Patent · US Active

Thoracic stabilizer

US8034011B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by

6References

16Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Temple University-Of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education · US

Inventors

Thomas H. Shaffer · Lansdowne, US
Marla R. Wolfson · Whitemarsh, US

Key dates

Filing date	Oct 18, 2006
Grant date	Oct 11, 2011
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Feb 19, 2029

Classification

Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
CPC primaryA61H2201/5061
WIPO fieldMedical technology
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A thoracic stabilizer for limiting anterior chest wall collapse includes a platform supporting a patient and a pair of lateral supports contacting opposite sides of the patient's chest wall and applying force to limit collapse of the chest wall. The force applied by the lateral supports is varied depending on the force applied to the platform by the patient. The stabilizer includes a retractometer measuring the collapse of the chest wall. According to one embodiment, the stabilizer includes a controller that varies the force applied to the chest wall in closed-loop fashion based on the chest wall collapse measured by the retractometer using an algorithm of the controller. According to one embodiment, the stabilizer includes motors moving the lateral supports. According to another embodiment, the stabilizer includes a hydraulic system and the lateral supports include expandable fluid-filled members.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.