Patent Publication Number: US-10758445-B2

Title: Flexible instrument for soft tissue mobilization

Description:
This application is an improvement and modification of applicant&#39;s pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/999,728 filed Mar. 18, 2014 which, in turn, claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/852,958 filed Mar. 25, 2013. Accordingly, the present application incorporates the disclosures of the foregoing utility U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/999,728 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/852,958 by specific reference thereto. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention deals with the massage and mobilization of the soft body tissue of the bodies of human and similar species. The invention has special use in the treatment of soft tissue injuries common with athletic activity although not limited thereto. When the soft body tissue of a human is subjected to trauma, overuse, etc., the connective tissue (fascia) underlying the skin may be affected, and this and other reasons can cause inelastic fibrous adhesions between the layers of the myofascial system that prevent normal muscle mechanics and decrease soft tissue extensibility and can lead to further injury. Historically, the treatment of such aforementioned conditions is by hand manipulation and massage of the affected soft tissue area by a clinician such as an athletic trainer, etc. by either using his/her hands or manipulating various rigid tools or instruments having fixed straight edges or curvatures shaped to conform to different parts of the body. Such tools can increase the mechanical advantage for the clinician and can reduce the stress on the clinician&#39;s hands—however, this approach requires the purchase of variously sized instruments to conform to the different areas of the body as well as bodies of various sizes. 
     Many different hand held instruments are available for use to assist with soft tissue mobilization. These instruments are available in different shapes and sizes and are constructed from different materials including plastic, bone, ceramic and stainless steel. When using an instrument, the clinician must choose an instrument with a shape that is compatible to the area being treated. If the forearm, which is convex, were being treated, a concave instrument could be used that matches the shape of the forearm. This would result in uniform pressure over the soft tissue. If a flat or convex instrument were used to treat the forearm, less tissue area would be treated with each stroke of the instrument; and if the clinician used the same pressure as with the concave instrument, a greater overall pressure would be put on the tissue being treated. A concave instrument with a curve that is greater than that of the forearm would result in pressure only on the central area of the forearm without full or at least substantial contact and should not be used. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a single instrument that provides the advantages of a device that would provide the desired mechanical advantage for the clinician to reduce the strain on the clinician&#39;s hands common in hand manipulation yet provides the possibility of a large number of shaped surfaces for engaging the differently shaped areas of the patient&#39;s body. A further desirable feature would be the provision of openings in the instrument to enable the ergonomically grasping of the instrument. A still further desirable feature would be the provision of such a single instrument which is of simple, relatively low cost construction and which does not require a dedicated inventory and carrying kit. 
     A further desirable feature of a mobilization instrument would be the provision of a series of nubs that protrude from the surface of the instrument such that a deeper penetration of the upper layers of the skin or epidermis is achieved through the, in effect, grasping action of the nubs. In this way, the nubs enable deeper movement of the skin layers as the instrument moves through a series of therapeutic movements so as to more quickly break up adhesions, etc. The nubs may be of various heights and spacing&#39;s, however, it has been found advantageous to group same or similar height nubs together. 
     These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by the provision of a massage instrument adapted to be held by a user comprising a generally rectangular body having opposed generally flat front and rear surfaces and peripheral top, bottom and side connecting edges, said edges having varying configurations from relatively sharp to relatively rounded so as to present a variety of treatment edges for the mobilization and massage of the soft tissue of the human body when the user angularly engages one of said treatment edges with a soft tissue area of the human body. 
     In addition, further objects of the invention are accomplished by the provision of a massage instrument adapted to be held by a user comprising a generally flat body having opposed generally flat front and rear surfaces, said body further including peripheral top, bottom and side edges, said body including a plurality of tissue engaging nubs outwardly extending from at least one of said front and rear surfaces, said nubs arranged in one or more patterns that extend around the periphery of said body and positioned laterally inwardly from said top and bottom edges thereof and longitudinally inwardly from said side edges thereof, said nubs presenting a variety of treatment surfaces for the mobilization and massage of the soft tissue of the human body when the user presses said body and thus said nubs into the soft tissue being manipulated or massaged. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one form of the instrument of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a left side elevational view of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a clinician holding the instrument in a bent attitude to conform to the body profile of a patient preparatory to massaging; 
         FIGS. 6 through 9  are perspective views illustrating several manners in which the instrument may be grasped by the user; 
         FIGS. 10 through 18  are perspective views illustrating various manners of use of the instrument in the massage of various body portions of a patient; 
         FIG. 19  is a front perspective view of another form of the invention; 
         FIG. 20  is a sectional view along the line  20 - 20  of  FIG. 19 ; 
         FIG. 21  is an enlarged end view taken from the left side of  FIG. 19 ; and 
         FIG. 22  is a front elevational view of the alternate instrument embodiment of  FIG. 19  illustrating in broken lines the manner in which the instrument may be bent to various shapes to better match the profile of the body part to be manipulated. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1-5  thereof, the instrument or device  10  of the present invention is shown and comprises a generally rectangular generally flat body  12  having a top surface  14  and a bottom surface  16 . The body  12  is preferably of a greater longitudinal extent  18  than its lateral extent  20  and defines peripheral treatment edges including upper and lower treatment edges  24  and  26  respectively as well as side treatment edges  28  and  30  that, in turn, connect to the upper and lower treatment edges. The connection between the side treatment edges and the upper and lower treatment edges may also have varying degrees of curvature. 
     The body  12  may further include a pair of openings or cutouts  36  having peripheral portions  38  extending therethrough that form the preferable means by which the device  10  is held and manipulated by the user. The cutouts  36  depicted are in a keyhole configuration but may assume other configurations. Preferably, the cutouts  36  are longitudinally oriented with respect to the body  12 , that is, the longer dimensional extent of the openings is disposed from side to side as shown. In addition, those portions  38  of the cutouts  36  which are of lesser height or extent in the lateral direction as shown are disposed in proximal relationship to each other and separated from each other by a laterally extending bar  42  which, in turn, serves to stiffen the body  12  from over flexing along the body&#39;s longitudinal extent or axis but permits a desired greater amount of bending or flexibility about the lateral axis (see  FIG. 5  in particular). The bar  42  further serves to enable the user&#39;s fingers and thumb to firmly engage and grasp the device  10  in a greater number of ways so as to perform a greater number of massaging modes to the patient (see  FIGS. 6-18  in particular). 
     The bar  42  as well as the portions of the top and bottom body surfaces  14 ,  16  which are between the peripheral portions  38  of the cutouts  36  and the top, bottom and side treatment edges  24 ,  26  and  28  and  30  respectively serve to delineate user finger and thumb rest or contact areas  60 . Positioned between these contact areas  60  that are preferably flat and the treatment edges  24 ,  26  and  28  are a series of discrete nubs  70  upwardly protruding therefrom and preferably arranged in rows and lanes depending on the size and upward extent of such nubs  70 . The nubs  70  are preferably circular and upwardly project from the body surfaces  14 ,  16  and terminate in dome-like tops  71  which are adapted to, in effect, penetrate into the top layers of the patient&#39;s skin so that massaging movements of the device will move the skin and at least some of the underlying areas thereof back and forth in the intended manner. Smaller diameter nubs which are of the same height as larger diameter nubs will exhibit more angular (sharper) sidewalls and thus would be used when a higher (more aggressive) grasp of underlying skin tissue is desired. Nubs of the same size are preferably grouped together. 
     The device  10  of the present invention is a flexible instrument used for soft tissue mobilization and is preferably constructed from polyurethane rubber. The device can be constructed-from varying durometer material depending upon the desired flexibility of the unit and how the user wishes the instrument  10  to react on the soft tissue being treated. There are also many other materials that the device could be constructed from in addition to Polyurethane. Because the instrument or device  10  is flexible and not rigid, the instrument  10  of the present invention can be easily bent and shaped to conform to a variety of different body contours. The thickness of the device may vary depending on the treatment goals and the body part being treated. The instrument depicted may have a thickness of ⅜ inch. The instruments range in durometer on the A scales from 60-95. The higher the durometer, the harder, more rigid and less flexible the material. The softer the durometer the more flexible the device or instrument  10  and the easier it is to shape the device  10  to conform to the body part being treated. The higher the durometer the more rigid the instrument will be and the easier it will be to access deeper levels of soft tissue. The softness of the urethane material allows the user to mobilize soft tissue around and directly over superficial boney areas without discomfort. The softer durometer material can also be used to form more easily to the contour of the body part being treated and to provide better grip and traction on the soft tissue. The device  10  of the present invention will bend slightly over these rigid boney areas of the body. This is too painful to attempt with stainless steel and other rigid instruments. 
     The instrument or device  10  may be 6 inches long and 3.5 inches high, but this may change depending on the goals of treatment and body part being treated. The device incorporates a number of different treatment edges. The edges may be labeled on either or both of the instrument&#39;s sides. The edges may vary from dull to sharp. At least one side of the instrument may incorporate nubs  70 . The single row of larger nubs  70  is the dullest for beginning treatment and preferably corresponds to the dullest treatment edges. The double row of nubs  70  is slightly higher in profile for more aggressive treatment. The number of edges can vary from a single edge to four or more edges depending on the size constraints of the device. The perimeter edge design may also vary depending on the desired level of penetration into the soft tissue and the number of edges the device contains. Each corner of the device of the present invention has a radius that also forms a treatment edge. 
     Referring to the drawings and more particularly to  FIGS. 19-22 , another form of the instrument or device  110  of the present invention is depicted and comprises an elongated body  112  having first and second terminal ends  114  and  116  respectively. The body  112  is preferably formed of a polyurethane elastomeric rubber material having a durometer from 60 to 100 A so as to provide a somewhat elastic relatively high frictional surface contact with the skin surface of the patient as the body  112  is moved along and/or back and forth across the skin surface coupled with a downward inward pressure thereon in the intended manner. A suitable material for construction of the body  112  is Vibrathane® 6060 available from Polyurethane Products Corporation under the trade name Die-Thane. Such material enables the rod-like body  112  to be bent by the clinician into a wide variety of generally U-shaped bends as shown by  FIG. 22  to shape the central area  113  of the body  112  to conform to the surface of the particular body part of the patient being treated. 
     The body  112  includes at least one and preferable three treatment edges  118 ,  120  and  122  extending upwardly in profile from the body and extending longitudinally therealong between the ends  114  and  116 . These edges  118 ,  120  and  122  are of varied cross-sectional configurations to, in effect, provide the clinician with a wide range of treatment tools to affect various treatment procedures. That is, the aforementioned edges vary from a dull rounded configuration to a second more pointed edge. The treatment edges  118 ,  120  and  122  are preferably circumferentially disposed about the body  112  and are separated from each other in equal areas of approximately 120 degrees. Between each of the treatment edges is a relatively flat area or surface  130  which, in turn, is provided with upstanding nubs  170  similar in configuration and extent to the nubs  70  described with reference to the invention shown in  FIGS. 1-5  of the drawings. Preferably, one such surface  130  includes a single row of large nubs  170  while another of the surfaces  130  includes two parallel rows of medium nubs  170  and still another surface  130  includes three rows of smaller nubs  170 . 
     The edges  118 ,  120  and  122  each merge into rounded terminal end edge portions  130 ,  132  and  134  to cooperatively form a smooth rounded configuration to the first end  114  that along with the terminal edge end portions  130 ,  132  and  134  may be utilized by the clinician to reach areas of the patient&#39;s body not readily accessible to the central area  113  of the body  112 . The opposite second end  116  is preferably provided with a cylindrical or rounded knob or disc  140  having an outer rounded treatment surface  142 . Such surface  142  is provided with nubs  170  grouped according to their size and spaced around such surface  142  such that the user may access smaller body areas of the patient. 
     While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying this invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.