Patent ID: 6951546
Filing Date: 2005-10-04
Classification: A61F,A61H,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A chest brace comprising: an anterior member adapted to overlie a patient's chest; an adhesive mechanism adapted to operatively couple the anterior member to a surface of such a patient; supporting means for supporting the anterior member at least a first distance from a fixed reference point during use of the chest brace over a plurality of respiratory cycles of such a patient, wherein the first distance corresponds to a distance in which the chest of such a patient is in a non-collapsed position, and for allowing expansion of such a patient's chest beyond a second distance from the fixed reference point by enabling the anterior member to move with the patient responsive to expansion of such a patient's chest beyond the second distance; and locking means, associated with the supporting means, for preventing the anterior member from moving closer than the first distance from the fixed reference point over the plurality of respiratory cycles, thereby preventing collapse of such a patient's chest over the plurality of respiratory cycles.