Braces for Alleviating Compression and Methods of Making and Using the Same

Abstract

A brace including (i) two or more supports configured to contact body parts on opposite sides or ends of one or more joints when the brace is in use and (ii) one or more force application mechanisms that apply a controllable force to the supports in opposite directions to alleviate compression in the one or more joints is disclosed. Methods of manufacturing the brace and of alleviating compression in one or more joints using the brace are also disclosed.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 two or more supports, configured to contact body parts on opposite sides or ends of one or more joints when the apparatus is in use; and   one or more force application mechanisms that apply a controllable force to the two or more supports in opposite directions to alleviate compression in the one or more joints, wherein the one or more force application mechanisms comprises:
 a plurality of springs or coils coupled to or connected between (i) at least a first one of the two or more supports on a first side or end of the one or more joints and (ii) at least a second one of the two or more supports on a second side or end of the one or more joints opposite from the first side or end, and 
 a tension control mechanism configured to change or maintain a tension of each of the plurality of springs or coils such that (i) increasing a tension in the springs or coils decreases a distance between the supports on the opposite sides or ends of the one or more joints and reduces a force on the body parts in contact with the supports on the opposite sides or ends of the one or more joints, and (ii) decreasing the tension in the springs or coils increases the distance between the supports on the opposite sides or ends of the one or more joints and increases the force on the body parts in contact with the supports on the opposite sides or ends of the one or more joints; and 
   a cover that encloses (i) each of the two or more supports in the apparatus and (ii) the plurality of springs or coils.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more joints is vertebrae in a spine, the two or more supports contact (i) under left and right arms and (ii) above left and right hips, and the plurality of springs or coils are on left and right sides and on front and back sides of a torso. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the two or more supports further comprises one or more cushions or pads between the support and the cover. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tension control mechanism further comprises:
 one or more wires or cables through the plurality of springs or coils; and   a knob, clamp or strap operably connected to the one or more wires or cables, the knob or strap being configured to control a length of the one or more wires or cables,   wherein the cover further encloses the one or more wires or cables.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the one or more wires or cables comprise a first wire or cable through a first subset of the plurality of springs or coils and a second wire or cable through a second subset of the plurality of springs or coils, at least one of the springs or coils in the second subset being different from the springs or coils in the first subset; and   the knob, clamp or strap comprises a first knob operably connected to and configured to control the length of the first wire or cable and a second knob operably connected to and configured to control the length of the second wire or cable.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cushion or padding covering at least part of each of the two or more supports, the cushion or padding being configured to distribute the controllable force across a larger area of the body part(s) contacted by a corresponding one of the two or more supports. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus, comprising:
 two or more supports, configured to contact body parts on opposite sides or ends of one or more joints when the brace is in use;   one or more force application mechanisms that apply a controllable force to the two or more supports in opposite directions to alleviate compression in the one or more joints, comprising:
 a plurality of springs or coils coupled to or connected between (i) at least a first one of the two or more supports on a first side or end of the one or more joints and (ii) at least a second one of the two or more supports on a second side or end of the one or more joints opposite from the first side or end, 
 a plurality of actuators configured to change or maintain a length of the plurality of springs or coils, and 
 one or more motors operably connected to and configured to control a position of the plurality of actuators; and 
   a cover configured to (i) secure a position of each of the two or more supports in the apparatus and (ii) enclose the one or more force application mechanisms.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the motor comprises a servo motor, and each of the plurality of actuators comprises a screw, said screw being secured to lower end of each of the coils or springs and operably connected to the servo motor. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a microcontroller configured to control the motor. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a memory operably connected to the microcontroller, wherein the memory stores a program configured to operate the motor. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a wireless receiver operably connected to the microcontroller, configured to receive one or more instructions from a user-operated wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a battery configured to provide power to the motor. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein increasing a tension in the springs or coils reduces a force on the body parts in contact with the supports on the opposite sides or ends of the one or more joints, and decreasing the tension in the springs or coils increases the force on the body parts in contact with the supports on the opposite sides or ends of the one or more joints. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more joints is vertebrae in a spine, the two or more supports contact (i) under left and right arms and (ii) above left and right hips, and the plurality of springs or coils are on left and right sides and on front and back sides of a torso. 
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing a brace, comprising:
 forming a cover configured to secure a position of each of two or more supports in the brace;   inserting or attaching the two or more supports in the cover, the two or more supports being configured to contact body parts on opposite sides or ends of one or more joints when the brace is in use;   coupling or connecting a plurality of springs or coils between (i) at least a first one of the two or more supports on a first side or end of the one or more joints and (ii) at least a second one of the two or more supports on a second side or end of the one or more joints opposite from the first side or end;   placing a first wire or cable through a first subset of the plurality of springs or coils;   placing a second wire or cable through a second subset of the plurality of springs or coils, at least one of the springs or coils in the second subset being different from the springs or coils in the first subset; and   operably connecting a first actuator to the first wire or cable, the first actuator being configured to control a length of the first wire or cable; and   operably connecting to a second actuator to the second wire or cable, the second actuator being configured to control a length of the second wire or cable, such that:
 increasing a tension in the springs or coils decreases a distance between the supports on the opposite sides or ends of the one or more joints and reduces a force on the body parts in contact with the supports on the opposite sides or ends of the one or more joints, and 
 decreasing the tension in the springs or coils increases the distance between the supports on the opposite sides or ends of the one or more joints and increases the force on the body parts in contact with the supports on the opposite sides or ends of the one or more joints. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising operably connecting one or more motors to the first and second actuators, the one or more motors being configured to control a position of the actuator. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising adding a cushion or padding covering at least part of each of the two or more supports, the cushion or padding being configured to distribute the controllable force across a larger area of the body part(s) contacted by a corresponding support. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the cover encloses (i) each of the two or more supports in the apparatus, (ii) the plurality of springs or coils the second wire or cable, and (iii) the first and second wires or cables. 
     
     
         19 . A method of supporting and/or stabilizing one or more joints using the apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising:
 securing the apparatus around the one or more joints; and   applying a sufficient force to the two or more supports using the one or more force application mechanisms to alleviate the compression in the one or more joints.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein applying the sufficient force comprises changing or maintaining a tension of the plurality of springs or coils with the tension control mechanism.