HK1068777B - Back support belt and the lifting sling in communication with this back support belt - Google Patents

Description

Back support belt and sling combined with same

Technical Field

The invention relates to a back supporting belt and a lifting appliance combined with the back supporting belt. The back support strap can correct the posture habit of the wearer, thereby reducing the risk of pain or injury to the lower back; the back is supported when the wearer carries heavy objects, including a soldier or traveler's backpack or a student's bag. The design of the invention is characterized in that it is both a protective device and a therapeutic device, relating to an orthopaedic appliance which can influence the posture habit of the wearer; the device is worn on the wearer in the form of a belt, which may or may not be provided with a backpack or ring for carrying tools, or a bag or for feeding travellers or soldiers.

Background

In the past, a number of orthopaedic devices have been proposed which have been described as acting more than as a support for the waist or as a relief for pain in the waist, typically to reduce the risk of lifting heavy objects. All previous inventions relate to the mechanical relationship between the spine and the support structure, but do not relate to the actual change in posture of the wearer. The straps designed for this purpose have three different types-an elastic waistband-type binder, a nylon belt lined with foam, and a belt as is common in weight lifting. All of these are structures intended to support the muscles in the posture adopted by the wearer. They may or may not be able to strengthen one or more of the mechanical positions without changing the position of the wearer.

Many literature references indicate that the wrong posture, rather than weight lifting, is the primary cause of most back injuries. As described in the "fatigue injury" (RSI) study, the wrong posture slowly compromises the spinal structure, resulting in a spine that is vulnerable to injury. Other forms of back support emphasize their ability to support internal tissues; for example, muscles and ligaments and/or create intra-abdominal pressure, thereby reducing the stress experienced by the spine. No other device has claimed to be able to maintain the wearer's lumbar spine in the most effective position.

The lumbar spine has a concave configuration, which is the most effective posture. One normal lower back spinal curve, called the lumbar lordotic curve, is considered the strongest structure. The lumbar lordotic curve allows the installer's spinal muscles to stabilize the spine in conjunction with the action of the abdominal muscles and gravity as the joint flexes. If the spine is straight, the installer's spinal muscles in combination with the abdominal muscles can only apply opposing forces perpendicular to the spine, forcing the spine to bear the weight of the entire body, which can quickly fatigue and damage the spine. This is similar to archery bows, where the pressure created by the bowstring causes the bow to maintain its curvature. To lengthen the bow, the bowstring must be cut. Similarly, for a person with abnormal lordosis, such as a flatter curve, the erector lumbar muscles must be stretched to accommodate the flatter curve, and their range-of-motion limiting mechanism is compromised. Thus, the efficiency of the support muscles is highest when the supported spine is in the lordotic curve. The flatter curve of the lumbar spine is believed to be the primary cause of spinal injury and pain.

The main forms of injury and pain to the muscles of the back are overstraining of the muscles, rupture of blood vessels supplying the muscles, sprain of the ligaments, etc. When the curve of the spine is not in a slightly normal S shape, once pressure is applied to the spine, the spine is damaged; such damage may be diagnosed as a herniated or ruptured disc, in which the soft pulpous nucleus (the soft nucleus pulposus core) in the bone marrow is extruded to compress nerves, thereby causing neuropathic pain, and may also affect the lateral bending movement of the spine or affect the rotation of the spine within normal ranges. A wrong standing or sitting posture in operation, especially an excessively forward bent posture, can damage the installer's spine and also create unbalanced pressure on the intervertebral disc, which is the elastic cushion between the vertebrae of the spine. As described above, when the disc is compressed and deformed, the surrounding tissue is also compressed or stretched. When this stress exceeds a certain level, the person dies by dislocation or rupture of the intervertebral disc.

Similarly, if a person bends excessively backward such that the curvature of the spine increases beyond the natural lordotic curve of the lumbar spine, a condition known as hyperextension can cause the intervertebral discs to become compressed, causing the convex surfaces of the discs to compress the nerves, causing pain. The pregnant woman is well adapted to the situation in that she bends her body backwards in order to balance the centre of gravity, which is pulled forward by the weight of the baby. Similarly, the more obese a person is, the more inclined it tends to lean backward in order to balance the center of gravity being pulled forward. In addition, some people with pain or injury to the lordotic region of the neck tend to lean back to relieve pressure on the neck and intervertebral discs, thereby relieving pain. Whether the person bends backwards due to pregnancy or to relieve cervical pain, or due to a wrong posture, this condition usually does not cause low back pain when he bends backwards. Since the pain is not exacerbated to the extent that the patient changes his wrong posture, the wrong posture of the lower back will remain until lower back pain or lower spinal injury occurs, which is accompanied by severe pain. Thus, the new orthopaedic device, which has many advantages, can correct an incorrect posture and prevent pain and damage to the spine. Please note that in the review of the article "musculoskeletal disorders and workplace factors", it is pointed out that "sufficient evidence indicates an increased risk of occurrence of neck/shoulder musculoskeletal disorders in the working population under high-intensity static compressive or tensile loads, or under extreme working postures involving neck/shoulder muscles", published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in publication No.97-141 to DHHS (NIOSH), published by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). It is expected that this back support strap will also help to improve the posture of the shoulder and neck regions of the spine.

Pressure on the spine caused by a person's wrong posture during routine work and exercise can be manifested as daytime, especially low back pain after the end of the day. If this uncomfortable pressure on the spine persists, fatigue damage can gradually compromise the spinal structure, rendering the spine susceptible to subsequent injury. A study was conducted in an automobile assembly plant to reveal the health effects of torso posture; these postures are different from the anatomically upright posture, such as bending and twisting. An article introducing this study is entitled "Back disorders and unnatural torso posture in automotive assemblers", published in Scand J.Work Environ 1991; 17: 337-346, the article states that "back disease is related to moderate, severe, twisted or lateral bending of the trunk. This risk increases with the variety of postures used and with the time. "

Most people's postures are subconscious and are thought of. Posture improvement must be performed subconsciously without special training. Nerves and muscles respond to strong stimuli, including acupressure and massage.

US5651763A discloses an orthopedic pad for placement on the lumbar region made of a resilient and sufficiently incompressible posture maintaining material having a body surface contour to conform to and/or maintain the normal lordotic curve of the lower spine.

The invention also relates to a suspension spreader on a suspension device for the disabled, particularly but not exclusively with respect to a one-piece suspension spreader for this purpose. The sling supports the back and thighs of the patient and is suspended from the suspension device by removable suspension means such as straps. The material of the spreader may be woven, knitted and non-woven fabrics, and may be made at least in part of a harder extruded or injection moulded plastic. The fabric and plastic parts of the spreader may be made of biodegradable or hydrolysable materials. In addition, the basic features of patient slings are also used in the back support straps of orthopaedic pads used to correct the posture of a patient in the sling used to reduce the risk of lower back pain or injury. Another function of the orthopaedic device in the sling is to protect the patient's back from undue forces; improper forces are caused by sudden but unproofed movements or lifting of objects, when the pain reflex system is protected from time or reaction to prevent sudden movements by the patient, thus causing improper forces and spinal sprains. The back support strap is reliably connected to the lifting sling, further ensuring the safety of the patient in the sling and enhancing the safety and comfort of the patient.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention aims to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages by providing a back support strap in combination with a support pad and a patient suspension sling in combination with a back support strap.

There is described a back support strap comprising an orthopaedic pad for fitting to the lumbar region, made of a resilient and sufficiently incompressible posture-retaining material having a body surface contour to conform to and/or maintain a normal lordotic curve on the lower spine, and a strap extending in use from an opposite end of the orthopaedic pad to around the torso of a wearer, characterised in that the strap is inelastic and has one or more elastic edge pads on the strap.

The back support strap wherein the orthopedic pad has a convex cross-section.

The back support strap wherein the orthopaedic pad further has a vertically extending channel in the body facing surface to conform to the lower spine of the wearer in use.

The back support strap wherein the orthopaedic pad further comprises an inner core of relatively high density foam or injection moulded plastics material which is externally wrapped with a covering material.

The back support strip has a cover material with a plurality of breathing holes to allow air to enter or exit the foam core.

The back support belt is characterized by further comprising one or more magnetic strips, wherein the magnetic strips are positioned in the back support belt or adjacent to the back support belt, so that blood vessels of a wearer pass through a magnetic field generated between the opposite magnetic poles, and the magnetic field can attract and repel charged particles in blood, so that the charged particles can generate movement and heat.

The back support belt is characterized by also comprising a ring and a pocket for carrying tools and feeding.

The back support belt is characterized in that the edge pads are present in pairs at laterally opposite positions of the belt.

The back support belt is characterized in that the edge pad is triangular.

The back support belt is characterized in that the belt is provided with another auxiliary belt with larger elasticity or smaller elasticity.

The back support strap is characterized in that the strap is preferably divided into two parts, which are connected to each other by mechanical fasteners.

In the present invention, the stiff lumbar pad prevents it from deforming in accordance with the posture of the wearer's spine, and the lumbar pad has a normal lordotic curve shape to provide a fixed fitting model for the spine. When a stiff orthopedic pad, contoured to conform to the natural curve of the spine, is fitted to the lower back region by a strap around the waist, the pad provides a strong, flexible support surface. In addition, flexion of the joint is hindered by proprioceptors in the muscles and ligaments of the back, so that the back conforms to the smooth surface of the (orthopaedic pad). Yet another function of such orthopaedic appliances is to prevent the back from being unduly loaded by sudden movements, such as may occur when hot coffee splashes down on a person's thighs. In this case, the person may react quickly so that the protective pain reflex system does not have time to react to prevent the person from making sudden movements, resulting in an inappropriate load on the spine. This is another example of a back support strap that allows the wearer to maintain proper posture during involuntary and conscious activities.

Another important aspect of the present invention is that the belt with the stiff orthopedic pad having the contour of the lordotic curve is worn at a lower position at the waist than the conventional belt. When the user moves back and forth from a standing posture to a sitting posture, the user can still keep a good posture. Other types of back support straps are typically worn over the abdomen and cover a larger area of the upper torso, thereby limiting too much movement of the torso structure. While the user is standing, the previous belts can maintain one or more mechanical structures in good posture; but is too stiff and often takes out of position when the user sits down. Thus, the new band is also suitable for pregnant women, particularly women during the period from four months to full term, where the baby is in the upper abdomen of the mother. As mentioned above, the pregnant woman leans back to balance the force pulling the center of gravity forward due to the weight of the fetus, which can cause hyperextension of the lower spine. The new belt can be easily worn at an incline on the abdomen, which, due to its non-stretchable design, helps to carry extra weight and helps the pregnant woman to eliminate the tendency to lean backwards and eliminate undue pressure on the spine.

Another feature of the back support strap is the presence of a resilient wedge on each side of the stiff strap, which increases the fit comfort of the back support strap. Although the size and location of these resilient wedges on the back support band can vary, in the preferred embodiment the width of the bottom of the resilient wedges is 1.0 to 5cm, the vertical length is 1.5 to 4cm, the apex of the wedges are located opposite each other and the resilient wedges are located 2.0 to 6.0cm from the side edges of the orthopaedic pad. This alternative arrangement of the resilient wedges allows the strap to provide a degree of resistance to expansion in order to provide a more comfortable and smooth breathing for the wearer; this arrangement does not compromise the function of the belt, particularly when the wearer changes from a standing to a sitting position, where the function is to bring an orthopedic pad having a lordotic profile into close proximity with the lumbar spine to provide a resistant, yet flexible support surface. Thus, to avoid the disadvantages associated with the use of conventional back support straps, in this new strap, the high modulus side wedges should not compromise the performance of the rigid orthopedic pad having the lordotic profile in order to provide a suitable support surface; conventional back support straps have large elastic panels on the sides, or the entire strap is elastic, or an elastic pad or other type of soft compliant pad that conforms to the curvature of the spine.

Another feature that can be added to this back support strap is the incorporation of magnets in the orthopedic pad. Magnets are becoming an increasingly accepted medical modality in pain management and medicine, commonly used for athletic injuries and chronic pain such as tendonitis, sprains, wrist pain, chronic low back pain, overwork syndrome and elbow pain. The magnet has effects of relieving pain and promoting recovery of injured muscles by promoting blood circulation to heat body part, and the magnetic strip containing the magnet can be installed in the pad. It is believed that when a blood vessel passes through the magnetic field created between the two poles of the magnet (north and south), the magnetic field creates attraction and repulsion of the charged particles in the blood, causing molecular motion and heat, thereby accelerating the therapeutic process. The relief of pain helps to recover quickly, perhaps by stimulating the central nervous system due to weak electrical currents generated at body sites, thereby blocking the sensation of pain. Magnets are made by adding a large number of ferrite molecules with different magnetic poles to a softened and plasticized sheet to form a magnetic strip with the geometric shape arranged in rows or columns with alternating magnetic poles. Alternatively, fine ferrite bars or ring magnets or magnets of other geometries may be made and mounted in a soft rubber or plastic band, or in fabric. In all cases, alternating pole-to-pole alignment is required between successive bar magnets, ring magnets or other geometric shapes. A fabric tape containing magnets, which may be made of woven, knitted or non-woven fabric; the belt is made of two or more layers of fabric and is bonded together by sewing or adhesive, and the magnet is enclosed between the inner and outer layers of the belt. The tape containing the magnets may also be made of foamed plastic or rubber or injection molded material with the magnets embedded directly in the material of the tape. A thin magnetic strip containing magnets may be affixed to the inner surface of the orthopaedic pad or to the webbing surrounding the orthopaedic pad so as to enclose the strip between the webbing surrounding the outer surface of the orthopaedic pad and the inner surface of the lordotic curve of the spine.

Orthopedic pads having a lordotic shape can be made from a variety of materials that require sufficient strength and yet can deform with the back muscles, such as foam, plastic or other materials with closed cells. An orthopaedic pad suitable for use by a non-disabled patient has a hardness of between 35 and 40, preferably 38. For disabled patients, a wide range of firmness ranges between 20-40 is used to provide a cushion of sufficient strength and softer surface for these more fragile patients, with an optimal firmness range of 25-35. Orthopedic pads can be die cast, but the best mode of production is by injection molding to achieve a more precise shape and higher throughput. For more comfortable wearing, the cushion may be provided with small holes for ventilation. In addition, the vertical middle part of the pad is provided with a groove to be matched with the convex part of the spine.

Because the orthopedic band can be comfortably worn around the waist and encourages forward movement to a normal curvilinear position at the waist of the wearer; the new belt is ideal for the disabled even if the wearer makes sudden movements, intentionally or unintentionally, or the region between L4 and L5 of the spine is subjected to lateral external forces to maintain the waist in position. Not only is such a back support strap beneficial to the patient in the sling, it also helps to maintain the patient's standing and sitting position in a position that does not place the back in tension, especially in the event of a patient attack. Such back support straps may also be worn when lying on a bed; such back support straps are particularly useful when transferring a patient from a bed to a chair, or from a bed or chair to a sling, or from a sling. In addition, if the patient regains some degree of mobility and needs to be ambulatory, the new back support belt is most useful for patients in the treatment and regaining strength stage, which can help the patient maintain the correct back position to prevent injury. A study to support patient well-being, discussed two on publication No.97-141 of DHHS (NIOSH) states that the American Association of labor statistics reports in 1994 that "approximately 705800 medical records (32% of reported medical records) are due to excessive fatigue or repetitive motion" for occupational injuries including various occupational workers. This NIOSH publication also reports "there is sufficient evidence that lower back disease is associated with work involving transport or exertion …; there is ample evidence for a relationship between exposure to WBV (whole body vibrations) and lower back pain. In addition, NIOSH repeats "evidence has been obtained that the wrong working posture is associated with lower back disease".

Of course, magnets may be selected for the back support strap in combination with the patient sling, but are not useful for the patient being healed; the use of a back support belt with magnets is beneficial for patients who stay in a hospital for a long time or who gradually recover at home. Magnets are becoming an increasingly accepted medical modality in pain management and medicine, commonly used for athletic injuries and chronic pain such as tendonitis, sprains, wrist pain, chronic low back pain, overwork syndrome and elbow pain. The magnet, which has been shown to have the effects of relieving pain and promoting recovery of injured muscles by promoting blood circulation and heating body parts, may also be formed as a magnetic strip to be installed in an orthopaedic pad. It is believed that when a blood vessel passes through the magnetic field created between the two poles of the magnet (north and south), the magnetic field creates attraction and repulsion of the charged particles in the blood, causing the particles to move and heat, thereby accelerating the therapeutic process. The relief of pain helps to recover quickly, perhaps blocking the sensation of pain by stimulating the central nervous system by creating a weak electrical current in the body part. Magnets are made by adding a large number of ferrite molecules with different magnetic poles to a softened and plasticized sheet to form a magnetic strip with the geometric shape arranged in rows or columns with alternating magnetic poles. Alternatively, fine ferrite bars or ring magnets or magnets of other geometries may be made and mounted in a soft rubber or plastic band, or in fabric. In all cases, alternating pole-to-pole alignment is required between successive bar magnets, ring magnets or other geometric shapes. A fabric tape containing magnets, which may be made of a woven fabric, a knitted fabric or a non-woven fabric; the belt is made of two or more layers of fabric and is bonded together by sewing or adhesive, and the magnet is enclosed between the inner and outer layers of the belt. The tape containing the magnets may also be made of foamed plastic or rubber or injection molded material with the magnets embedded directly in the middle of the tape. A thin magnetic strip containing magnets may be affixed to the inner surface of the orthopaedic pad or to the webbing covering the orthopaedic pad so as to enclose the magnetic strip between the fabric covering the outer surface of the orthopaedic pad and the inner surface of the lordotic curve of the orthopaedic pad.

There is also proposed a sling for supporting the back and thighs of a patient, suspended from a suspension device, the sling also carrying a back support strap as described above, or being integral with the back support strap, in use an orthopaedic pad in the back support strap being located at the lower spine of the patient.

The suspension device is preferably made of a woven, knitted or non-woven fabric.

The hanging county pregnant basin is made of harder plastic by extrusion molding or injection molding.

The fabric and plastic parts may also be made of biodegradable or hydrolysable materials.

Such a suspension sling may be made of a chemically bonded fabric.

The material of the suspension hanger may incorporate thermally bonded non-oriented polymer fibres or be made entirely of such material instead.

Such a suspension spreader may be partially or completely made by a hydro-angling process.

If the suspension sling is made of a nonwoven fabric, the nonwoven fabric may be calendered or rolled to have the appearance of a woven material.

The suspension sling is preferably a one-piece body support sling which will support the back and thighs of the patient.

Preferably, the suspension spreader has two attachment points on either side of the shoulder region and two attachment points on either side of the bottom end.

The suspension sling preferably further comprises a main portion for supporting the body of a person and a lower portion defined by the legs, the lower portion extending downwardly and upwardly between the thighs of the patient, respectively, in use.

The suspension spreader preferably further comprises an upper head support portion.

Preferably, one or more reinforcing blocks are provided on the entire head support portion of the suspension spreader, the reinforcing blocks extending along a line between the connection points of the shoulder regions of each spreader.

The reinforcing blocks of the suspension spreader are preferably located in areas where high tension is possible and tear forces are experienced.

The reinforcing block is preferably made by folding a plurality of layers of spreader material in a triangular pattern so as to spread the tear forces over a wide range.

The leg portions are preferably padded.

The main part of the spreader is preferably made of a single layer of non-woven material.

The spreader preferably has barbed portions (darts) so that the spreader can better conform to the contours of the person's body being lifted.

It may be desirable to reinforce or cushion certain areas of the spreader.

The suspension spreader is preferably marked with a clear identification to identify the patient to be suspended.

The edges of the suspension sling can also be made of hydrolysable fibres to avoid that hospitals wash it, thereby weaving cross-contamination.

Although patient hangers may be made of woven or knitted materials, the use of non-woven fabrics provides many other benefits. First, it has been found that such spreaders can be manufactured at a cost that is only a fraction of the cost of textile spreaders and can withstand a variety of external forces. Thus, the spreader can be distributed to each individual and discarded after a limited number of uses, thereby avoiding the risk of cross-contamination. The spreader may be provided with appropriate markings, for example indelible ink, to ensure that it is not used by others. In addition, the nonwoven material can be made from biodegradable fibers, such as polylactic acid (PLA) and Eastar Bio GP Copolyester from Eastman chemical company, among other biodegradable fibers. The non-woven fabric sling may also be made of fibres that dissolve only in hot water; to ensure that the patient's urine or other thermal or room temperature liquids do not dissolve, in which case dissolution would render it unsafe to carry the patient's weight.

The nonwoven fabric sling of the present invention may be manufactured by a variety of different techniques, including chemical bonding, thermal bonding, or a strong water process, typically made of polypropylene and/or polyester; of course, neither of these materials is biodegradable, and must be properly handled after one or more uses by the same patient. The nonwoven fabric is subjected to hot calendering or other texturing methods to impart texture and appearance to the textile material.

In this regard, it is conceivable that a patient sling made of a non-woven material cannot be washed to prevent re-use, and that a line having water solubility should be used to stitch the gap between the slings, and the suspension device should be connected to the slings via such a line, so that the slings disintegrate when an attempt is made to wash the slings.

The sling is preferably a one-piece support sling for supporting the back and thighs of the patient. It requires four suspension attachment points, two of which are located at the bottom of the spreader. The sling preferably comprises a main portion for supporting the body of a patient and a lower portion depending from the legs of the patient, extending downwardly and upwardly between the legs of the patient, respectively, in use. The spreader may also have an upper head support portion. In this case the head region of the spreader is also provided with two attachment points, and one or more reinforcing blocks extending along the entire line between the spreader attachment points which connect the shoulder regions.

The sling may have spikes (triangular folds of folded material) or other shaped spikes to better conform to the shape of the body being suspended. It may also be provided with reinforcing blocks and/or be partially cushioned.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method of preventing cross-contamination between patients is provided, wherein the patients are suspended from body support hangers suspended from suspension means, and wherein each patient has a respective dedicated hanger made of a non-woven material.

Drawings

A preferred form of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,

FIGS. 1A-1D are three-dimensional views depicting an orthopedic pad including a perspective view and views from the front, top and side, respectively;

FIGS. 2A-2C are perspective views of an orthopedic pad rotated to different orientations and also showing a planar shape opposite the lordotic contoured surface;

FIGS. 3A to 3B are perspective views showing an orthopedic band optionally provided with magnets, ventilation holes, elastic wedges on the band for more comfortable wearing, mechanical fasteners for the band body and another band for auxiliary support;

FIG. 4 shows in more detail the location of the magnetic strip and vent holes on the pad, the resilient wedges on the strap, and how the strap fabric overlies the orthopedic pad;

fig. 5 is a front view of the orthopedic pad showing the lordotic shape of the pad with the channels coinciding with the raised portions of the spine and the fabric enclosing the pad in between.

FIGS. 6A and 6D are side views of an orthopedic pad illustrating the pad engaging a lordotic curve, and FIGS. 6B and 6C are comparative references;

figures 7A to 7C illustrate how the tools and pockets are attached to the back support strap, wherein the strap portion of the orthopaedic device may be used with a belt with buckles for better support during movement and handling of objects;

figures 8A to 8D illustrate how the strap helps a hunter to carry the load and improve his posture and how the hunter's backpack is attached to the orthopedic support strap;

FIGS. 9A to 9D show how the belt helps students to carry a heavy schoolbag in a better posture and how the schoolbag is attached to the back support belt;

figures 10A to 10C illustrate how the back support strap helps a pregnant woman or an obese person to improve posture;

figures 11A to 11C show how an orthopaedic back support strap supports a person lifting a weight, in which the strap portion of the orthopaedic device is made of leather with buckles to provide more powerful support;

figures 12A through 12C illustrate a soldier wearing an orthopedic back support device with straps and buckles to provide greater load bearing capacity and pockets with clips to carry personal items and feeding;

FIGS. 13A to 13C illustrate how the back support strap may be worn for improved posture while carrying a heavy bag or backpack, which may also carry the soldier's personal belongings of FIGS. 12A to 12C;

FIG. 14 illustrates a patient sling lifting an injured person;

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic view of a patient suspension hanger with reinforcing blocks and extension straps;

FIG. 16 depicts a patient suspension sling with an orthopedic back support pad;

FIG. 17 depicts a patient sling with a back support strap that is wrapped around a loop;

FIG. 18 depicts a patient sling with fabric loops for mounting and securing the back support strap;

figure 19 shows a patient sling into which an orthopaedic back support strap is threaded.

Description of the preferred embodiments

Reference is now made to fig. 1-13, wherein like reference numerals designate like parts or correspond to like parts throughout the several views. Figure 1a shows a three-dimensional perspective view of an orthopaedic pad illustrating a template 1 of the orthopaedic pad and a groove 2 in the center of the orthopaedic pad, the groove 2 coinciding with a protrusion of the spine. Fig. 1b shows a front view of the orthopaedic pad, wherein the template 1 of the pad and the grooves 2 for the conformation to the vertebrae are further illustrated. Fig. 1c is a top view of the template 1 of the orthopaedic pad showing the grooves 2 corresponding to the spinal column protrusions and the ventilation holes 3 for ventilating the orthopaedic pad. A plurality of air holes, circular in diameter or any shape, penetrate the entire thickness of the pad, allowing air to enter and allowing the patient's moisture to evaporate out of the patient, thereby improving the thermal comfort of the orthopaedic pad. Other characteristics that can be seen in fig. 1a, 1b, 1c will be explained in the remaining figures. The side view of the orthopedic pad of fig. 1d shows the pad lordotic profile 4 which conforms to the normal lumbar lordotic curve of the lower spine. The pad has a lordotic profile in which the abutment surface 5 for the upper lumbar vertebrae and the abutment surface 6 for the lower lumbar vertebrae are clearly represented. Also in fig. 1d, it can be clearly seen that the lordotic surface 4 of the orthopaedic pad is opposite the back of the wearer when worn, and that the flat plane 7 of the orthopaedic pad is opposite the lordotic surface 4. Figures 2a, 2b and 2c are alternative perspective views of an orthopedic pad rotated to different orientations. In fig. 2a and 2c, possible locations of the air holes can be seen. In fig. 2a and 2b, the groove 2 can be seen, which corresponds to the bulge of the vertebra. The lordotic profile 4 of the orthopaedic pad is depicted in figure 2a, showing a surface that conforms to the upper lumbar vertebra 5 and a surface that conforms to the lower lumbar vertebra 6.

Figure 3a is an isometric view showing an orthopedic band depicting the template 1 of the orthopedic pad, optional magnets 8, vent holes 3, and a waist band 9, the waist band 9 connecting and supporting the orthopedic pad in several different ways. The waistband may be made of any material including polyester, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene or natural or synthetic leather, and the structure of the belt may be woven, knitted or non-woven. However, it is desirable to make the materials and manufacturing process such that a strong and dimensionally stable waist belt is formed that fits tightly and comfortably around the waist when the buckle is fastened so that the lordotic curve of the orthopedic pad is in tight contact with the lower back of the patient. One method of weaving that may be used for belt fabrics is known as "tear-resistance" in which nylon or polyester yarns are woven into a twill super-woven fabric (over-wear) to prevent cracking and tearing. The fabric may be folded or laminated with other types of tape fabric and sewn together near the edges of the tape to produce a tape having the desired thickness and width from the orthopaedic pad to the end points 10 and 11 of the tape, as shown in figures 3a and 3 b. In figure 4, where the back orthopaedic pad is located, both the inner and outer layers of the strap are widened so as to enclose the back orthopaedic pad therein, which may be wider than the waist band. The fabric that encases the sides of the orthopedic pad may also be different from the fabric of the belt, which may be sewn to the belt; or the fabric enclosing the orthopaedic pad, may be attached to the belt by gluing or mechanical means such as zippers or buttons. The latter mechanical locking means allows the wearer to more conveniently remove pads that have become heavily contaminated with dust or contaminants or perspiration and to obtain the opportunity to replace different types of prophylactic orthopaedic pads, such as those with or without magnets. The belt webbing of fig. 3a, 3b and 4 may also be made of a woven structure, as in a woven mat or lace.

The two ends 10 and 11 of the strap in figure 3a can be connected together by means of a "hook and loop" mechanical buckle of the Velcro (r) type, which can be attached to the two ends of the strap by stitching or gluing. One of the two ends 10 and 11 of the strap has a "hook" configuration and the other end has a "loop" configuration. The ends of the straps may also be provided with buttons or buckles. In fig. 3b, the waist belt 9 is provided with an auxiliary band 12, the auxiliary band 12 being tightened and fastened to the fastened belt ends 10 and 11 for reinforcing the belt around the wearer to prevent the belt from slipping and falling off when the wearer performs more vigorous activities. The auxiliary loop 12 may be permanently secured to the end of the belt or may be attached to the end of the belt by means of buttons or zippers or the like so as to be removable from the belt when not required.

As shown in fig. 3b, 4 and 6a, an optional resilient wedge 13 may be installed in the waist belt 9 to improve the wearing comfort of the back support belt. Although the size and position of these resilient wedges 13 in the back support strap can vary, in the preferred embodiment the width of the bottom of the resilient wedges is 1.0 to 5.0cm and the vertical length is 1.5 to 4.0cm, the top ends of the wedges are directly opposite each other and the wedges are positioned from 2.0 to 6.0cm from the side of the back support pad 1. These selectively placed resilient wedges allow some degree of resisted expansion of the strap to provide more comfort and smooth breathing for the wearer; particularly, when the wearer changes from a standing posture to a sitting posture, a support surface which has resistance and can be deformed is provided on the premise that the function of the lordotic surgical orthopedic pad of the support belt to be in close contact with the lumbar. Thus, to avoid the disadvantages associated with the use of conventional back support straps, in this new strap, the high modulus side wedges should not compromise the performance of the rigid orthopedic pad having a lordotic profile in order to provide a suitable support surface; conventional back support straps have large elastic panels on the sides, or the entire strap is elastic, or an elastic pad or other type of soft compliant pad that conforms to the curvature of the spine.

Magnets, which have been shown to have the effects of relieving pain and promoting recovery of injured muscles by promoting blood circulation and heating body parts; the magnetic strip containing the magnet 8 may be incorporated into an orthopaedic pad as will be seen more clearly in figures 3a, 3b and 4. It is believed that when the magnetic field generated by the opposing poles (north and south) passes through the blood vessel, the magnetic field attracts and repels the charged particles in the blood, causing them to move and heat, thereby aiding the healing process. The relief of pain helps to recover quickly, perhaps blocking the sensation of pain by stimulating the central nervous system by creating a weak electrical current in the body part. Magnets are made by adding a large number of ferrite molecules with different magnetic poles to a softened and plasticized sheet to form a magnetic strip with the geometric shape arranged in rows or columns with alternating magnetic poles. Alternatively, fine ferrite bars or ring magnets or magnets of other geometries may be made and mounted in a soft rubber or plastic band, or mounted in a fabric. In all cases, alternating pole-to-pole alignment is required between successive bar magnets, ring magnets or other geometric shapes. A fabric tape containing magnets, which may be made of a woven fabric, a knitted fabric or a non-woven fabric; the fabric is sewn or glued together by two or more layers, and the magnets are enclosed between the inner and outer layers of the tape. The tape containing the magnets may also be made of foamed plastic or rubber or injection molded plastic with the magnets embedded directly in the middle of the tape. A thin magnetic strip containing magnets may be affixed to the inner surface of the orthopaedic pad or to the webbing covering the orthopaedic pad so as to enclose the magnetic strip between the fabric covering the outer surface of the orthopaedic pad and the inner surface of the lordotic curve of the orthopaedic pad.

However, in both preferred embodiments, the magnetic strip is mounted to the inner surface of the orthopedic pad and fills the inner surface of the lordotic curve of the strong lumbar support pad. In a second preferred embodiment, the magnetic strip may be mounted in the outer surface 4 of the orthopaedic pad fig. 1d, 2a and 2b, or adhered to the outer side of the flat surface 7 of the lumbar support pad fig. 1d, 2b and 2c, or on an outer fabric covering the back flat surface 7. As shown in fig. 1a, 1c, 3a, 3b and 4, a magnetic strip including any of the above-described magnets may be installed on the lumbar support pad, and one magnetic strip may be installed on each side of the central groove 2 of the orthopaedic pad, the distance of the magnetic strip from the center line of the groove being 1 to 7 mm; the magnetic strips containing magnets of any shape described above may also be mounted between the vertical strips on either side of a groove perpendicular to the strips parallel to the groove in the center of the lumbar support pad and the edge of the orthopedic pad to which the belt 9 is attached. This will better ensure that the blood vessels in the lower back cross the magnetic field generated by the opposing poles for the best magnetic field treatment effect in the lower back. Alternatively, ferrite particles or magnets having the different geometries described above may be embedded directly in the lumbar support pad, or bonded to either side of the orthopaedic pad facing the lower back, or bonded to the back of the orthopaedic pad.

Figure 5 shows a front view of the lumbar support pad and its housing in greater detail. There is shown a front view of an orthopaedic pad template 1, a groove 2 for engaging a spinal protrusion, a fabric covering the lordotic side 14 of the orthopaedic pad, and a fabric covering the flat outer surface 15. As shown in fig. 5, the orthopaedic pad may be enclosed between covers 14 and 15. Figure 6a is a side view of a multifunctional orthopedic band showing how orthopedic pad 1 conforms to the lordotic surface of the spine. The end portions 10 and 11 of the waistband are also shown, as well as the profile and general location of the optional resilient wedges 13. As shown in fig. 6b, the conventional elastic and soft orthopedic pad, which is used to support the back, may be adapted to the existing posture of the wearer. As shown in fig. 6c, the stiff strap does not conform to the profile of the lumbar spine. On the other hand, if the belt is relatively soft, the result depicted in FIG. 6b will occur. Only the inventive orthopaedic pad having a lordotic shape of the spine, as depicted in fig. 6d, conforms to the normal lower lordotic curve by bringing the orthopaedic pad into close contact with the lower back region by means of a belt tied to the waist, thereby providing a flexible support surface with a certain deformation resistance.

Figure 7 illustrates how the tools and pockets 18 can be mounted on the back support strap, wherein the strap portion of the orthopaedic device may employ a strap 16 with a buckle 17 to better carry the load when moving and carrying heavy objects. A hunter backpack 19 is shown in fig. 8a with a body strap 20 and a buckle 21 for closing the pouch. Figure 8b shows the orthopaedic pad 1 attached to a backpack. The fabric 15 (shown in dotted lines) enclosing the orthopaedic mat 1 may in fact be part of the backpack fabric worn on the back of a hunter, to which the fabric 14 enclosing the lordotic surface of the orthopaedic mat spine is sewn. The strap 9, which may be made of leather, may be provided with a fastener as described in fig. 3a and 3b, or a buckle 17 as described in fig. 7 above. The backpack may be made as described above in figures 3a, 3b and 7a and attached to the backpack by buttons, zippers or other means, and the backpack may be removed from the backpack or reattached to the backpack as required. Figure 8c shows how the new strap helps the hunter to carry weight and improve his posture and how the hunter's backpack is mounted on the orthopedic support strap.

Similarly, figures 9a, 9b and 9c show similar parts on a schoolchild's bag which are used to carry nutrition, water and a cellular telephone; the figure also shows how the bag is carried on the student in a manner that helps to carry the load and ensures a good posture of the student, thereby preventing back injuries. As shown in fig. 9, the bag may be integrated with the back support strap.

Fig. 10a shows a back support belt worn by a pregnant or obese person, which is similar to the structure described above for the back support belt of fig. 3a, but which can also be designed with an auxiliary loop as described in fig. 3 b. Figure 10b illustrates how the novel back support belt improves the posture of a pregnant woman or an obese person. The new band is therefore also well suited for pregnant women, in particular between four months and term, wherein the fetus is located in the upper abdomen of the pregnant woman. As previously mentioned, the pregnant woman leans back to balance the forward pulling force on the pregnant woman's center of gravity due to the weight of the fetus, which can cause hyperextension of the lower spine. The new belt can be easily worn obliquely under the abdomen, can help carry extra weight due to its inextensible design, and can help pregnant women eliminate the tendency to lean backwards and thus the undue stress on the spine.

Figures 11a and 11b show how an orthopaedic back support strap supports a person lifting a weight, in which the strap portion of the orthopaedic device is made of leather with buckles to provide more powerful support. Fig. 12 illustrates a soldier wearing an orthopedic back retention device with straps and buckles to provide greater load bearing capacity and pockets with clips to carry personal items and support. Fig. 13a and 13b show how the back support strap can be worn for improved posture while carrying a heavy bag or backpack, which may also carry personal belongings of the soldier in fig. 12. As previously mentioned, magnets may optionally be used on the orthopedic pads in all of these embodiments to enhance the function of the orthopedic appliance as a prophylactic or therapeutic device.

In fig. 14, a one-piece spreader 110 is shown, comprising a main body back portion 111, 111 with a lower leg support portion 112, and a high head support portion 113. The body portion 111 supports the back and shoulders of the suspended disabled person I, the portion 112 extends from below and above, respectively, between the legs of the disabled person, and the head of the patient is supported by the portion 113. A short extension strap 114 providing a means of suspension is sewn to the shoulder of the body portion 111 and a suspension strap 115 is also sewn to the end of the leg support portion 112.

The patient sling may be made of woven, knitted or non-woven fabric, or may be made in part of a harder extruded or injection moulded plastic. In addition, the fabric and plastic parts may be made of biodegradable or hydrolysable materials. Patient slings made of woven or knitted fabrics are generally considered to be durable for use by one or more patients for many times until they are damaged by significant wear or tear, or until they are damaged by contamination to a degree that exceeds the dirt-removing capacity of the washing or cleaning or disinfecting means. Typical polymer fibers used in connection with the construction of woven or knitted patient slings include, but are not limited to, polyethylene (ethylene terephthalate) polymers, polyamides (typically nylon 6, 6), and cotton. Woven or knitted spreaders can also be made from biodegradable fibers such as polylactic acid (PLA) and Eastar Bio GP Copolyester manufactured by Eastman chemical company, among others. The non-woven fabric sling may also be made of fibres that dissolve only in hot water; to ensure that the patient's urine or other thermal or room temperature liquids do not dissolve, in which case dissolution would render it unsafe to carry the patient's weight. But the subsequently woven or knitted sling cannot be washed and reused.

Although patient hangers may be made of woven or knitted materials, the use of non-woven fabrics provides many other benefits. First, it has been found that such spreaders can be manufactured at a cost that is only a fraction of the cost of textile spreaders and can withstand a variety of external forces. Thus, the spreader can be distributed to each individual and discarded after a limited number of uses, thereby avoiding the risk of cross-contamination. The spreader may be provided with appropriate markings, for example indelible ink, to ensure that it is not used by others. In addition, the nonwoven material can be made of biodegradable fibers, such as polylactic acid (PLA) and Eastar Bio GPCopolyester, manufactured by Eastman chemical company, among other biodegradable fibers. The non-woven fabric sling may also be made of fibres that dissolve only in hot water; to ensure that the patient's urine or other thermal or room temperature liquids do not dissolve, in which case dissolution would render it unsafe to carry the patient's weight.

The nonwoven fabric sling of the present invention may be manufactured by a variety of different techniques, including chemical bonding, thermal bonding, or strong water, typically made of polypropylene and/or polyester; of course, neither material is biodegradable and must be properly disposed of after one or more uses by the same patient. The nonwoven fabric is subjected to hot calendering or other texturing methods to impart texture and appearance to the textile material.

In this regard, it is conceivable that a patient sling made of a non-woven material cannot be laundered to prevent re-use, and that a line having water solubility should be used to sew the gap between the slings, and the suspension device should be connected to the slings via such line, so that the slings disintegrate when washing is attempted.

In fig. 15, the hanger 10 may be reinforced by the addition of a fabric layer in certain areas (30), including where the straps 14 and 15 are sewn, and other areas where reinforcement is desired, such as the head area 32 and the area 33 for supporting the back and hips. Where it is highly stretched and therefore subject to greater tearing forces, it should be particularly strengthened, for example, by folding the layer of hanger material into a triangular shape, referred to herein as the spine 34, in the region between the legs to distribute the tearing forces over a greater range. In addition, a cushion 31 may be added to the leg portion 12.

Referring to fig. 14 and 15, to reinforce the head support portion 13, the harness 15 may be provided with one or more reinforcing blocks which extend substantially over the entire support portion 13 in the direction of the line between the attachment points of the extension band 14 to the body portion 11. Alternatively, two more straps (not shown) may be attached in the head region.

In fig. 14, there is also shown a suspension device 20 with a cantilevered boom 21, 21 supporting a spreader 22, the spreader 10 being suspended directly from the spreader 22. Only the outer end of boom 21 is shown and boom 22 is connected to the boom by a wishbone connection 23. One end of the boom 21 is provided with a bearing 24, the bearing 24 has a rotation axis in a vertical direction, and the connector 23 is installed in the bearing 24; the link 23 is rotatably connected to the hanger 22 at point 23 a. By this arrangement the cradle 22 and the link 23 can be rotated together about a vertical axis, and the cradle 22 itself can be rotated about a horizontal axis on the link 23 defined by the line between the points of rotation 23 a.

A prototype spreader made from the nonwoven fabric described herein has been subjected to fifty tests for 250Kg suspension and fifty additional tests for 190Kg suspension, after which the spreader is intact.

Ideally, spreaders made of nonwoven materials are not washable. This avoids repeated use. In this regard, it is envisioned that the slits and the connection between the sling and the hanger must be secured with a water-soluble thread to ensure that the hanger will fall apart when a wash attempt is made.

The spreader may be made of multiple parts. A single piece spreader does not always have to have a head portion.

Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to a person skilled in the art are not to be regarded as a departure from the scope of the invention.

Claims (32)

1. A back support strap comprising an orthopaedic pad for fitting to the lumbar region and made of a resilient and sufficiently incompressible posture-maintaining material having a body surface contour to conform to and/or maintain a normal lordotic curve on the lower spine, and a strap extending in use from an opposite end of the orthopaedic pad to around the torso of a wearer, characterised in that the strap is inelastic and has one or more elastic edge pads on the strap.

2. The back support strap of claim 1, wherein the orthopedic pad has a convex cross-section.

3. The back support strap of claim 1, wherein the orthopedic pad further has a vertically extending channel facing the body surface to conform to the wearer's lower spine in use.

4. The back support strap of claim 1 wherein the orthopedic pad further comprises an inner core of a higher density foam or injection molded plastic which is externally wrapped with a covering material.

5. The back support strap of claim 4, wherein said covering material is provided with a plurality of breathing holes to allow air to enter or exit the foam core.

6. The back support tape of claim 1, further comprising one or more magnetic strips positioned in or adjacent to the back support tape to allow blood vessels of the wearer to pass through the magnetic field generated between the opposing magnetic poles, whereby the magnetic field causes attraction and repulsion of charged particles in the blood, thereby causing movement and heat to be generated by the charged particles.

7. The back support strap of claim 1 further comprising loops and pockets for carrying tools and feeding.

8. The back support belt of claim 1, wherein said edge pads are present in pairs at laterally opposite locations of the belt.

9. The back support belt of claim 8, wherein said edge pads are triangular in shape.

10. The back support strap of claim 1 wherein the strap is provided with another auxiliary strap of greater or lesser elasticity.

11. The back support strap of claim 1 wherein the strap is preferably in two parts and is interconnected by mechanical fasteners.

12. A sling for carrying the back and thighs of a patient, the sling being suspended from a suspension device and having a back support strap according to claim 1 attached thereto, or formed directly integrally with, the orthopaedic pad in the back support strap being located adjacent the lower spine of the patient in use.

13. The spreader of claim 12, which may be made of woven, knitted or non-woven fabric.

14. The spreader of claim 13, which is at least partially made of a harder extruded or injection moulded plastic.

15. The spreader of claim 14, wherein the fabric and plastic parts are made of biodegradable or hydrolysable material.

16. The spreader of claim 12, which is made of a chemically bonded fabric.

17. The spreader of claim 16, which is made of thermally bonded unoriented polymer fibers.

18. The spreader of claim 12, which is made by a high water process.

19. The spreader of claim 12, when manufactured using a nonwoven fabric, wherein the nonwoven fabric is subjected to calendering or rolling, thereby forming the appearance of a woven material.

20. The sling according to claim 12, which is a one-piece body-carrying sling, which can carry the back and thighs of a patient.

21. The spreader of claim 20, with two attachment points located on either side of the shoulder region of the spreader and two attachment points located on either side of the base of the spreader.

22. The sling according to claim 12, further comprising a main body portion for carrying the body of a person and a lower leg portion which, in use, extends from bottom to top between the legs of the patient.

23. The spreader of claim 21, further comprising an upper head support portion.

24. The spreader of claim 23, wherein there are one or more reinforcing blocks throughout the portion of the line between the connection points along the shoulder regions of the spreader.

25. The spreader of claim 12, further comprising reinforcing blocks in areas subject to tearing forces due to high tension.

26. The spreader of claim 25, wherein the reinforcing blocks are formed by folding the layer of spreader material into a triangular shape to distribute the tearing force over a larger area.

27. The spreader of claim 22, wherein the leg portions are padded.

28. The spreader of claim 12, wherein as large a portion as possible of the spreader is made of a single layer of non-woven material.

29. The spreader of claim 12, wherein the spreader is provided with barbed portions so that the spreader can better conform to the contours of a suspended body.

30. The spreader of claim 12, wherein the plurality of regions have reinforcing blocks and/or pads thereon.

31. The sling according to claim 12 having a clear label thereon to identify the patient to be suspended.

32. The spreader of claim 12, wherein the edges of the spreader are provided with a water-splitting line to prevent hospital washing and thereby avoid cross-contamination.