Layered band for incorporation into wearable medical device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to layered straps for incorporation into wearable medical devices, wherein the straps can simultaneously activate, tighten, and elongate muscles. Embodiments of the present disclosure include male and female shorts incorporating layered straps in the waistband. The stratified tape includes three layers, where an outer layer of the stratified tape is configured to produce compression and an intermediate layer of the stratified tape is configured to produce elongation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of medical devices, and more particularly to layered straps for incorporation into wearable medical devices for lower body posture correction, improved ergonomics, and tone, activation, and lengthening of the abdominal, lumbar, and / or lower body muscles. Background Art

[0002] One way the body adapts to static and dynamic positioning is through proprioception. Two proprioceptors that play an important role in muscle flexibility are the muscle spindles and the Golgi tendon organs (CTOs), which work together to regulate muscle stiffness and activation. Muscle spindles sense muscle length, while Golgi tendon organs sense muscle tension. When a muscle spindle senses that its agonist muscle is being overstretched, it sends an afferent signal to the brain that the muscle needs to contract as a protective mechanism. The brain receives this afferent signal and sends an efferent signal back to the agonist muscle to activate and produce a contraction. Muscle spindles can also send afferent signals to the brain to inhibit the antagonist muscle (i.e., the antagonist muscle) so that it relaxes and does not cause the agonist muscle to stretch further. GTOs work in the opposite way to muscle spindles, relaxing the agonist muscle when there is too much tension in the agonist muscle. GTOs can sense the tension in the agonist muscle as it contracts or stretches. GTOs not only sense the tension in the muscle, but also the rate of tension. When a muscle is stretched slowly, the GTOs sense the slow rate of tension and temporarily inhibit the muscle spindles so that the muscle can relax, which is what happens during static stretching. When the body is in a static position that causes the muscle to stretch, the muscle spindles and GTOs begin to adapt to the new resting position so that they only send signals to the brain at deviations from the adapted muscle length and tension.

[0003] During dynamic movements (e.g., running, jumping, golfing, or sports activities), GTOs may sense higher rates of tension than during static positioning, and therefore they do not inhibit muscle spindles in the same manner described above. Muscle spindles may demonstrate a dynamic response to stretch by increasing afferent nerve firing rates to contract the stretched muscle, which may be counterproductive to the intended movement. For example, if the adductors are instructed to contract when the adductors are stretched during a dynamic movement, this would result in internal rotation of the femur, thereby closing the hip.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need in the art for a simple device that can be worn comfortably as or under ordinary clothing (e.g., at work, during sports activities, while training, during rehabilitation, during muscle recovery, or on a road trip) that trains the body proprioceptively to achieve better posture, a neutral pelvis, and to activate and lengthen the muscles that interact with the device. Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to addressing these and other issues discussed below. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Certain embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a layered band for incorporation into a wearable medical device (e.g., wearable technology or a performance wearable device), wherein the band is used to simultaneously activate, tighten, and lengthen muscles. More specifically, certain embodiments are directed to pants or leggings for men and women. In some embodiments, the layered band includes three layers.

[0007] In some embodiments, the outer layer of the layered belt is configured to generate tension, while the middle layer of the layered belt is configured to generate elongation. In addition, in some embodiments, the fabric of the layers in the layered belt includes 3D stretch-compression-elongation properties to participate in muscle memory.

[0008] Muscle memory is biofeedback and neural adaptation. Simply put, muscle memory is the act of committing a specific motor task to memory through repetition. While muscles themselves cannot remember movements, they are filled with neurons attached to the nervous system that play a role in motor learning. Any movement that requires brain activity, even complex movements, if done enough times, will trigger a recognizable pattern in the brain area responsible for motor skills. Thus, resulting in learned movements and additional strength and flexibility that will not require brainpower in the future.

[0009] The purpose of the embodiments of the present disclosure is to use 3D muscle memory engagement to treat posture and related musculoskeletal disorders, such as neck and back pain, spasticity, and stiffness.

[0010] Another object of embodiments of the present disclosure is to compress the wearer's muscles while lengthening them.

[0011] Another object of embodiments of the present disclosure is to activate the wearer's muscles.

[0012] Another object of embodiments of the present disclosure is to correct the wearer's posture by training the wearer's muscles and proprioceptors.

[0013] These and other further features and advantages provided by the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 is a photograph showing the exterior of a medical device incorporating a layered tape according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] Figure 2 is an exploded view of a layered tape according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] Figure 3 is a photograph of a medical device incorporating a layered belt in a waist belt in its normal, unstretched state according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 3 is a photograph of a medical device incorporating a layered belt in a waist belt in a stretched state according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Throughout this disclosure, the embodiments shown should be considered as exemplary, rather than limiting, of the present disclosure. As used herein, the terms "invention," "device," "equipment," "method," "disclosure," "the present invention," "this device," "this equipment," "this method," or "the present disclosure" refer to any embodiment of the disclosure described herein and any equivalent thereof. In addition, references to various features of "invention," "device," "equipment," "method," "disclosure," "the present invention," "this device," "this equipment," "this method," or "the present disclosure" throughout this document do not mean that all claimed embodiments or methods must include the referenced features.

[0020] It should also be understood that when an element or feature is referred to as being "on" or "adjacent" another element or feature, it can be directly on or adjacent to another element or feature, or there can be intervening elements or features. Conversely, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" or "extending directly onto" another element, there are no intervening elements. Furthermore, it should be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element, or there can be intervening elements. Conversely, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no intervening elements.

[0021] In addition, relative terms such as "inner," "outer," "upper," "top," "above," "lower," "bottom," "below," "below," and the like may be used herein to describe the relationship of one element to another. Terms such as "higher," "lower," "wider," "narrower," and the like may be used herein to describe angular relationships. It should be understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations of an element or system in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures.

[0022] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions and / or parts, these elements, components, regions and / or parts should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region or part from another element, component, region or part. Therefore, unless otherwise explicitly stated, the first element, component, region or part discussed below may be referred to as the second element, component, region or part without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more related list items.

[0023] The terms used herein are only used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "one", "an" and "the" are also intended to include plural forms unless the context clearly states otherwise. For example, when this specification refers to "a" component, it should be understood that the language covers a single component or multiple or a group of components. It should also be understood that the terms "include", "include", "include" and / or "include" used herein specify the presence of the features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or their groups.

[0024] The embodiments described in the present disclosure may be described herein with reference to the illustrations of the drawings, some of which are schematic in nature. Therefore, the actual thickness of the elements may vary, and the shapes of certain views are expected to vary due to, for example, manufacturing techniques and / or tolerances. Therefore, the elements shown in certain figures are schematic in nature, and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the precise shape of the region, nor are they intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 1 is a photograph showing the exterior of a wearable medical device 100 incorporating a layered belt according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the device 100 is a pair of women's leggings. In the illustrated embodiment, the device 100 includes a waistband 102 and left and right legs. The waistband 102 shown incorporates the layered belts disclosed herein. However, other embodiments of wearable technology incorporating the belts disclosed herein are also possible, such as sports bras (e.g., rib cage belts), shorts, wearable devices for joints (e.g., joint sleeves), and pants. Other embodiments of performance wearable devices may also incorporate the layered belts disclosed herein at several locations throughout the device.

[0026] Figure 2 Shown in combination with Figure 1 An exploded view of the layered tape in the device 100 is shown. Figure 2As shown, the layered tape 200 may include three layers of fabric 202, 204, 206, although fewer or more layers are possible. In certain preferred embodiments, the layers 202, 204, 206 of the layered tape 200 are secured to one another. The layers may be secured to one another by glue, stitching, or tape. It will be appreciated that many methods of securing the layers to one another are possible.

[0027] In certain preferred embodiments, the intermediate fabric 204 comprises a mesh material that is capable of elongating and / or stretching the muscles with which the layered belt 201 interacts. In certain preferred embodiments, the mesh material may also comprise a combination of nylon and spandex. It will be appreciated that layered belts according to the present disclosure may be made from many different materials.

[0028] In certain preferred embodiments, the outer layers 202, 206 of the layered belt 200 include materials capable of compressing the muscles with which the layered belt 200 interacts. In certain preferred embodiments, the two outer layers of the layered belt 200 include a combination of spandex and high resistance fabric.

[0029] Figure 3 and Figure 4 The tension effect of a layered tape according to one embodiment is shown. Figure 3 A wearable medical device incorporating the layered strap of the present disclosure is shown in a relaxed, unstretched state. Alternatively, Figure 4 The same wearable medical device incorporating the layered band of the present disclosure is shown in a tensioned, stretched state. As can be seen from these figures, the layered band incorporated into the wearable medical device can prevent the device from stretching to a significant length.

[0030] The interaction between the layers 202, 204, 206 in the layered belt 200 results in simultaneous tensioning, elongation, and activation of the muscles with which the layered belt interacts (e.g., the abdominal, back, and certain lower body muscles). The tensioning, elongation, and activation of the muscles results in better body posture, better mobility, and aesthetic compression for the wearer. More specifically, the device 100 can assist in dynamic positioning, such as running or athletic activities.

[0031] It should be understood that the embodiments presented herein are intended to be examples. The embodiments of the present disclosure may include any combination or compatible features shown in the various figures, and these embodiments should not be limited to those explicitly described and discussed.

[0032] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to some configurations of the present disclosure, other variations are also possible. In addition, any element or feature discussed herein should not be interpreted as being necessary, critical or essential for any particular embodiment of the present disclosure. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to the above-mentioned variations. The foregoing is intended to cover all modifications and alternative configurations within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure expressed in the appended claims, wherein, unless set forth in the claims, any part of the present disclosure is not intended to be explicitly or implicitly dedicated to the public domain.

Claims

1. A belt for a wearable medical device, comprising: a first outer layer and a second outer layer, the first outer layer and the second outer layer comprising a first material, the first material being configured to compress a wearer's muscles; as well as An inner layer is interposed between the first and second outer layers, the inner layer comprising a second material configured to lengthen a muscle of a wearer.

2. The belt of claim 1, wherein the first outer layer and the second outer layer comprise spandex and high resistance fabric. The belt of claim 1 , wherein the inner layer comprises a mesh material.

4. The belt of claim 1, wherein the inner layer comprises nylon and spandex.

5. The belt of claim 1, wherein the first and second outer layers are secured to the inner layer.

6. The belt of claim 1, wherein the first and second outer layers are stitched to the inner layer.

7. The belt of claim 1, wherein the belt is configured as a waistband of pants.

8. The belt of claim 1, wherein the belt is configured as a rib cage belt of a bra.

9. The belt of claim 1, wherein the belt is configured as a knuckle sleeve.

10. Wearable medical devices, including: clothing; as well as A belt, the belt being incorporated into the garment, the belt comprising: a first outer layer and a second outer layer, the first outer layer and the second outer layer comprising a first material configured to compress a wearer's muscles; as well as An inner layer is interposed between the first and second outer layers, the inner layer comprising a second material configured to lengthen a wearer's muscles.

11. The wearable medical device of claim 10, wherein the first outer layer and the second outer layer comprise spandex and high resistance fabric.

12. The wearable medical device of claim 10, wherein the inner layer comprises a mesh material.

13. The wearable medical device of claim 10, wherein the inner layer comprises nylon and spandex.

14. The wearable medical device of claim 10, wherein the garment is a pair of pants or shorts.

15. The wearable medical device of claim 10, wherein the garment is a bra.

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