DEVICE FOR IMMOBILIZING A SHOULDER

1 . A device is for immobilizing a shoulder joint and associated upper arm and forearm of a human patient in a selected relative position, the device comprising:

a platform including

a planar base portion and a pair of opposed parallel side walls extending upwardly from the longitudinal edges of the base portion, the platform supportively receiving and at least partially enclosing the forearm of the patient;

a mount defining a terminal slot integral with at least one side wall;

a belt for securing around the waist of the patient; and

a belt clip for attaching between the belt at a side of the body corresponding to the shoulder to be supported and the platform, the belt clip including a lug projecting outwardly from the clip and corresponding in size and shape to the terminal slot for insertion into the slot,

wherein the platform is suspended from the belt.

2 . The shoulder immobilization device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the platform has opposed posterior slots in the side walls for slidably passing a strap through the slots and over the forearm for holding the forearm in the selected relative position.

3 . The shoulder immobilization device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an opposed second mount integral with the opposite side wall, the second mount defining a terminal slot.

4 . The shoulder immobilization device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a second mount integral with the side wall and anteriorly spaced from the first mount, the second mount defining a terminal slot.

5 . The shoulder immobilization device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an opposed pair of mounts integral with the opposite side wall, each of the second pair of mounts defining a terminal slot.

6 . The shoulder immobilization device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a resilient wedge for disposing between the platform and the torso of the patient, the wedge having a medial surface for abutting the torso of the patient and a lateral surface for operatively contacting the platform.

7 . The shoulder immobilization device as recited in claim 6 , wherein a distance between anterior edges of the medial and lateral surfaces of the wedge is substantially greater than a distance between posterior edges of the medial and lateral surfaces of the wedge.

8 . The shoulder immobilization device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the platform has an anterior slot, and the device further comprises a strap for passing through the slot and around the belt for securing the wedge and the platform to the wearer.

9 . The shoulder immobilization device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the platform has an opposed anterior slot for use on the opposite side of the body.

10 . The shoulder immobilization device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the platform is held in a generally horizontal position.

11 . The shoulder immobilization device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the platform and the wedge retain the wearer's arm in a position of at least about 30° of external rotation up to about 45 degrees of external rotation.

12 . The shoulder immobilization device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a second belt clip for attaching between the belt at a side of the body corresponding to the shoulder to be supported and the second mount on the platform, the second belt clip including a lug projecting outwardly from the clip and corresponding in size and shape to the terminal slot in the second mount.

13 . The shoulder immobilization device as recited in claim 12 , wherein the first and second mounts are non-orthogonal with the base portion of the platform such that the anterior of the platform is higher than the posterior when suspended from the belt.

14 . The shoulder immobilization device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a hand grip adjacent an anterior end of the platform for preventing the forearm from moving anteriorly.

15 . The shoulder immobilization device as recited in claim 14 , wherein the hand grip is selected from a ball, a gel pad, a post and combinations thereof.

16 . The shoulder immobilization device as recited in claim 15 , wherein the anterior surface of the platform may define an opening for receiving at least a portion of the ball.