US4796611A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fracture brace
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-07-29
•
Granted: 1989-01-10
•
Expires: 2007-07-29
Abstract
Abstract An orthopaedic brace for use in the treatment of fractures of a lower part of a limb such as the wrist or ankle is described. The brace comprises of two preformed portions, a first portion has two areas of high loading arranged distally and proximally on the portion and a second portion has one area of high loading at or near its center whereby the portions when fitted around a limb and fracture provide three point loading of the limb applied in two planes thereby maintaining the position of the fracture throughout the treatment period. In a preferred form the brace is used to treat Colles' fractures whereby the first portion fits on the dorsal/radial part of the arm and the second portion fits on the anterior/ulnar part of the arm, the two portions being held in place by means of straps attached to the first portion.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas Wardlaw
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 08:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/01; A61F5/04; A61F5/05; A61F5/058; A61F5/05841; A61F5/05858; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S2/00; Y10S2/908; Y10S2/91
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
An orthopaedic brace suitable for the treatment of fractures of a lower part of a limb which brace comprises two preformed portions of substantially equal length, one of said portions being larger than the other, said portions together extending substantially around the circumference of the limb, the first one of said portions having two areas of high loading arranged distally and proximally on the portion and the second one of said portions having an area of high loading at or near its centre, said areas of high loading being provided by raised areas on the inside surfaces of said first and second portions, whereby the portions when fitted around the limb and fracture provide three point loading of the limb.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
An orthopaedic brace suitable for the treatment of fractures of a lower part of a limb which brace comprises two preformed portions of substantially equal length, one of said portions being larger than the other, said portions together extending substantially around the circumference of the limb, the first one of said portions having two areas of high loading arranged distally and proximally on the portion and the second one of said portions having an area of high loading at or near its centre, said areas of high loading being provided by raised areas on the inside surfaces of said first and second portions, whereby the portions when fitted around the limb and fracture provide three point loading of the limb.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A brace according to claim 1 in which the three point loading is applied in two planes whereby the position of the fracture is maintained throughout the treatment period.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A brace according to claim 1 in which the raised areas are provided as indentations in the walls of the first and second portions of the brace.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A brace according to claim 1 in which the raised areas are provided by thickened areas in the walls of the first and second portions of the brace.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A brace according to claim 1 in which the loading is provided by pads present at the appropriate positions on the first and second portions of the brace.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A brace according to claim 1 in which pressure sensitive adhesive areas are present on the inside surfaces of the first and second position of the brace whereby the brace may be adhered to the skin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A brace according to claim 1 in which the brace is in a form which is suitable for application to the right side or which is suitable for application to the left side.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A brace according to claim 1 in which the brace is formed from a plastics material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A brace according to claim 8 in which the brace permits free movement of wrist and elbow.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A brace according to claim 1 which is suitable for the treatment of Colles' fractures whereby the first portion is placed over the dorsal/radial part of the forearm and the second portion is placed over the anterior/ulnar part of the forearm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A brace according to claim 10 which additionally comprises an upper arm section which is connected to the first portion of the brace by means of a hinge.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of treating a fracture of a lower part of a limb by applying thereto a brace which comprises two preformed portions of substantially equal length, one of said portions being larger than the other, said portions together extending substantially around the circumference of the limb, the first one of said portions having two areas of high loading-arranged distally and proximally the first portion and the second one of said portions having an area of high loading at or near its centre, said areas of high loading being provided by raised areas on the inside surfaces of said first and second portions, whereby the portions when fitted around the limb and fracture provide three point loading of the limb.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of treating a fracture of a lower part of a limb by applying thereto a brace which comprises two preformed portions of substantially equal length, one of said portions being larger than the other, said portions together extending substantially around the circumference of the limb, the first one of said portions having two areas of high loading-arranged distally and proximally the first portion and the second one of said portions having an area of high loading at or near its centre, said areas of high loading being provided by raised areas on the inside surfaces of said first and second portions, whereby the portions when fitted around the limb and fracture provide three point loading of the limb.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 12 in which the fracture is a Colles' fracture and in which the first portion is placed over the dorsal/radial part of the forearm and the second portion is placed over the anterior/ulnar part of the forearm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR614510A
Cited
US2761443A
Cited
US3032033A
Cited
GB1233172A
Cited
DE2052817A1
Cited
US4013070A
Cited
US4639945A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-01-10 | 1992-07-11 | 1993-01-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-01-10 | 1996-07-11 | 1997-01-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-01-10 | 2000-07-11 | 2001-01-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |