Patent Publication Number: US-2022225775-A1

Title: Orthodedic Device and Method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of orthopedic devices of existing art and more specifically relates to an orthopedic cushion for correcting lateral pelvic tilt. 
     RELATED ART 
     Muscle imbalance is a leading cause of movement dysfunction in individuals, with 30% of cases being due to structural issues such as scoliosis. Lateral pelvic tilt is a type of muscle imbalance which includes the pelvis being tilted laterally in relation to the body. The pelvis plays a hugely important role in allowing individuals to walk and maintain good posture. As such, when not aligned properly, it causes many issues for the individual, such as chronic reoccurring back pain. 
     Lateral pelvic tilt is a form of pelvic tilt in the sagittal plane, which involves one hip being higher than the other. Today&#39;s normal assessment of this dysfunction by professionals is in standing position, which can mislead results for seated problems. There is currently little to no research or information on assessment for individuals in seated static position. Most individuals are not laterally tilted when assessed standing but are laterally tilted when seated. In today&#39;s world most people have sitting jobs or are seated most of the day. This is a problem as the lateral pelvic tilt may be exacerbated when the individual is seated, as they may tend to put more weight on the lower side. 
     Attempts have been made to correct lateral pelvic tilt, such as through exercise and stretches. However, these attempts are not satisfactory as many individuals do not have time perform exercises daily, and many times even if they do perform the exercises the pain returns. Further, in many individuals, current assessment methods for lateral pelvic tilt are not satisfactory. Due to this, many individuals are left with no cure for their recurrent back pain. Thus, a suitable solution is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known orthopedic device art, the present disclosure provides a novel orthopedic device and method. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an orthopedic device designed to be used by a seated user to correct lateral pelvic tilt, and a method for diagnosing lateral pelvic tilt in the seated user. 
     An orthopedic device is disclosed herein. The orthopedic device includes a cushion including a left cushion-side and a right cushion-side relative to a seated user. The left cushion-side may include a first thickness defining a first height and the right cushion-side may include a second thickness defining a second height. The first height and the second height may be different and may define a height differential between the left cushion-side and the cushion-right side. 
     Using the present orthopedic device, the height differential may be customized to the seated user. The height differential may be determined by: evaluating a lateral pelvic tilt between a left side and a right side of the seated user; determining a deviation height of the lateral pelvic tilt; and providing the left cushion-side and the right cushion-side including the height differential based on the deviation height of the evaluated lateral pelvic tilt. 
     According to another embodiment, a method for correcting lateral pelvic tilt using an orthopedic device is also disclosed herein. The method includes: evaluating the lateral pelvic tilt between a left side and a right side of the seated user; determining a deviation height of the lateral pelvic tilt, wherein a determination stage includes: providing the orthopedic device based on an evaluation stage and a determination stage. 
     The evaluation stage may include: the seated user sitting in front of an examiner with their back to the examiner; the examiner observing the back of the seated user for lateral deviation between the left side and right side of the seated user; the examiner feeling the back of the seated user for correct pelvic placement; the examiner reobserving the back of the seated user; and the examiner indicating which side of the seated user is to be lifted. The determination stage may include: the seated user standing; the examiner placing a test-pad under an ischial tuberosity of a hip of the seated user on a side indicated to be lifted in the evaluation; and the seated user sitting on the test-pad, wherein at least substantial relief of discomfort upon sitting on the test-pad renders the determination step complete, and wherein no substantial relief of discomfort indicates a necessity for repeating the determination stage until discomfort is at least substantially relieved. 
     For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, an orthopedic device and method, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of the orthopedic device during an ‘in-use’ condition, showing a user sitting on the orthopedic device with their hips and knees bent at a 90-degree angle and their feet flat on the floor anterior to their body, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a top front perspective view of the orthopedic device of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of a seated user having a lateral pelvic tilt, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the seated user sat with their hips and knees bent at the 90-degree angle and their feet flat on the floor anterior to their body, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of the orthopedic device of  FIG. 1 , illustrating a left pad and a right pad including different heights, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the orthopedic device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of the orthopedic device of  FIG. 5 , according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for correcting lateral pelvic tilt using an orthopedic device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a flow diagram illustrating the method for correcting lateral pelvic tilt using an orthopedic device and further expanding on each step, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an orthopedic device and more particularly to an orthopedic device and method as used to improve a lateral pelvic tilt of a seated user. The orthopedic device may help individuals with lower back pain, hip pain, arthritis, cervical radiculopathy, muscular or structural deformities, imbalance, asymmetry, sciatica, pregnancy, sacroiliac joint pain, osteoporosis, scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, herniated disc, coccyx pain, migraines and may prevent most of these dysfunctions in younger individuals from happening in the future. Preferably, the orthopedic device may be portable and used in any setting where the individual will be sitting. 
     Generally disclosed is a cushion including a left side and a right side having different heights to correct and level lateral pelvic tilt when sitting. Height difference may depend on how deviated the lateral pelvic tilt is. For example, the left side may include a 2-inch thickness and the right side may include a 3-inch thickness to correct a deviation of 1 inch. The cushion, or at least a portion of the cushion, may include a gel material. In combination with the gel material, or instead of gel material, the cushion (or at least a portion thereof) may include a foam material. One embodiment of the cushion may include a left pad and a right pad for supporting both buttocks of the seated user. Another embodiment of the cushion may include a single slightly concave piece that is easily carried and specially shaped to fit under just one buttock (or one ischial tuberosity). 
     A method, or orthopedic test, may be used in diagnosing lateral pelvic tilt, and/or correcting lateral pelvic tilt using the orthopedic device. The method may include: a patient sitting in front of an examiner with their back to the examiner with their hips and knees flexed at 90 degrees; the examiner looking for lateral deviation between a left side and a right side of a posterior superior iliac spine of the patient; the examiner placing their index fingers in either dimple of the left and right posterior superior iliac spine and slightly moving the index finger around to feel correct placement; the examiner reobserving pelvic tilt levels and indicating which side needs to be lifted; the patient standing while the examiner places a pad on a seat under an ischial tuberosity of the patient; and the patient sitting on the pad. If discomfort, such as pain or pressure is eliminated, or at least substantially eased for the patient, the test is positive. The examiner may use pads with different thicknesses in different cases, depending on deviation of the lateral pelvic tilt. 
     It is contemplated that the cushion and the orthopedic test may become a standard test and tool in basic assessment for all therapists and doctors in evaluation, assessment and diagnosis of most musculoskeletal dysfunctions. 
     Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , various views of an orthopedic device  100 . 
       FIG. 1  shows an orthopedic device  100  during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, the orthopedic device  100  may be beneficial for use by a user to correct and level a lateral pelvic tilt. As illustrated, the orthopedic device  100  may include a cushion  110 . As shown, the cushion  110  may include different heights at each side such that when the seated user  5  is sat on the cushion  110 , it corrects their lateral pelvic tilt  10  ( FIG. 3 ) and prevents, or at least substantially prevents, discomfort associated therewith. In some embodiments, the cushion  110  may be incorporated into chairs, such as office chairs, wheelchairs, etc. and car seats. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3-7  showing various views of the orthopedic device  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the cushion  110  may include a left cushion-side  112  and a right cushion-side  114  relative to the seated user  5 . The left cushion-side  112  may include a left pad  113  configured to support a left buttock of the seated user  5  and the right cushion-side  114  may include a right pad  115  configured to support a right buttock of the seated user  5 . In this embodiment, the left pad  113  may include a first thickness  116  defining a first height  117  and the right pad  115  may include a second thickness  118  defining a second height  119 . The first height  117  and the second height  119  may be different and define a height differential  108  between the left pad  113  and the right pad  115 . Preferably, the cushion  110  may be reversible such that the left cushion-side  112  becomes the right cushion-side  114  and vice versa (and thereby the height differential  108  may be reversed). This may allow the seated user  5  to use either side or may allow the orthopedic device  100  to be used by more than one seated user  5 . 
     Further, as shown, the cushion  110  may include a relief gap  111  configured for coccyx pressure relief for the seated user  5 . The relief gap  111  may be located between the left pad  113  and the right pad  115 . The left pad  113  and the right pad  115  may include a gel material. For example, the gel material may include a rubber gel, a silicone gel, a plastic gel, or the like. In some embodiments, the left pad  113  and the right pad  115  may further include a foam material. The foam material may be included in addition to the gel material. The foam material may be soft or firm. For example, the foam material may be memory foam. In addition, as shown, the cushion  110  may further include a left handle  121  and a right handle  123  located at the left cushion-side  112  and the right cushion-side  114 , respectively. The left handle  121  and the right handle  123  may aid in portability of the orthopedic device  100 . 
     The height differential  108  may be customized to the seated user  5 . The height differential  108  may be determined by evaluating a lateral pelvic tilt  10  between a left side  20  and a right side  25  of the seated user  5 ; determining a deviation height  15  of the lateral pelvic tilt  10 ; and providing the left pad  113  and the right pad  115  including the different heights based on the deviation height  15  of the evaluated lateral pelvic tilt  10 . In some embodiments, the height differential  108  between the first height  117  and the second height  119  may be equal to, or at least substantially equal to, the deviation height  15 . For example, if the seated user  5  has a lateral pelvic tilt  10  that includes their right hip being higher than their left hip by one inch, they may be provided with the orthopedic device  100  including the left pad  113  being one inch higher than the right pad  115 , so that the cushion  110  evens out the lateral pelvic tilt  10  when the seated user  5  is sitting on the orthopedic device  100 . The left side  20  and the right side  25  of the seated user  5  may be relative to a posterior superior iliac spine of the seated user  5 . 
     In other embodiments, the height differential  108  may not be equal to the deviation height  15 . For example, the right hip of the seated user  5  may be one inch higher than the left hip of the seated user  5 , but they may require a cushion  110  having a height differential of 0.5 inches between the left pad  113  and the right pad  115 . In any embodiment, it should be appreciated that the height differential  108  may be correct when the seated user  5  is relieved of, or at least substantially relieved of, discomfort such as pain and/or pressure associated with the lateral pelvic tilt  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7  showing various views of the orthopedic device  100  according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, in some embodiments, the cushion  110  may be configured to support only one of a left buttock and alternately a right buttock of the seated user  5 . This may be a smaller, more compact size allowing for greater portability. In this version of the orthopedic device  100  the left cushion-side  112  may include the first thickness  116  defining the first height  117  and the right cushion-side  114  may include the second thickness  118  defining the second height  119  (as opposed to the left pad  113  and the right pad  115  providing the heights [ 117 ,  119 ]). 
     In this embodiment, one of the left cushion-side  112  and the right cushion-side  114  may be tapered to form the height differential  108  between the left cushion-side  112  and the right cushion-side  114 . The seated user  5  may place a non-tapered side (a higher side) under the side needed to be raised. For example, if the seated user  5  has a lateral pelvic tilt  10  that includes their right hip being higher than their left hip by one inch, they may place the cushion  110  under their left buttock, with the right cushion-side  114  being tapered such that the left cushion-side  112  is higher than the right cushion-side  114 , thereby correcting the lateral pelvic tilt  10  for the seated user  5 . 
     In some embodiments, as discussed above, the height differential  108  may be customized to the seated user  5 . The height differential  108  may be determined by evaluating a lateral pelvic tilt  10  between a left side  20  and a right side  25  of the seated user  5 ; determining a deviation height  15  of the lateral pelvic tilt  10 ; and providing the left cushion-side  112  and the right cushion-side  114  including the height differential  108  based on the deviation height  15  of the evaluated lateral pelvic tilt  10 . Further, as above, the cushion  110  may preferably be reversible such that the left cushion-side  112  becomes the right cushion-side  114  and vice versa. This may allow the seated user  5  to use the cushion  110  on either side or may allow the cushion  110  to be used by more than one seated user  5 . The cushion  110  may also include an at least partially concave shape and may be made from the foam material as discussed above. 
     In some embodiments, the orthopedic device  100  may be made custom for the seated user  5  based on evaluation of the lateral pelvic tilt  10 . In other embodiments, the orthopedic device  100  may include a standard height differential  108 . For example, one orthopedic device  100  may include a height differential  108  of one inch, and another orthopedic device  100  may include a height differential  108  of two inches. The seated user  5  may utilize the orthopedic device  100  with the height differential  108  that is equal to or at least substantially equal to, a deviation height  15  of their lateral pelvic tilt  10 , or simply, the height differential  108  that relieves, or at least substantially relieves, discomfort such as pain and/or pressure associated with their lateral pelvic tilt  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8  showing a flow diagram illustrating a method  500  for correcting lateral pelvic tilt using an orthopedic device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method  500  may include one or more components or features of the orthopedic device  100  as described above. As illustrated, the method of use  500  may include the steps of: step one  501 , evaluating the lateral pelvic tilt  10  between a left side  20  and a right side  25  of the seated user  5 ; step two  502 , determining a deviation height  15  of the lateral pelvic tilt  10 ; and step three  503 , providing the orthopedic device  100  based on an evaluation stage and a determination stage. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the evaluation stage may include: the seated user  5  sitting  511  in front of an examiner with their back to the examiner; the examiner observing  512  the back of the seated user  5  for lateral deviation between the left side  20  and right side  25  of the seated user  5 ; the examiner feeling  513  a back of the seated user  5  for correct pelvic placement; the examiner reobserving  514  the back of the seated user  5 ; and the examiner indicating  515  which side of the seated user  5  is to be lifted. Preferably, the evaluation stage may include the seated user  5  sitting in front of the examiner with their back to the examiner and with their knees and hips flexed at 90 degrees. As above, the left side  20  and the right side  25  of the seated user  5  may be relative to a posterior superior iliac spine of the seated user  5 . It may be important to have the seated user  5  sitting in front of the examiner (rather than standing) as the lateral pelvic tilt  10  and/or a correct deviation height  15  of the lateral pelvic tilt  10  may not be immediately recognizable in a standing user. 
     Further, the determination stage may include: the seated user  5  standing  521 ; the examiner placing  522  a test-pad under an ischial tuberosity of a hip of the seated user  5  on a side indicated to be lifted in the evaluation; and the seated user  5  sitting  523  on the test-pad, wherein relief of discomfort upon sitting (or at least substantial relief of discomfort) on the test-pad renders the determination step complete, and wherein no substantial relief of discomfort indicates a necessity for repeating  524  the determination stage until discomfort (pain and/or pressure) is at least substantially relieved. 
     The orthopedic device  100  provided may be the embodiment configured to support only one of a left buttock and a right buttock of the seated user  5 , or the embodiment including the left pad  113  configured to support the left buttock of the seated user  5  and the right pad  115  configured to support the right buttock of the seated user  5 . In any embodiment, as discussed above, the side indicated to be lifted in the evaluation stage should include a greater height (than an opposite side). It should be appreciated that the discomfort may be on either side of the seated user  5 , regardless of which side needs to be lifted. 
     It should also be appreciated that the method  500  is also contemplated for use without providing the orthopedic device  100 . For example, the method  500  may be used to diagnose lateral pelvic tilt  10  in a patient, and the examiner may then recommend other aids such as exercise, stretches, and the like. The examiner may utilize the method  500  to establish a treatment plan, which may or may not include providing  503  the orthopedic device  100 . 
     It should be noted that step  524  is an optional step and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of the method  500  are illustrated using dotted lines in  FIG. 8  so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method of use  500 . It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for diagnosing lateral pelvic tilt and correcting the lateral pelvic tilt using the orthopedic device are taught herein. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.