MEDICAL AID OR SPORTS AID INCLUDING A BOWDEN CABLE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a medical aid or sports aid comprising a Bowden cable, wherein the Bowden cable comprises a core, wherein the core runs at least in a partial area in a sheath, wherein the sheath is stretchable at least in a partial area, and the use of a Bowden cable having a core for tensioning a medical aid or a sports aid, wherein the core runs at least partially displaceably in a sheath and the sheath is stretchable.

[0002] A Bowden cable is a movable machine element for transmitting mechanical movement as well as compressive and tensile forces using a flexible combination of a cable, particularly a wire cable, and a sheath or casing that is pressure-resistant in the direction of travel. A Bowden cable usually consists of a tension cable, also called a core, such as a steel wire or wire rope, which is slidably laid in a flexible but pressure-resistant casing, also called a sheath. The casing serves to guide the cable and as a counterbearing to support the tensile forces to be transmitted. A Bowden cable can therefore transmit tensile forces along any curved path, as long as a certain radius is not exceeded. Bowden cables are used in a wide variety of technical fields, but particularly in vehicle construction.In medical technology, the use of Bowden cables in joint orthoses is described in EP 1 186 279 A1 and DE 10 2009 003 999 A1. DE 177 927 C also describes a generic Bowden cable according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] In medical devices or sports equipment, simple cable pulleys are usually used instead of Bowden cables, where ropes or cords are tensioned, for example, by winding them up. The ropes or cords can run freely or be guided through linings or knitted channels.

[0004] The disadvantage of such ropes is that they can rub against the medical device or sports aid, for example on a knitted fabric, when moving and thus permanently damage the knitted fabric, and can also cut into the skin of the wearer of the aid.

[0005] The technical problem underlying the present invention is the provision of tensioning devices for medical aids or sports aids that avoid the problems of the prior art. In particular, the technical problem of the present invention is the provision of alternatives to cable pulls in medical aids or sports aids, especially when used as tensioning devices, that cause less or no friction when moving the cable pull, especially the tensioning device, especially in deflection areas and other areas where tensioning devices often tend to jam.

[0006] The present invention solves the underlying technical problem by means of a medical aid or sports aid comprising a Bowden cable, wherein the Bowden cable comprises a core, wherein the core runs in a sheath at least in a partial area, wherein the sheath is stretchable at least in a partial area.

[0007] Surprisingly, it has been shown that Bowden cables can be used advantageously instead of cable pulleys in medical devices, particularly orthopedic devices, and sports aids, particularly as tensioning elements, if the sheath, i.e., the casing, of the Bowden cables is stretchable at least in part. With conventional Bowden cables and their conventional use, the casing does not need to be stretchable, but only flexible, since the core is only displaced within the casing, thus eliminating the need to shorten or lengthen the sheath. However, this is necessary when the core is used as a tensioning element in a medical device or sports aid, so a conventional Bowden cable would not be suitable here.The design of at least a partial area of the sheath as an expandable sheath now advantageously results in the Bowden cable being flexible in length overall and thus also being able to be used as a tensioning element in a medical aid or sports aid.

[0008] Those skilled in the art are aware of various ways of making at least a portion of the sheath, or the sheath itself, stretchable. In particular, the sheath can be made stretchable by means of slits, for example, a spiral-shaped slit. Alternatively, the sheath of the Bowden cable can also be designed, at least in some areas, in an accordion shape, or be made of a stretchable plastic or rubber.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the sheath is made of plastic.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the casing has at least one slot.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the casing is spiral-shaped at least in a partial area.

[0012] The casing can be slotted continuously or only in certain areas. The slots can be either annular, particularly spiral, or meandering. The slots in the casing can also be non-annular. For example, the slots can be offset, parallel, or angled.

[0013] A sheath with at least one slot, in particular a spiral slot or the design of a spiral sheath, has the advantage that at least a portion of the sheath, but also the entire sheath, can be designed to be stretchable, while at the same time allowing the core to be moved within the sheath with low friction. This advantageously distributes the resulting friction coefficient between the core and the sheath.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the sheath is elastic at least in a partial area.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the casing has a round cross-section or a stadium-shaped cross-section. The cross-section of the casing, in particular the cross-section of the outer surface of the casing, can also be configured differently, for example, angular, in particular polygonal, or oval.

[0016] The sheath can therefore, for example, have a round cross-section, as is common for prior art Bowden cables. Alternatively, the sheath can also have a stadium-shaped cross-section, at least in some areas. A stadium-shaped cross-section is a cross-section in which two parallel straight lines are connected by two arcs. The sheath with a stadium-shaped cross-section is then designed in particular as a flat band that is hollow on the inside. This allows the sheath to advantageously rest with one of its two flat, straight surfaces on the medical device or sports aid. As a result, the flat band does not cut as deeply into the user's skin underneath the Bowden cable, particularly when the Bowden cable is designed as a tensioning element.

[0017] The core can be designed as a conventional core, for example, a wire or rope. The core can be made of metal, plastic, or other materials. However, the core can also be designed as a flat strip, for example, if it runs in a sheath designed as a flat strip.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the Bowden cable is designed as a tensioning element.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the Bowden cable is associated with a tensioning system.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the core of the Bowden cable can be tensioned via a tension control element. In a preferred embodiment, the core of the Bowden cable can be wound onto the tension control element.

[0021] Those skilled in the art are familiar with a wide variety of tensioning elements and tension control elements, such as pulleys, in medical devices, for example, orthopedic devices, especially orthoses, or sports aids, in which the tensioning element, usually a rope or cord, can be replaced by a Bowden cable according to the invention. The Bowden cable according to the invention can also be advantageously used as a tensioning element in the design of new medical devices or sports aids.

[0022] When the tensioning element is tightened, the core of the Bowden cable is tensioned, for example by rolling it up or pulling it, and then fixed in place. In the opposite way, the core is relaxed. By tensioning the core, the medical device or sports aid, for example, can be pressed more tightly against the wearer's body. The advantage of using the Bowden cable is that the core runs in the sheath with little friction and therefore does not rub or jam on the medical device or sports aid. Furthermore, the sheath increases the contact surface, so that the Bowden cable cuts into the wearer's skin less than a conventional cable. The elasticity of the sheath allows it to advantageously adapt to the length of the core running through it during the tensioning or relaxing process.

[0023] The medical device or sports aid preferably comprises a base body, for example, made of a knitted fabric. The base body is preferably flexible and / or stretchable. However, the base body can also be a frame or similar structure. The Bowden cable preferably runs along the base body, at least in some areas.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the sheath is connected to the medical aid or sports aid at its end regions. In a preferred embodiment, the sheath is connected to the medical aid or sports aid only at its end regions. Alternatively or additionally, the sheath can also be connected to the medical aid or sports aid at other sections or regions of the sheath. Preferably, the connection is a fixed, non-displaceable connection, particularly at the end regions. However, connections can also be provided in which the sheath is displaceably mounted on the medical aid or sports aid, for example in the case of feedthroughs and / or deflection guides.Like a conventional Bowden cable in a conventional application, the sheath of the Bowden cable in the present invention can advantageously be connected only at its end regions to the associated device, in this case to the medical aid or sports aid. This advantageously results in the longitudinal course of the Bowden cable being displaceably mounted on the medical aid or sports aid and thus being able to adapt to the wearer's body shape when the medical aid or sports aid is worn. When the tensioning element is tightened or loosened, the sheath of the Bowden cable can also run freely over the surface of the medical aid or sports aid, thus preventing wrinkles from forming.

[0025] According to the invention, feedthroughs are also provided in which the sheath of the Bowden cable is movably mounted and which are preferably located on the medical aid or sports aid, in particular on the base body of the medical aid or sports aid. These feedthroughs can advantageously position the Bowden cable on the medical aid or sports aid without the Bowden cable being firmly connected to the medical aid or sports aid in this area. The feedthroughs are designed as a feedthrough element, for example as a tube attached to the medical aid or sports aid, through which the Bowden cable runs, in particular runs movably, i.e. the sheath is also movably mounted in the tube. As an alternative to a tube, a channel can also be provided.

[0026] The bushings can also be rotatably mounted on the medical aid or sports aid, in particular on the base body of the medical aid or sports aid, so that they can adapt to a change in the course of the Bowden cable by corresponding rotation.

[0027] The bushings can also be designed as deflection guides.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the Bowden cable is guided through at least one deflection guide, wherein the sheath is preferably displaceably mounted in the deflection guide.

[0029] The Bowden cable can advantageously be guided through deflection guides to determine the path of the Bowden cable on the medical device or sports aid. The Bowden cable is preferably mounted in the deflection guide in such a way that the sheath is movable, so that the deflection guide advantageously does not impair the overall mobility of the sheath and the Bowden cable with respect to the medical device or sports aid.

[0030] The deflection guides can also be rotatably mounted on the medical aid or sports aid, in particular on the base body of the medical aid or sports aid.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the medical device or the sports device is worn on the body.

[0032] Preferably, the medical aid or sports aid is not a device that normally uses conventional Bowden cables, for example, brakes on rollators.

[0033] Preferably, the medical aid or sports aid is not a device in which body parts, such as fingers, are moved by a Bowden cable.

[0034] Preferably, the medical device is not a surgical device.

[0035] The medical aid is preferably an orthopaedic aid.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the medical aid or the sports aid is a bandage or an orthosis.

[0037] Preferably, the medical aid or sports aid is not a prosthesis, for example an artificial hand.

[0038] Orthoses preferred according to the invention act directly on the body. They serve to stabilize, relieve, immobilize, mobilize, or correct poor posture of limbs or the torso. They can also partially replace lost functions or prevent deformities. Prostheses not preferred according to the invention completely or partially reconstruct missing or damaged body parts such as limbs, ears, and nose, as well as organs or parts of organs. They create functional balance and restore the visual appearance.

[0039] The present invention also solves the technical problem underlying it by the use of a Bowden cable having a core for tensioning a medical aid or a sports aid, wherein the core extends at least partially displaceably in a sheath and the sheath is stretchable.

[0040] Preferred embodiments of the Bowden cable used result from the description of the medical aid or sports aid according to the invention comprising such a Bowden cable.

[0041] Preferred embodiments of the invention emerge from the subclaims.

[0042] The present invention is explained in more detail with reference to the following figures and examples, without these being understood as limiting.

[0043] They show: Figure 1 shows a Bowden cable for a medical aid or sports aid according to the invention; Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the Bowden cable; Figure 3 shows the Bowden cable as a tensioning system with a tension control element; Figure 4 shows an inventive Bowden cable with a feed-through element on a medical aid or sports aid; Figure 5 shows a sectional view of the Bowden cable of Figure 4 ; Figure 6 shows a Bowden cable in a deflection guide; Figure 7 shows a medical aid or sports aid according to the invention with a Bowden cable as a tensioning system; Figure 8 shows further alternative embodiments of the Bowden cable.

[0044] Figure 1 shows a Bowden cable (10) for a medical device or sports aid according to the invention. The Bowden cable (10) comprises a core (11), for example made of plastic or metal, and a sheath (12). The sheath (12) has a continuous slit (13), which makes it stretchable. Figure 1ashows the sheath (12) in the unstretched state, Figure 1b shows the sheath (12) in a stretched or tensioned state. The slot (13) is correspondingly wider.

[0045] Figure 2 shows two alternative embodiments of such a Bowden cable (10). The core (11) of the Bowden cable (10) is in the Figures 2a and 2b same. In Figure 2a the casing (12) has an expandable region in which a slot (13) runs in a ring-shaped or spiral shape. In

[0046] Figure 2b A plurality of meander-shaped slots (13) are provided in the expandable region of the casing (12). Both embodiments of the slots (13) allow the casing (12) to be expandable or tensionable in the region of the slots (13).

[0047] Figure 3shows the Bowden cable (10) with core (11) and sheath (12) which can be stretched through a spiral slot (13) and is used as a tensioning element (21). This is achieved by the core (11) being able to be rolled up onto a tension control element (22). When tensioned, the core (11) slides in the sheath (12), whereby the sheath (12) is only connected to the tension control element (22) at its end region (14) and is therefore only connected to the medical device or sports aid located on the tension control element (22) at this end region (14). When relaxed, the core (11) is unrolled from the tension control element (22) so that it becomes longer. Due to the extensibility of the sheath (12), i.e. due to its spiral-shaped slit (13), the sheath can stretch and thus also completely enclose the extended core (11), so that the core (11) is not exposed but continues to be completely shielded by the sheath (12).

[0048] Figure 4 shows a section of a medical aid or sports aid (100) according to the invention, to which a Bowden cable (10) with a core (11) and a sheath (12) that can be stretched through a spiral slot (13) is assigned. In the area shown, the Bowden cable (10) is not firmly connected to the carrier material of the medical aid or sports aid (100), but can slide on it. The Bowden cable (10) is slidably guided through a tubular passage designed as a feed-through element (31). Not only the core (11) of the Bowden cable (10) but also its sheath (12) can slide through the feed-through element (31). Thus, the feed-through element (31) does not serve to fix the Bowden cable (10) of the medical aid or sports aid (100), but only to position it, whereby the Bowden cable, including the sheath, remains slidable and stretchable in the longitudinal direction.

[0049] Figure 5shows the cross-section in side view of the structure of Figure 4 . The Bowden cable (10) with core (11) and expandable sheath (12) can be seen, wherein the Bowden cable (10) is slidably mounted in the lead-through element (31) so that positioning on the carrier material of the medical aid or sports aid (100) takes place without the Bowden cable (10) being firmly connected to the carrier material (100) there, since the entire Bowden cable (10) including the sheath (12) is slidably mounted in the lead-through element (31).

[0050] Figure 6shows a Bowden cable (10) in a feedthrough designed as a deflection element or deflection guide (30). Here, too, the sheath (12) of the Bowden cable (10) is slidably mounted in the channel-shaped deflection guide (30), so that, on the one hand, the entire Bowden cable (10) with core (11) and sheath (12) is slidably mounted in the deflection guide (30), and, on the other hand, the sheath (12) remains stretchable even in the deflection guide (30). The deflection guide (30) can be easily attached to a carrier material of a medical device or sports aid, for example by gluing, sewing, or welding.

[0051] Figure 7shows an exemplary embodiment of a medical aid or sports aid (100) that is worn on a body, here a leg (200). The medical aid or sports aid (100) has a tensioning system (20) that comprises a Bowden cable (10) with a sheath (12) that can be stretched by means of slits and a core running in this and is therefore not visible as a tensioning element (21), and a tension regulating element (22). The tension regulating element (22) can be used to roll up the core of the Bowden cable (10), thus creating tension in the tensioning element (21). The stretchable sheath (12) is firmly connected to the tension regulating element (22) only at its ends (14, 15) and thus to the medical aid or sports aid (100) as a whole.As a result, when the core of the tensioning element (21) is tensioned or released, the sheath (12) can stretch and slide on the carrier material of the medical device or sports aid (100). This makes it possible, on the one hand, for the sheath (12) to completely cover the core even when it is stretched and tensioned, so that the core does not rub against the carrier material of the medical device or sports aid (100) and could damage it. On the other hand, it allows the sheath (12) of the Bowden cable (10) to move freely on the carrier material (100), thus enabling suitable positioning and a suitable path for the tensioning element (21). If necessary, this positioning can be influenced by means of feed-through elements or deflection elements in which the entire Bowden cable (10) with sheath (12) is movably mounted.

[0052] Figure 8shows a further embodiment of a Bowden cable (40) according to the invention with a core (41) and a sheath (42). In this embodiment, the sheath (42) has a stadium-shaped cross-section, i.e., it has two parallel straight sections that are connected to one another by two curved sections. Due to this cross-section of the sheath (42), the core (41) can be mounted in the sheath so that it can move not only in the longitudinal direction, but also in the transverse direction. Furthermore, due to this design of the sheath (42) as a flat band-like element, the sheath can rest with one of its flat sides on the medical aid or sports aid.As a result, the Bowden cable (40) does not cut into the user's skin underneath the Bowden cable (40) as much when tightened, regardless of whether the main body of the medical device or sports aid is still between the Bowden cable (40) and the user's skin or not.

[0053] Figure 8a shows the cross-section of the Bowden cable (40) with the stadium-shaped or flat band-like sheath (42) and the core (41) located therein.

[0054] The Figures 8b and 8c show a top view of such a Bowden cable (40) with core (41) and sheath (42), wherein the sheath (42) has different types of slits to achieve extensibility. In Figure 8b the slots (43a) are formed in a meandering shape. In Figure 8c a slot (43b) is ring-shaped, i.e. spiral-shaped. Both in Figure 8b as well as in Figure 8conly a portion of the casing (42) is provided with the slots (43a, 43b).

Claims

1. A medical aid or sports aid (100) comprising a Bowden cable (10), wherein the Bowden cable (10, 40) comprises a core (11, 41), wherein the core (11, 41) runs at least in a partial region in a casing (12, 42), wherein the casing (12, 42) is stretchable at least in a partial region, wherein the Bowden cable (10, 40) is designed as a tensioning element (21), characterised in that the Bowden cable (10, 40) is guided through at least one guide-through element (31), wherein the casing (12, 42) is displaceably mounted in the guide-through element (31).

2. The medical aid or sports aid (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that the casing (12, 42) has at least one slit (13, 43a, 43b).

3. The medical aid or sports aid (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the casing (12, 42) is spiral-shaped at least in a partial region.

4. The medical aid or sports aid (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the casing (12, 42) is elastic at least in a partial region.

5. The medical aid or sports aid (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the casing (12, 42) has at least in sections a round cross-section, an angular cross-section, an oval cross-section or a stadium-shaped cross-section.

6. The medical aid or sports aid (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the core (11, 41) is designed as a wire, a rope or a flat band.

7. The medical aid or sports aid (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the Bowden cable (10, 40) is associated with a tensioning system (20).

8. The medical aid or sports aid (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the core (11, 41) of the Bowden cable (10, 40) can be tensioned via a tension regulating element (22), in particular in that the core (11, 41) of the Bowden cable (10, 40) can be rolled up onto the tension regulating element (22).

9. The medical aid or sports aid (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the casing (12, 42) is connected to the medical aid or sports aid (100) at its end regions (14, 15) or in one or more sections.

10. The medical aid or sports aid (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the Bowden cable (10, 40) is guided through at least one deflecting guide (30), wherein the casing (12, 42) is displaceably mounted in the deflecting guide (30).

11. The medical aid or sports aid (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the medical aid or sports aid (100) has a base body.

12. The medical aid or sports aid (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the medical aid or sports aid (100) is worn on the body (200).

13. The medical aid or sports aid (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the medical aid or sports aid (100) is a bandage or an orthosis.

14. Use of a Bowden cable (10, 40), having a core (11, 41) for tensioning a medical aid or a sports aid (100), wherein the core (11, 41) runs at least partially displaceably in a casing (12, 42) and the casing (12, 42) is stretchable, characterised in that the Bowden cable (10, 40) is guided through at least one guide-through element (31), wherein the casing (12, 42) is displaceably mounted in the guide-through element (31).