Nerve De-Tensioning Method and Apparatus

Abstract

A method and apparatus to de-tension or unload the sciatic or other major nerve or muscle group compressing a nerve of a user.

Description

A method and apparatus for de-tensioning a nerve, in an exemplary embodiment the sciatic nerve of the leg is disclosed although the teachings may be applied to de-tensioning other nerves of the legs and arms. The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that innervates nearly the entire lower leg of humans. It is formed from the L4 to S3 segments emerging from the lower back through the buttock and down each leg. When the nerve is injured or irritated it can cause pain. Often the pain is difficult to control and surgical decompression may be necessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various example systems, methods, and so on, that illustrate various example embodiments of aspects of the invention. It will be appreciated that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of the boundaries. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that one element may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may be designed as one element. An element shown as an internal component of another element may be implemented as an external component and vice versa. Furthermore, elements may not be drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is front perspective view of a de-tensioning apparatus.

FIG. 2 is rear perspective view of the de-tensioning apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is front elevation view of the de-tensioning apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is rear elevation view of the de-tensioning apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is right side view of the de-tensioning apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a de-tensioning apparatus.

FIG. 7 is front elevation view of an alternate embodiment of a de-tensioning apparatus.

FIG. 8 is rear elevation view of the de-tensioning apparatus of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is front elevation view of an alternate embodiment of a de-tensioning apparatus.

FIG. 10 is rear elevation view of the de-tensioning apparatus of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally speaking, a system and method as used herein includes but is not limited to an apparatus urging at least one leg of a user to an unextended or minimized extension state. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a compression-type hose or garment covering the lower body portion of a user, in one instance from about the waist down. The apparatus also may include an integrated foot stirrup or sock, a lower-back support, and an elastic band or bands in channels guiding the band or bands to preferred anatomical locations on the user. In one embodiment, the elastic band or bands travel through channels adjacent to posterior ankle, posterior knee, anterior hip and/or circumferential waist to provide continuous dynamic flexion to the hip, knee and foot to minimize against leg and/or foot extensions that increase tension on the sciatic nerve. The resulting flex of hip, knee and/or ankle reduce leg extension and de-tension the sciatic nerve while a user is awake or asleep alleviating or reducing pain associated with sciatic nerve injury or irritation, as well as reducing the weight of the extremity through supporting bands proximal to the affected limb.

With reference to FIGS. 1-6, an exemplary device 100 is shown. In an embodiment, the device includes a close fitting garment 110, akin to compression shorts or pants. The garment 110 includes waist guides or channels 114 at or near a waistband 118. While illustrated with two front waist channels 114 and two back waist channels 116, it is appreciated that the waistband 118 itself may function as a single waist channel surrounding a top periphery or disposed on a proximal side of the garment 110. The garment 110 may also include medial and lateral knee guides or channels 120, 122 and medial and lateral ankle guides or channels 130, 132. The garment 110 may include an integrated or separate foot stirrup 140 or sock 142 (FIG. 6) disposed on a distal side of the garment 110, where the stirrup 140 or sock 142 may include medial and lateral ankle guides, channels or an adjustable termination point 150 toward a distal end for elastic band or bands as will be further discussed below.

Device 100 may further include an elastic band or bands 160 arranged to de-tension a nerve or muscle group in the leg or arm or any nerve crossing a joint, in this embodiment by encouraging the leg to a flexed posture. Band 160 may be connected to or adjustably connected to a lateral lower or distally located end 166 of garment 110 and/or, in an embodiment not illustrated, on a lateral side of foot stirrup or sock 140. Band 160 may be passed through the lateral ankle guide 132 and lateral knee guide 122. Band 160 may then be passed through back waist channels 116 and around through front waist channels 114 and back down a medial side. On the medial return, band 160 may be passed through medial knee guide 120, medial ankle guide 130 and connected to or adjustably connected to a medial lower end 168 of garment 110 and/or, in an embodiment not illustrated, on a medial side of foot stirrup or sock 140. The device may include an elastic band similarly arranged on the other leg of garment 110. Band or bands 160 may pass through discrete channels as described or through continuous or nearly continuous channels on or associated with garment 110. Additionally, the channels may be disposed on an interior side of garment or on an exterior side as illustrated.

With reference now to FIGS. 7 and 8, an alternate embodiment of a de-tensioning device 700 is shown. Device 700 may include a waist belt 704 connected to or adjustably connected to at least one elastic band, 710. While the waist belt 704 and elastic band 710 are shown as being worn over and above undergarment 716, they need not be. Indeed, waist belt 704 and elastic band 710 may themselves be formed as part of an undergarment. The device 700 may further include an over the knee sock 718 fitted with a medial knee guide 720 and lateral knee guide 722 to accommodate and position elastic band 710. The over the knee sock 718 may also be fitted with a medial ankle guide 730 and lateral ankle guide 732 to accommodate and position elastic band 710. In embodiments, medial ankle guide 730 and lateral ankle guide 732 may additionally function as an adjustable termination for elastic band 710. In use, elastic bands 710 are tightened as desired by a user and device 700 encourages a flex in the leg of the user de-tensioning at least the sciatic nerve. We have identified the posterior ankle, posterior knee, anterior hip and/or circumferential waist as areas to provide tension resulting in flex of hip, knee and/or ankle reducing leg extension, de-tensioning the sciatic nerve and alleviating or reducing pain associated with sciatic nerve injury or irritation while a user is awake or asleep.

With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, an alternate embodiment of a de-tensioning device 900 is shown. Device 900 may include a waist belt 904 connected to or adjustably connected to at least one elastic band 910. The device 900 may further include an ankle sock 918 fitted with a medial ankle guide 930 and lateral ankle guide 932 to accommodate and position elastic band 910. Medial ankle guide 930 and lateral ankle guide 932 may additionally function as an adjustable termination for elastic band 910. In use, elastic bands 910 are tightened as desired by a user and device 900 encourages a flex in the leg of the user de-tensioning at least the sciatic nerve. We have identified the posterior ankle, posterior knee, anterior hip and/or circumferential waist as areas to provide tension resulting in flex of hip, knee and/or ankle reducing leg extension, de-tensioning the sciatic nerve and alleviating or reducing pain associated with sciatic nerve injury or irritation while a user is awake or asleep.

As used herein, “connection,” “connected” or “connectable” means both directly, that is, without other intervening elements or components, and indirectly, that is, with another component or components arranged between the items identified or described as being connected. To the extent that the term “includes” or “including” is employed in the detailed description or the claims, it is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as that term is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “or” is employed (e.g., A or B) it is intended to mean “A or B or both.” When the applicants intend to indicate “only A or B but not both” then the term “only A or B but not both” will be employed. Similarly, when the applicants intend to indicate “one and only one” of A, B or C, the applicants will employ the phrase “one and only one.” Thus, use of the term “or” herein is the inclusive, and not the exclusive use. See, Bryan A. Garner, A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage 624 (2d. Ed. 1995).

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: a compression garment at least partially covering at least one extremity of a user;a first channel disposed proximally on the compression garment;an integrated stirrup or sock connected to the compression garment at a distal end of the compression garment; andat least one elastic band disposed in the first channel and extending therefrom distally through at least one guide guiding the elastic band along preferred anatomical locations of the user and terminating at the distal end, where the at least one elastic band provides tension to joints of the at least one extremity urging the extremity to an un-extended state relieving tension on a nerve in the extremity.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, where the preferred anatomical locations of the user include posterior ankle, posterior knee, and anterior hip.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, where the compression garment further comprises a lower-back support.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, where tension in the at least one elastic band is user adjustable at the lateral distal end of the compression garment.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, where tension in the at least one elastic band is user adjustable at the lateral distal end of the foot stirrup or sock.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a knee guide where the at least one elastic band disposed in the first channel and extending therefrom distally passes through the knee guide disposed in a medial or lateral relationship to a knee of the user.

7. A nerve de-tensioning apparatus for use by a patient in need comprising: a proximal guide surrounding a majority of a circumference of the patient, where the guide retains at least one elastic band around the circumference;at least one channel distal to the guide where the channel is adjacent to at least one joint on an extremity of the patient and where the at least one elastic band extends in the at least one channel distally from the circumference along the extremity; anda terminus disposed on a distal end of the extremity adjustable by the patient to connect to a distal end of the at least one elastic band to provide a force urging the extremity into a flexed state relieving tension on a nerve.

8. The nerve de-tensioning apparatus as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a compression garment configured for wear by the patient, where the garment includes the proximal guide.

9. The nerve de-tensioning apparatus as set forth in claim 8, where the garment comprises the at least one channel and the terminus connected to a distal end of the garment.

10. The nerve de-tensioning apparatus as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a sock or stirrup for wear by the patient on a distal end of the extremity, where the sock or stirrup includes the terminus.

11. The nerve de-tensioning apparatus as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a back brace connected to a proximal side of the compression garment.

12. The nerve de-tensioning apparatus as set forth in claim 7, where the terminus includes a medial terminus adjacent to a joint on the extremity and where the terminus includes a lateral terminus adjacent to the joint and opposite the medial terminus, where the at least one elastic band extends proximally from the medial terminus through the at least one channel and the proximal guide around the majority of the circumference of the patient and then distally to the lateral terminus.

13. A method of de-tensioning a nerve for a patient in need thereof, the method comprising: retaining an elastic band in a proximal guide of a garment surrounding a majority of a circumference of the patient;extending the elastic band distally from the circumference along the extremity in at least one channel distal to the proximal guide where the channel is disposed in medially or laterally with respect to at least one joint on an extremity of the patient; andadjustably connecting a distal end of the elastic band to a terminus disposed on a distal end of the extremity to provide a force urging the extremity into a flexed state relieving tension on a nerve.