Orthopedic back brace

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9655761-B2
Application number	US-201213674613-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 12, 2012
Priority date	Nov 12, 2012
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

Abstract

Orthopedic braces and associated methods are described for treatment of lower back injuries and chronic back pain. An orthopedic brace may include a pair of back panels, a pair of front panels, and a closure system. A lateral end of each front panel is releasably coupleable to a lateral end of each back panel at a desired angle. A ventral end of each front panel includes an attachment provision configured to allow one of the front panels to releasably attach to the other of the front panels generally over an abdomen of a wearer. The brace also includes a pocket on the ventral end of at least one of the front panels, the pocket configured to temporarily receive a hand of the wearer to aid in donning the orthopedic brace.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
causing an orthopedic brace to be manufactured and made available to a wearer, the orthopedic brace including:
a pair of back panels, each having a dorsal end and a lateral end;
a closure system coupling the pair of back panels to each other, the closure system including
a first lace coupled to a first tensioning mechanism, wherein the first lace and the first tensioning mechanism are configured to control the tension of a superior portion of the orthopedic brace, and
a second lace coupled to a second tensioning mechanism, wherein the second lace and the second tensioning mechanism are configured to control the tension of an inferior portion of the back brace, each of the first and the second tensioning mechanisms being operable independently of the other to adjust the fit of the brace to the wearer;

a pair of front panels, each having a lateral end and a ventral end, wherein the lateral end of each front panel is releasably coupled to the lateral end of each back panel at a desired angle between the respective back panel and the corresponding front panel to which it is releasably coupled, wherein the desired angle is not planar, wherein each front panel of the pair of front panels is configured to extend generally from a respective side of a wearer over an abdomen of the wearer, and wherein the ventral end of each front panel includes an attachment means configured to allow one of the front panels to releasably attach to the other of the front panels generally over the abdomen of the wearer; and
a pocket on the ventral end of at least one of the front panels; and providing instructions to the user, comprising:
fitting the orthopedic brace on a wearer such that the lace is generally positioned over a spine of the wearer;
inserting a hand of the wearer into the pocket of the front panel, and overlapping the ventral end of the front panel over the ventral end of the other of the front panels to secure the front panels to one another via the attachment means; and
operating the first tensioning mechanism or the second tensioning mechanism to tighten the brace around the wearer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the orthopedic brace includes a thermoformable material, and wherein the instructions further comprise heating the thermoformable material to a temperature within a target temperature range.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the instructions further comprise fitting the orthopedic brace to the wearer while the thermoformable material is within the target temperature range.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the thermoformable material is located within at least one of the back panels.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the thermoformable material is located within at least one of the front panels.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the target temperature range is between about 160 and 220 degrees Fahrenheit.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein heating the thermoformable material comprises heating the thermoforable material while the brace in on the wearer.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein heating the thermoformable material comprises heating the thermoforable material separately from the brace.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the orthopedic brace includes a second thermoformable material that is thermoformable within a second target temperature range, and wherein the method further comprises instructions for:
heating the second thermoformable material to a temperature within the target temperature range; and
forming the second thermoformable material to a desired shape while the second thermoformable material is within the second target temperature range.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise adjusting the circumference of the orthopedic brace by coupling the lateral ends of the front panels to the lateral ends of the back panels at a desired length.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the front panels includes one or more sizing indicia, and wherein adjusting the circumference of the orthopedic brace further comprises coupling the lateral ends of the front panels to the lateral ends of the back panels according to the one or more sizing indicia.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the instructions further comprise trimming the length of one or more of the front panels along the one or more sizing indicia.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise adjusting the fitment of the orthopedic brace by coupling the lateral ends of the front panels to the lateral ends of the back panels at the desired angle.

14. An orthopedic brace, comprising:
a pair of back panels, each having a dorsal end and a lateral end;
a closure system coupling the pair of back panels to each other, the closure system including;
a first lace coupled to a first tensioning mechanism, wherein the first lace and the first tensioning mechanism are configured to control the tension of a superior portion of the orthopedic brace, and
a second lace coupled to a second tensioning mechanism, wherein the second lace and the second tensioning mechanism are configured to control the tension of an inferior portion of the back brace, each of the first and the second tensioning mechanisms being operable independently of the other to adjust the fit of the brace to the wearer; and

a pair of front panels, each having a lateral end and a ventral end, wherein the lateral end of each front panel is releasably coupled to the lateral end of each back panel at a desired angle formed between the respective back panel and the corresponding front panel to which it is releasably coupled, wherein the desired angle is not planar, wherein each front panel of the pair of front panels is configured to extend generally from a respective side of a wearer over an abdomen of a wearer, and wherein the ventral end of each front panel includes an attachment means configured to allow one of the front panels to releasably attach to the other of the front panels generally over the abdomen of the wearer.

15. The orthopedic brace of claim 14 , further comprising a posterior pad configured to be releasably coupled to at least one of the back panels.

16. The orthopedic brace of claim 15 , further comprising a glide plate including a plurality of moveable attaching means, the glide plate being releasably coupled to the posterior pad and the moveable attaching means configured to releasably couple the posterior pad to the back panels.

17. The orthopedic brace of claim 14 , wherein each front panel includes one or more sizing indicia configured to provide a guide for trimming the length of the front panel to adjust the fit of the brace to the wearer.

18. The orthopedic brace of claim 14 , further comprising a posterior pad configured to be fitted over at least one of the back panels without being directly coupled to at least one of the pair of back panels.

19. The orthopedic brace of claim 14 , further comprising at least one lateral support panel configured to be releasably coupled to the orthopedic brace.

20. The orthopedic brace of claim 14 , further comprising a posterior pad and at least one lateral support panel configured to be releasably coupled to the posterior pad.

21. The orthopedic brace of claim 14 , wherein at least one back panel includes a thermoformable material which is heat formable within a range of about 160 and 220 degrees Fahrenheit.

22. The orthopedic back brace of claim 14 , wherein at lea

Assignees

• Exos Llc
• Djo Llc

Inventors

• Joseph Mark
• Gamble Kristian
• Ankeny Colleen

Classifications

• A61F5/028 Primary

  Braces for providing support to the lower back, e.g. lumbo sacral supports · CPC title