Orthopedic brace having pneumatic pads
US5316547A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 1, 1992 |
| Grant date | May 31, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 1, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2005/0172
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An orthopedic brace is provided having one or more pads mounted thereon to provide secure and comfortable support for the brace when positioned against the body of a user. Each pad includes at least one pneumatic bladder, formed from a flexible skin permanently sealed to enclose a volume of gas therein. In a first embodiment, the brace has a point pad mounted thereon which is configured to conform to a surface of the body overlying a skeletal protrusion. The point pad contains a bladder having a substantially closed-loop configuration circumscribing the skeletal protrusion and having an interior opening to receive the protrusion. In a second embodiment, the brace has an areal pad mounted thereon which is configured to conform to a surface of the body overlying a curved, but relatively level, skeletal structure or soft tissue. The areal pad is a plurality of interconnected gas-inflated chambers that are maintained in fluid isolation from one another by flexible seams positioned between adjacent chambers. Alternatively, the areal pad is a bladder having a plurality of interconnected gas-inflated segments that are in fluid communication with one another via flow channels provided thro…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.