WO2020154794A1 - Orthopedic ventilation membrane for surgical braces - Google Patents

Abstract

An ankle brace having a pair of perforated shells with a ventilated cushion attached to the inner face of the shells. The shells are made of thermoformable polypropylene or polyethylene materials. The ventilated cushions/pads cup medial and lateral malleolus portion of an ankle. The ventilated cushions are compressed via a pair of Velcro™ straps in order to control edema.

Description

ORTHOPEDIC VENTILATION MEMBRANE FOR SURGICAL BRACES

References Cited:

U.S. Patent Documents:

U.S. 7,128,725 10/2006 B2 David Rabe

U.S. Patent Application Publication 2007/0049855 A1 Mar. 1 , 2007

BACKGROUND

The invention is directed to an ankle brace and more specifically an ankle brace designed to maximize edema release, reduce bad smell, excessive presence of sweat and bacteria.

Ankle braces are used In the orthopedic field. They are used to alleviate problems as ankle sprains or injuries. They help the patient to heel while he is injured and still walking. Edema might incur around the ankle or the forefoot.

Current ankle braces do not provide edema release by a pair of ventilated cushions and by the presence of a full aeration inside the wounded ankle. They do not provide a clean, dry and comfortable support. By expelling out of the brace the smell, the excessive heat, and the bacteria. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore an objective of this invention is to generate a safe environment by having a ventilated brace fuelled by the atmospheric air.

Another objective of this invention is to provide an ankle brace that is easily washed or cleaned and being comfortable around the legs patient.

These and other advantages will be extrapolated to those skilled in the art based on the following teachings.

An ankle brace having a pair of removable perforated shells with inner ventilated cushion. Each cushion attracts from the wounded ankle bad smells, unwanted heat, infectious bacteria, condensed gazes and sweat. It allows the presence of an air flow by the application of a layered venting system. The air flow is passive by eliminating the need of a ventilator. This system refreshes the wounded skin it cures and reduces the edema progression. It is considered as a compression toot for controlling more edema.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective side view of a ventilated ankle brace fitted to a patient leg. Figure 2 is a perspective internal view of an opened ventilated ankle brace.

Figure 3A Is a lateral perspective view of a ventilated ankle brace.

Figure 3B(a) shows a wall portion of an external plastic shell of a ventilated ankle brace.

Figure 3B(b) shows a cross-section of a Velcro™ strap guide of a ventilated ankle brace. Figure 4A is an exploded view of the ventilated ankle brace.

Figure 4B is an exploded view of the ventilated ankle brace with directions of atmospheric air, heat, smell, sweat and bacteria.

Figure 5 is an exploded view of the venting system.

Figure 6 is a map of edema and of venting cushion forces vectors.

Figure 7A is a frontal view of venting portion of device.

Figure 7B is a dorsal view of venting portion of device.

Figure 8 is a 3D view of removable plastic cushion.

Figure 9 is a 3D view of venting elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the figures, an ankle brace 10:

FIGURE 1

An ankle brace (10) installed on patient's leg immobilizing its ankle with Velcro™ hook and loop straps as 1. With external solid lateral shell(s) as 2. Made of thermoformable polypropylene or polyethylene, rubber, or TPE.

Having a series of holes (2.a). The shell 2 has on its external face a number (not visible) of longitudinal protrusions that faces the Velcro™ straps 1. Therefore, these invisible bumps or longitudinal protrusions allow air to penetrate inside the holes (2.a) and ventilate passively the wounded ankle/skin. They don't let the straps 1 to rest directly on the walls of the lateral shell 2 after installation of the abovementioned ankle brace.

The abovementioned invisible longitudinal protrusions are considered as a supporting bridge to the straps 1. They can be found inside Figure 4 labelled as scaffolding spacers "A".

With an external soft base (2.A) padded with a gel base or plastazote cushion as 20B. The brace (10) is attached to one's ankle by anchoring the pair of straps 1 at the right position and adequate compressing force in order to curve the edema pressure. The solid, external shells 2 are positioned to cup the medial and lateral malleolus protrusions of the ankle before applying the straps 1. It is recommended to wear a hydrophilic sock as cotton made in order to minimise the amount of sweat to be accumulated between (the surface of the ventilating cushions A— B, the internal surface of the straps 1 ) and between (the patient's skin).

The ventilating cushions A -B as (4) (inside figure 2) cushioning instrument to provide a smooth support to the injured ankle.

The ventilating cushions A-B as (4) (inside figure 2) an instrument to attract and dissipate the heat, bacteria and smell to outside far away from inside the ankle brace 10.

FIGURE 2 Ankle brace 10 of Figure 1 fully opened showing the internal ventilated cushions A and B. With base 3 to support the heel or calcaneus bone of the wounded ankle/foot. Base 3 is covered by a gel pad as 3.A that cups the heel. To relieve painful ankle by offering a softer cushioning area.

Cushions A and B are attached internally to the solid shells 2 by means of doublesided tape or by being glued by Velcro™ patches (Not visible).

Each cushion A and B has a frontal and a dorsal side with 2.0 mm diameter perforations as 2.

Frontal and dorsal sides of cushion A and B are made of a hypoallergenic soft and thin plastic transparent layer 4. They can be made of plastic, gel, silicone, EVA, Plastazote.

Cushions A and B can be made of a hydrophilic or semi-hydrophilic material.

The transparent layers 4 are joined by an ultrasonic weld 5 around their perimeter. Underneath the transparent layer 4 lies a hydrophilic membrane in order to absorb sweat, vapors expelled from the wounded limb.

The hydrophilic layer can be made as rayon, cotton, wood pulp, polyester, copolyester.

The ventilating cushions 1 can be detached from the solid shells 2 (see figure 1 ) in order to be replaced by a suitable cushion not having absorbed exudates, difficult to clean, or in order to be washed or sterilized.

The venting cushions 1 can (optionally) have a zipper (look inside Figure 8) at the upper side in order to allow the user to withdraw all the venting and drying contents in exchange for a new set of venting elements.

The sweat or exudate from the wounded ankle travels through the perforations 2 of each transparent layer 4 and it will be absorbed by the hydrophilic membrane. Then it will evaporate and be transferred inside an aerated area equipped by venting protrusions until it is expelled to the outer side from the ankle brace as shown schematically by Figure 4B.

FIGURE 3A

The venting cushion 1 has an opposite and similar cushion on its opposite side. Each venting cushion is welded around its entire perimeter by an electro sonic joint as in the ultrasonic welded contour 3.

On the side 1.A of the ankle brace 10 are the perforations or mini holes 2 for transporting unwanted sweat, vapors and excessive heat away from the wounded area.

On each internal side of lateral parts 1.A and 1 ,B a thermoformed ankle zone 4 cups the patient's medial and lateral malleolus.

All layers included inside the venting cushions 1 are shaped similarly to the ankle zone 4.

Lateral part as 1.B and 1.A have narrow oval holes 5 to conduct atmospheric passive air to the wounded skin, having maximum opened width 2mm.

Oval holes 5 are a means to expel bacteria, smells and unwanted heat outside from the walking brace.

Lateral parts as 1.B and 1.A have external longitudinal bumps 6 of 3mm. height to restrict the Velcro™ straps to close the aeration taking place through the holes 5 as soon as the Velcro™ straps are assembled around the wounded limb.

Internally inside lateral parts I. A and I.B, cavity 10 receives or cups the lateral malleolus in order to provide a comfortable cushioning surface.

FIGURE 3B

In (A) is a small wall portion of the ankle brace 10 in which it is shown a bumpy element 6 (already described inside previous figure 3A). Of height 3mm. Capable to allow the atmospheric air not to be blocked by the Velcro™ straps for a lasting ventilation.

In (B] is a cross section of (A). It illustrates the location of the Velcro™ strap inside the guide/channel (G).

FIGURE 4A

The ankle brace is made from the following walls or membranes:

External shell 1: for protection of wounded malleolus and medial ankle. Has bumpy elements "A" for not allowing the Velcro™ straps to obstruct the airflow to run through the holes B.

Internal membrane 2 is connected to external membrane 6 by ultrasonic welding technology, membrane 2 and membrane 6 form a hydrophobic or semi hydrophilic perforated bag. It can breathe by means of micro holes on both of its sides.

This above indicated bag could have additional lateral, upper, and lower sides covering the whole perimeter for an improved sided ventilation.

This above indicated bag could be opened by a zippered system from its top side in order to wash its following membranes: (membrane 5, 4 and 3).

Membrane 3 is an EVA semi-soft layer with protrusions, holes and scattered grooves. Membrane 4 is an EVA flexible protective layer with dual hardness of soft one to be close to the wounded skin and of harder Shore A to be in contact with membrane 3. The combined Hardness of membrane 4 and 3 saves the protrusions from a collapse.

Membrane 5 of hydrophilic properties to absorb all the sweat, bacteria, heat, and smell generated originally from the wounded ankle. FIGURE 4B

Same exploded view of figure 4. A showing direction of sweat, bacteria, heat and smell towards the core of the venting device 10 and escape of above indicated harmful elements outside from the wounded ankle.

Same exploded view of figure 4.A showing paths of passive ventilation inside the venting brace 10.

FIGURE 5

Oblique view of internal layers of ankle brace against the wounded ankle.

FIGURE 6

Internal opposite compression edema force against the resistant/compressed EVA layers forces.

FIGURE 7A

Frontal view of venting membranes. With dual layer (4) of perforated EVA on top of protruded membrane (3). The protrusions (P) allow air to be stored between layer (4) and membrane

(3).

FIGURE 7B

Venting membrane (3) showing cavities of reversed protrusions (P). With a squared cavity or dome (D) to store more air for further ventilation.

FIGURE 8

Image of empty, detachable plastic cushion as (1).

With invisible micro holes as (2) to provide a generous aeration.

With venting lateral side(s) as (3).

With horizontal and lateral zipper as (4) open and insert cleaned venting layers. With detachable segments of Velcro™ as (5).

FIGURE 9

All venting elements to be inserted inside the empty plastic cushion (1) as in Figure 8. By Figure 4A as the hydrophilic layer (5) to absorb from the wounded ankle sweat, exudates, Heat gazes and bacteria.

Layer (4) and (3) to ventilate the wounded ankle with passive atmospheric air.

As the fourth perforated layer of dual hardness as (7) and as (8). With soft layer (8) to be directed towards the wounded ankle.

With harder layer (7) for blocking protrusions to collapse.

With hard layer (7) as hardness of layer (8) to keep protrusions (p) uncompressed thus allowing atmospheric air 100 to travel across the above indicated protrusions freely.

Hard layer (7) attracts vapours, bacteria, smell and heat to expel them through the holes of the external plastic shells way from the wounded ankle. Holes of membrane 3 and 4 are not aligned. Consequently, partial quantity of air is lost. This deficiency is corrected the addition of protrusions (p) on both sides of venting membrane 3.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Ventilation membrane of an ankle brace comprising:

a pair of shells having aerated cushions in the inner surface of the shells;

a pair of straps that are attached to the shell; and

a pair of straps that are attached to the shell and extend around the shell.

2. The ventilation membrane of claim 1 wherein the aerated cushions are perforated and made of compressible materials.

3. The ventilation membrane of claim 1 wherein the aerated cushions are removable from the shells.

4. The ventilation membrane of claim 1 wherein the aerated cushions have a hydrophilic membrane.

5. The ventilation membrane of claim 1 wherein the aerated cushions have a zipper at the top side.

6. The ventilation membrane of claim 1 wherein the aerated cushions have a perforated membrane of dual hardness.

7. The ventilation membrane of claim 1 wherein the aerated cushion has a perforated membrane with protrusions.

8. The ventilation membrane of claim 1 wherein the shells have supportive bumps for the straps.

9. The ventilation membrane of claim 1 wherein the shells have bumps for guidance of straps.

10. The ventilation membrane of claim 1 wherein the supportive bumps are of 3cm. height.

11. The ventilation membrane of claim 1 wherein the shells have narrow openings of 2mm.

12. The ventilation membrane of claim 1 further comprising a soft base supporting a gel cushion.