598 results about "Low back" patented technology

An article of apparel is disclosed that includes zones with a textile having a structure that changes or is otherwise modified by a physical stimulus, such as the presence of water or a temperature change, to modify a property of the textile. The zones may be along a center back area and side areas of the apparel, and the textile may increase in air permeability when exposed to water. The zones may also be in an upper area of the torso and in a lower back area, and the textile may increase in texture when exposed to water. In some embodiments, slits are formed in the textile.

Articles of apparel include: (a) a garment structure having one or more fabric elements structured and arranged to provide a close fit to at least one predetermined portion of a body (e.g., area(s) of the body for which enhanced position sensing and / or feedback are desired, such as the lower back, the arch of the foot, etc.); and (b) a body position feedback system engaged with or integrally formed as part of the garment structure. The body position feedback system may apply higher tensile or constricting (compressive) forces to selected portions of the wearer's body, which can help stimulate or interact with nerves and deep tissue receptors located in various portions of the body. The increased forces at selected locations of the body give the wearer sensory feedback regarding the position or orientation of these parts of the body and can improve or accelerate development of “muscle memory.”

The invention relates to the field of abdominal exercise with the operator using the sit-up or crunch movements. More particularly, an exercise apparatus that exercises the abdominal and back muscles with the lower torso of the operator supported by a moving seat while the upper torso of the operator is supported by a moving seatback. Continuous support of the lower back prevents back strain. The articulation of the seatback is coordinated with the movement of the seat. Adjustment is provided to adjust the rate of movement of the seat relative to the seatback. Handles are provided such that the arm muscles can assist the sit-up or crunch movements.

A human lower extremity exoskeleton walking aid rehabilitation robot belongs to the technical field of medical rehabilitation equipment, and comprises a lower back movement module, a hip joint movement module, a knee joint movement module and an ankle joint movement module, wherein a back servo motor drives a hip joint to move through a crank and rocker mechanism and a space four-links mechanism; an electric knee push rod drives a knee joint to move; an electric ankle push rod drives an ankle joint to move. The human lower extremity exoskeleton walking aid rehabilitation robot helps a patient with lower limb paralysis to stand and walk, and the flexion and extension movement of the hip joint, the knee joint and the ankle joint is controlled by acquiring pressure signals of soles of feet, so that the patient is helped to stride; the construction and model design of the ankle joint inversion and eversion passive driving degree of freedom can help to reduce impact from the ground, is conductive to reducing the burden of a user keeping balance of the self and the exoskeleton robot in a frontal plane, is beneficial for the patient to walk comfortably, and improves the rehabilitation training efficiency.

A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation device for treating a user's lower back pain or discomfort is provided. The inventive device comprises a stimulation pad with an array of electrodes therein. A controller communicates with the electrodes to energize / de-energize them in a patterned, sequential manner. The patterned actuation of the electrodes in a sequential fashion provides electrical impulses to the patient's skin, simulating a transverse wave motion. The transverse wave motion simulation provides the user with the effect of the electrical stimulation combined with the mechanical tissue stimulation received in traditional massage therapy, resulting in improved pain and discomfort relief. The device may use programs stored in the controller. Alternatively, the user may manually actuate one or more electrodes as well as manually move the electrode actuation to concentrate on a specific lower back region using an electrostatic touch pad or the equivalent. The user may also use voice commands to access the stored programs, move the electrode stimulation region, change the electrode actuation intensity and / or dwell time. The device may store the user's manually-generated routines for repeating when desired. A visual display may provide feedback to the user regarding the electrode actuation position and pattern.

A new and improved portable ergonomic cushion for relieving pressure on the coccyx (tailbone) and on the ischial tuberosities, for promoting correct positioning of the sacroiliac joint and for supporting the lower back of the user is described. The portable ergonomic cushion includes a narrow ridge back support allowing the cushion to be used with numerous styles of chairs and seats, and a lumbar support cushion that is removably attached to the back support. The portable ergonomic cushion may also make use of inflatable cushions for increasing the flexibility of the sitting cushion by allowing users to adjust the cushions to their desired support by varying the amount the cushions are inflated. The portable ergonomic cushion is also foldable into a compact non-use position for easy transportation and storage, and futher does not require the use of straps for retaining the cushion while in use.

An exercise device and methods for strengthening the muscles of lower back and abdomen. The device may be configured to impart extension to the spine of a user. The device may include a reclinable chair having a backrest pivotally attached to a seat. The backrest may be pivotally declined backwards in relation to the seat by a user during exercise. The device may include a decline control mechanism that is selectively operable to resist the decline of the backrest, to limit the maximum angle of decline of the backrest relative to the seat, or both.

Articles of apparel include: (a) a garment structure having one or more fabric elements structured and arranged to provide a close fit to at least one predetermined portion of a body (e.g., area(s) of the body for which enhanced position sensing and / or feedback are desired, such as the lower back, the arch of the foot, etc.); and (b) a body position feedback system engaged with or integrally formed as part of the garment structure. The body position feedback system may apply higher tensile or constricting (compressive) forces to selected portions of the wearer's body, which can help stimulate or interact with nerves and deep tissue receptors located in various portions of the body. The increased forces at selected locations of the body give the wearer sensory feedback regarding the position or orientation of these parts of the body and can improve or accelerate development of “muscle memory.”

Devices to enhance the reliability of optical networks and to reduce the cost of repair are disclosed in this invention. In particular, compact and inexpensive fiber optic union adapters with built-in protective isolation prevent the transfer of damage from one connectorized fiber optic cable to another. The fiber optic union includes a split sleeve with an interior channel and a fiber stub centrally located within the interior channel. The fiber stub makes direct optical contact with the cable endfaces to enable efficient optical transmission between interconnected cables while providing a low loss, low back reflection adiabatic transition between the waveguide cores of the two cables.

A bag strap functions as a one-shoulder carrier or a two-shoulder carrier at any time according to the desire of the golfer. Reconfiguring the strap to convert from a one-shoulder type to a two-shoulder type, or visa versa, is easy and quick and can be accomplished even during a round of golf. The strap comprises two nested layers. When the two layers are secured together by a VELCRO hook and loop fastener and secured to upper and lower back rings by hooks, the strap functions as a one-shoulder strap. The nested configuration permits a comfortable, padded one-shoulder strap that is still reasonably thin and not unduly heavy and thick. Alternatively, strap layers may be separated from each other and the lower ring used as a slip through ring for an elongated belt secured by a slide-release buckle for encircling the golfer. Each layer is worn over a respective shoulder with the bag carried diagonally across the golfer's back.

A pants garment has a pair of thigh leg members for covering the thigh area of a wearer. A front thigh elastic band member is provided substantially at a front side of each of the thigh leg members and extends obliquely from an upper front portion to a lower front portion of each thigh leg member. A back thigh elastic band member is provided substantially at a back side of each of the thigh leg members and extends obliquely from an upper back portion to a lower back portion of each thigh leg member. The garment also has a front and back crus elastic band members extending obliquely on crus leg members, which cover the crus areas of the wearer.

A disposable brief is provided with exterior front and rear pockets to receive and hold in position thermal packs, either hot or cold, at locations such as the lower abdomen, the crotch, the anal area or the lower back. The preferred brief is inexpensive and universal in that it may be worn by both males and females and is readily adjustable in size to fit various sizes of waists, hips or legs to reduce the inventory needed by an institution. The preferred disposable brief is in the form of a diaper that has a rear portion or panel that may be slid under a prone patient's back, a crotch portion that may be pulled between the patient's legs, a front portion or panel that may be positioned over the lower abdomen and securable hip or waist portions such as adjustable straps to secure the brief to the patient and retain the thermal packs in position for a patient in bed or for a patient when ambulatory. The pockets are easily opened and the cold or hot packs may be easily inserted or removed from difficult locations such as behind a patient's back. The preferred brief is reversible so that what would be the rear portion can be positioned as a front portion on the patient, usually for the purpose of locating the pocket on the rear portion at a particular location on the abdomen to apply heat or cold to this location. The illustrated brief may have two or three pockets which are located at the crotch, a rear portion and / or a front portion of the brief. In other embodiments, an absorbent pad such as a sanitary pad is provided for use with the disposable brief. A hot or cold pad may be inserted into a pocket of the disposable brief having the sanitary pad to alleviate cramping if it occurs during the menstrual period. In a still further embodiment, an inexpensive brief or panty has an integral sanitary pad with the used brief and pad being discarded after a single usage thereof.

A fuel cell vehicle includes: a motor chamber provided in a front part of the vehicle; side frames extending on right and left sides of the vehicle in a front-to-back direction of the vehicle; a fuel cell; a motor for driving the vehicle, wherein the motor is driven using electric power generated by the fuel cell, and the fuel cell, the motor, and the side frames are installed in the motor chamber; and a support frame for coupling rear portions of the side frames with each other in a width direction of the vehicle, and for supporting the fuel cell installed on the support frame, wherein the motor is arranged below the support frame. The fuel cell vehicle may further include a guide member for guiding the motor toward a lower-back side of the support frame when a front collision of the vehicle occurs.

A device that straps against the front of one's pelvis and features chest and leg engagements extending from a central main-body to create a personal upper body support system. As wearer bends forward from the waist, the leg engagements leverage oppositely threaded shafts to screw together into an internally threaded main-body either against a powerful spring means used to effect a compressive stop or a spring-back counter force to the wearer's overhanging upper body weight. A knob-ended threaded rod screws through one of the shafts to adjust the point of engagement and / or spring tension. This device creates a prop effect between the wearer's chest and upper legs. The oppositely threaded shafts provide a unique mechanism that divides the transferred load equally to each leg regardless of leg stance, as well as for allowing unrestricted upright walking.

A contoured seat generally includes a seat surface for supporting the thighs and buttocks of a sitter and a back surface for supporting the lower back of a sitter. Defined by the seat surface are a pair of bilateral, spaced protrusions that are positioned to extend into piriformis musculature of the sitter. Preferably, the seat surface is inclined at a 5° to 15°, and more preferably a 7.5°, angle to induce forward pelvic tilt in conjunction with lower lumbar support of a forward angle of the back surface. The seat and back surfaces may define a sacral-coccyx pocket that has a depth that varies, along its proximal-distal path to allow for sacral stabilization. The sacral-coccyx pocket preferably is relatively narrow and deep proximally and flares as it extends in the distal direction. A reinforcing ridge may extend across a top edge of the sacral-coccyx pocket to provide additional support.

This application describes a garment (e.g. a swim suit) having a base layer of stretchable elasticated fabric, the base layer having a torso portion that covers at least a part of the torso of a person when the garment is worn. An inner core layer of stretchable elasticated fabric is bonded to the inner surface of the base layer to extend around the abdomen and lower back regions of the garment. By providing a double layer of stretchable elasticated fabric in this manner, more compression is applied to the abdomen of the person (e.g. swimmer) wearing the suit, bringing about improvements in form drag. The additional support provided to the lower back and abdomen also improves core stability, which is of benefit in many sporting activities, including swimming.

Articles of apparel include: (a) a garment structure having one or more fabric elements structured and arranged to provide a close fit to at least one predetermined portion of a body (e.g., area(s) of the body for which enhanced position sensing and / or feedback are desired, such as the lower back, the arch of the foot, etc.); and (b) a body position feedback system engaged with or integrally formed as part of the garment structure. The body position feedback system may apply higher tensile or constricting (compressive) forces to selected portions of the wearer's body, which can help stimulate or interact with nerves and deep tissue receptors located in various portions of the body. The increased forces at selected locations of the body give the wearer sensory feedback regarding the position or orientation of these parts of the body and can improve or accelerate development of “muscle memory.”

According to one embodiment, a system for neurological stimulation of peripheral nerve fibers to treat low back pain is provided. The system includes stimulation electrodes adapted to be implanted in tissue proximate a network of peripheral nerve fibers located in and innervating a painful region of the low back area and to deliver electrical stimulation pulses to the network of peripheral nerve fibers located in and innervating the painful region of the low back area. The system also includes a stimulation source adapted for implantation into the person's body and operable to generate electrical stimulation pulses for transmission to the electrodes for delivery to the network of peripheral nerve fibers located in and innervating the painful region of the low back area to relieve pain in the painful region of the low back area.

A walking assistance device comprises a pelvic frame (10) extending from a lower back to each lateral side of a user, and a belly belt (20) for securing the pelvic frame in position. A power generator (30) is attached to each lateral side of the pelvic frame. A power transmitting arm (40) can be attached to an output member (33) of the power generator simply by hooking an upper part of a base end (41) of the power transmitting arm onto an upper groove (38) of the output member, and pushing a latch member or a slider (46) provided in a lower part of the base end onto a lower groove (39) of the output member. Therefore, the user wearing the pelvic frame (10) can easily attach the power transmitting arm (40) to the output end of the power generator (30) by using a single hand with ease and without requiring a help from a caretaker.

A garment including an adjustable weight support mechanism used to shift the weight and position of objects contained within pockets disposed on the garment is provided. The garment has a number of pockets including a storage pouch releasably attached to the rear of the garment. The support mechanism is attached to the garment and includes a pair of strap assemblies which extend from the shoulders of the garment downwardly towards the bottom of front and rear panels forming the garment. The first strap of each assembly is connected between the shoulder of the garment and the front panel. The second strap assembly is connected between the rear panel and the first strap, and is adjustable in length. When the second strap is pulled to shorten the length of the second strap, the second strap pulls the first strap downwardly and forwardly to pull the shoulders and rear panel of the garment upwardly and move the weight contained in the storage pouch upwardly onto the shoulders of the wearer of the garment, and off of the lower back.

The patient positioning device of this invention relates to an apparatus used to assist a patient into a supine position and additionally through which traction is applied to the spine, such as physical therapy and chiropractic treatment. The patient positioning device is preferably a stand alone portable device that can be readily transported and adapted to almost any horizontal surface, such as a treatment table. A primary application of the leg support of this invention is in raising and supporting a patient's lower legs during before, during, and after traction is applied to a patient. The device includes a lower support frame, vertical supports, and a leg support coupled to a top frame. The patient positioning device may also have a motor which powers the leg support to rotate from a lowered position, in which a patient's lower legs rest on the leg support, to an elevated position in which a patient's lower legs are elevated. Once in the elevated position, traction can be applied to the lower back preferably with a cable and a board that is placed across the front of a patient's thighs.

A thermal treatment device to be worn in close proximity to the skin of a human is disclosed. The thermal treatment device comprises a thermal composition; wherein the device substantially covers the left or right trapezius muscle of the neck and shoulder or the left or right paraspinal muscles in the lower back and the tender point of the respective sacroiliac joint.

A conformable brace used for supporting both the abdomen and lower back of a wearer in preventative and treatment applications. The brace includes an abdominal support panel (110) substantially enclosed within a support envelope (120), a lumbar support panel (210) having a dome-shaped protrusion (240) that complements the lumbar contour of the user's back, and a belt (320) that places the abdominal support panel (110) and the lumbar support panel (210) in opposed biasing arrangement against the torso of a user. The belt (320) is associated with the support envelope (120) and is also inserted though vertical slots (220) in the lumbar support panel (210). The belt (320) is used for infinitely adjustably selection of the biasing force needed by each user, the support envelope (120) evenly distributes the tension provided by the belt (320) across the abdominal support panel (110) for enhanced user comfort, and a Y-shaped end tab (400) comprising easily-releasable material helps the belt to remain secure during its use.

A prone crawling exerciser comprises upper limp support, left and right leg slides, track means and pulley and cable means, wherein, left and right leg slides each is mounted with wheels; track means comprises two parallel left and right tracks and track brackets, left and right tracks mounted on track brackets with a space from ground, upper limp support located on left and right track or track brackets; left and right leg slides are mounted on left and right tracks and are able to slide on left and right tracks through said wheels; pulley and cable means comprises pulley and cable, said pulleys mounted on track means, said cable reeving about said pulleys connecting at least left and right leg slides. This invention enables users to simulate an animal prone crawling motion. With its adjustable loading, it is suitable for various kinds of users with different physique and age, even for the upper limb disabled person. The user can specifically exercise his lower back and abdomen, pelvis and lower limbs with different load.