WO2006061664A1

WO2006061664A1 - Corset relieving the lumbar spine

Info

Publication number: WO2006061664A1
Application number: PCT/HR2004/000063
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vinko Tranfic
Original assignee: Vinko Tranfic
Priority date: 2004-12-08
Filing date: 2004-12-08
Publication date: 2006-06-15

Abstract

The corset for relieving the lumbar spine includes the waist brace (A) and the lower-leg braces (B) and (C). The waist brace is positioned around the body, in the lumbar spine area, whereas the lower-leg braces are positioned below the knees. The waist and the lower-leg braces are mutually connected with bands that enable adjustment to the height of the person using the corset for relieving the lumbar spine. The waist brace consists of the belt (1) with the fixing belt (2) and the bands (6) for connecting to the lower-leg braces. Each lower-leg brace consists of the belt (7) for fixing below the knee, and the band (9) for connecting to the waist brace. The corset functions once the user, by his or her movements, brings his or her lumbar spine in an irregular or dangerous position. In such situations, the connecting bands (6) tighten, preventing thus any further stretching of the back. This way, the corset makes the user to bend the knees in order to continue the commenced action. The corset enables painless performing of jobs in standing posture and decreases the fatigue.

Description

CORSET RELIEVING THE LUMBAR SPINE

INVENTION DESCRIPTION

1. FIELD OF APPLICATION

The invention relates to the corset that relieves the lumbar spine, consisting of the waist brace, connected with adjustment bands to the lower-leg braces. In the International Patent Classification, it is classified as Section A - Human necessities, Subsection Personal or Domestic Articles, Class A 41 - Wearing apparel, Subclass A 41 C - Corsets, Group 1/00 - Corsets or girdles.

2. TECHNICAL PROBLEM

Spine conditions are among the most common conditions in the modern medicine in general. The four-legged body posture, that is the best one for the lumbar spine, is hardly applicable. Body motions in our daily activities often overload the spine. Such movements and postures are to be reduced to the minimum. The posterior-compartment muscles are important because they, by eccentric contraction, stabilise the pelvis. The deep back muscles by their activity maintain the backward curvature of the lower back (lordosis), thus preserving this exceptionally sensitive part of the spine. This way, the musculature assists the soft tissues (discs and ligaments) in absorbing shocking situations. The back corsets are among the aids that may help relieving the lower back at performing various jobs. Unfortunately, the present solutions are only about fixing the lumbar spine, not helping the posterior-compartment muscles. Therefore, the insufficiently relieved discs, although to a lesser extent, still tend to degeneration and, in extreme cases, breaking. This results in painful lumbago or lumbo-ischialgia (pressure exercised by the disc protrusions against the nerves) and, often, time- consuming and expensive therapies. In graver cases, disability is possible as well. Unfortunately, a large part of our daily activities include forward movements and postures, wherefore the biomechanical danger of damaging the discs is great. Having this problem in mind, a corset is required that would, by its action, increase the effects of the useful musculature and make bending easier.

3. STATE OF THE ART

The presently known corsets fix the lumbar spine and additionally the shoulders. There are: the lumbar and lumbosacral corsets with insert, intended for conditions after intervertebral-disc surgeries and injuries of the pelvis with instability; the thoraco-lumbar corset, also intended for conditions after intervertebral-disc surgeries and injuries of the pelvis with instability; the lumbar orthosis LS, intended for supporting the paravertebral muscles; the lumbar orthosis TL, intended for supporting the paravertebral muscles at normal or increased efforts.

4. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The essence of the invention is the corset that relieves the lumbar spine, consisting of the waist brace and the lower-leg braces. At the back part of the waist brace there are bands that connect it with the lower-leg braces. The connecting bands are adjustable in length, depending on the height of the person using them. The waist brace is positioned around the body, in the lumbar-spine area, whereas the lower-leg braces are positioned below the knees. When applied, the braces are mutually connected with connecting bands. This results in a significant fixation that increases the effect of the eccentric contraction of the upper-leg back-compartment muscles, which significantly decreases the effects of forward bending of the body (back) to the lumbar spine. The corset relieves the intervertebral discs and other soft tissues, that is, decreases the damaging effect of unnatural bodily movements or postures that burden the spine. Additionally, at performing physical activities while bent forward, the effect of the corset decreases fatigue and increases the working endurance. 5. ILLUSTRATION DESCRIPTIONS

Figure 1. shows the waist brace - back view.

Figure 2. shows the lower-leg braces - back view.

Figure 3. shows the assembled corset relieving the lumbar spine - front view.

Figure 4. shows the assembled corset - back view.

Figure 5. shows the corset applied to the user's body - front view.

Figure 6. shows the corset applied to the user's body - back view.

Figure 7. shows the corset applied to the user's body - side view.

6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION EMBODIMENT

The corset that relieves the lumbar spine consists of the waist brace A, Figure 1., and the lower-leg braces B and C, Figure 2. The waist brace is positioned around the body, in the lumbar-spine area, and fixed with a Velcro strap, whereas the lower-leg braces are positioned below the knees and fixed with Velcro straps. The waist and the lower-leg braces are mutually connected with bands the length of which may be adjusted to the height of the person using the corset.

Here follows a detailed description of the braces.

The waist brace A

The waist brace A, Figure 1., consists of the belt 1, to which there is fitted the fixing belt 2 with the Velco strap 3 and the buckle 4 passing the belt 2 through. It further consists of the Velcro strap 5 in the middle of the back part of the corset and the bands 6 for connecting it with the lower-leg braces. The belt 1 is classically shaped, but is to satisfy two requirements: it is to be large enough to cover the lumbar spine, and its width is to enable covering the user's hips. The fixing belt 2 is to fix the belt 1 around the lumbar spine. Fixing is done with the buckle 4 and the Velco strap 3 on the belt 2, and the Velco strap 5 on the belt 1, so that the belt firmly holds the lumbar spine.

The lower-leg braces B and C

The lower-leg braces B and C, Figure 2., are similar. Each of them consists of the belt 7 with the Velcro strap 8, for fixing it below the knee, and of the band 9 with the buckle 10, for connecting to the bands 6 on the waist brace. The lower-leg braces B and C are fixed by fixing the belts 7 below the knees.

Figures 3. and 4. show an assembled corset that relieves the lumbar spine - front and back views.

Once the waist brace A is fitted around the lumbar spine, and the lower-leg braces

B and C are fitted around the knees, the brace A is connected to the braces B and

C. This is achieved by passing the bands 6 of the belt 1 through the buckles 10 on the bands 9 of the lower-leg braces, and by easily tightening the bands as required. The bands 6 and 9 enable adjusting the length, that is, the distance, between the waist and the lower-leg braces, in accordance with the height of the person using the corset for relieving the lumbar spine.

Figures 5. and 6. show the corset for relieving the lumbar spine on the user's body

11 - front and back views.

The corset for relieving the lumbar spine enables painless performing of jobs in standing posture, making the user to take more favourable bodily postures while performing them.

Functioning of the corset

The corset for relieving the lumbar spine functions once the user, by his or her movements, brings his or her lumbar spine in an irregular or dangerous position. In such situations, Figure 7., the connecting bands 6 and 9 tighten, preventing thus any further stretching of the back and making the user 11 to bend the knees 12, thus avoiding pains in the spine. Bending of the legs secures normal position of the back, not harmful to the spine. Simultaneously, the posterior compartment and vertebral muscles are made stronger, this enabling the body to stand future hard works that are to be done in unfavourable bodily postures more easily. The belts may be fixed, in stead with the Velcro straps 3, 5 and 8, with any other known means of fixing of belts.

7. INVENTION APPLICATION

The corset for relieving the lumbar spine may be applied:

- in physical medicine;

- for educational purposes - learning correct movements;

- for prevention in sports (rowers, sailors, tennis players, basketball players, etc.); and

- while performing daily and other activities that include forward bending of the lumbar spine, thus relieving the sensitive, soft tissues and preventing injuries.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. The corset for relieving the lumbar spine, wh e re in it consists of the waist brace (A), fitted around the waist; it consists of the lower-leg braces (B) and (C), fitted below the knees; the brace (A) and the braces (B) and (C) are mutually connected with the bands (6) and (9), after positioning the corset for relieving the lumbar spine on the user's body (11).

2. The corset as claimed in Claim 1., w h e re i n the said waist brace (A) consists of the belt (1); on the belt there are fitted the fixing belt (2), with the Velcro strap (3), the buckle (4) for passing the belt (2) through, the Velcro strap (5) in the middle of the back part of the corset, and the band (6) for connecting to the lower-leg braces.

3. The corset as claimed in Claim 1., wh e re i n the said lower-leg braces (B) and (C) are similar: each of them consists of the belt (7) with the Velcro strap (8) for fixing it below the knee; each of them consists of the band (9) with the buckle (10), for fixing them to the bands (6) of the waist brace.

4. The corset as claimed in Claim 1., w h e r e i n the brace (A) is positioned around the lumbar spine with the fixing belt (2) with the Velcro strap (3), through the buckle (4) and with the Velcro strap (5) of the belt (1).

5. The corset as claimed in Claim 1., w h e re in following positioning of the waist brace (A) around the lumbar spine, and the lower-leg braces (B) and (C) below the knees, the brace (A) is connected to the braces (B) and (C) by passing the bands (6) through the buckles (10); the bands (6) and (9) enable adjusting of the length, that is, of the distance between the waist brace and the lower-leg braces.

6. The corset as claimed in Claim 1., wh e re in the belts may be fixed, in stead with the Velcro straps (3), (5) and (8), with any other known means of fixing of belts.