Orthopedic shoulder device

Abstract

Methods of manufacturing an orthopedic shoulder device is provided. The method includes providing a cradle device configured to receive and support a portion of an arm of a user. The method includes assembling an abduction positioning device by coupling the cradle device to an apex of a flexible arch utilizing a rotation coupling member such that adjusting an amount of curvature of the flexible arch adjusts an angle of abduction of the arm of the user relative to a torso of the user. The method includes providing at least one strap for coupling between at least two locations on the flexible arch such that the amount of curvature of the flexible arch is adjusted by adjusting an amount of the at least one strap coupled between the at least two locations on the flexible arch. Methods of utilizing such an orthopedic shoulder device are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing an orthopedic shoulder device, comprising:
 providing a cradle device configured to receive and support a portion of an arm of a user;   assembling an abduction positioning device by coupling the cradle device to an apex of a flexible arch utilizing a rotation coupling member such that adjusting an amount of curvature of the flexible arch adjusts an angle of abduction of the arm of the user relative to a torso of the user; and   providing at least one strap for coupling between at least two locations on the flexible arch such that the amount of curvature of the flexible arch is adjusted by adjusting an amount of the at least one strap coupled between the at least two locations on the flexible arch.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the cradle device comprises:
 constructing an arm shell configured to provide a resting support for the arm of the user; and   constructing a plurality of fasteners configured to surround and hold the arm of the user in place against the arm shell.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the arm shell comprises a semi-rigid structure configured to restrict movement of the arm of the user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising covering a portion of an interior surface of the cradle with a liner configured to provide padding to the arm of the user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one strap comprises an inner strap and the at least two locations on the flexible arch comprise:
 a first slot formed at a first portion of the flexible arch that is disposed in a first direction from the apex of the flexible arch; and   a second slot formed at a second portion of the flexible arch that is disposed in a second direction from the apex of the flexible arch opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the inner strap is configured to form a partial barrier between the torso of the user and the flexible arch, the size of the partial barrier being adjustable by shortening or lengthening the inner strap. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one strap comprises an outer strap and the at least two locations on the flexible arch comprise:
 a first slot formed at a first portion of the flexible arch that is disposed in a first direction from the apex of the flexible arch; and   a fastener formed at a second portion of the flexible arch that is disposed in a second direction from the apex of the flexible arch opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the outer strap is substantially Y-shaped, having a first end, a second end and a third end, and wherein the first end is configured to couple to the first slot and the second end and the third end is configured to couple to a semi-rigid panel configured to attach to the fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the outer strap is configured to be wrapped around the torso of the user. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible arch is constructed such that adjusting the amount of curvature of the flexible arch simultaneously adjusts a distance of the apex of the flexible arch from the torso of the user, thereby adjusting the angle of abduction of the arm of the user. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the flexible arch is constructed to conform to the torso of the user. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rotation coupling member comprises:
 an outer rotation coupling;   an inner rotation coupling; and   a rotation button configured to:
 fix a relative orientation of the outer rotation coupling with respect to the inner rotation coupling in a first position, and 
 allow relative rotation between the outer rotation coupling and the inner rotation coupling in a second position. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the rotation coupling member is configured to adjust at least one of an angle of internal rotation and an angle of external rotation of the arm of the user relative to the torso of the user by adjusting a relative orientation of the outer rotation coupling with respect to the inner rotation coupling. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising matingly engaging the internal rotation coupling with the external rotation coupling to form the rotation coupling member. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising, when the rotation button is disposed in the first position, mating a first plurality of teeth of the rotation button with a second plurality of teeth of the outer rotation coupling. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the rotation button comprises at least one groove cutting through the first plurality of teeth such that the second plurality of teeth of the outer rotation coupling rotate freely within the at least one groove when the rotation button is in the second position, thereby allowing adjustment of at least one of an angle of internal rotation and an angle of external rotation of the arm of the user relative to the torso of the user. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the rotation coupling member further comprises:
 an engagement member configured to couple the rotation coupling member to the cradle device; and   a plurality of engagement buttons configured to releasably engage the engagement member with the cradle device.   
     
     
         18 . A method of utilizing an orthopedic shoulder device, comprising:
 receiving and supporting a portion of an arm of a user in a cradle device of the orthopedic shoulder device; and   adjusting an amount of a strap coupled between at least two locations on a flexible arch of an abduction positioning device of the orthopedic shoulder device to, thereby, adjust an amount of curvature of the flexible arch, the abduction positioning device further comprising a rotation coupling member coupling the cradle device to an apex of the flexible arch such that adjusting the amount of curvature of the flexible arch adjusts an angle of abduction of the arm of the user relative to a torso of the user.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the flexible arch is configured such that adjusting the amount of curvature of the flexible arch simultaneously adjusts a distance of the apex of the flexible arch from the torso of the user, thereby adjusting the angle of abduction of the arm of the user. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the rotation coupling member comprises:
 an outer rotation coupling;   an inner rotation coupling; and   a rotation button configured to:
 fix a relative orientation of the outer rotation coupling with respect to the inner rotation coupling in a first position, and 
 allow relative rotation between the outer rotation coupling and the inner rotation coupling in a second position.