Patent Application
20210330523
This application pertains to an apparatus providing adjustable support to patients experiencing paralysis/paresis/hypertonicity in their extremities as well as providing increased comfort to any rehabilitation or wheelchair bound patients recovering from stroke, surgery or injury.
Loss of muscle control, whether due to stroke, injury or any other disease, imposes significant challenge to the physical therapist during rehabilitation process and also to the day-today routine care takers of patients. Patients experiencing such a condition can be difficult to work with at a minimum and may even exhibit enough postural instability to be a danger to themselves or others, thus requiring additional help or the use of overly restrictive devices. These restrictive devices can cause further legal and mental challenges during process of rehabilitation impeding recovery, which can cause other problems or delay recovery. While there are many causes of loss of muscle control, two common condition that result from a stroke are spastic paralysis and flaccid paralysis.
Spasticity is a muscle control disorder that is characterized by tight or stiff muscles and an inability to control those muscles. In addition, reflexes may persist for too long and may be too strong (hyperactive reflexes), It is often found in people with stroke, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injury, Some of the symptoms include overactive reflexes, involuntary movements, which may include spasms (brisk and/or sustained involuntary muscle contraction) and cionus (series of fast involuntary contractions). Occupational and physical therapy programs, involving muscle stretching and range of motion exercises, and sometimes the use of braces, may help prevent tendon shortening. The pain associated with spasticity can be as mild as a feeling of tight muscles, or it can be severe enough to produce painful spasms of the extremities, including the legs. In these patients, it is difficult to control their extremities, including keeping their arms and legs on available rests, supports, etc. This can lead to loss of balance and possibly injurious falls.
Flaccid paralysis is a neurological condition characterized by weakness or paralysis and reduced muscle tone without other obvious cause (e.g., trauma). This abnormal condition may be caused by disease or by trauma affecting the spinal cord or nerves associated with the involved muscles. For example, if the somatic nerves to a skeletal muscle are severed, then the muscle will exhibit flaccid paralysis. When muscles enter this state, they become limp and cannot contract. In this condition, a patient is unable to control their extremities, including keeping their arms and legs on available rests, supports, etc. This can lead to loss of balance and possibly injurious falls.
Complicating the treatment and recovery process is the lack of support adjustability and other comfort features in currently available rests, supports, etc. for patient extremities. Slings and padded arm rests have fixed contours and are either overly restrictive or possess no secure containment characteristics at all. It is often desired to provide customizable dynamic support and a secure restrictive zone of movement, or at least and also to provide uniform support along an extremity. This is not achieved in the existing art. This can leave the patient uncomfortable at the least, or in a precarious position if ignored.
Finally, patient irritability and infections due to moisture buildup or lack of oxygen exposure to the extremity arising from sling-type and similar support devices may require additional medical attention and modified care routines, thus complicating and possibly delaying the recovery period.
It is therefore an objective of the instant invention to provide an apparatus that provides breathable, adjustable containment and weight dissipation along the length of a patients extremities.
It is a further objective of the instant invention to provide an apparatus that promotes blood flow through the elevation of the limb reducing edema in the limb.
It is a further objective of the instant invention to provide an apparatus that flexibly and ambidextrously mounts to a range of appliances in use by a patient including wheelchairs, chairs, tables, stands, baths, beds and others.
It is a further objective of the instant invention to provide an apparatus that provide dynamic tension to spastic extremities of patient.
It is a further objective of the instant invention to provide support to unstable posture and improve comfort of patient by having vertically and horizontally adjustable support to upper extremity.
In one embodiment, the current invention comprises an elongated frame having a channel within which an elastic sheet is suspended, thus creating an adjustable containment sling for customized patient extremity support.
In an alternate embodiment, the current invention may comprise an adjustable angle elongated frame within which an elastic sheet is suspended, thus creating an adjustable tension containment sling for further customized patient extremity support for joints, for example.
In an alternate embodiment, the current invention may comprise multilayered elastic sheet construction to achieve customized support, containment, breathability, moisture control, blood flow support and other desired characteristics.
In an alternate embodiment, the current invention may comprise a mounting provision providing elevation, angle and universal position adjustments for use with wheelchairs, chairs, tables, stands, baths, beds and other patient implements.
The accompanying drawings illustrate example embodiments of the invention and its concepts. The drawings are not to scale. The terms and language used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects of the invention and are not intended to be limiting of the invention.
For overall demonstration,
Referring to
While
The longitudinally elongated frame (100) may be constructed of any rigid material which holds its shape while supporting the weight of a patient's extremity, such as a forearm (400), under ambient conditions, including most metals, including stainless steel, and plastics and even recycled materials. In the preferred embodiment, the longitudinally elongated frame (100) is made of lightweight molded plastic, which is easily and inexpensively formed and does not invite bacterial colonization.
The elongated elastic sheet (200) is a flexible elastic material, and has a perimeter (215) sufficiently sized and shaped to drape over the open top (150) of the longitudinally elongated frame (100) and around and adjacent to the exterior surface (170) of the longitudinally elongated frame (100). In alternate embodiments, the elongated elastic sheet (200) may be fabricated or pre-formed such that it forms an elongated cavity (250) within the elongated channel (160) when draped over the longitudinally elongated frame (100). This structural feature will not always be necessary due to the elasticity of materials that may be used for the elongated elastic sheet (200). Positioned along the perimeter (215) of the elastic sheet (200) are paired adjustable length attachment mechanisms (220) that attach to secure the elongated elastic sheet (200) around the longitudinally elongated frame (100).
The paired adjustable length attachment mechanisms (220) may be of a belt-type construction with cam, ratchet, D-ring, side release, bar slide, or any similar-type buckles that secure tension on the belt. While belt latch-type buckles work, it is preferred to have an arrangement that accommodates continuous latching capability as opposed to discrete, periodic adjustments. Furthermore, each adjustable length attachment mechanism pair (220) may be adjusted individually, thus allowing for a customized support along the length of the patient's extremity. In the preferred embodiment, the paired adjustable length attachment mechanisms (220) are hook and loop type mechanisms.
Referring to
In an alternate embodiment, the perimeter (215) of the elastic sheet (200) comprises an elastic band or draw string to help keep the elongated elastic sheet (200) secured over the longitudinally elongated frame (100).
Referring to
In a preferred embodiment of the Adjustable Extremity Suspension Apparatus (50), the longitudinally elongated frame (100) comprises an extension (130) along the upper edge of one of the two longitudinally elongated vertical opposing sides (110) partially protruding over the elongated channel (160). This extension (130) provides three functions. First, it keeps the extremity receptacle (250) positioned within the elongated channel (160), but away from the rigid longitudinally elongated frame (100). Second, it provides a partial restriction on upward movement of the patient's extremity, which may be desired. Third, it can assist the patient in moving the Adjustable Extremity Suspension Apparatus (50) while adjusting its position,
In, another embodiment, one of the two longitudinally elongated vertical opposing sides (110) comprises an open notch (145) on each end in order to accommodate entry of the patient's forearm (400). In the preferred embodiment both of the open notches (145) and the extension (130) are on the same side of the longitudinally elongated vertical opposing sides (110).
In another embodiment the Adjustable Extremity Suspension Apparatus (50) comprises a flexible bladder or a cushion located on the bottom of the longitudinally elongated frame within the elongated channel, which works in combination with the elongated elastic sheet (200) to allow for a more customized support, especially with heavy extremities or even as a customizable patient seat. The bladder or cushion may be a flexible bladder for containing a fluid such as air or a gel, and may further be cellularly constructed to further control support. As a cushion it may be constructed of foam, polyester or down.
Referring to
Using the Adjustable Extremity Suspension Apparatus (50) to support a patient's extremity, such as a forearm (400) comprises locating the Adjustable Extremity Suspension Apparatus (50) to the desired position of the forearm (400), stretching the elongated elastic sheet (200) over the longitudinally elongated frame (100) such that the desired extremity support is achieved along the length of the Adjustable Extremity Suspension Apparatus (50), securing the paired adjustable length attachment mechanisms (220) around the longitudinally elongated frame (100) to hold the elongated elastic sheet (200) in place, and suspending the forearm (400) upon the elongated elastic sheet (200) within the elongated channel (160) in the longitudinally elongated frame (100).
Depending upon the type of mounting mechanism (197) used, or if hinged longitudinally elongated frames (100) are used, an additional step of tightening down or temporarily fixing the position setting may be required. Also, depending upon the support performance characteristics desired, an additional step of selecting the material layers (211) and (212) for the elongated elastic sheet (200) may be necessary.
It will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art that other applications are possible for the present invention, and while the embodiments described herein are illustrative of the invention, other modes of implementation are both within the spirit and scope of the invention.
