초록 ▼

An orthosis may be made by providing a laminate material having a flexible foam material and a substantially rigid plastic sheet material sandwiched between a pair of soft flexible sheet materials. A body support is formed by heating the laminate material under conditions of pressure to soften the l

An orthosis may be made by providing a laminate material having a flexible foam material and a substantially rigid plastic sheet material sandwiched between a pair of soft flexible sheet materials. A body support is formed by heating the laminate material under conditions of pressure to soften the laminate to a pliable state, cutting the laminate to a desired shape to yield a pattern corresponding to a desired shape of the body support, providing a form corresponding to a desired configuration of the body support and positioning the pattern on the form in a pliable state, applying a negative pressure to conform the pattern.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for making a spinal orthosis, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first laminate material comprising a flexible foam material and a substantially rigid plastic sheet material sandwiched between a pair of soft flexible sheet materials and bonded together t

What is claimed is: 1. A method for making a spinal orthosis, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first laminate material comprising a flexible foam material and a substantially rigid plastic sheet material sandwiched between a pair of soft flexible sheet materials and bonded together to yield a unitary and substantially rigid first laminate material; forming an anterior support from the first laminate material, the anterior support being formed by heating the first laminate material under conditions of pressure to soften the first laminate to a pliable state, cutting the first laminate to a desired shape to yield a first pattern corresponding to a desired shape of the anterior support, providing a first form corresponding to a desired configuration of the anterior support and positioning the first pattern on the first form in a pliable state, applying a negative pressure to conform the first pattern to the first form, and cooling the conformed first pattern to yield the anterior support; providing a second laminate material comprising a flexible foam material and a substantially rigid plastic sheet material sandwiched between a pair of soft flexible sheet materials and bonded together to yield a unitary and substantially rigid second laminate material; forming an posterior support from the second laminate material, the posterior support being formed by heating the second laminate material under conditions of pressure to soften the second laminate to a pliable state, cutting the second laminate to a desired shape to yield a second pattern corresponding to a desired shape of the posterior support, providing a second form corresponding to a desired configuration of the posterior support and positioning the second pattern on the second form in a pliable state, applying a negative pressure to conform the second pattern to the second form, and cooling the conformed second pattern to yield the posterior support. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of cutting the first laminate occurs prior to the step of heating the first laminate under conditions of pressure. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of cutting the first laminate occurs after the step of heating the first laminate under conditions of pressure. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying a negative pressure to conform the first pattern to the first form, comprises applying a plastic bag around the first form having the first pattern thereon and applying a negative pressure to the bag. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the anterior and posterior support members are configured for placement around a torso of a user and have sufficient rigidity to serve a support function, while also having a degree of flexibility sufficient to permit substantially unrestricted contractions and expansions of the torso of the user associated with breathing. 6. A method for making an orthosis, comprising the steps of: providing a laminate material comprising a flexible foam material and a substantially rigid plastic sheet material sandwiched between a pair of soft flexible sheet materials and bonded together to yield a unitary and substantially rigid laminate material; forming a body support from the laminate material, the body support being formed by heating the laminate material under conditions of pressure to soften the laminate to a pliable state, cutting the laminate to a desired shape to yield a pattern corresponding to a desired shape of the body support, providing a form corresponding to a desired configuration of the body support and positioning the pattern on the form in a pliable state, applying a negative pressure to conform the pattern to the form, and cooling the conformed pattern to yield the body support. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of cutting the laminate occurs prior to the step of heating the laminate under conditions of pressure. 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of cutting the laminate occurs after the step of heating the laminate under conditions of pressure. 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of applying a negative pressure to conform the pattern to the form, comprises applying a plastic bag around the form having the pattern thereon and applying a negative pressure to the bag. 10. The orthosis of claim 6, wherein the body support member is configured for placement around a torso of a user and has sufficient rigidity to serve a support function, while also having a degree of flexibility sufficient to permit substantially unrestricted contractions and expansions of the torso of the user associated with breathing.