motion. This in turn permits the wearer to use his or her hand to perform a broader range of tasks while wearing the sling, such as holding a soft drink can while opening it or grasping a jar to unscrew its cap. Any movement of the forearm within the sling that would have otherwise been prevented by using a conventional thumb holder is addressed by providing a closure strap which wraps around the open edges of the sling pouch where the forearm meets the elbow. This unique closure strap prevents the wearer's forearm from sliding forward in the sling without resorting to restricting movement of the thumb, fingers and hand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shoulder abduction sling having a strap system that distributes the weight of the abducted upper limb across a wearer's back rather than over the uninjured shoulder and against the wearer's neck.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a shoulder abduction sling that can be worn on either the left or right arm.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an abduction sling having an adjustable strap system so that the sling can be precisely fitted to ensure that adequate support and the proper degree of abduction is provided to the shoulder region.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an abduction sling having an abduction cushion shaped to accommodate the contours of the humerus and associated musculature.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an abduction apparatus that preserves the mobility of the abducted hand.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing an adjustable abduction apparatus. The abduction apparatus includes a cushion for being received against the torso of the wearer, and a sling pouch for receiving the limb of the wearer therein. The sling pouch is releasably attached to the cushion and cooperates therewith for maintaining the limb and shoulder in the abducted position. A support assembly immobilizes the limb and shoulder in the abducted position and distributes the weight of the abducted limb evenly across the shoulders of the wearer. The support assembly includes a waist strap carried by the cushion for releasably securing the apparatus against the torso, and a back strap interconnecting the waist strap and the sling pouch and extending therebetween along the back generally parallel to the spinal column. The back strap provides stabilizing support to the sling pouch for maintaining the limb in the abducted position.
According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a shoulder strap interconnects the back strap and the sling pouch and extends therebetween generally diagonally across the spinal column of the wearer.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the waist strap is carried by the cushion for releasably securing the cushion against the torso.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the waist strap is an elongate strap having an outer surface, a first end connected to a first lateral surface of the cushion, and a second end releasably connected to a second opposing lateral surface of the cushion for holding the cushion in place against the torso of the wearer.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, a first fastener is attached to the second lateral surface of the cushion and cooperates with a second fastener carried by the waist strap for holding the cushion in place against the torso of the wearer.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the second fastener is a tongue carried by the waist strap and the first fastener is a complementary clasp for receiving the tongue therein.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, a third fastener is releasably attached to the second end of the waist strap and cooperates with the outer surface of the waist strap for releasably securing the second end of the waist strap thereto.
Acc
Hamilton Lalita M.
Lucchesi Nicholas D.
Medical Specialties, Inc.
Summa & Allan P.A.
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