Abstract:
A physiotherapeutic device has a waist tensioning system and a spine support system that enable correction and/or maintaining postural stance for individuals suffering from poor posture and/or neurodegenerative disease. The device provides a posture support and retention system during episodes of postural instability to enable individuals to maintain posture and balance while performing functions. The device includes a garment with shoulder straps extending from the tensioning system to generate force vectors in a direction opposite of those generated by traditional shoulder straps. A rigid support member is disposed in the garment to run parallel with the spinal column. The shoulder straps and waist straps tie into an anchor located on a portion of the garment directly over the support member. The connected components work in concert to actively and passively adjust tension and apply pressure to straighten shoulders and improve the upper back support.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/049,671 filed on Sep. 12, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates generally to a physiotherapeutic device, and in particular to a vest to assist individuals having ambulatory and other mobility disabilities. 
         [0004]    2. Background of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Persons with Parkinson&#39;s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases often experience issues with muscle rigidity, as well as problems with their posture and balance. At later stages of Parkinson&#39;s disease 90% of patients suffer from postural instability, and many would benefit from a device that would assist them with proper support and posture, especially during daily activities. 
         [0006]    One form of providing support and maintaining proper posture is through a brace or a vest, such as a gait vest. Some existing back braces consist of an elongated triangular configuration for the spine system, along with adjustable shoulder straps mounted onto a lightweight waist support to allegedly assist with posture by providing a compressive force to the wearer&#39;s lower waist area. Other existing brace devices use a waist cord that can be pulled about the wearer&#39;s waist to adjust tensioning of the wearer&#39;s upper back and shoulders. Some braces provide straightening forces in the mid-torso section rather than at the shoulder. 
         [0007]    While these prior art devices provide a means to force an individual to exhibit proper posture, none provide support and proper force vector tensioning to assist a user to maintain balance and posture while performing daily activities and functions. Moreover, prior art devices fail to offer a system allowing proper range of motion due to the rigidity and awkwardness of the devices. Furthermore, such devices provide crude and unsophisticated means of correcting posture that may even cause additional harm. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    A physiotherapeutic device has a waist tensioning system and a spine support system that may enable correction and/or maintaining of postural stance for individuals suffering from poor posture and/or neurodegenerative disease. 
         [0009]    The device is a garment that includes a waist tensioner mechanism and a spine support system. While the device is described and depicted as a vest, one skilled in the art will appreciate, with the benefit of the present disclosure, that the device may be configured for use as any type of garment. This may include, but is not limited to, a shirt, jacket, jumpsuit, or other clothing article. 
         [0010]    The vest includes a back portion and two front panels, wherein the back portion has a cervical expansion portion and a lumbar extension portion. The vest may include a plurality of segment panels, each exhibiting an elasticity so as to provide support and therapeutic effect. A support member pouch may be disposed on the back portion, which is configured to retain a support member in alignment with a user&#39;s spine when donning the vest. Included on a bottom portion of the vest may be a central fastener, which is configured to retain the support member within the support member pouch by covering and concealing an opening leading into the support member pouch. 
         [0011]    A tensioner mechanism, including a central member may extend from the cervical expansion portion, where an anchor is in mechanical connection therewith. Waist straps attached to the lumbar expansion portion may be configured to be routed through the anchor and wrapped around the vest when the user dons the device. The vest also includes shoulder straps, each having a first end attached to a top, rear portion of the vest and a second end attached to the central member. 
         [0012]    The vest may include fasteners disposed on a surface of each front panel, wherein the fasteners are configured to engage with each other so as to facilitate donning the vest and securing the vest to one&#39;s body. The vest may comprise a material that includes elastane, and the shoulder straps may comprise an elastic material. Some embodiments include an adjustment mechanism for each shoulder strap to enable shoulder strap length adjustment. 
         [0013]    With the support member being rigid, or at least semi-rigid, the device may be configured so that when donned by the user and the waist straps are pulled, the support member applies pressure to the user&#39;s sacrum while the tension applied to the shoulder strap is adjusted. In such a configuration, the device provides a posture support and retention system during episodes of postural instability to enable individuals to maintain posture and balance while performing functions. The shoulder straps extending from the tensioning system enable generation of force vectors in a direction opposite of those that may be generated by traditional shoulder straps. The rigid support member is disposed in the vest to run parallel with the spinal column, and the shoulder straps and waist straps tie into an anchor located on a portion of the vest directly over the support member. The components, all connected together, work in concert to actively and passively adjust tension and apply pressure to straighten shoulders and improve posture and upper back support. 
         [0014]    While these potential advantages are made possible by technical solutions offered herein, achieving them is not required. The presently disclosed device can be implemented to achieve technical advantages, whether or not these potential advantages, individually or in combinations, are sought or achieved. 
         [0015]    Further features, aspects, objects, advantages, and possible applications of the present invention will become apparent from a study of the exemplary embodiments and examples described below, in combination with the Figures, and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0016]    The above and other objects, aspects, features, advantages and possible applications of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates an external view of the device, in accordance with an embodiment disclosed herein; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates an internal view of the device, in accordance with an embodiment disclosed herein; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates another external view with the support member exposed, in accordance with an embodiment disclosed herein; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of the shoulder straps of the device, with the vest portion omitted for ease of illustration, in accordance with an embodiment disclosed herein; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded partial view of the tensioner mechanism, in accordance with an embodiment disclosed herein; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is an environmental front view of a user donning the device; and, 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is an environmental rear view of a user donning the device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    The following description is of an embodiment presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles and features of the present invention. The scope of the present invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , external and internal views of the device  10  are disclosed. 
         [0026]    The device  10  may include a vest  20  segmented into a plurality of segment panels  30  with waist straps  40 , shoulder straps  50 , a support member  90 , and a tensioner mechanism  80 . A waist tensioning system of the vest  20  may include the waist straps  40 , shoulder straps  50 , and tensioner mechanism  80 . A spine support system of the vest  20  may include the support member  90  and plurality of segment panels  30 . As disclosed herein, the waist tensioning system and the spine support system may operate in concert to enable correction and/or maintaining postural stance for individuals suffering from poor posture and/or neurodegenerative disease. 
         [0027]    The vest  20 , waist straps  40 , and shoulder straps  50  may be fabricated from tough, lightweight, textile material such as nylon, cotton, canvas, elastane (i.e., Spandex® brand elastane), etc. Extending around a person&#39;s torso, or any portion thereof, when worn, the vest  20  may include an elongated fabric structure with a back portion and two front panels. The back portion has an approximate polygonal shape conjoined with a front panel at each side. The back portion may be configured to rest against a person&#39;s back while the front panels may rest against a person&#39;s chest and stomach. In such a configuration the vest  20  wraps around a person, substantially enveloping his/her torso. (See  FIGS. 6 and 7 ). 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  illustrates the vest  20  in a spread-open, flat position. It can be seen that the vest  20  may widen towards a back portion while becoming narrower towards the two front panels. As seen best in  FIG. 2 , the middle of the back portion may extend up towards a person&#39;s neck, forming a cervical extension portion  42 , more so than extending down towards a person&#39;s buttock, forming a lumbar extension portion  44 . This may be done to provide maximum support and comfort to a user. Generally, a person&#39;s posterior torso would require more support, whereas a person&#39;s anterior torso would require more mobility and dexterity. Thus, the back portion may be positioned at the posterior torso, whereas the front panels may be configured to connect to each other at a person&#39;s anterior torso. This connection may be achieved via fasteners  46 , such as hook and pull type fasteners, disposed on surfaces of each front panel configured to engage each other to facilitate a proper and conforming fit of the vest  20  when donned by a user. This configuration may ensure that the vest  20  is comfortably secured onto the wearer, while permitting breathability and enabling the wearer to have a normal range-of-motion. Other types of fasteners for the front panels may include, but are not limited to, snaps, buckles, zippers, etc. It is understood that other configurations may be utilized as well, such as a narrowing towards the back portion, widening at a front panel, or even having the narrowest portion at a user&#39;s midsection or waistline. 
         [0029]    The back portion, front panels, cervical expansion portion, and lumbar expansion portion may be generated form a unitary piece of fabric. Alternatively, each portion may be a separate section that is sewn together or even reversibly attached to each other via a zipper, hook-and-pull type fastener, etc. 
         [0030]    The segment panels  30  may be integral to the vest  20  or may be removable and interchangeable sections of the vest  20 . Each segment panel  30  may be defined by a change in elasticity, stiffness, and/or rigidity. While the drawings depict a different elasticity for each adjacent segment panel  30 , one skilled in the art, with the benefit of the present disclosure, will appreciate that all segment panels  30  may exhibit the same elasticity, all may exhibit a different elasticity, or any combination thereof. The segment panels  30  are shown to have a length that is longer than the width; however, the width may be longer than the length, or any other combination of width-to-length ratios may be utilized. Furthermore, some segment panels  30  may exhibit elasticity in one direction while another may exhibit elasticity in a different direction. In one embodiment, the elasticity of each segment panel  30  is the width direction. 
         [0031]    One embodiment may include some segment panels  30  that are elastic and some that are not. For example, a vest  20  may include four segment panels  30  either side of the support member pouch  60 , wherein the two outer most segment panels  30  on either side are not elastic and the two inner most segment panels  30  on either side are elastic. This configuration may be done to provide maximum support and therapeutic effect. The two inner most segment panels  30  lie against the user&#39;s torso more directly that those of the two outer most segment panels  30 . Consequently, therapeutic effects may be more effectively realized by having the configuration described above. One skilled in the art will appreciate, with the benefit of the present disclosure, that other combinations of elastic and non-elastic segment panels  30  may be utilized. 
         [0032]    The widths of the segment panels  30  may be based on how much stretch is desired for compression of the individual&#39;s body to provide circumferential pressure for therapeutic effect. This may be calculated using the elastic properties of the braces materials. The widths of the segment panels  30  may also be based upon desired stretch for sizing purposes. The length of the segment panels  30  may be based of the anatomical positioning of the segment panels  30  on the vest  20 . Each segment panel  30  rests along the user&#39;s body and there height is determined based on where pressure should be applied to the user to obtain therapeutic effect. 
         [0033]    This may be done to accommodate persons of various weights, waist size, height, and/or whether the vest is being worn overtop or underneath clothing. A segmented panel  30  configuration may also provide desired levels of support, pressure, and dexterity at certain points of a person&#39;s torso. For example, although a person may require less support in the anterior torso, she may still require support so segment panels  30  in the abdominal region may be more rigid. While therapeutic effects of the vest  20  via the segment panels  30  are normally achieved by the panels  30  working in conjunction with the other components of the vest  20 , a desired physiotherapeutic effect may be achieved by applying pressure at an oblique section via a segment panel  30 . 
         [0034]    Other therapeutic effects may be realized from the various configurations of the segment panels  20 . For example, different combinations of elastic and non-elastic segment panels  30 , as well as varying degrees of elasticity, may be utilized to modify comfort levels, balancing, and posture. 
         [0035]    At least one waist strap  40  may be provided with the vest  20 , which may be attached to a portion of the support member pouch  60  via a first end of the waist strap  40 , whereas the second end of the waste strap  40  is free. The free end may be configured to extend vertically up through the tensioner mechanism  80 . The strap  40  may then loop around a user&#39;s waist to be connected to the vest  20 , or to another free end of a second waist strap  40 , to not be connected at all, or not even wrapped around the waist of the user. (See  FIGS. 6 and 7 ). The waist strap  40  may enable application of the tensioning system by a user. For example, pulling the waist strap  50  adjusts tension applied to shoulder straps  50  and the support member  90  so that pressure is applied to the sacrum of the wearer, and stability and support are provided for the shoulders and entire torso. Details of the tensioning and spine support systems of the vest  20 , and how they generate proper force vectors to assist with posture and other therapeutic functions will be discussed later. 
         [0036]    The first end of the waist strap  40  may be permanently affixed to the vest  20  via stitching. Alternatively, it may be reversibly secured via a central fastener  62 . The central fastener  62  may include a hook and pull type securement, and may also be configured to retain the support member  90  within the support member pouch  60  by covering and concealing an opening leading into the support member pouch  60 . For example, both ends of the waist strap  40  may be provided with complementary hook and pull type fasteners, and the support member pouch  60  and the central fastener  62  may be provided with additional complementary hook and pull type fasteners. Furthermore, the central fastener  62  may be configured as a flap that is permanently affixed to a bottom portion of the vest  20 . An end of the waist strap  40  may be secured to the central fastener  62  and the opposite end may be routed up through the tensioner mechanism  80 , as described earlier. Concurrently, the support member  90  may be placed within the support member pouch  60  and secured in place with the central fastener  62 , thereby providing proper and adequate securement for both the waist straps  40  and the support member  90 . 
         [0037]    The free ends of the waist straps  40  may also include a fastener to enable a user to wrap and/or “stow” the waist straps  40  when not in use by wrapping the straps  40  around the vest  20  and securing the straps  40  to each other or to another complementary fastener located on the vest  20 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0038]    The device  10  may include at least one shoulder strap  50  extending from a top, rear portion of the vest  20 , and may be attached via stitching at a first end, whereas the second end may be attached to a central member  82  of the tensioner mechanism  80  (See  FIG. 4 ). An adjustment mechanism  70 , for example, a buckle, may be provided to adjust the length of each strap  50 . A shoulder pad  52  may be included with the shoulder strap  50  to provide added support and comfort for a user, which may include a sleeve with padding disposed on a surface thereof. The shoulder pads  52  may also keep portions of the shoulder straps  50  aligned, thus making it easier to don the device. Any portion of the shoulder strap  50  may be elastic to assist with directing and balancing force vectors and to provide a desired therapeutic effect and/or comfort. For example, the first end may be connected to the vest via elastic extenders  71 . (See  FIG. 5 ). Each shoulder strap  50  may be constructed of a single, elastic member so as to exhibit a consistent stretch. Each shoulder strap  50  may exhibit the same elasticity as the other shoulder strap  50 , further providing consistent support for a user employing the device  10 . Changing the width of each strap  50  may be done to modify the amount of force applied to move the shoulders back into the correct therapeutic position. 
         [0039]    The vest  20  may be provided with a support member pouch  60  that is substantially in alignment with a user&#39;s spine when the vest  20  is donned. The support member pouch  60  may be configured to receive and retain a support member  90 . At last one support member  90  may be inserted into the support member pouch  60  by sliding it there-through, and it may be held in place by the central fastener  62  in a similar manner described above. Alternatively, the support member  90  may be reversibly inserted via sliding through an opening at a top of the support member pouch  60 , wherein the bottom of the support member pouch  62  may be sealed. Alternatively, or in addition, any number of support members  90  may be permanently secured within the support member pouch  60  via other methods, such as stitching. Furthermore, a first support member  90  may be permanently secured within the support member pouch  60  via stitching while other support members  60  may be reversibly secured via the central fastener  62 . 
         [0040]    In addition, any support member  90  may be integral to the vest  20 . For example, the vest may include a central panel  30  that has the stiffness and rigidity to serve as the support member  90 . Removing the support member  90  at the discretion of a user may be beneficial to facilitate cleaning and maintenance of the device  10 . 
         [0041]    The support member  90  is a rigid and/or semi-rigid structure, such as a plate for example, which may be fabricated from aluminum, steel, plastic, composite fiber, etc. After the vest  20  has been donned and secured against a user&#39;s body, the support member  90  places pressure against the sacrum to serve as a fulcrum for bearing the load being applied at the shoulder straps  50  as a user performs functions such as walking, sitting, standing, moving, etc. The support member  90  may have dimensions of 3¼-6¼ inches wide and 16-24 inches high. The width may be based upon the location of the paraspinal muscles. The support member  90  preferably span the width of the gap between these muscles to create the therapeutic effect desired without painful pressure on the spine. The height may be based on the height of the individual specified for each size of the brace. While the support member  90 , combined with the straps  50  and main band of the vest  20 , provide therapeutic effect, the full correction of posture may best be achieved once the individual has tensioned the straps  50  using the waist straps  40  to force the shoulders back and into the correct position. 
         [0042]    A tensioner mechanism  80  may be disposed on a rear portion of the vest  20 , which may be provided with a central member  82  in mechanical connection with an anchor  84 , such as a D-ring, an O-ring, a buckle, a pulley, shackle, etc. that may facilitate routing at least one waist strap  40  and enable sliding of the waist strap  40  so as to adjust tensioning of the tensioning system. Pulling on the waist strap  40  acts upon the central member  82 , whereby it transfers force in a controlled manner to lift the shoulders via the shoulder straps  50  and ensures that the support member  90  is in proper position to act upon the sacrum. 
         [0043]    As described earlier, the segment panel  30 , waist straps  40 , shoulder straps  50 , tensioner mechanism  80 , and support member  90  all act in concert to generate a postural correcting system that enables complete support of the spine, shoulders, and waist. For example, a second end of each shoulder strap  50  meets the tensioner mechanism  80  posteriorly along a cervical extension portion  42  to provide complete, balanced upper back support to the wearer. This configuration ensures that pulling on the waist straps  40  results in pulling the shoulder&#39;s back, which in conjunction with the other features of the device  10 , provides the complete, balanced upper back support. This intersection is attached to the waist tensioning system via the anchor  84  that may move vertically, due to the central member  82 , across a thoracic region of the vest  20  when subjected to variations in force vectors. A user may use the waist straps  40  to easily apply force in an ergonomic horizontal direction, which is transmitted into a vertical force via the tensioner mechanism  80  to act upon the shoulder straps  50  and support member  90 , thereby providing the wearer with the proper postural-correcting forces for their upper back and shoulders. Thus, pulling on the waist straps  40  enables a user to supply the desired level of posture support, while the other features of the vest  20  continue to provide therapeutic effects. 
         [0044]    The segment panels  30  provide additional support and therapeutic pressure at certain portions of the body. The pressure provided by the device  10  is a circumferential pressure around the trunk of the user. This may relieve pressure in the lower back and may help push the user against the support member  90 . 
         [0045]    Once comfortably secured to a user&#39;s body, a single active motion (e.g., pulling the waist straps) of the waist straps  40  may provide support and therapeutic effects from multiple components of the device  10 . Components, such as the support member  90  and segment panel  30 , provide passive posture and therapeutic support without actuation of the waist straps  40 . These components may provide passive support in addition to providing active support. The ease of use and effectiveness of the device  10  renders the vest  20  well suited for users suffering from neurodegenerative type disease. 
         [0046]    In an alternative embodiment, a system of cross-straps positioned at both the front of the vest  20  and the back of the vest  20  may be provided. Actuating the waist straps  40  would automatically provide the shoulders of the wearer with enough tension to maintain an upright position. This would enable proper support and posturing with an actuation of a single waist strap  40 , whereas actuation of both waist straps may be required to generate the same effect without the cross-strap configuration. This adds convenience for a user because activation of the tensioning system to affect the entire back may be achieved by actuation of a single waist strap  40 . 
         [0047]    In an alternative embodiment, a shoelace corset system installed within the vest  20  may be used to increase the support provided by the device  10 . The shoelace corset system operates via a drawstring and cord lock mechanism. The cord lock mechanism is configured to reversibly secure the drawstring at a desired position when drawn through the lock mechanism. The drawstring may be connected to a lace-network that when acted upon circumferentially withdrawals the vest  20 , or at least portions thereof, to generate a conforming fit to a user&#39;s body. 
         [0048]    In an alternative embodiment, the vest  20  includes at least one belt loop  100  located at a bottom rear portion of the vest  20  and that is configured to reversibly attach to trousers of a user. (See  FIG. 2 ). Tensioning system straps may be provided at the front of the vest  20  and configured to be pulled downward by the user. Upon pulling the tensioning straps, the central member  82  is acted upon, as described above, to generate the force vectors necessary to correct and/or maintain posture while the spine system provides postural support. 
         [0049]    In an alternative embodiment, a multi-gear system which may include a winch, may be included with the vest to assist with providing and/or maintaining proper tensioning and postural support. The winch may be located within the vest  20 . The winch may be used to set a desired level of tension and support by selectively drawing/releasing/locking tensioning cables. A cable network extends from the winch and may be attached to various portions of the vest  20 , including the tensioning mechanism  80 . The winch may be mechanical or electro-mechanical. The winch may be easily accessible from the front of the vest  20 , and it may be operable by hand or remote control. Some embodiments may include a simple two-gear system. 
         [0050]    In an alternative embodiment, portions of the vest  20  may include inflatable sections and/or bladders that may be inflatable via fluid, such as water, air, etc. The inflatable sections may be configured to reversibly and/or permanently retain bladders. In either case, the bladder includes a valve suitable for selectively inflating and deflating the bladder at the discretion of the user. In a situation where the bladder is permanently retained within the inflatable section, a valve stem may be provided that extends through the vest  20 . By inflating certain sections and to certain pressures, tension and support can be more easily tailored to accommodate the condition that a user is immediately encountering. 
         [0051]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations of the described examples and embodiments are possible in light of the above teachings of the disclosure. The disclosed examples and embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration only. Other alternate embodiments may include some or all of the features disclosed herein. Therefore, it is the intent to cover all such modifications and alternate embodiments as may come within the true scope of this invention, which is to be given the full breadth thereof. Additionally, the disclosure of a range of values is a disclosure of every numerical value within that range, including the end points.