A multi-piece therapeutic cover that assembles to warm, cushion and stabilize the thigh of a below-knee amputee. A thigh piece contains a resiliently rigid channel piece and several laterally extending, wings including sizing tabs that overlap and cooperate with associated straps. A stump contact piece, end cap piece and knee cover piece contain foam pads to cushion the stump end and knee. Strips of hook and loop fastener material arrayed about the surfaces of the protector pieces judiciously overlap to contain the protector pieces to each other and the limb. Buckled straps further support the protector assembly to the limb.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to limb protection devices for amputees and, in particular, to a multi-piece, padded, fabric and fleece lined assembly for below-knee amputees, wherein a leg or thigh piece, a stump contact piece, a distal end cap cover piece and a knee or patella cover piece contain resilient contoured inserts and/or foam cushion pieces that support/brace and cushion the thigh, knee and stump end and wherein hook and loop fasteners and stabilizing straps organize and secure the pieces to each other and to the amputee's limb.

A variety of appliances have been developed for amputees for use during post-operative recovery, therapy and long term maintenance. The devices are typically constructed for particular use with the arms and legs. Some devices serve as dressings during recovery. Some devices mount to the limb to stabilize the stump end and support or cushion a prosthesis mounted to the limb. Some devices include active linkages that cooperate with and stabilize limb movement. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,302,169; 5,529,575; 5,571,206 and 5,651,792 disclose devices having active, hinged linkage pieces adapted for use by below-knee amputees.

Some appliances are used daily after removal of a prosthesis to cover, warm and/or protect the limb and stump, such as during periods of relative inactivity (e.g. when at home or asleep). It is to the latter category that the subject invention belongs. The assembly of the present invention is intended to mount to and warm an amputated limb to promote vasodilatation, maintain blood circulation and prevent ulceration or other physical degradation of the stump. That is, by keeping the limb and stump end warm, the blood vessels don't constrict and healthy blood flow is maintained. The device also physically cushions and warms the limb with minimal skin trauma (e.g. ulcerations, cracking and/or abrasions).

The present below-knee limb protector assembly was developed to provide a multi-piece light weight assembly that warms, cushions and stabilizes the extremity. The assembly includes a thigh piece having a longitudinal support portion containing a rigid channel member constructed from a resilient and malleable material and several laterally extending cloth covered wings having fasteners that overlap to encase the limb and cooperate with associated strap fasteners. A stump contact piece, end cap piece and knee or patella cover piece contain foam pads to cushion the stump end and knee. Strips of hook and loop fastener material are arrayed about the protector pieces and judiciously overlap to contain the protector pieces to each other and the limb. Buckled straps further support the protector to the limb.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly a primary object of the invention to provide a thermally insulated protection assembly for below-knee amputees to stabilize, cushion and warm the limb to stimulate blood circulation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a below-knee protective assembly comprising several sewn fabric and fleece pieces having a number of hook and loop fasteners fitted to overlapping surfaces of the assembly pieces and associated straps to collectively wrap and fasten to configure and encase the protective device about the thigh.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a protective device having a thigh piece that contains a longitudinal, foam covered, contoured, resilient channel member shaped to contain and support the thigh.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a thigh support piece wherein overlapping fleece lined fabric wings contain multiple separated lines of stitching that segregate the wings to accommodate tailor fitting the assembly; presently the stitching is positioned to accommodate differing circumferential limb sizes and wherein the stitching transversely bisects each wing piece and is displaced sufficiently (e.g. 1 to 4-inches) to segment each wing and permit shortening the wing pieces adjacent the stitching without fraying to tailor the length of the wing pieces to fit the circumference of the amputee's limb.

It is a further object of the invention to provide stump contact cushions, spacers and adjoining end cap pieces that provide cloth/fleece covered foam cushions that directly contact the stump end and/or fill a space between the contact piece and an end cap piece to conform to and cushion the stump end and fasten to a limb encasing thigh piece.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a knee or patella cover support piece that contains a foam cushion and mounts to a limb encasing thigh piece.

The foregoing objects, advantages and distinctions of the invention are obtained in a presently preferred fabric covered limb protector assembly of the invention that is lined with fleece. One or more pieces can also contain a thermal insulation. Several overlapping tabs of hook and loop fastener material are arrayed about the surfaces of several wing pieces at a thigh cover piece and detachable knee and end cap fabric cover pieces and mate with other associated fastener pieces and straps. The fasteners at the wings of the thigh piece and detachable knee and end cap pieces align to define and selectively control the fitting of the protective assembly to the amputee's thigh and stump.

The thigh piece contains a longitudinal foam covered, rigid channel member constructed from a resilient and malleable material having a contoured channel that supports the posterior surface of the thigh and knee. Laterally extending wing portions extend such that the thigh piece exhibits a general “H” shape. The wing pieces include displaced lines of transverse stitching organized and arranged to permit cutting and shortening the wing pieces to fit different thigh circumferences. The length of at least one wing piece can thereby be tailored to assure a proper fit about the circumference of an amputee's thigh upon wrapping and overlapping the wing pieces onto each other.

Hook and loop fasteners are secured to external fabric and internal fleece surfaces of the assemblies' pieces and are aligned to overlap and secure the protective assembly to the amputee's thigh. Other accessory, extension pieces having tabs of hook and loop fastener material can be mounted to the thigh piece wings to extend the wings to fit amputees with large diameter thighs.

A stump cover or end cap piece contains a foam cushion and provides a fleece liner and mates to the stump end. Associated fabric/fleece covered foam spacers can be added to fill the longitudinal space of the thigh piece.

An end cap piece contains a foam cushion and wing pieces that support tabs of hook and loop fastener material and mount to the thigh piece to contain the stump cover and filler pieces to the thigh cover piece.

A fabric and fleece covered knee or patella cover piece contains a foam cushion and supporting sewn strips and straps of hook and loop fastener material that overlap and mount to the thigh piece to cover the knee.

Still other objects, advantages, distinctions and constructions of the invention will become more apparent from the following description with respect to the appended drawings. Similar components and assemblies are referred to in the various drawings with similar alphanumeric reference characters. The components can be combined in various combinations and with other limb protection assemblies. The description should therefore not be literally construed in limitation of the invention. Rather, the invention should be interpreted within the broad scope of the further appended claims.

Similar structure throughout the drawings is referred to with the same alphanumeric reference numerals and/or characters.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 1-4several perspective views are shown in various stages of assembly to the present invention of a therapeutic leg protector assembly2for partial leg (e.g. below-knee) amputees. The leg protector assembly2is constructed of several sections or pieces that assemble to form the protector2shown removed from a wearer's leg in a fully assembled condition inFIG. 1. The several pieces of the protector2are constructed from an air permeable fabric cover material4. The cover material4is presently sewn from a durable velour cloth. Other materials such as a heavyweight cotton fabric, CORDURA® or other fabrics or laminated/layered fabric and insulation combinations might also be used.

The interior surface of the cover material4is lined with a fleece material6. A thermal insulation material8shown in partial cutaway atFIG. 2, if desired, can also be mounted between the cover material4and the interior fleece lining6. A suitable thermal insulation material8can for example comprise THINSULATE® or any of a variety of other cushioning and insulating materials. The fleece6and any provided insulation material8collectively provide a thermal barrier to maintain the temperature of a covered limb9to promote dilation of the blood vessels and blood flow through the covered extremity.

The leg protector2when fitted to an amputated limb, such as the leg or thigh, is assembled from a number of separate pieces that are positioned to the limb and sequentially overlapped and fastened or attached to each other. When fully assembled the protector2covers, warms and protects the amputee's limb.

With attention toFIG. 2and during fitting, an elongated, “H-shaped” leg or thigh piece10is typically laid out and the wearer's limb9is aligned to lie in a longitudinal center portion that defines a channel or trough space11. The trough space11exhibits a contoured curvature (e.g. arcuate) when viewed end on. The curvature is defined by a resiliently rigid, generally “U-shaped” channel or trough member12contained in the longitudinal center portion of the thigh piece10, seeFIG. 3. Prior to mounting the protector assembly2, the limb9can be wrapped with a gauze material or other suitable cover or sock7can be mounted to the limb.

The channel member12extends substantially the length of the thigh piece10. The channel member12is presently constructed of a resilient plastic material. The material is generally rigid but can flex laterally and torsionally without breaking. A variety of different plastics, KEVLAR®, polymers, compositions or metal materials can be used to form the channel member12. The contour of the channel shape might also be adjusted depending upon the limb and for example might be molded or formed into a preferred shape prior to or after mounting in the thigh piece10. Depending upon the material, heat or other external energy sources can be used to tailor contour the channel space11.

One or both of the posterior and anterior surfaces of the channel member12can be covered with a layer of foam14. The channel member12mounts in a longitudinal pocket defined by lines of stitching formed between the cover and fleece liner materials4and6. The limb9(e.g. leg or thigh) of an amputee when fitted to the thigh piece10nests in the curvature of the channel space11and the internal fleece lining6and underlying foam layer14conform about the limb9. The thigh and knee are simultaneously supported in coaxial alignment with the channel space11and the knee is generally immobilized.

Once the thigh and knee are fitted into the thigh piece10a space can exist at the end of the amputee's stump. A stump contact cover piece20is then positioned in the space to contact the distal or stump end of the limb. The stump cover piece20provides a fabric cover22and fleece liner24that are sewn together to contain a generally cylindrical foam pad26. The fleece end24is mounted to contact the stump end. Depending upon the length of the limb relative to the thigh piece10, one or more cloth covered foam filler pieces26can be mounted distal to the stump contact cover piece20, seeFIG. 4.

An end cap piece30having a fabric cover32and fleece lining34and containing a foam pad36is next fastened to the thigh cover piece10. Tabs of hook and loop fastener material38and40that are adhered or affixed such as by sewing to the fleece lining34and fabric cover material4of the thigh piece10are overlapped and fastened together to hinge the end cap piece30to the thigh piece10. The end cap piece30can thereby pivot relative to the distal end of the thigh piece10to align the foam pad36of the end cap30with the stump cover piece20and any filler pieces26.

A tongue portion42extends from the end cap piece30and independently folds to mount over the anterior surface of the contained limb9and stump cover piece20. Wings or straps43of hook fastener material38laterally extend from the end cap piece30and separately attach to longitudinal tabs of loop fastener material40attached to external sides of the thigh piece10. Upon folding the tongue42over the stump end and stump cover20and securing the fastener straps43to the thigh piece10, the stump contact piece20and filler pieces26are held in place.

The remainder of the limb protector pieces are next arranged and secured to each other to fully secure the protector assembly2to the amputee's limb. The thigh piece10is secured to the limb and end cap piece30with upper and lower wing or arm portions50and52and54and56that extend from longitudinal sides of the thigh piece10. The relatively short side arm portions52and56extend approximately 1 to 2-inches and contain tabs of appropriate hook/loop fastener material38or40sewn to the fleece lining6.

The relatively longer upper arm portions50and54are constructed to lengths on the order of 8 to 14-inches to accommodate thighs of differing circumference. The arm portions50and54include displaced lines of sewn stitching60that segment and define a series of tabs62at each arm portion50and54. A tab62can be severed from the thigh piece12by cutting between the lines of stitching60or in other fashions without producing fraying at the severed edges. The paired lines of stitching60separate the wing arms50and54into several tabs62and each tab sized in a range of approximately 2 to 4 inches in length. Depending upon the amputee, one or more tabs62can be severed to tailor fit the length of the wings50and54to the circumference of the bound limb. The extraneous tabs62are severed at or between the stitching lines60without fraying or separation of the fabric and fleece layers4and6. It is to be appreciated single lines of stitching60might also be used to accommodate tailor fitting.

Upon wrapping the wing arms52and56over the limb and overlapping the arms52and56with the arms50and54, tabs of appropriate hook/loop fastener material38or40sewn to the fabric cover material4and fleece lining6at the arms52and56mate with the fastener tabs at the arms50and54to secure the thigh piece8to the limb9. The overlapped arms52and56also bind the tongue portion42of the end cap piece30to the limb.

One or more fabric4and fleece6covered wing extension pieces64(one of which is shown atFIG. 3) can be fastened to the arms50-56to appropriately extend the length of the overlapping combined arm pieces50,52and54,56to fit amputees having thighs of large circumferences.

The protector assembly2is further secured to an amputee's limb by additionally wrapping buckled straps70sewn to the cover material4at the wing arms50-56to independently overlap the fastened wing arms50-56. Mating buckles72and74sewn to the ends of the straps70are then fastened to securely attach the thigh piece10to the amputee's limb, seeFIG. 1. A variety of different types of mating buckles and fasteners can be used to secure the ends of the straps70.

A knee or patella cover piece80is next affixed to the thigh piece10. The knee cover piece80comprises an envelope of fabric4and fleece6material that contain a foam cushion piece82. Straps84extend from the fabric cover material4and support tabs of hook/loop fastener material38and/or40. The knee cover piece80is mounted over the wrapped thigh cover10to cover the amputee's knee and the straps84are secured to the longitudinal tabs of hook/loop fastener material38and/or40that extend along the sides of the thigh piece10.

While the invention has been described with respect to a number of preferred constructions and considered improvements or alternatives thereto, still other constructions may be suggested to those skilled in the art. It is also to be appreciated that selected ones of the foregoing features can also be used singularly or be arranged in different combinations to provide a variety of improved therapeutic limb wear. The foregoing description should therefore be construed to include all those embodiments within the spirit and scope of the following claims.