Patent Application
20090198160
The embodiments of the invention generally relate to orthopedic casts, and in particular, to a system and method of providing aeration, cooling, heating and/or medication to body region covered by an orthopedic cast.
Orthopedic casts support and protect injured bones and soft tissue during the healing of the injured area. Additionally, these casts help to reduce pain, swelling, and muscle spasm. Often, these casts are applied following surgery, and are typically custom-made and administered by a doctor and/or an assistant.
Orthopedic casts typically consists of three distinct layers. The first layer typically consists of a tube made of cotton or other soft flexible material. This layer, often referred to as the stockinette, lays closest to the patient's skin and is normally the first layer to be applied. Stockinettes are applied by carefully sliding the material over the injured area. Excess material is left at the top and bottom of the stockinette to form a cuff after the third layer is applied.
The second layer typically consists of a cotton or felt padding applied over the stockinette. The padding typically comes in rolls which are wrapped around the stockinette. Several layers of padding may be needed to form a protective cushion between the stockinette and the hard third or outer layer of the cast. The padding layer should be evenly distributed so that the padding layer is uniformly thick once completed.
Typically, the third layer is formed of plaster or fiberglass and is applied over the padding layer. Generally, plaster or fiberglass rolls are soaked in water and layered around the padding layer. Several layers of plaster or fiberglass are added until a thick outer layer is formed. At this point, the excess material at the top and bottom of the stockinette is rolled back over the outer layer to form a cuff at the top and bottom of the cast. This cuff may prevent irritation and injury to the skin from the normally rough edges of the outer layer. When the outer layer dries, it hardens into a generally non-flexible protective shell effectively immobilizing the injured area. The immobilized area allows torn ligaments to heal and bone to mend in a proper alignment and reduces the risk of re-injury.
One problem with the typical cast is that it may be uncomfortable to wear. The discomfort can be most pronounced underneath the areas covered by the cast because of the extra layers of insulation and the lack of evaporative cooling. Plaster and fiberglass combined with several layers of cotton padding and one or more layers of lining do not allow the affected area to “breathe” well. As a result, the inside of a cast may be uncomfortably warm and humid from body heat and excess perspiration. The combination of moisture and warmth may also provide an ideal setting for bacteria and fungus to thrive, possibly leading to irritation, rashes and infection.
Wearing a cast for long extended periods may be uncomfortable for other reasons. Muscles already injured may be further strained by the additional weight of a cast. Movement is also restricted, thus normal stretching may be out of the question. The application of hot and cold compresses may serve to alleviate some of these symptoms. For instance, a cold compress may reduce swelling and inflammation and help reduce localized pain. A hot compress may relax muscles and sooth soreness. Within the tight confines of a cast, however, delivery of effective heat and cold therapy or medication may present a problem.
The tube 102 allows gaseous fluid to be introduced into the enclosure 101 for the purpose of treating at least a portion of the injured area covered by the enclosure 101. For example, the treatment of the injured area may include applying ambient or cool pressurized air to the injured area via the tube 102 in order to cool the injured area to alleviate discomfort resulting from excess heat, sweat, skin irritation such as itching and rashes, and/or other discomforts. Alternatively, or in addition to, the treatment of the injured area may include applying heated pressurized air to the injured area via the tube 102 for administering a heat therapy to the injured area. Alternatively, or in addition to, the treatment of the injured area may include applying medicated or therapeutic gaseous fluid to the injured area via the tube 102.
The enclosure 202 further comprises a second layer 206 that completely surrounds and makes contact to the outer perimeter of the first layer 204. The second layer 206 may be configured as a cushion or padding layer to absorb energy from impact with external objects so as to protect the injured area. The second layer 206 may comprise a cotton or felt padding applied over the first layer 204, such as the stockinette. The padding layer may come in rolls which are wrapped around the stockinette. Several layers of padding may be needed to form a protective cushion between the stockinette and the hard third or outer layer of the cast. The padding layer should be evenly distributed so that the padding layer is uniformly thick once completed.
The enclosure 202 further comprises a third layer 208 that completely surrounds and makes contact to the outer perimeter of the second layer 206. The third layer 208 may be configured as a rigid or hard layer to effectively immobilize the injured area so that healing of the injured area can occur. Being rigid or hard, the third layer 208 also serves to protect the injured area from impact with external objects. The third layer 208 may be formed of plaster or fiberglass and is applied over the padding layer 206. Generally plaster or fiberglass rolls are soaked in water and layered around the padding layer. Several layers of plaster or fiberglass are added until a thick outer layer is formed. When the third layer 208 dries, it hardens into a generally non-flexible protective shell effectively immobilizing the injured area.
The orthopedic cast 200 further comprises a tube 210 for applying gaseous fluid or effects thereof to the injured area from an external source. As previously discussed, the tube 210 serves in the treatment of the injured area by routing specified gaseous fluid to injured area. As some example, the treatment may be to cool the injured area for comfort purposes and/or reduce perspiration from the injured area. In this case, an external source may apply ambient or cool pressurized air to the injured area via the tube 210. As another example, the treatment may be to heat the injured area so as to, for example, loosen the muscles of the injured area. In such a case, an external source may apply heated pressurized air to the injured area via the tube 210.
As still another example, the treatment may be to apply some medication to the injured area. For example, the medication may be for reducing skin rash or other irritation in the vicinity of the injured area. As another example, the medication may be a muscle relaxant for relaxing the muscles associated with the injured area. There could be many other types of medication applied to the injured area. In such a case, an external source may apply the medication in the form of a medicated pressurized gaseous fluid to the injured area via the tube 210.
Yet still another example, the treatment may be to apply some therapy to the injured area. The therapy may vary substantially depending on the purpose for the therapy. For example, the therapy may be to apply heat to the injured area for 10 minutes, then apply a particular medication to the injured area, and then applying a pulsing (varying pressure) ambient or cool pressurized air to the injured. In such a case, a pair of external sources, an air source and a medication source, may apply the appropriate component of the therapy to the injured area via the tube 210. The above are some examples of various applications, among many others, for which the orthopedic cast 200 may be used.
The tube 210 may be embedded within the enclosure 202 in many different ways. In the example shown in
In the case that the gaseous fluid is air, the air pumped into the cast may be treated to increase its therapeutic value. For example, dehumidifying the air prior to injecting the treated air into the cast may increase the amount of moisture evaporated within the cast. The drier air should evaporate more moisture from the inside of the cast. Another example of treating the air is changing the temperature of the air before injecting the treated air into the cast. For example, the air may be cooled. Cool air may reduce swelling which could make wearing a cast more comfortable if the cast is tight. Cool air may also reduce sweating under the cast. The air may also be heated. Dry hot air increases evaporation, especially when combined with a non-absorbent lining and fiberglass outer shell. A non-absorbent lining, such as Gortex® and a fiberglass outer shell may allow moisture to pass through the layers once it evaporates. Heat treated air may therefore reduce moisture in the cast. Heat treatment also relaxes the muscles of the injured area, which may prevent cramping due to inactivity.
While the invention has been described in connection with various embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is capable of further modifications. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptation of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention, and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known and customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains.
