Abstract:
One embodiment of a method and apparatus for the correction of pectus excavatum, having two arch shaped braces ( 22 ), made of a rigid durable material, and connected by a flexible belt ( 42  and  34 ), each half having the ability of applying positive pressure ( 26 ) to the flared ribs caused by the condition. Positive pressure is to be applied to the ribs while a suction cup or other device simultaneously pulls or pushes the sternum to a natural position. Other embodiments are described and shown.

Description:
BACKGROUND—PRIOR ART 
     The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant: 
     U.S. Patents 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Pat. No. 
                 Kind Code 
                 Issue Date 
                 Patentee 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 7,229,422 
                 B2 
                 Jun. 12, 2007 
                 Klobe 
               
               
                 6,024,759 
                 A 
                 Feb. 15, 2000 
                 Nuss 
               
               
                 2,800,902 
                   
                 Jul. 30, 1957 
                 Wiltrout 
               
               
                 3,598,114 
                   
                 Aug. 10, 1971 
                 Lewis 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     U.S. Patent Application Publications 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Publication Number 
                 Kind Code 
                 Publ. Date 
                 Applicant 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 2006/0,074,448 
                 A1 
                 Apr. 6, 2006 
                 Harrison 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Nonpatent Literature Documents 
     Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics— Preliminary Results of Orthotic Treatment of Pectus Deformities in Children and Adolescents  [Sydney A. Haje, M.D. and J. Richard Bowen M.D.] 1992 Raven Press Ltd., New York. 
     It has been estimated that Pectus Excavatum affects up to 1 percent of the world&#39;s population, making it the most common of the chest wall deformities. This deformity can effect major organs and impair breathing and heart function. 
     In the 1940&#39;s the Ravitch procedure was developed, this involved removal of the ends of the ribs as they attach to the sternum in the depressed area. The lining membrane around the rib is left in place. The sternum is then broken horizontally at the point where it turns downward and is straightened out. It is held in this position using stitches, the adjacent ribs and usually a metal bar or strut that goes under the sternum to keep it in an outward position. This all takes place under the skin, and is not without its complications. Side effects can include post operative pain, infection, and fluid collection under the skin. In addition the ribs must grow back for complete chest wall stability to occur. 
     The Nuss procedure (U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,759) has become more popular over the last 10 years. This operation has been described generally as “minimally invasive.” An incision is made on each side of the chest wall. A bar is bent into the desired shape of the chest wall. A large surgical clamp is passed through one side of the chest, under the sternum and out the other side. The bar is pulled through using the clamp with the curve of the bar in the opposite direction. It then is flipped over and, in the process, bends the sternum outward, stretching the ribs as it does so. The bar is left in place for several months or years. A comparison of the Nuss “minimally invasive” procedure and the Ravitch procedure, published in the  Journal of Pediatric Surgery , shows no advantage for the Nuss procedure. The likelihood of recurrence of the chest deformity following the Nuss procedure has been slightly greater than with the Ravitch procedure. There have been ongoing modifications of the Nuss procedure to improve the results and eliminate complications, some of which have been life threatening. 
     Recently the use of a vacuum bell (U.S. Pat. No. 7,229,422) for the elevation of the sternum has become popular, though a similar device was used as early as 1910 by Lange. The suction cup is applied over the depressed area of the chest. Air is removed from the chamber creating a vacuum which lifts the sternum temporarily. After several hours the chest returns to its original position. The use of a suction device alone has proven ineffective in maintaining long term results. 
     Lastly, the dynamic chest compressor, introduced by Haje, involves a brace that is applied to the lower chest. Pressure is applied to front side of the rib cage. The brace must be worn for a good portion of the day in order to be effective. A. Dynamic Chest Compressor (DCC) brace by itself is useless unless it is made correctly and worn for the correct daily number of hours according to each period of the treatment, and applied along with an appropriate program of exercises. In addition, the Dynamic Chest Compressor (DCC) is a device that must be manufactured according to each individual deformity for successful treatment. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one embodiment, a means of pushing the flared ribs back into their normal position, while a suction cup or other device pulls or pushes the sternum upward into its natural position. s Advantages 
     Thus several advantages of one or more aspects are as follows: to provide a safe means of correcting the condition known as pectus excavatum without having to undergo a risky surgical procedure, to provide a means for the correction of the flared ribs associated with pectus excavatum, to provide a means of nonsurgical correction that does not involve hours of strenuous exercise per day, to provide a means of correction that does not involve the wearing of a brace for the majority of the day, to provide a brace that is one size fits all and does not have to be specially tailored to each individual. I have found that the depression of the sternum is caused by an overgrowth of the flared ribs. In order to correct the position of the sternum the position of the ribs must be addressed. Other advantages of one or more aspects are to address the funnel in the chest by simultaneously addressing the flared ribs, thus permanently correcting the position of both the sternum and the ribs. These and other advantages of one or more aspects will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS—FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the rib compressor. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the suction device depicting inside chamber and ribs. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the rib compressor. 
         FIG. 4  shows a top plan view of an embodiment of the suction device. 
         FIG. 5   a  shows an exploded view of the bolt and base plate assembly. 
         FIG. 5   b  shows a sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the compression mechanism. 
         FIG. 5   c  shows a sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the compression mechanism. 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of my invention, a rib compressor with shoulder straps and suction device applied to the human form. 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of my invention taken from the top as applied to a sectional view of a body suffering from pectus excavatum. Arrows depict the forces being applied to the sternum and flared ribs. 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of my invention. 
     
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     Reference Numerals 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 22. 
                 Brace 
               
               
                   
                 24. 
                 Spacer 
               
               
                   
                 26. 
                 Bolt 
               
               
                   
                 27. 
                 Clutch mechanism 
               
               
                   
                 28. 
                 Support Ribs 
               
               
                   
                 29. 
                 Notched extrusion 
               
               
                   
                 30. 
                 Suction Cup 
               
               
                   
                 32. 
                 Tube Nozzle 
               
               
                   
                 34. 
                 Front Belt 
               
               
                   
                 36. 
                 Belt Buckle 
               
               
                   
                 38. 
                 Plate 
               
               
                   
                 40. 
                 Pad 
               
               
                   
                 42. 
                 Rear Belt 
               
               
                   
                 44. 
                 Shoulder Strap 
               
               
                   
                 46. 
                 Piston Chamber 
               
               
                   
                 48. 
                 Tube Nozzle 
               
               
                   
                 50. 
                 Piston 
               
               
                   
                 52. 
                 Hinge 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     First Embodiment— FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 ,  5   a ,  6  and  7   
       FIGS. 1 ,  6  and  7  show perspective views of the rib compressor of the 1 st  embodiment from front and top. The rib compressor has two arch shaped braces  22  of equal length which face each other at opposite ends. I contemplate that the braces  22  of this embodiment be made of polyurethane or nylon, but other materials are also suitable. Both Braces  22  are connected to each other by a belt at the rear  42  and a belt at the front  34 . The front belt  34  of this embodiment being made of two separate lengths of material having a belt buckle  36  to secure both together, best shown in  FIG. 1 . I contemplate that the belts  42  and  34  can be made of Leather or canvas but other materials are also suitable. 
     Connected to brace  22  is a spacer  24 , best shown in  FIG. 7 , attached by virtue either of the extrusion of liquid plastic (which will form the body of the brace) or the application of heat or adhesive upon the side of the spacer. 
     Each brace  22  has a bolt  26  which secures to the brace  22  by virtue of a threaded opening in the brace to accept the threaded bolt, being best depicted in  FIG. 7 . The bolt  26  having a hand grip and a calibrated clutch mechanism  27  is connected to a plate  38  (depicted in  FIG. 5   a ) by means of a notched extrusion  29  in the bolt, although other means of attachment would be adequate. The base plate  38 , being made of polyurethane or other suitable material, is connected to a pad  40  that can be made of liquid rubber, foam or other soft material that would provide adequate padding. I contemplate the pad  46  can be attached to plate  38  by the application of heat or adhesive on either side. 
       FIGS. 2 ,  4 ,  6  and  7  depict a suction device  30  of an embodiment from various perspectives. The suction device  30  having a three sided triangular shape (when viewed from the top as depicted in  FIG. 4 ) with rounded edges can be constructed of rubber or other pliable air tight material. Attached to the suction device  30  is a rib system  28  depicted in  FIG. 2 . I presently contemplate that the ribs  28  can be made of polyurethane or nylon; however other materials are also suitable. The ribs  28  are attached to the suction device  30  by either embedment in the liquid rubber (which will form the body of the suction device), an adhesive or other means. Attached to the suction device  30  is a tube nozzle  32 , as depicted in  FIG. 2 . The tube nozzle, having a circular base, is attached to the suction device by embedment in the liquid rubber that will form the body of the suction device  30 . The tube nozzle can be constructed of plastic, copper or other suitable material. s Operation—First Embodiment— FIGS. 6 and 7   
     The rib compressor assembly and suction device of this embodiment are to be used in unison; however they can also be used separately. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the rib compressor is placed so that the pads  40  are in contact with the flared ribs, creating a surface transfer area. The belt is tightened and the buckle secured so as to place pressure on the ribs while maintaining the assembly in place. The suction device  30  is placed so as to cover the depression at the sternum. Once adequate contact has been made between the patient&#39;s skin and the suction device so as to maintain an air tight seal, air is removed from the suction chamber via the nozzle  32  by a hand pump or other device. The sternum is lifted by the negative forces in the vacuum and in most cases the patients flared ribs flare further outward. Once the sternum is raised adequately, the Rib Compressor bolts  26  are tightened so as to compress the flared ribs inward into the desired position. The forces applied by both the suction and the rib compression devices are depicted in  FIG. 7 . The correction of the flared ribs is crucial to the correction of the depression in the chest, as I have discovered, the inwardly sunken sternum is caused by the position of the outwardly flared ribs. 
     The front and rear belts  34  and  42  are adjustable, allowing the patient to adjust the brace to fit to their own body, thus eliminating the need for a custom manufactured brace. 
     The bolts  26  have a clutch mechanism  27  that can be calibrated as needed to meet each individual patients needs at different phases of their treatment. This allows a means for the patient to apply the prescribed amount of pressure to the ribs. s Description—Alternative—Embodiment— FIGS. 3 ,  5   b  and  5   c    
     There are various possibilities with regard to the means of exerting pressure to the flared ribs.  FIG. 3  shows a front perspective view of an embodiment with the braces  22  having piston chambers  46  attached. I presently contemplate that the piston chamber  46  can be attached to the brace  22  by means of an extrusion of the liquid plastic which forms the brace, although other means of attachment may be adequate. 
     The piston chamber  46  being best depicted in  FIGS. 5   b  and  5   c  has one piston  50 , the piston passes through an opening in the brace  22  and has plate  38  attached. The piston chamber has a nozzle  48  attached at either the rear of the chamber as shown in  FIG. 5   b  or toward the front of the brace as shown in  FIG. 5   c.    
     There are also various possibilities with regard to the brace.  FIG. 8  depicts a front perspective of any embodiment having extended versions of the braces  22 . The braces are connected at the rear of this embodiment by a hinge  52 . s Operation—Alternative—Embodiment— FIGS. 5   b ,  5   c    6  and  8 . 
       FIG. 5   b  depicts a sectional view of an embodiment of the compression mechanism having the nozzle  48  at the rear of the chamber  46 ; piston  50  would be pushed out by virtue of a hand pump or other device pumping gas or liquid into the chamber. The piston would then move thru the brace  22  and exert added pressure to the patient&#39;s ribs via a surface transfer area. 
       FIG. 5   c  depicts a sectional view of an embodiment of the compression mechanism having the nozzle  48  toward the front of the chamber  46  adjacent to the brace  22 . Piston  50  would be pulled in, by the removal of gas or liquid thru the brace  22  and exert the required pressure to the patients ribs. 
       FIG. 8  depicts a front perspective view of an embodiment having a hinge  52  at the rear providing a means of opening and closing the brace for access around the patients body. s Conclusion, Ramification, and Scope 
     Accordingly the reader will see that, according to one embodiment of the invention, I have provided a practical means of permanently correcting the chest wall deformity typically referred to as pectus excavatum (also known by other names such as funnel and sunken chest). In addition to the correction of the sternum, the reader will find that according to one embodiment, the displaced ribs typically associated with pectus excavatum are also provided with a means of correction. 
     While the above description contains many specificities these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as exemplifications of various embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments. For example, the means of compressing the ribs inward could be an inflatable flexible envelope that when inflated would expand and place the required pressure on the ribs. Additionally, the rib compressor may, on occasion, be used alone in order to only treat the outwardly deformed ribs of a patient. 
     Thus this scope should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.