Brace having an inflation control
Systems, methods, and devices are described for providing a brace having an inflation control. The control directs fluid flow from an inflation component to one or more inflatable cells of the brace. The inflatable cells are independently inflated and deflated by the inflation component through the control. The control allows a user to create a fluid path between the inflation component and one of the inflatable cells by positioning the control in an orientation corresponding to the desired inflatable cells. Each inflatable cell is independently inflated and deflated in various orientations of the control.
1. An orthopedic walking brace comprising:
a shell component;
a plurality of inflatable cells positioned within said shell component; wherein each of said plurality of inflatable cells is positioned at a different location within said shell component and configured to provide individualized compression to said different location;
a control comprising:
a diverter that rotates within a manifold body,
an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, the control being positionable in two or more orientations, and each outlet port being in fluid communication with a respective one of the plurality of inflatable cells;
an on-board inflation component in fluid communication with the inlet port of the control;
wherein positioning of the control to a first orientation creates a first fluid path between the inflation component and a first inflatable cell of the plurality of inflatable cells, and positioning of the control to a second orientation creates a second fluid path between the inflation component and a second inflatable cell of the plurality of inflatable cells.
2. The brace of claim 1 , wherein the diverter comprises an interior channel that directs air from the inlet port to a first outlet port when the control is in the first orientation.
3. The brace of claim 2 , wherein the interior channel comprises a funnel inlet.
4. The brace of claim 3 , wherein the interior channel comprises an outlet that is narrower than the funnel inlet.
5. The brace of claim 3 , wherein the funnel inlet is in fluid communication with the inlet port in each of the first and second orientations of the control.
6. The brace of claim 1 , wherein the control comprises an inner cylinder that rotates within an outer bore.
7. The brace of claim 6 , wherein the inlet port and the plurality of outlet ports pass through a wall of the outer bore.
8. The brace of claim 6 , wherein the inner cylinder comprises a plurality of fluid channels.
9. The brace of claim 1 , further comprising a release valve housed by the shell component and positioned in fluid communication with both the inflation component and the control.
10. The brace of claim 9 , wherein the release valve is positioned between the on-board inflation component and the control.
11. The brace of claim 9 , further comprising a fluid flow tube having a first end in fluid communication with the release valve and a second end in fluid communication with the control.
12. The brace of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid path and the second fluid path pass through the center of the control.
13. The brace of claim 1 , wherein the control is positionable in a third orientation in which no fluid path is created between the on-board inflation component and the inflatable cells.
14. The brace of claim 1 , wherein the on-board inflation component is a compressible bladder.
15. A method for adjusting an orthopedic walking brace, comprising:
positioning a control, comprising a diverter that rotates in a manifold body, in a first orientation that creates a fluid path between an on-board inflation component and a first inflatable cell;
actuating the inflation component to inflate the first inflatable cell to a first desired pressure;
positioning the control in a second orientation that creates a fluid path between the on-board inflation component and a second inflatable cell, wherein said second inflatable cell is positioned at a different location than said first inflatable cell; and
actuating the on-board inflation component to inflate the second inflatable cell to a second desired pressure.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising passing fluid from the on-board inflation component through an interior channel of the diverter of the control and into the first inflatable cell.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein passing the fluid through the interior channel of the diverter of the control comprises passing the fluid from a first end of the channel to a second end of the channel, the second end being narrower than the first end.
18. An orthopedic brace comprising:
a plurality of inflatable means for providing support;
control means for regulating delivery of fluid to each of the inflatable means, said control means including:
an inlet means and a plurality of outlet means, each outlet means being in fluid communication with a respective one of the plurality of inflatable means, and
a diverter means that rotates within a manifold means; and
an on-board inflation means in fluid communication with the inlet means,
wherein a fluid path between the on-board inflation means and a first inflatable means is created when the control means is in a first orientation, and a fluid path between the on-board inflation means and a second inflatable means is created when the control means is in a second orientation.
19. The brace of claim 18 , wherein the first and second fluid paths pass through the center of the control means.