THORAX-ORTHESE

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a thorax orthosis for the relief of the spine of a human user as required, comprising a back brace constructed in one piece from a sheet-like carbon material that is compressible in its longitudinal direction, which, in use, rests with a ventral flat side in the area of ​​the thoracic and at least the upper lumbar vertebrae of the user on the back extensor muscles adjacent to the user's spine on both sides, as well as a shoulder strap system connected to the back brace with two strap elements that, in use, encompass the user's shoulders like a backpack. State of the art

[0002] Such a thorax orthosis is known from DE 10 2016 201 270 A1.

[0003] In many situations in daily life, the human spine is exposed to considerable strain. This is the case, for example, when lifting and carrying heavy loads in front of the body, such as when transporting bricks, cement or similar in the construction industry. But also when transporting backpack-like loads such as oxygen cylinders during fire service rescue operations. In many sports, for example equestrian sports, especially show jumping, the human spine is temporarily exposed to considerable strain. With optimal movement, all of these strains are essentially in the longitudinal direction of the spine, i.e.Cranial-caudal directed compression loads, which are partially absorbed by the natural S-curve of the spine in the medial sagittal plane, whereby the external forces are diverted via the spine into the adjacent muscles and ultimately dissipated there. However, the respective movement cannot often be optimally coordinated, so that bending, torsional and shearing movements can also occur. Excessively high or excessively prolonged loads can have adverse health consequences. This is all the more so the more the respective forces act laterally and the less easily they can be absorbed by the natural S-curve of the spine. To protect the spine from overload, a number of orthoses are therefore known, all of which have the common task of diverting the externally acting forces away from the spine and onto less sensitive skeletal structures of the body.The term "orthose" is used here as a collective term for body-hugging aids intended to ensure a balance between mobility and stability. They are used not only after injuries or in cases of limb misalignment, i.e., for medical-therapeutic reasons, but also—and in the context of the present invention in particular—without a medical indication or objective for the purely preventative and supportive stabilization of stressed body areas.

[0004] DE 10 2011 076 843 B4 discloses an orthosis with a back brace constructed from a multitude of separate segments. The individual segments are connected to their respective neighboring segments via springs. In addition, a tension element is provided that extends longitudinally through all segments. Using a belt system consisting of two upper shoulder straps and a lower lap belt, the back brace can be secured to the user's back in such a way that its individual segments conform to the user's back along the spine, resting centrally on the spine and laterally on the back extensor muscles adjacent to the spine. In the deactivated normal state, the spring elements between the individual segments allow the back brace to follow the user's movements, particularly their spine, without significant counterforce.To activate a protective function, a switch can be used to tighten the tension element running through all segments, compressing the segments into an essentially rigid bar that is supported between the lap belt and the shoulder straps. Forces acting on the shoulders - particularly via the arms - such as those that occur when lifting heavy loads, are therefore diverted via the now stiffened back rail past the spine to the lap belt and thus to the user's pelvis. To allow the user a certain, albeit severely restricted, freedom of movement even when activated, the individual elements are made of hard-elastic plastic, which allows severely restricted movement against considerable opposing forces.

[0005] The known orthosis must be considered disadvantageous in several respects. Firstly, it requires the conscious activation and deactivation of the protective function before or after the onset of a load. This is cumbersome and annoying for the user and simply unsuitable in all cases where loads cannot be planned well in advance, such as in rescue operations or in sports. Secondly, the described mechanism is complicated and space-intensive, meaning the known orthosis is noticeably bulky under or over clothing. Furthermore, it is hardly usable in combination with loads carried on the back, such as oxygen cylinders, because the weight of the cylinders presses the thick back brace painfully onto the user's spine.And finally, the spinal relief of the known orthosis merely consists in a shifting of the load from one skeletal structure, namely the spine, to another skeletal structure, namely the pelvis, which is only supposedly less sensitive.

[0006] A similar orthosis is known from WO 2013 / 156394 A1, where a very complex system of pull ropes and sliders ensures a very individual temporary adaptability of the orthosis to the respective load situation.

[0007] From DE 20 2010 006 731 U1, an osteoporosis orthosis is known with a pad in the form of a closed frame made of a carbon material, which is located in a pocket which is fixed to the shoulders as well as to the pelvis and abdomen of the wearer by means of a belt system.

[0008] EP 1 902 691 B1 also discloses an osteoporosis orthosis with a pad located in a pocket, which is secured to the wearer's shoulders, pelvis, and abdomen by means of a strap system. The pad is made of different materials in different vertical areas to achieve different levels of elasticity.

[0009] A special form of pad is known from DE 41 17 768 A1, which spans the spinous processes of the vertebrae without contact.

[0010] Common to all osteoporosis orthoses is that the patient's body, weakened by the degenerative disease, is strapped as tightly as possible to a stable support using straps. The patient's freedom of movement is of secondary importance. This is also the case with the generic DE 10 2016 201 270 A1 mentioned above. However, this orthosis describes an orthosis with a one-piece, rigid back brace made of a carbon material. It is designed to facilitate patient movement by means of a wide pelvic belt and a complex shoulder and rib belt system. The belt system—not the rigid back brace—can follow the patient's movements to a limited extent due to its special belt guidance and fastening.

[0011] WO 2020 / 186209 A1 discloses a back brace strapped to the user's body by means of shoulder and lap belts, which is not flat but designed as a three-dimensional body that conforms ventrally to the S-shape of the spine and dorsally forms a flattened mechanical interface that simplifies the coupling with loads to be carried.

[0012] US 2008 / 0045873 A1 discloses a thickly padded thorax orthosis constructed from many individual parts, which, by varying the connections between the individual parts, allows a precise adjustment of the movement restriction or support effect for the patient, in order to be able to cover the entire recovery process after a back injury with a single orthosis.

[0013] DE 10 2015 107 582 A1 also discloses a similar modular orthosis, which, however, does not have shoulder straps and fixes the back brace, which itself does not rest on the patient's back, to the patient's body by means of a chest bar supported by the chest muscles and a pelvic belt.

[0014] From US 2013 / 0261521 A1, a carrying aid is known that can be individually adjusted to the user's body size. It consists of a rigid lower part that surrounds the user's pelvis and an equally rigid upper part that rests on the user's shoulders and back, whereby both parts can be moved vertically relative to one another and can be fixed to one another in various positions.

[0015] US 2021 / 0077336 A1 discloses a carrying aid designed to reduce the mechanical strain on the body when wearing heavy protective aprons, such as lead aprons for X-ray personnel. For this purpose, a chair-like device made of a fabric-covered frame is strapped to the user's lower back using a waist belt and, if necessary, secured with additional shoulder straps. For primarily standing activities, the associated discomfort may be tolerable for the user; however, such a device is unsuitable for work requiring a high level of movement or even for sports.

[0016] US 4 648 390 A discloses a largely rigid shoulder and neck ring as a support base for various connectable and individually tailored orthopedic aids.

[0017] CN 107898544 A discloses a cage that can be folded around the upper body of a user and is intended to serve as a backpack and as an orthosis. Task

[0018] The object of the present invention is to provide an orthosis for spinal relief that can be used variably, is more comfortable to wear for the user and is generally more beneficial to health. Description of the invention

[0019] This object is achieved in conjunction with the features of the preamble of claim 1 in that the carbon material of the back brace is sagittally flexible and each support element of the shoulder support system is constructed from a sheet-like carbon material and, in use, forms a ring which encompasses the associated shoulder of the user and which, starting from the cranial end of the back brace, lies flat against the shoulder, collarbone and pectoral muscle of the user and is led back to the back brace parallel to his rib arches and is connected to it in the lower area of ​​its upper third and / or the upper area of ​​its middle third.

[0020] Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0021] First, the following comments on understanding the terminology used here: Those skilled in the art will understand that the advantages of the orthosis according to the invention can only be realized in its interaction with the user's body. The spatial and physical features of the orthosis according to the invention can therefore only be described in relation to the user's body, which is expressed here with the reference "in use," although it should be understood that the user's body referred to is not itself part of the invention. Terms such as "ventral," "dorsal," "central," "lateral," "upper" or "cranial," "lower" or "caudal" are therefore always to be understood in this sense, i.e., in relation to the upright user's body during intended use of the orthosis according to the invention.The same applies to specifications of planes such as "sagittal" or "frontal", whereby such a specified movement, elasticity or progression always means the movement, elasticity or progression in such a plane.

[0022] Among other things, the special choice of material for the orthosis, and in particular its back brace, is essential to the invention. The term "carbon material" refers here to a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, namely oriented carbon fibers embedded in a thermosetting matrix. In particular, these are woven, laid, or braided carbon fiber mats embedded in said thermosetting matrix. As is known to those skilled in the art, a particular strength of such carbon materials, such as those known as lightweight construction materials for aircraft, bicycles, boats, and cars, is their ability to absorb forces in specific directions through the specific choice of orientation and layering of the carbon fibers, while remaining flexible, particularly elastically flexible, in other directions. Typically, such carbon materials consist predominantly of carbon fiber.The thermosetting matrix essentially serves only to fix the carbon fibers to one another and as an external protective coating. The present invention takes advantage of this special designability of carbon material. It enables a very thin design of the back brace, which is practically unobtrusive and at the same time is compressible in the longitudinal direction, i.e. cranial-caudal. At the same time, however, sagittal flexural elasticity is retained, so that the user can still bend forward or straighten up almost unhindered. This sagittal flexural elasticity also ensures that the ventral flat side of the back brace always remains in contact with the back muscles adjacent to the spine, so that the orthosis is supported here. This means that forces introduced into the orthosis are introduced laterally into said back muscles over the entire length of the orthosis.Spinal relief is therefore based on shifting the load from a skeletal body structure, namely the spine, to a muscular body structure, namely the back muscles. Although muscular structures can be fatigued, they are significantly more susceptible to damage than skeletal structures. Therefore, the goal of any body-strengthening training is always to build up the muscular structures in such a way that they can absorb and dissipate external forces instead of skeletal structures. With the orthosis according to the invention, the corresponding force is now introduced into the muscular structures directly, i.e., bypassing the skeletal structures, in particular the spine. In this way, the strength of the muscular structures can be used more efficiently, while simultaneously reducing the force acting on the skeletal structures.

[0023] The choice of material according to the invention makes it possible to permanently achieve the stability required for force redirection, particularly in the cranial-caudal direction, while simultaneously maintaining flexibility, particularly elastic flexibility, in directions where the user requires freedom of movement. This is not achieved, or only very inadequately, in the prior art described above, which provided either complete (non-elastic) flexibility of the back brace (in the deactivated state) or complete stiffening of the back brace (in the activated state).

[0024] As a result, the orthosis according to the invention can be worn continuously without causing discomfort to the user and fulfills its function without conscious switching between different states, which makes the orthosis particularly suitable for use in the context of unpredictable loads, such as during rescue operations or in sports. Furthermore, the sheet-like carbon material is so thin and flat that it does not painfully press into the user's back even when carrying back loads, such as oxygen cylinders.

[0025] The back brace preferably has two lateral support areas extending parallel along its longitudinal direction, as well as a central area connecting the support areas and arching over the user's spine when in use. The importance of the lateral support areas has already been explained in detail above. By arching the spine using the central area, the spinous processes of the spine are specifically relieved, as their direct contact with the back brace is avoided. It is particularly preferred if the central area is designed as a bulge that arches dorsally relative to the support areas. In other words, the central area forms a channel that is open ventrally and into which the spinous processes can protrude without contact. This shape allows the carbon material of the back brace to have a constant sheet thickness across its width.Typically, a blade thickness of a few millimeters, e.g., 1-3 mm, is sufficient to achieve the above-described advantageous properties of the orthosis according to the invention. This also ensures effective impact protection for the sensitive spinous processes, which can be particularly useful in the event of a fall.

[0026] However, the channel created in the central area can act like a stiffening rib, excessively restricting sagittal flexural elasticity. A further development of the design therefore proposes dividing the central area into a plurality of segments distributed along its length by means of width-centered transverse slits. This does not change the integral nature of the back brace, nor does it impair the preferred, full-surface contact of the lateral areas with the back extensor muscles. However, the flexibility of the back brace in the midsagittal plane is increased. Through the special shape and dimensioning of the transverse slits, the frontal flexural elasticity and torsional elasticity can also be influenced, and can therefore be adjusted by the manufacturer to the desired level in each individual case.

[0027] In addition to its sagittal flexural elasticity, the back brace is preferably also designed to be frontally flexurally elastic, with the frontal modulus of elasticity being at least an order of magnitude greater than that of the sagittal modulus of elasticity. Thus, the orthosis according to the invention not only allows the user to bend forward and straighten up, but also—albeit to a limited extent—to bend sideways in a frontal plane. Such movements are naturally only permitted to a limited extent by the spine and, if used excessively, can quickly lead to serious injury. This natural gradation of mobility is mimicked by the orthosis according to the invention in the described embodiment. This means that lateral bending is permitted, but the user is "reminded" that such movements should ideally be kept to a minimum.Sudden lateral loads to which the user could be exposed in an unforeseen manner are absorbed by the high modulus of elasticity, i.e. the lower flexibility in this direction, so that the orthosis offers additional protection against injury.

[0028] Similarly, a further development of the invention provides for the back brace to be elastically twistable along its longitudinal direction, with its torsional modulus of elasticity lying between those of its frontal and sagittal moduli of elasticity. This also mimics the natural prioritization of different mobility levels of a healthy spine, which is highly and easily bendable in the (median) sagittal plane, somewhat more limited and difficult to twist, and even more limited and difficult to bend in the (median) frontal plane.

[0029] As described, the essential advantageous properties of the orthosis according to the invention result from the design of its back brace. However, this can only function according to the invention if it is correctly positioned during use. It would be conceivable, in principle, to attach a separate back brace directly to the user's back, for example, by adhesive. However, this would significantly limit general acceptance and usability. Therefore, as already mentioned at the beginning, a backpack-like shoulder strap system is provided to hold the back brace in position.According to the invention, each of the two support elements of the shoulder support system is constructed from a sheet-like carbon material, in particular the same carbon material as the back brace, and when in use forms a ring that encompasses the user's assigned shoulder. Starting from the cranial end of the back brace, the ring lies flat against the user's shoulder, collarbone, and pectoral muscle, parallel to their rib arches, and is led back to the back brace and is connected to it in the lower area of ​​its upper third and / or the upper area of ​​its middle third. This embodiment therefore does not use a belt system. Instead of belts that are flexible in all directions (apart from their tensile strength, if applicable), a carbon ring that lies flat against the user's body is used. This carbon ring is flexurally elastic everywhere transverse to its respective longitudinal and width directions, but compressible or shrinkable in its longitudinal direction.It is tensile and flexurally stable across its width. This allows the support elements to be guided closely to the user's body contours and, similar to the one explained above in the context of the lateral support areas of the back brace, to transmit external forces to muscular structures, namely the shoulder and chest muscles. These muscles can also be used to absorb and dissipate external forces. This further increases the efficiency of the spinal support system according to the invention.

[0030] In order to ensure good handling with such a selectively rigid shoulder carrier system, it is preferably provided that each carrier element is constructed in two parts consisting of an upper half-ring part and a lower half-ring part, wherein the upper half-ring part is formed integrally with the back rail and is reversibly connectable in the region of its free end, which during use lies in the area of ​​the user's pectoral muscle, to the free end of the lower half-ring part, which is height-adjustably connected to the back rail. Due to the flexural elasticity described above, with such a design the upper and lower half-ring parts can be folded out wide when separated, allowing the user to get in comfortably. The free ends of the half-ring parts are then connected to one another in the pectoral muscle area and the carrier ring is closed, so that it then forms the selectively rigid carrier element described above.The one-piece construction of the upper half-ring sections with the back rail is advantageous in terms of avoiding multiple individual parts and potentially weak connection points. The lower half-ring section, on the other hand, should only be connected to the back rail in exceptional cases. It is generally considered more advantageous to connect it to the back rail in a reversible manner, especially with a height-adjustable connection, to allow for adaptability to users of different heights.

[0031] It has proven particularly practical if the free ends of the upper and lower half-ring sections overlap each other during use and can be reversibly connected to each other, particularly by means of a hook-and-loop fastener. The fixed end of the lower half-ring section can also be connected to the back rail by means of a hook-and-loop fastener, which, in particular, realizes the aforementioned height adjustability in a technically easy-to-implement manner. The lower half-ring sections of the two support elements are preferably formed as one piece. They preferably merge into one another in the area of ​​their connection to the back rail.

[0032] In a further development of the invention, it is provided that a radially flexible, ventrally open rib brace made of a sheet-like carbon material, which, when in use, encompasses the user's chest from dorsal to ventrally and lies flat, is connected to the back brace. The rib brace is preferably made of the same sheet-like carbon material as the back brace. Due to its flexural elasticity perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse directions, it automatically conforms to the user's chest. Its compressive and tensile strength in the longitudinal direction and its flexural strength in the width direction contribute to a stabilizing and centering effect on the back brace. The preferably implemented height adjustability of the rib brace allows it to be adapted to different user sizes.

[0033] Preferably, straps are attached to the circumferentially spaced free ends of the rib brace, which can be reversibly connected to form a strap connection spanning the distance between the free ends of the rib brace. This provides additional stability. Furthermore, it is possible to mount a chest plate between the free ends of the rib brace, especially in conjunction with the lower half-ring parts of the shoulder support elements, which can serve to protect the solar plexus.

[0034] Alternatively or additionally, a radially flexible, ventrally open pelvic brace made of a sheet-like carbon material, preferably height-adjustable, which, in use, encompasses the user's body from dorsal to ventrally along the iliac crest, can be provided, connected to the back brace, particularly by means of a Velcro fastener. The pelvic brace is preferably made of the same sheet-like carbon material as the back brace. As explained at the beginning, the central effect of the invention is not to divert external loads to the user's pelvis; nevertheless, it can be useful to divert residual forces, which could not yet be diverted to muscular structures in the manner according to the invention, to the iliac crest. However, this significantly reduces the load on the iliac crest than with prior art orthoses.

[0035] In the context of the pelvic brace, it can also be provided that straps are fixed to the circumferentially spaced, free ends of the pelvic brace, which can be reversibly connected to form a strap connection spanning the distance between the free ends of the pelvic brace. Regarding the effect and advantages of this measure, mutatis mutandis referred to the above explanation of the rib brace.

[0036] Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specific description and drawings. Brief description of the drawings

[0037] They show: Figure 1: a perspective view of the basic structure of a thorax orthosis according to the invention, Figure 2: a frontal view of the orthosis of Figure 1 , Figure 3: a view along the cranial-caudal line of sight of the orthosis of Figure 1 and Figure 4: the orthosis of Figure 1with additional comfort and functional features. Description of preferred embodiments

[0038] The same reference symbols in the figures indicate the same or analogous elements.

[0039] The Figures 1 to 3 show different views of the basic framework of a preferred embodiment of a thorax orthosis 10 according to the invention. These figures will initially be discussed together. They show the basic framework of the orthosis 10 according to the invention, which is essentially made of sheet-like carbon material and which may, for example, be Figure 4 illustrated, can be upgraded with additional comfort and functional elements.

[0040] An essential component of the orthosis 10 is its back brace 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the back brace 12 consists of two lateral support areas 121 and a central area 122, which is designed as a dorsally directed bulge and forms a cranially-caudally extending, ventrally open channel. In use, the back brace 12 is applied to the back of a user (not shown) in such a way that its lateral support areas 121 rest on the back extensor muscles adjacent to the user's spine, and the spine itself, in particular its spinous processes, is arched over without contact by the channel of the central area 122. In particular in Figure 3 the channel structure of the central area 122 is clearly visible.

[0041] Distributed along the length of the back rail 12 are several transverse slots 123 which span the channel of the central region 123. This counteracts the stiffening effect of the curvature of the central region 122 and increases the sagittal bending elasticity 12. In addition, the transverse slots 123 improve ventilation. In the embodiment shown, the transverse slots 123 end in lateral round holes. This prevents the ends of the transverse slots from tearing out, even in the case of frequent, strong bending. In addition, this shape, together with a slot width that can be selected depending on the individual case, ensures torsional and frontal elasticity that can be adjusted by the manufacturer, ie the back rail 12 is frontal, ie in Figure 2 in the plane of the drawing, slightly bendable and twistable, without the opposing slit edges colliding with each other during movement and possibly pinching pieces of clothing or even skin.

[0042] The caudal end of the back brace 12 is tapered to adapt to the natural anatomy in the lumbar region of the user, ensuring rounded lines that avoid any corners.

[0043] At the cranial ends of the back brace 12, two upper half-ring parts 141 of two support elements 14 are formed. They consist of the same sheet-like carbon material as the back brace 12. In use, they extend over the user's shoulders and end with their free ends approximately in the area of ​​their pectoral muscles. Here, they are reversibly connected, in particular by means of a hook-and-loop fastener 143, to the free ends of lower half-ring parts 142, which extend from the pectoral muscle area parallel to the user's rib arches from ventral to dorsal to the back brace 12. There, they are preferably reversibly fixed, in particular by means of another hook-and-loop fastener, to the dorsal outer side of the back brace 12. In the preferred embodiment shown, the two lower half-ring parts 142 are formed integrally with one another and, in particular in the area of ​​their fixation to the back brace 12, merge into one another using the same material.The reversibility of their fixation to the back rail 12 allows for height adjustment and thus a size adjustment of the armholes of the support elements 14, so that the orthosis 12 can be adapted within certain limits to users of different heights. It is therefore possible to limit production to a small number of basic sizes and enable individually optimized adjustment through fine-tuning by the user. Due to the material properties of the sheet-like carbon material, which are discussed in detail in the general section of the description, the upper half-ring parts can be elastically bent upwards without great effort when the hook-and-loop fastener 143 is open. The lower half-ring parts 142, on the other hand, can be bent outwards to the side. This allows the user to easily slip into the orthosis 12.

[0044] However, after the free ends of the upper and lower half-ring parts 141, 142 have been secured using the hook-and-loop fasteners 143, the half-ring parts 141, 142 prevent the degree of freedom of bending of the other half-ring element 142, 141, creating an essentially rigid support ring that rests directly on the user's shoulder and chest muscles. Together with the back brace 12, the support elements 14 therefore ensure that external forces are diverted away from the user's spine and toward a broad range of muscular structures. These can collectively absorb the forces without overloading individual muscles. This leads to particularly efficient spinal relief through the orthosis according to the invention and thus to a significant increase in the user's performance.

[0045] In the illustrated embodiment, a rib brace 16 is arranged caudal to the lower half-ring portions 142 of the support elements 14. Similar to the lower half-ring portions 142, these braces are preferably reversibly secured, in particular by means of a hook-and-loop fastener, to the dorsal outer side of the back brace 12. These braces are also preferably made of the same carbon material as the back brace 12 and support elements 14 and conform to the user's upper body in the area of ​​the lower rib arches with flexion and elasticity. They can be bent outward to the side for easy access. They primarily serve to center the back brace 12 in its central region.

[0046] Near the caudal end of the back brace 12, in the embodiment shown, a pelvic brace 18 is also provided, which is preferably also reversibly, in particular also by means of a hook-and-loop fastener, fixed to the dorsal outer side of the back brace 12. The pelvic brace 18 encompasses the user's body from dorsal to ventral along his iliac crest. Unlike the rib brace 16, its Figures 1 and 2 A particularly clearly visible, slightly tilted curve provides vertical load support on the iliac crest. However, as explained in detail in the general section of the description, this is merely a secondary effect. The pelvic brace 18 primarily serves to center the back brace 12 in its caudal end region.

[0047] The pure carbon frame (possibly with connecting devices), especially Velcro fasteners, as in the Figures 1 to 3shown is basically sufficient to achieve the effects according to the invention explained in the general part of the description. However, it is readily possible to add additional equipment, for example for reasons of comfort. For example, the carbon frame can be completely or locally covered or coated with padding elements, such as gel padding or neoprene layers. A correspondingly upgraded orthosis 12 is available in Figure 4 shown.

[0048] In addition to the aforementioned padding, the orthosis has 12 of Figure 4additional belt connections 201, 202, 203, which connect the opposing areas or ends of the lower half-ring parts 142 (belt connection 201), rib brace 16 (belt connection 202), and pelvic brace (belt connection 203). This allows for a more stable fixation of the back brace 12, which can be pulled more closely to the user's spine by the belt connections 201, 202, 203.

[0049] In the illustrated embodiment, a chest plate 22 is fixed in the area of ​​the closures of the two upper strap connections 201, 202. This is preferably also made of a sheet-like carbon material, in particular the same carbon material as the back rail 12, and can be provided with padding on its inside, for example, a coating.

[0050] Such a chest plate 22 provides effective impact protection for the user's solar plexus. It also provides an additional contact surface with the user's muscular structures, which can be used to absorb external forces diverted via the orthosis 12.

[0051] Of course, the embodiments discussed in the specific description and shown in the figures represent only illustrative embodiments of the present invention. A person skilled in the art will have a wide range of possible variations available to him in light of the disclosure herein. List of reference symbols

[0052] 10Orthosis 12Back splint 121Lateral support area of ​​12 122Central area of ​​12 123Transverse slot 14Support element 141Upper half-ring part of 14 142Lower half-ring part of 14 143Velcro fastener 16Rib brace 18Pelvic brace 201Belt connection 202Belt connection 203Belt connection 22Breast plate

Claims

1. Thoracic orthosis (10) for relieving a human user's spine when required, comprising - a back rail (12) made in one piece from a sheet-like carbon material which is compression-resistant in its direction of longitudinal extension and resting, when in use, with a ventral flat side against back extensor muscles adjacent to both sides of the user's spine in the region of the thoracic and at least the upper lumbar vertebrae of the user, and - a shoulder carrier system connected to the back rail (12) and having two carrier elements (14) reaching around the user's shoulders in a backpack-style when in use, characterized in that the carbon material of the back rail is sagittally bending-elastic and each carrier element (14) of the shoulder carrier system is made from a sheet-like carbon material and, when in use, forms a ring embracing the respectively associated shoulder of the user and, starting from the cranial end of the back rail (12), being guided back parallel to the user's rib arches to the back rail (12), to which it is connected in the lower region of the back rail's (12) upper third and / or the upper region of the back rail's (12) middle third, lying flat against the user's shoulder, collarbone and chest muscle.

2. Thoracic orthosis (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier element (14) is constructed in two parts, namely an upper half-ring part (141) and a lower half-ring part (142), the upper half-ring part (141) being formed integrally with the back rail (12) as a single piece of material and being reversibly connectable in the region of its free end, which, when in use lies in the region of the user's chest muscle, to the free end of the lower half-ring part (142), which is connected to the back rail (12) in a height-adjustable manner.

3. Thoracic orthosis (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the free ends of the upper half-ring part (141) and of the lower half-ring part (142) overlap one another when in use and can be connected to one another reversibly, in particular by means of a hook-and-loop fastener (143).

4. Thoracic orthosis (10) according to one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that the lower half-ring part (142) is connected to the back rail (12) by means of a hook-and-loop connection.

5. Thoracic orthosis (10) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the back rail (12) has two lateral support regions (121) extending parallel along the longitudinal direction of extension of the back rail (12) and a central region (122) connecting the support regions (121) and arching over the user's spine when in use.

6. Thoracic orthosis (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the central region (122) is shaped as a bulge which curves dorsally with respect to the support regions.

7. Thoracic orthosis (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the carbon material of the back rail (12) has a constant sheet thickness across its width.

8. Thoracic orthosis (10) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the central region (122) is divided by means of width-centered transverse slits (123) into a plurality of segments distributed across its length).

9. Thoracic orthosis (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the back rail (12) is designed to be frontally bending-elastic, the amount of its frontal modulus of elasticity being at least one order of magnitude greater than that of its sagittal modulus of elasticity.

10. Thoracic orthosis (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that the back rail (12) is designed to be torsionally elastic about its direction of longitudinal extension, the amount of its torsional modulus of elasticity being between those of its frontal and its sagittal modulus of elasticity.

11. Thoracic orthosis (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, furthermore, a radially bending-elastic rib bracket (16) being open ventrally and, when in use, embracing the user's thorax flatly from dorsal to ventral, and being made of a sheet-like carbon material is connected to the back rail (12).

12. Thoracic orthosis (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that straps are fixed to the free ends of the rib bracket (16), said free ends being spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction and said straps being reversibly connectable to one another to form a strap connection (202) spanning the distance between the free ends of the rib bracket (16).

13. Thoracic orthosis (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, furthermore, a radially bending-elastic pelvic bracket (18) is connected to the back rail (12), said pelvic bracket (18) being ventrally open, made of a sheet-like carbon material, and embracing, when in use, the user's body flatly from dorsal to ventral along the user's iliac crest.

14. Thoracic orthosis (10) according to claim 13, characterized in that straps are fixed to the free ends of the pelvic bracket (18), said free ends being spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction and said straps being reversibly connectable to one another to form a strap connection (203) spanning the distance between the free ends of the pelvic bracket (18).