Thoraco-lumbo-sacral orthosis

Abstract

A thoraco-lumbo-sacral brace formed of flexible materials designed to fit patients of varying shapes and sizes. The brace comprises an anterior support and a posterior support, both made of a hook and loop material, and connected by two sets of connection straps. The connection straps comprise a series of flexible straps attached to a common strap, and a rigid strap. Each flexible strap passes through a loop attached to the posterior support. The common strap is made of a hook and loop material The common strap may be fastened to the anterior support at any angle in order to tighten the brace and adjust it to fit a variety of body types. The rigid strap similarly passes through a loop and is attached to the anterior support atop the common strap, thereby minimizing unwanted lateral motion. The anterior support further may accept a plurality of splints sized to fit within a plurality of cavities located on the front side of the anterior support. These splints provide additional support for the patient. Lateral panels may be attached between the anterior support and posterior support to widen the brace. A thoracic lumbar support may be attached to the posterior support, providing increased support for a patient's upper back. A sternal extension may be attached to the anterior support, thus providing additional bracing for a patient's chest.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A thoraco-lumbo-sacral orthopedic brace comprising: 
 an anterior flexible member shaped to fit over the front of a patient's torso having front and rear sides defining a cavity;    a plurality of pockets located within said cavity;    a posterior flexible member shaped to fit over the rear of a patient's torso and connected to said anterior flexible member;    a plurality of substantially rigid splints positioned within said plurality of pockets of said anterior flexible member; and    a plurality of flexible straps to interconnect the anterior flexible member and the posterior flexible member.    
     
     
         2 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of substantially rigid splints may be removed from said pockets.  
     
     
         3 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of substantially rigid splints serve to minimize the forward flexibility of said brace.  
     
     
         4 . A lateral stay for expanding the size of a back brace, comprising: 
 a rectangular member having front and back sides defining a cavity, said front side formed of a hook and loop material;    a substantially rigid splint located within the cavity; and    a flexible strap formed of a hook and loop material.    
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising top and bottom edges defining a slot located at the top of said cavity, said substantially rigid splint removable through said slot.  
     
     
         6 . A thoraco-lumbo-sacral orthopedic brace comprising: 
 an anterior flexible member shaped to fit over the front of a patient's torso and being formed of a hook and loop material;    a posterior flexible member shaped to fit over the rear of a patient's torso and being formed of a hook and loop material; and    a flexible lateral stay formed of a hook and loop material comprising: 
 front and back sides defining a cavity, said back side attached to said posterior flexible member; and  
 a plurality of flexible straps to interconnect the anterior flexible member, the posterior flexible member, and the flexible lateral stay.  
   
     
     
         7 . The brace of  claim 6 , wherein said flexible lateral stay may be adjustably positioned to attach to any portion of said anterior flexible member.  
     
     
         8 . The brace of  claim 6 , further comprising a second flexible lateral panel formed of a hook and loop material, wherein the plurality of flexible straps of the second lateral panel is attached to the plurality of flexible straps of the first lateral stay, and the back side of the second lateral stay is attached to said anterior flexible member.  
     
     
         9 . The brace of  claim 6 , further comprising a substantially rigid splint located within the cavity.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for securing a brace, comprising: 
 a first crosspiece;    a second crosspiece;    a first plurality of loops attached to the first crosspiece;    a second plurality of loops attached to the first crosspiece;    a first plurality of flexible straps attached to the second crosspiece and passing through said first plurality of loops;    a second plurality of flexible straps attached to the second crosspiece and passing through said second plurality of loops;    a first rigid strap attached to the second crosspiece and passing through said first plurality of loops; and    a second rigid strap attached to the second crosspiece and passing through said second plurality of loops.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said first and second rigid straps restricts the motion of said first and second plurality of flexible straps.  
     
     
         12 . A thoraco-lumbo-sacral orthopedic brace comprising: 
 an anterior flexible member shaped to fit over the front of a patient's torso having front and rear sides defining a cavity, and having first and second edge portions, said front side having the surface thereof formed of hook and loop material;    a sternal extension member comprising: 
 a substantially rigid anterior insert sized to fit within said cavity of said anterior flexible member;  
 a concave padded cushion;  
 a first ring connected to said concave padded cushion;  
 a second ring connected to said concave padded cushion; and  
 a rigid bar connecting said concave padded cushion to said substantially rigid anterior insert;  
   a posterior flexible member shaped to fit over the rear of a patient's torso and having first and second edge portions, and having front and rear sides, said front side being formed of hook and loop material;    a rigid posterior insert;    a thoracic lumbar support comprising: 
 a y-shaped padded body with first and second sides defining an interior cavity, and having first and second extensions;  
 a bottom flange formed of hook and loop material and connected to said anterior flexible member;  
 a first flexible strap formed of a hook and loop material connected to said first extension, and adjustably connected to said first ring; and  
 a second flexible strap formed of a hook and loop material connected to said second extension, and adjustably connected to said second ring;  
   a first plurality of flexible straps attached to said posterior flexible member first edge portion;    a second plurality of flexible straps attached to said posterior flexible member second edge portion;    a first plurality of loops attached to said anterior flexible member first edge portion and having each one of said first plurality of flexible straps passing through each of said first plurality of loops; and    a second plurality of loops attached to said anterior flexible member first edge portion and having each one of said second plurality of flexible straps passing through each of said second plurality of loops.    
     
     
         13 . The brace of  claim 12 , wherein the bottom member of the thoracic lumbar support may be connected to any point of the posterior flexible member.  
     
     
         14 . The brace of  claim 12 , further comprising a substantially rigid insert located within said cavity.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for providing thoracic lumbar support, comprising: 
 a y-shaped padded body with first and second sides defining an interior cavity, and having first and second extensions;    a bottom flange formed of hook and loop material, connected to said first side;    a first flexible strap formed of a hook and loop material connected to said first extension;    a second flexible strap formed of a hook and loop material connected to said second extension.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a substantially rigid insert located within said cavity.  
     
     
         17 . A thoraco-lumbo-sacral orthopedic brace comprising: 
 an anterior flexible member shaped to fit over the front of a patient's torso having front and rear sides defining a cavity;    a posterior flexible member shaped to fit over the rear of a patient's torso and connected to said anterior flexible member;    a substantially rigid splint positioned within said of said anterior flexible member; and    a plurality of lacings to interconnect said anterior flexible member and said posterior flexible member, each of said lacings connected to an attachment strap for securing said brace.    
     
     
         18 . The brace of  claim 17 , wherein said rigid splint may be removed from said cavity.  
     
     
         19 . The brace of  claim 17 , further comprising a cavity defined in said posterior flexible member.  
     
     
         20 . The brace of  claim 19 , further comprising a substantially rigid splint positioned within said cavity of said posterior flexible member.  
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for securing a brace, comprising: 
 a first crosspiece;    a second crosspiece;    a first plurality of loops attached to said first crosspiece;    a second plurality of loops attached to said second crosspiece;    a plurality of lacings connecting said first crosspiece to said second crosspiece through said first plurality of loops and said second plurality of loops; and    a plurality of attachment straps connected to said lacings.    
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said attachment straps are operable to attach to said brace for securing said brace.  
     
     
         23 . A thoraco-lumbo-sacral orthopedic brace comprising: 
 an anterior flexible support member shaped to fit over the front of a patient's torso, said anterior flexible support member having front and rear sides, defining a pocket;    a posterior flexible support member shaped to fit over the rear of a patient's torso, said posterior flexible support member connected to said anterior flexible support member;    a rigid splint positioned within said pocket of said anterior flexible support member;    lacing means for connecting said posterior flexible support member to said anterior flexible support member; and    attachment means connected to said lacing means for adjusting and securing said brace.    
     
     
         24 . The brace of  claim 23 , wherein said lacing means comprises a first plurality of loops attached to said posterior flexible member; 
 a crosspiece for attaching to said anterior flexible support members;    a second plurality of loops attached to said crosspiece; and    lacing between said first plurality of loops and said second plurality of loops.    
     
     
         25 . The brace of  claim 24 , further comprising a cavity defined in said posterior flexible support member; and 
 a substantially rigid splint positioned within said cavity of said posterior flexible support member.