Variable Pressure Upper Torso Braces and Methods Related Thereto

Abstract

Upper torso braces to correct deformities in the upper torso of a patient are provided. The upper torso braces include a brace structure adapted to be maintained around an upper torso of an individual and to restrict outward expansion, and a variable force applicator coupled to the brace structure and positioned to contact and apply varying pressure to a target location on the upper torso. The brace structure is configured to restrict outward expansion and to provide a counteracting force for the variable force applicator during application of the variable pressure to the target location. In some instances, the upper torso braces may include a control element to adjust an amount of pressure provided by the variable force applicator to the target location. Methods of correcting a deformity on an upper torso with the upper torso braces are also provided.

1 . An upper torso brace comprising:
 a brace structure adapted to be maintained around an upper torso of an individual and to restrict outward expansion of the brace structure; and   a variable force applicator coupled to the brace structure and positioned to contact and apply varying pressure to a target location on the upper torso;   wherein the brace structure is configured to restrict outward expansion to enable the variable force applicator to apply variable pressure to the target location.   
     
     
         2 . The upper torso brace of  claim 1 , wherein the variable force applicator comprises a control element to adjust an amount of pressure provided by the variable force applicator to the target location. 
     
     
         3 . The upper torso brace of  claim 1 , wherein the variable force applicator comprises:
 a contacting surface to contact the target location; and   a resilient biasing member coupled to the contacting surface and to the brace structure, wherein the resilient biasing member presses the contacting surface towards the target location with pressure that varies with movement of the target location.   
     
     
         4 .- 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The upper torso brace of  claim 1 , wherein the variable force applicator comprises:
 one or more additional contacting surfaces to contact one or more target locations on the upper torso; and   one or more additional resilient biasing members coupled to the respective one or more additional contacting surfaces and to the brace structure;   wherein the one or more additional resilient biasing member presses the respective one or more additional contacting surfaces towards the respective one or more target locations with pressure that varies with movement of the respective one or more target locations.   
     
     
         9 . The upper torso brace of  claim 1 , wherein the variable force applicator comprises:
 an expandable member coupled to the brace structure and positioned to apply pressure to the target location, wherein the expandable member is Tillable with air or water such that a contacting surface is pressed towards the target location with pressure that varies with movement of the target location.   
     
     
         10 . The upper torso brace of  claim 1 , wherein the variable force applicator comprises:
 an expandable member coupled to the brace structure and positioned to apply pressure to the target location; and   a control element for adjusting the expansion and shrinkage of the expandable member to respectively increase or decrease an amount of pressure to the target location.   
     
     
         11 . The upper torso brace of  claim 10 , wherein the expandable member is an inflatable chamber and the control element comprises:
 a pump to inject air or fluid into the inflatable chamber for expansion; and   a release valve to release air or fluid from the inflatable chamber for shrinkage.   
     
     
         12 . The upper torso brace of  claim 11 , wherein the variable force applicator comprises a pressure gauge for indicating a relative pressure applied to the target location. 
     
     
         13 . The upper torso brace of  claim 10 , wherein the brace structure comprises a first non-flexible member and a second non-flexible member coupled together with retaining elements to maintain the first non-flexible member on a target location side of the upper torso and to maintain the second non-flexible member on a side of the upper torso opposite the target location side, and wherein the expandable member is coupled to the first non-flexible member. 
     
     
         14 . The upper torso brace of  claim 13 , wherein the retaining elements are flexible straps coupled to corresponding ends of the first and second non-flexible members, and wherein the flexible straps resist stretching from the first non-flexible member to the second non-flexible member. 
     
     
         15 . The upper torso brace of  claim 10 , wherein the brace structure comprises a flexible material securable around the upper torso to restrict outward expansion, wherein the expandable member is coupled to the flexible material at a position to contact the target location. 
     
     
         16 . The upper torso brace of  claim 15 , wherein the flexible material is elastic. 
     
     
         17 . The upper torso brace of  claim 16 , wherein one or more additional expandable members are coupled to the flexible material at corresponding positions to contact one or more additional target locations on the upper torso. 
     
     
         18 . The upper torso brace of  claim 10 , wherein the variable force applicator further comprises:
 one or more additional expandable members coupled to the brace structure and positioned to contact the one or more additional target locations on the upper torso.   
     
     
         19 . A method of correcting a deformity on an upper torso of a patient, the method comprising:
 mounting the upper torso brace according to  claim 1  to an upper torso of a patient;   positioning the variable force applicator to contact a target location of a deformity on the upper torso;   sizing the brace structure to secure the upper torso brace to the upper torso with an initial amount of pressure applied to the target location;   wherein the variable force applicator applies varying pressure to the target location on the upper torso.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the variable force applicator comprises a control element to adjust the amount of pressure provided by the variable force applicator to the target location. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 determining a target pressure to be applied to the target location for correction of the deformity; and   adjusting the control element to adjust the initial amount of pressure to achieve the target pressure.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 monitoring the amount of pressure applied to the target location; and   adjusting the control element to achieve a target pressure without adjusting a circumference size of the brace structure.   
     
     
         23 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the variable force applicator comprises:
 an expandable member coupled to the brace structure and positioned to apply pressure to the target location, wherein adjusting the control element expands and shrinks the expandable member to respectively increase and decrease pressure to the target location.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the expandable member is an inflatable chamber and the control element comprises:
 a pump to inject air or fluid into the inflatable chamber for expansion; and   a release valve to release air or fluid from the inflatable chamber for shrinkage.   
     
     
         27 .- 28 . (canceled)