Abstract:
A lateral limb support system and a method of using the same to facilitate healing of the limb or an appendage thereof are disclosed. The lateral limb support system can include a base; a stanchion, having a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg is removably and adjustably coupled to the base; and a limb stabilizing plate removably and adjustably coupled to the second leg. A longitudinal axis of the limb stabilizing plate can be generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second leg. The system can include both a stationary base and a portable, or wearable, base. This arrangement allows a great deal of flexibility for positioning the wearer&#39;s limb in a comfortable position, while still maintaining the proper positioning of the limb to facilitate healing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of International Application No. PCT/US2012/070787, filed Dec. 20, 2012, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/630,812 filed Dec. 20, 2011, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/667,282 filed Jul. 2, 2012; and is a continuation-in-part of International Application No. PCT/US2013/049033, filed Jul. 2, 2013; and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/961,237, filed Oct. 9, 2013, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/940,785, filed Feb. 17, 2014. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The application is drawn to devices and systems for supporting limbs, specifically, devices and systems for supporting limbs above a heart of a patient to facilitate healing following an injury or surgical intervention. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Limb supports and braces are known for maintaining body parts in extended positions. Adjustable splints and limb supports can be cumbersome and complicated to use. Foam blocks with holes for supporting an arm are also known for use following hand surgeries. These bulky and uncomfortable devices cause many patients to stop using supports or braces before instructed by their surgeon. Failure to use the supports and braces can result in recurrence of the condition being treated, prolonged healing time, or other complications. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A lateral limb support system and a method of using the same to facilitate healing of the limb or an appendage thereof are disclosed. The lateral limb support system can include a base; a stanchion, having a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg is removably and adjustably coupled to the base; and a limb stabilizing plate removably and adjustably coupled to the second leg. A longitudinal axis of the limb stabilizing plate can be generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second leg. The system can include both a stationary base and a portable, or wearable, base. This arrangement allows a great deal of flexibility for positioning the wearer&#39;s limb in a comfortable position, while still maintaining the proper positioning of the limb to facilitate healing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a limb support mounted to a stationary base as described herein. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, side view of a limb support mounted to a stationary base as described herein. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is an exploded, side view of a limb support mounted to a portable base as described herein. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a limb support mounted to a stationary base being used by a user as disclosed herein. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a limb support mounted to a portable base being used by a user as disclosed herein. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is another front view of a limb support mounted to a portable base being used by a user as disclosed herein. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a front view of a limb support mounted to a portable base being used by a user as disclosed herein. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a side view of a limb support mounted to a portable base being used by a user as disclosed herein. 
       
    
    
       [0013]    As will be understood the drawings accompanying this application are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    A limb support and system for controlling the position of a user&#39;s limb is disclosed. The support can be anchored by inserting the planar base beneath a mattress, cushion or other object. The support can also be attached to the user via a portable base for portable use of the support. The user&#39;s limb can be attached to the limb support in a position that maintains the relevant portion of the limb—for example, a hand after carpal tunnel surgery—in an elevated position, such as a position above the user&#39;s heart. It has been determined that this is crucial to facilitate recovery following such surgical procedures. The limb support and system described herein allows the user to maintain the relevant portion of the limb in the proper orientation while sleeping, relaxing or moving from place-to-place when it would otherwise be difficult or impossible to maintain the limb in the preferred position. This results in significantly improved outcomes to the surgical interventions performed on the user/patient. 
         [0015]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-8 , the lateral limb support  10  includes a base  12  and a stanchion  14 , having a first leg  16  and a second leg  18 , where the first leg  16  is removably and adjustably coupled to the base  12 . The lateral limb support  10  also includes a limb stabilizing plate  20  removably and adjustably coupled to the second leg  18 . The longitudinal axis (L sp ) of the limb stabilizing plate  20  is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (L SL ) of the second leg  18 . 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, such as those shown in  FIGS. 1-8 , the first leg and the second leg form an angle of approximately 90°. In some embodiments, the first leg  16  is longer than the second leg  18 . 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, the lateral limb support  10  can also include one or more straps  22  for securing a limb, such as an arm and/or hand, against the limb stabilizing plate  20 . The straps  22  can be coupled to the limb stabilizing plate  20  through respective strap mounting slots  24 , which can be positioned proximate a longitudinal edge of the limb stabilizing plate  20 . Respective strap receiving slots  25  can be positioned proximate longitudinal edges of the limb stabilizing plate  20  opposite the strap mounting slots  24 . As shown in  FIG. 1-3 , the straps  20  can have a first hook/loop patch  26  proximate a distal end of the strap  22  and a second loop/hook patch  28  extending over an intermediate portion of the strap  22 . The distal end of each strap  22  can pass over the limb and then through a strap receiving slot  25 , and then fold back on itself so the first hook/loop patch  26  is secured to the second loop/hook patch  28  in a manner that secures the limb to the limb stabilizing plate  20 , as shown in  FIG. 4-8 . 
         [0018]    The limb stabilizing plate  20  can be of a sufficient length to support a forearm of a user. For example, the limb stabilizing plate  20  can be approximately as long as an arm from the elbow to the user&#39;s palm, so the fingers hang over the edge of the limb stabilizing plate  20 . 
         [0019]    As used herein, “securing a limb” is intended to include securing at least a portion of a limb, which includes the hand or foot, as shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  8 - 10  and  12 . As used herein, “generally” and “approximately” are used to include a deviation of ±15 degrees from the recited direction or configuration, ±10 degrees, or ±5 degrees. Generally is also intended to encompass the direction or geometric property itself. Thus, a structure may include some curvature and be properly described as generally planar and a structure may include a curved transition between the first leg and the second leg and still be described as forming an angle of approximately 90°. 
         [0020]    In some embodiments, the limb stabilizing plate  20  is slideably coupled to the second leg  18  and rotatably coupled to the second leg  18 . In some more specific embodiments, the second leg  18  comprises a second leg cylindrical portion  30 ; the limb stabilizing plate  20  is rigidly coupled to a tubular plate mount  32 ; and the plate mount  32  is adapted to slide over and rotate around the second leg cylindrical portion  30  when they are adjustably coupled together. For example, the tubular plate mount  32  and the second leg cylindrical portion  30  can form a nesting coupling. The limb stabilizing plate  20  can be coupled to the tubular plate mount  32  at approximately the middle of the limb stabilizing plate  20  so that the system can be used interchangeably on both the right side and the left side. 
         [0021]    As used herein, “nesting coupling” is used to refer to a coupling where one body fits (or nests) within a cavity of another body. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 2 &amp; 3 , the plate mount  32  can be a hollow cylinder with an inner diameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of the second leg cylindrical portion  30 , which can be hollow or solid. Although not shown, it will be understood that the orientation of nesting couplings can be reversed. The tolerances of the nesting coupling can be tight enough that, in the absence of external forces other than gravity, the two bodies remain coupled without being further secured and diverge 10° or less, or 5° or less, or 2° or less, or 1° or less from the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical components. 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, the lateral limb support  10  includes a plate clamp  34  adjustably coupled around the plate mount  32 . The plate clamp  34  can be adapted for adjusting between a locked position, as shown in  FIG. 4-8 , where the plate mount  32  is locked in position relative to the second leg cylindrical portion  30 , and an open position, as shown in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 3 , where the plate mount  32  can slide over and rotate around the second leg cylindrical portion  32 . In some embodiments, such as that shown in  FIG. 2  with respect to base clamp  52 , the plate clamp  34  can be locked and loosened using a set screw  35 . In other embodiments, such as those shown in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 3 , the plate clamp  34  can be locked and opened using a quick release lever  36 . 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 2  with respect to base clamp  52 , the plate clamp  34  can include a collar  38  and a securing flange  40   a,    40   b  at each end of the collar  38 . In embodiments with a set screw  35 , the back securing flange  40   b  can be threaded for receiving the threaded set screw  35 , while the front securing flange  40   a  can include an orifice  42  that allows the shaft of the set screw to pass, but not the head  44  of the set screw  35 . 
         [0024]    In quick release embodiments, the quick release lever  36  can be coupled to the back securing flange  40   b.  In such embodiments, as best shown in  FIG. 4 , a thickness of the lever base  45  of the quick release lever  36  can be smaller in the open position than in the closed or locked position. As a result, when properly adjusted, the limb stabilizing plate  20  can be locked in position by moving the quick release lever  36  to the closed position, while the limb stabilizing plate  20  can rotate around and slide over the second leg  18  when the quick release lever  36  is in the open position. 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, an end of the plate mount  32  includes at least one plate deformation notch  46  and the plate clamp  34  extends over the at least one plate deformation notch  46 . An example of such a configuration is shown in  FIGS. 3 &amp; 7 . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 3 , there will be two plate deformation notches  46  on opposite sides of the plate mount  32 . 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, the first leg  16  includes a first leg cylindrical portion  48 , where the base  12  is rigidly coupled to a tubular base mount  50 . In such embodiments, the first leg cylindrical portion  48  can be adapted to slide in and rotate within the base mount  50  when they are adjustably coupled together. In some embodiments, the first leg cylindrical portion  48  and the base mount  50  can form a nesting coupling. 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, the lateral limb support  10  can also include a base clamp  52  adjustably coupled around the base mount  50 . The base clamp  52  can be adapted for adjusting between a locked position, where the base mount  50  is locked in position relative to the first leg cylindrical portion  48 , and an open position, where the first leg cylindrical portion  48  can slide through and rotate within the base mount  50 . 
         [0028]    The base clamp  52  can take any form described with respect to the plate clamp  34 . For this reason, the reference numbers used for the components of the base clamp  52  and the plate clamp  34  are identical. Similarly, the above description of the plate clamp  34  components and their orientations applies equally to the components and orientation of the base clamp  52 . 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, a distal end of the base mount  50  can include at least one base deformation notch  54  and the base clamp  52  extends over the at least one base deformation notch  54 . Examples of such a configuration can be seen in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 4 . As will be understood, the presence of the notches  46 ,  54  allows the respective plate mount  32  and base mount  50  to deform sufficiently when the clamps  34 ,  52  are locked that the mounts  32 ,  50  can clamp down onto the respective cylindrical portions  30 ,  48 . 
         [0030]    In some embodiments, such as  FIGS. 1-2 , the base  12  is a stationary base  55  and the base  12  comprises a base plate  56  and the base mount  50  extends generally perpendicular to a major surface  58  of the base plate  56 . In such embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the base plate  56  can be positioned under an object (O), such as a mattress or sofa cushion. Thus, the weight of the object (O) and anything resting on the object, such as a person, will stabilize the lateral limb support  10  during use. 
         [0031]    In some embodiments, the base  12  is a portable base  59  adapted to be worn by a user, and the base  12  comprises a waist plate  60 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the base mount  50  can extend generally parallel to a major surface  62  of the waist plate  60 . In some embodiments, the lateral limb support  10  can include a belt  64  coupled to the portable base  59 , e.g., the waist plate  60 , for removably attaching the portable base  59  to a user. In some embodiments, the lateral limb support  10  can also include a shoulder strap  66  coupled to the portable base  59  for removably attaching the portable base  59  to a user. 
         [0032]    The belt  64  can be coupled to the waist plate  60  via belt receiving slots  68  positioned proximate opposite lateral sides of the waist plate  60 . The belt  64  can include a releasable fastener  70 . The belt  64 , the fastener  70 , or both can used to adjust the length of the belt  64 . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 4-8 , the portable base  59  can include two belts  64  as described herein. 
         [0033]    The shoulder strap  66  can be coupled to the waist plate  60  via a shoulder strap receiving slot  72  located proximate a top edge of the waist plate  60 . The shoulder strap  66  can include a releasable fastener  70 , as best shown in  FIGS. 5 &amp; 7 . The shoulder strap  66 , the releasable fastener  70 , or both, can be used to adjust the length of the shoulder strap  66 . 
         [0034]    In some embodiments, the plate mount  32  can be coupled to the limb supporting plate  20  by one or more pipe straps  74 . The pipe straps  74  can be attached to the plate mount  32  by a screw  76  on each side of the plate mount  32 . 
         [0035]    In some embodiments, the based mount  50  can be coupled to the waist plate  60  by one or more pipe straps  74 . The pipe straps  74  can be attached to the waist plate  60  by a screw  76  on each side of the waist plate  60 . 
         [0036]    A unique feature of the limb support system  10  is that when a forearm or hand of a user is secured to the limb stabilizing plate  10 , the stanchion-support assembly  14 ,  20  can be moved between the stationary base  55 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  &amp;  4 , and the portable base  59 , as shown in FIGS.  3  &amp;  5 - 8 , without the need to unstrap the hand from the limb stabilizing plate  20 . For example, user&#39;s hand can comfortably and easily be supported by the stationary base  55 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , and then by the portable base  59 , as shown in  FIGS. 5-8 , with a palmar aspect of the hand contacting the limb stabilizing plate  20  at all times. Alternately, the limb can be removed from the limb stabilizing plate  20  when the stanchion-support assembly  12 ,  20  is moved between the stationary base  55  and the portable base  59 . 
         [0037]    A method of supporting a limb and/or facilitating healing is also described. The method can include providing a limb support  10  as described herein and attaching a limb of a person to the limb stabilizing plate  20  using the one or more straps  22 . The method can also include adjusting the stanchion  14  and the limb stabilizing plate  20  so that the limb stabilizing plate  20  is at or above a level of a heart of a person using the limb support  10 . The method can also include the patient using the limb support for a week or more. The method can include attaching the stanchion  14  to the stationary base  55  and a limb to the limb stabilizing plate  20  and attaching the stanchion to the portable base  59  and a limb to the limb stabilizing plate  20 , both with the limb stabilizing plate  20  attached and locked to the stanchion  14  as described herein. 
         [0038]    The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, an describing embodiments of the method and system. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of this disclosure. In particular, it is intended that each of the variants described above can be combined with any of the other variants described above.