Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
This invention relates to the field of medical devices. More specifically, the invention comprises a device which is used to support at least one of a patient's legs in order to assist in a physician's pre- and post-operative protocol.
The recovery period for a patient following surgery or other medical interventions is important.
The recovery period often includes intervals of rest, physical therapy, and some variation of elevation, fixation, or flexion of appendages affected in the treatment. Of course, the method of recovery depends on the type and severity of the injury/surgery. In the case of arms and legs, the patient is often required to fix the appendage in an elevated position. The elevation is most often accomplished using a pillow or sling.
A knee replacement procedure replaces the weight bearing surfaces of the knee to relieve pain and to restore mobility. A knee replacement procedure may be total or partial. After the procedure is complete, vigorous post-operative rehabilitation is typically required. This includes physical therapy. One very important exercise that a patient must do after having a knee replacement procedure is a passive hamstring stretch. The passive hamstring stretch is typically achieved by placing the foot of the patient on a pillow or other object in order to raise the leg off the supporting surface. The leg is then suspended from the hip joint and the ankle joint, and the w eight of the leg extends the knee joint and stretches the hamstring. This exercise is crucial for restoring the patient's gait. Unfortunately, the patient's foot may slip off of the pillow or other object causing a great deal of pain. This risk discourages the patient and limits the physician's pre- and post-operative rehabilitation protocol.
Similarly, a hip replacement procedure is performed in order to alleviate pain and/or if the hip socket has been fractured. As with the knee replacement procedure, rest and physical therapy are required after the procedure is complete. After a hip surgery, it is preferred to keep the hips in abduction. This is often achieved using a pillow placed in between the legs of the user, which separates the knees and increases the angle of abduction.
While many devices provide an elevation means or separating means for a patient's legs, the prior art devices do not provide a single device which achieves both hip abduction and knee extension while locking the patient's ankle in place. The present invention solves these and other problems, as will be described more particularly in the following text.
The present invention comprises a therapeutic device for supporting one or both of a patient's legs. The device is preferably constructed using a semi-rigid, and moderately flexible foam material such as polyurethane foam. The therapeutic leg support device includes a top portion, a base, a foot cutout located on the top portion, and a bottom cutout located on the base. The foot cutout is preferably designed to fit the foot and leg of a patient. Once a patient's foot and leg are placed into the foot cutout, the leg support device bends inward in a hinge-like manner in order to clasp the patient's leg. This action prevents the patient's leg from twisting and/or falling out of the support device.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the therapeutic leg support device includes a connection mechanism on each side of the device. The user can interlock multiple leg support devices via the connection mechanism. This allows the patient to place both legs and feet into the foot cutouts, allowing for full hip abduction while securing the position of both legs with respect to each other.
The present invention comprises a therapeutic leg support device 10. A preferred embodiment of therapeutic leg support device 10 is shown in
The shape thus created has three major elements. A first column 17 extends from base 14 to top portion 12 on one side. A second column 19 extends from base 14 to top portion 12 on the other side. The two columns are joined by web 21 proximate base 14.
Before and/or after a full or partial knee replacement or other knee surgery is performed on a patient, it is important for the patient to fully extend his or her knee. One method of doing this is to elevate the patient's ankle/foot while he or she is lying down. Typically, this is achieved with a standard pillow. Unfortunately, a typical pillow does not offer any lateral support for the patient's foot/leg. The foot is able to translate laterally and also roll from side to side. The present invention solves these problems.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, therapeutic leg support device 10 is fabricated using a molded foam such as polyurethane. The density and stillness of the foam is selected so that it is flexible enough to deform to a desired extent when a patient places his or her leg 22 into foot cutout 16. Those familiar with the art will realize that if leg support device 10 compresses too easily, then the patient's leg 22 and foot 24 will descend to the point that the desired elevation is no longer achieved. It is desirable for the support device to compress just enough to grip and stabilize the foot, ankle, and lower leg in the desired elevated position. A suitable polyurethane loam provides the desired characteristics. Such a foam will return to its original shape once the patient's leg is removed. The reader will note that leg support device 10 may be formed using a single piece of molded foam or multiple pieces of foam fastened together which act as a single piece of loam.
As top portions 12 of the two columns move inward they clamp and stabilize the patient's foot, ankle, and lower leg. The readily-deformable nature of the foam allows the device to mold around an individual's anatomy without producing excessive pressure on any one point.
Those familiar with the art will recognize the importance of preventing the patient's leg and foot from twisting and/or falling out of support device 10. While extension and flexion of the patient's knee after surgery is important, twisting and sudden movements can be detrimental to the knee and the healing process of the knee. Thus, it is important to prevent the knee of the patient from twisting or failing This support is not provided when using a typical prior art pillow or other support structures but is provided with the present invention.
Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in
In
The inventive device is usually employed to secure the patient's foot, ankle, or lower leg in position. However, in different instances it may only be used to secure one portion (such as the ankle). Accordingly, the patient's anatomy will be generally referred to as “lower limb anatomy” and this will be understood to encompass some or all of the region including the foot, ankle, and lower leg. Likewise, the term “foot cutout” has been used to describe the opening in the top of the inventive device. The use of this term should not be viewed as limiting the application of the device. In some instances, for example, only the patient's ankle will be placed in the “foot cutout.”
Moreover, the position of the lower limb anatomy on support device 10 impacts the force applied to the knee. For example, the maximum amount of force is applied to the knee when the tip of the heel of a patient is resting on the leg support device 10. This force is directly related to extension since the leg is suspended from the hip joint, and the weight of the patient's leg extends the knee and stanches the hamstring. In some instances, this force may be too great for the patient. By placing more and more of the lower limb anatomy onto leg support device 10, the force upon the knee is reduced. Thus, the force generated on the knee when the calf of the user is resting upon leg support device 10 is less than the force generated when the ankle of the user is resting upon leg support device 10.
The preceding description contains significant detail regarding novel aspects of the present invention. As an example, connection mechanism 28 could be any mechanism used to fasten two support devices 10 together such as a temporary or permanent adhesive. It should not be construed, however, as limiting lire scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by examples given.