Orthopaedic device and method of use for treating bone fractures
View Patent ↗Orthopaedic device and a method of use thereof are provided for treating a bone fracture. The orthopaedic device includes a sheet cover configured to extend over a portion of a patient's skin corresponding to a bone fracture under the skin, the sheet cover configured to form an enclosed volume between the portion of the patient's skin and the sheet cover, wherein the sheet cover comprises a vacuum port, the vacuum port configured to apply a vacuum to withdraw a gaseous volume from the enclosed volume and a member, the member configured to be in the enclosed volume, the member configured to deform in at least a direction towards the skin and apply a force to the fracture.
1. A pressure application device comprising:
a sheet cover configured to extend over a portion of a patient's skin corresponding to a bone fracture under the skin, the sheet cover configured to form an enclosed volume between the portion of the patient's skin and the sheet cover, wherein the sheet cover comprises a vacuum port, the vacuum port configured to apply a vacuum to withdraw a gaseous volume from the enclosed volume;
a member, the member configured to be in the enclosed volume, the member configured to deform elastically, in response to the vacuum, in at least a direction towards the skin and apply a force to the fracture; and
a sheet, the sheet configured to extend over the portion of the patient's skin, a first surface of the sheet in contact with the patient's skin, an entire second surface of the sheet in contact with the member, the first surface of the sheet opposite to the second surface of the sheet, and wherein a first surface of the member is in contact with the sheet cover, a second surface of the member is in contact with a sheet.
2. The pressure application device of claim 1 , wherein the member deforms more in a first direction than a second direction.
3. The pressure application device of claim 2 , wherein the first direction is an axial direction and the second direction is a lateral direction.
4. The pressure application device of claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum system configured to operably connect to the port and withdraw at least a portion of the gaseous volume from within the enclosed volume.
5. The pressure application device of claim 1 , wherein the sheet cover is operably connected to a portion of a person's skin with an adhesive material around a periphery of the sheet cover.
6. A method of applying a pressure application device to a portion of a patient's skin, the method comprising
positioning a member and a sheet on the portion of the patient's skin corresponding to a bone fracture under the skin, a first surface of the sheet in contact with the patient's skin, an entire second surface of the sheet in contact with the member, the first surface of the sheet opposite to the second surface of the sheet;
applying a sheet cover to the portion of the patient's skin by adhering a periphery of the sheet cover to the portion of the patient's skin over the member to create a sealed, enclosed volume between the portion of the patient's skin and the sheet cover, wherein a first surface of the member is in contact with the sheet cover, a second surface of the member is in contact with a sheet; and
applying a vacuum to the enclosed volume, such that the sheet cover applies a force to the member and the sheet, wherein the member is configured to deform elastically in at least a direction towards the skin, and wherein the member applies a force to the fracture.
7. The pressure application method of claim 6 , wherein the member deforms more in a first direction than a second direction.
8. The pressure application method of claim 7 , wherein the first direction is an axial direction and the second direction is a lateral direction.
9. The pressure application method of claim 6 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the member is applied on the patient's skin along a length of the fractured bone.
10. A method of applying a pressure application device to a portion of a patient's skin, the method comprising:
applying the pressure application device to the portion of the patient's skin, the pressure application device comprising:
a sheet cover configured to extend over a portion of a patient's skin corresponding to a bone fracture under the skin, the sheet cover configured to form an enclosed volume between the portion of the patient's skin and the sheet cover, wherein the sheet cover comprises a vacuum port, the vacuum port configured to apply a vacuum to withdraw a gaseous volume from the enclosed volume;
a member, the member configured to be in the enclosed volume, the member configured to deform elastically, in response to the vacuum, in at least a direction towards the skin and apply a force to the fracture; and
a sheet, the sheet configured to extend over the portion of the patient's skin, a first surface of the sheet in contact with the patient's skin, an entire second surface of the sheet in contact with the member, the first surface of the sheet opposite to the second surface of the sheet, and wherein a first surface of the member is in contact with the sheet cover, a second surface of the member is in contact with a sheet; and
removing at least a portion of the gaseous volume from the enclosed volume through the port.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the sheet cover is operably connected to a portion of a person's skin with an adhesive material around a periphery of the sheet cover.