Orthopedic shoulder-immobilizing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12064368-B2
Application number	US-202117160784-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2021
Priority date	Jan 29, 2020
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

A shoulder-immobilizing apparatus includes a forearm sling. The forearm sling is configured to receive an elbow, forearm and wrist of a first arm of a user and includes a first fastener configured for fastening a posterior strap to a proximal portion adjacent to the elbow, a second fastener configured for fastening an anterior strap to a distal portion adjacent to the wrist, and a contralateral strap holder. The contralateral strap holder includes a circumferential shoulder strap configured to wrap around a shoulder of a second arm of the user to form a substantially ellipsoid opening that seats against a pectoral region, a scapular region and one of an underarm region or a lateral outside portion of the shoulder of the user's second arm. The posterior and anterior straps each have swivel fasteners rotatably coupled to respective posterior and anterior portions of the circumferential shoulder strap. Related methods are also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shoulder-immobilizing apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a forearm sling configured to receive an elbow, a forearm and a wrist of a first arm of a user, the forearm sling further comprising:
a first fastener configured for fastening a posterior strap to a proximal portion of the forearm sling adjacent to the elbow of the user,
a second fastener configured for fastening an anterior strap to a distal portion of the forearm sling adjacent to the wrist of the user;

a contralateral strap holder comprising:
a circumferential shoulder strap configured to wrap around a shoulder of a second arm of the user to form an ellipsoid opening that seats against a pectoral region, a scapular region and a lateral outer portion of the second arm,
the posterior strap having a first swivel fastener configured to rotatably couple to one or more positions on a posterior portion of the circumferential shoulder strap, and
the anterior strap having a second swivel fastener configured to rotatably couple to one or more positions on an anterior portion of the circumferential shoulder strap,
wherein the contralateral strap holder does not exert a force against a neck of the user; and

an abduction cushion configured to be disposed between the forearm sling and a torso of the user, thereby abducting the first arm of the user by a desired abduction angle, the abduction cushion comprising:
a first padded cushion;
a second padded cushion; and
a vacuum bladder disposed between the first and second padded cushions, the vacuum bladder formed of a material configured to exert an intrinsic expanding force such that:
applying a vacuum pressure sufficiently below ambient atmospheric pressure to the vacuum bladder overcomes the intrinsic expanding force of the material of the vacuum bladder, thereby contracting the vacuum bladder and bringing the first and second padded cushions closer together, and
the vacuum bladder is held in an at least partially expanded state by the expanded intrinsic expanding force of the material of the vacuum bladder when a pressure greater than the vacuum pressure is applied to the vacuum bladder.

2. The shoulder-immobilizing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the forearm sling further comprises a plurality of breathable holes.

3. The shoulder-immobilizing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of breathable holes have one or more of a circular shape, an ovoid shape, a rectangular shape and a rectangular shape with rounded corners.

4. The shoulder-immobilizing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of breathable holes have a maximum diameter of 1/16th of an inch or less, thereby being configured to prevent window edema in the first arm of the user.

5. The shoulder-immobilizing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circumferential shoulder strap further comprises:
at least a first grommet configured to receive a first swivel post of the first swivel fastener of the posterior strap, thereby allowing the posterior strap to extend, unwrinkled and unfolded, between the forearm sling and the circumferential shoulder strap; and
at least a second grommet configured to receive a second swivel post of the second swivel fastener of the anterior strap, thereby allowing the anterior strap to extend, unwrinkled and unfolded, between the forearm sling and the circumferential shoulder strap.

6. The shoulder-immobilizing apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:
the first grommet is one of a first plurality of grommets each designated with a different color, number or letter on the circumferential shoulder strap; and
the second grommet is one of a second plurality of grommets each designated with a different color, number or letter on the circumferential shoulder strap.

7. The shoulder-immobilizing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ellipsoid opening of the circumferential shoulder strap is symmetrical about a centerline of the ellipsoid opening such that forearm sling is configured for use with either arm of the user without substantial adjustment.

8. The shoulder-immobilizing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circumferential shoulder strap comprises opposite ends having one or more fasteners, the opposite ends configured to overlap one another at a top of the ellipsoid opening and rest against a top of the shoulder of the second arm.

9. The shoulder-immobilizing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the forearm sling further comprises a cutout configured to expose the elbow of the first arm of the user such that the forearm sling does not physically contact the elbow when the first arm is disposed in the forearm sling.

10. The shoulder-immobilizing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the forearm sling further comprises at least one cutout configured to expose an upper portion of the forearm of the first arm of the user such that the forearm sling does not physically contact the upper portion of the forearm when the first arm is disposed in the forearm sling.

11. The shoulder-immobilizing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the abduction cushion comprises one of a curved, concave or convex shape to aid proper locating and securing of the abduction cushion.

12. The shoulder-immobilizing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum bladder
is configured to separate a bottom portion of the first padded cushion from a bottom portion of the second padded cushion by a greater degree than a top portion of the first padded cushion from a top portion of the second padded cushion, thereby achieving the desired abduction angle between the first arm and the torso of the user.

13. The shoulder-immobilizing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first padded cushion and the second padded cushion each have a uniform thickness.

14. A method of using a shoulder-immobilizing apparatus, the method comprising:
disposing an elbow, a forearm and a wrist of a first arm of a user into a forearm sling comprising:
a posterior strap fastened to a proximal portion of the forearm sling adjacent to the elbow of the user utilizing a first fastener, and
an anterior strap fastened to a distal portion of the forearm sling adjacent to the wrist of the user utilizing a second fastener;

wrapping a circumferential shoulder strap of a contralateral strap holder of the shoulder-immobilizing apparatus around a shoulder of a second arm of the user to form an ellipsoid opening that seats against a pectoral region, a scapular region and a lateral outer portion of the second arm;
rotatably coupling a first swivel fastener of the posterior strap to one or more positions on a posterior portion of the circumferential shoulder strap;
rotatably coupling a second swivel fastener of the anterior strap to one or more positions on an anterior portion of the circumferential shoulder strap; and
disposing an abduction cushion between the forearm sling and a torso of the user, thereby abducting the first arm of the user by a desired abduction angle,
wherein the abduction cushion comprises:
a first padded cushion;
a second padded cushion; and
a vacuum bladder disposed between the first and second padded cushions, the vacuum bladder formed of a material configured to exert an intrinsic expanding force such that:
applying a vacuum pressure sufficiently below ambient atmospheric pressure to the vacuum bladder overcomes the intrinsic expanding force of the material of the vacuum bladder, thereby contracting the vacuum bladder and bringing the first and second padded cushions closer together, and
the vacuum bladder is held in an at least partially expanded state by the intrinsic expanding force of the material of the vacuum bladder when a pressure greater than the vacuum pressure is ap

Assignees

• Djo Llc

Inventors

• Gildersleeve Richard E
• Vandenberg Tara
• Edwards Thomas Bradley
• Krishnan Sumant G
• Franklin Lan
• Orr David

Classifications

• A61F5/3753

  Abduction support · CPC title

• A61F5/373

  for restricting the movement of the arm at the elbow · CPC title

• A61F5/3738 Primary

  Slings · CPC title