Abstract:
A double arm sling, including two pouches, each of the two pouches configured for individually receiving one of a patient&#39;s arms, and at least one pair of half-straps, the at least one pair of half-straps configured to fasten the double arm sling around the torso of the patient. The double arm sling may further include at least one pair of tongues coupled to the two pouches and coupled to the at least one pair of half-straps, a backing portion coupled to the two pouches, and at least one back pad configured to receive the at least one pair of half straps.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/310,485, filed on Mar. 4, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig&#39;s disease, generally experience severe progressive degeneration of motor neurons, resulting in the loss to the patient of voluntary muscular control. The lack of neuronal communication with the patient&#39;s muscles results in the weakening and eventual atrophy of the muscles. 
     Certain ALS patients may retain control of certain muscle groups, while other muscle groups may atrophy. For example, arm flaccidity is common among ALS patients. Without the ability to control their arms, ALS patients with arm flaccidity are essentially burdened with dead weight that exerts force on the musculoskeletal system of the shoulder area. Left unmitigated, arm flaccidity may result in bilateral subluxation of the shoulder joints as well as weakness of the neck. For example, the humeral head may be dislocated from the glenoid fossa of the scapula, resulting in increased pain for the patient as well as further deterioration of the arm muscles. 
     Arm slings and other devices for arm support are generally directed towards supporting only one of the patient&#39;s arms, and, furthermore, generally distribute the weight of the patient&#39;s arm over and through the patient&#39;s neck and shoulders. However, ALS patients having arm flaccidity not only require support of both arms but furthermore suffer from weakness and increased pain in the neck and shoulder area, making the use of conventional arm slings painful and unfeasible. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one exemplary embodiment, a double arm sling is described. The double arm sling may including two pouches, each of the two pouches configured for individually receiving one of a patient&#39;s arms, and at least one pair of half-straps, the at least one pair of half-straps configured to fasten the double arm sling around the torso of the patient. The double arm sling may further include at least one pair of tongues coupled to the two pouches and coupled to the at least one pair of half-straps, a backing portion coupled to the two pouches, and at least one back pad configured to receive the at least one pair of half straps. 
     According to another exemplary embodiment, a method of using a double arm sling is described. The method may include donning a double arm sling on a patient, unsealing each of two pouches of the double arm sling, placing a first arm of the patient into a first pouch of the two pouches, sealing the first pouch of the two pouches, placing a second arm of the patient into a second pouch of the two pouches, and sealing the second pouch of the two pouches. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of an arm sling in a closed configuration. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of an arm sling in a partially opened configuration. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of an exemplary embodiment of an arm sling including a pair of back pads. 
         FIG. 4  is a front and rear view of another exemplary embodiment of an arm sling. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of another exemplary embodiment of an arm sling. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description discussion of several terms used herein follows. 
     As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiment are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 1-3 , an exemplary double arm sling  100  is shown. Arm sling  100  may include an upper arm pouch  102 , a lower arm pouch  104 , two upper half-straps  106 ,  108  and two lower half-straps  110 ,  112 . Arm pouches  102 ,  104  may each be formed from a single sheet of material that is rolled into a cylinder or tube-like shape, thereby defining upper cavity  103  within upper arm pouch  102  and lower cavity  105  within lower arm pouch  104 . The single sheet of material may be rolled into a cylinder shape such that the edges of the sheet meet and overlap substantially near the front of arm sling  100 . The arms of the patient may be received within cavities  103 ,  105 . Arm pouches  102 ,  104  may be constructed of a synthetic or natural fabric, woven material, polymer based material, or any other material that enables arm sling  100  to function as described herein. Arm pouches  102 ,  104  may further include padding or any other resilient material known in the art. Half-straps  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112  may be constructed of an elastic material, a fabric material, a woven material, or any similar strap material known in the art. Half-straps  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112  may further be adjustable, such that half-straps  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112  may be lengthened or shortened as desired to facilitate snugly and comfortably fitting arm sling  100  around the torso of a patient. 
     Left upper half-strap  106  may be coupled to left upper tongue  114 , and left upper tongue  114  may in turn be coupled to upper arm pouch  102 . Right upper half-strap  108  may be coupled to right upper tongue  116 , and left upper tongue  116  may in turn be coupled to upper arm pouch  102 . Left lower half-strap  110  may be coupled to left lower tongue  118 , and left lower tongue  118  may in turn be coupled to lower arm pouch  104 . Right lower half-strap  112  may be coupled to left lower tongue  120 , and left lower tongue  120  may in turn be coupled to lower arm pouch  104 . Coupling between the straps, tongues and pouches of arm sling  100  may be facilitated by stitching, adhesives, or any other coupling techniques known in the art. The tongues  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120  may be constructed of the same or similar material as arm pouches  102 ,  104 . In one embodiment, tongues  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120  may have a reduced thickness compared to the thickness of arm pouches  102 ,  104 , in order to facilitate the flexing of tongues  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120  without imparting flex to arm pouches  102 ,  104 . The straps can thus be tightly fastened around the torso of the patient without distorting the cylindrical shape of arm pouches  102 ,  104 . 
     In one exemplary embodiment, double arm sling  100  may also include a backing portion  122 . Upper arm pouch  102  and lower arm pouch  104  may both be coupled to backing portion  122 . Upper arm pouch  102  and lower arm pouch  104  can thus be maintained in the same position relative to each other when double arm sling  100  is worn by a patient. Backing portion  122  may be constructed of a synthetic or natural fabric, woven material, polymer based material, or any other material that enables arm sling  100  to function as described herein. Backing portion  122  may further include padding or any other resilient material known in the art in order to facilitate providing comfort for the patient wearing arm sling  100 . Each of left upper tongue  114 , right upper tongue  116 , left lower tongue  118  and right lower tongue  120  may be coupled to backing portion  120 . Coupling between the backing portion  122 , as well as the tongues and pouches of arm sling  100  may be facilitated by stitching, adhesives, or any other coupling techniques known in the art. In another exemplary embodiment, backing portion  120  may have a shape having tongue portions  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120  defined in the perimeter thereof, thereby reducing the number of components needed to manufacture arm sling  100 . 
     Left upper half-strap  106  and right upper half-strap  108  may be fastened to each other via any method of fastening known in the art, such as, for example, a snap buckle having a male portion  130  and a female portion  132 . Left lower half-strap  110  and right lower half-strap  112  may be fastened to each other in a similar manner. In one exemplary embodiment, arm sling  100  may further include an upper back pad  124  and a lower back pad  126 . Back pads  124 ,  126  may include belt loops  128  through which half-straps  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112  may be threaded prior to fastening. Back pads  124 ,  126  may be constructed of a synthetic or natural fabric, woven material, polymer based material, or any other material that enables arm sling  100  to function as described herein. Back pads  124 ,  126  may further include padding or any other resilient material known in the art in order to facilitate providing comfort for the patient wearing arm sling  100 . 
     Upper arm pouch  102  and lower arm pouch  104  may further include a plurality of fasteners  136  disposed thereon. Fasteners  136  may be any fasteners known in the art, such as, for example, Velcro-style hook-and-loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, magnets, zippers, and so forth. Fasteners  136  may be disposed substantially near the edges of the sheet of material from which upper arm pouch  102  or lower arm pouch  104  is formed. 
     In an exemplary method of using an arm sling  100 , the arm sling  100  may be placed on a patient by a caretaker. The caretaker may place arm sling  100  substantially near the abdominal region of the patient, such that arm pouches  102 ,  104  are facing forward. The caretaker may then wrap half-straps  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112  around the patient&#39;s torso and fasten together left upper half-strap  114  and right upper half-strap  116 , as well as left lower half-strap  118  and right lower half-strap  120 . In one exemplary embodiment, the caretaker may also thread upper half-straps  106 ,  108  through upper back pad  124  and lower half-straps  110 ,  112  through lower back pad  126 , thereby facilitating the distribution of weight through a larger area and reducing the pressure on the patient&#39;s back. The caretaker may then adjust the lengths of half-straps  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112  such that arm sling  100  is snugly fastened around the patient&#39;s torso. 
     Once arm sling  100  is secured around the patient&#39;s torso, the caretaker may disconnect fasteners  136  of upper arm pouch  102 , thereby opening upper arm pouch  102 . One of the patient&#39;s arms may then be placed into cavity  103 , subsequent to which the caretaker may close upper arm pouch  102  and connect fasteners  136 , thereby securing the patient&#39;s arm within upper arm pouch  102 . The caretaker may then disconnect fasteners  136  of lower arm pouch  104 , thereby opening lower arm pouch  104 . The other of the patient&#39;s arms may then be placed into cavity  105 , subsequent to which the caretaker may close lower arm pouch  104  and connect fasteners  136 , thereby securing the patient&#39;s arm within lower arm pouch  104 . Consequently, both arms of the patient are secured within arm pouches  102 ,  104  of arm sling  100 . The weight of the patient&#39;s arms is distributed through half-straps  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112  and back pads  124 ,  126 , thereby minimizing the strain to the patient&#39;s shoulder and neck area. It should be appreciated that the separate arm pouches allow the caretaker to individually tend to each of the patient&#39;s arms and secure each arm in its respective pouch. Consequently, in contrast to a single-pouch sling, the separate pouches reduce the likelihood of a patient&#39;s arm being displaced from the pouch while the other arm is being tended to or placed into the pouch. Therefore, the use of a double arm sling may minimize further discomfort and embarrassment to the patient, as well as reduce extra effort to the caretaker. 
     Turning to  FIG. 4 , another exemplary embodiment of double arm sling  100  is shown. In the exemplary embodiment, double arm sling  100  may further include two shoulder straps  402 ,  404 . Patients who are not suffering from subluxation of the shoulder joints or weakness of the neck may desire additional support provided by shoulder straps  402 ,  404 . Shoulder straps  402 ,  404  may be constructed of an elastic material, a fabric material, a woven material, or any similar strap material known in the art. Shoulder straps  402 ,  404  may further be adjustable, such that shoulder straps  402 ,  404  may be lengthened or shortened as desired to facilitate snugly and comfortably fitting arm sling  100  around the torso of a patient. 
     Shoulder straps  402 ,  404  may include a plurality of fasteners  406  disposed thereon. Arm sling  100  may likewise have a plurality of fasteners  408  disposed thereon. Fasteners  406 ,  408  may be any fasteners known in the art, such as, for example, Velcro-style hook-and-loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, magnets, zippers, and so forth. Fasteners  408  may be disposed on arm sling  100  such that they correspond to fasteners  406  disposed on shoulder straps  402 ,  404 . For example, fasteners  406  disposed on the front portions of straps  402 ,  404  may couple to fasteners  408  on the front-facing portion of arm sling  100 . Similarly, fasteners  406  disposed on the rear portions of straps  402 ,  404  may couple to fasteners  408  disposed on back pads  124 ,  128 . In one embodiment, fasteners  408  may likewise be disposed on the patient-facing portion of arm sling  100  to further facilitate securing arm sling  100  to a garment worn by the patient. 
     Turning to  FIG. 5 , another exemplary embodiment of double arm sling  100  is shown. In the exemplary embodiment, double arm sling  100  may further include a garment  502 . Garment  502  may be a vest, shirt, T-shirt, or any other garment known in the art that enables arm sling  102  to function as described herein. Garment  502  may further include a plurality of fasteners  504  disposed thereon. Fasteners  504  may be any fasteners known in the art, such as, for example, Velcro-style hook-and-loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, magnets, zippers, and so forth. Fasteners  504  may be used to couple the front and back portions of garment  502 . Similarly, fasteners  504  may be disposed on the patient-facing portion of arm sling  100  may be used to couple arm sling  100  to garment  502 . 
     The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
     Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.