US-20260124057-A1 - MUSCULOSKELETAL APPARATUS, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS OPERABLE TO ADMINISTER ENERGY PRESCRIPTIONS AND VERIFY THEIR EFFICACY

US20260124057A1US 20260124057 A1US20260124057 A1US 20260124057A1US-20260124057-A1

Abstract

Aspects of musculoskeletal apparatus, methods, and systems are disclosed. One aspect includes a brace that is wearable on a limb and operable to guide and support movements of a muscoskeletal joint of the limb; a plurality of multi-energy generators that are attachable to the brace at different treatment sites about the joint, each multi-energy generator comprising: a plurality of generator elements operable to output a plurality of different energy types toward the joint at one of the treatment sites, each generator element being operable to output one of the plurality of different energy types, and a heat sink that dissipates excess heat into air surrounding the limb; and a structure that attaches the multi-energy generators to the brace and is operable when the brace is worn to press the energy generators toward the different treatment sites during the movements of the joint. Related apparatus, methods, and systems also are described.

Inventors

Matthew Robert Leaper

Assignees

DATAFEEL INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20231009

Claims (20)

1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A system comprising: a brace that is wearable on a limb, the brace comprising frames and one or more living hinges operable to guide and support movements of a muscoskeletal joint of the limb by limiting rotational movements of the muscoskeletal joint when the brace is worn; a plurality of multi-energy generators that are attachable to the brace and positionable at different treatment sites about the muscoskeletal joint when the brace is worn, each multi-energy generator of the plurality of multi-energy generators comprising: a plurality of generator elements operable to output a plurality of different energy types in a signal direction toward the muscoskeletal joint at one treatment site of the different treatment sites, each generator element of the plurality of generator elements being independently operable to output one energy type of the plurality of different energy types, and a heat sink that dissipates excess heat generated from the plurality of generator elements into air surrounding the limb; and a lattice structure comprising a plurality of cords, a plurality of nodes, and a plurality of openings, the plurality of cords forming an elastic open framework that structurally interconnects the plurality of nodes to one another and the frame, the plurality of nodes containing the plurality of multi-energy generators and being operable with the plurality of cords to attach the plurality of multi-energy generators to the frames and, when the brace is worn, to press the plurality of multi-energy generators toward the different treatment sites during the movements of the muscoskeletal joint, the plurality of openings being located between the plurality of nodes.
22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein: the frames comprise a first beam with a first 3D curved shape that wraps partially around a first portion of the limb on a first side of the muscoskeletal joint and a second beam with a second 3D curved shape that wraps partially around a second portion of the limb on a second side of the muscoskeletal joint; and the one or more living hinges are operable with the first beam and the second beam to guide and support the movements of the muscoskeletal joint by limiting rotational movements of the first portion of the limb relative to the second portion of the limb during the movements.
23 . The system of claim 21 , wherein: the limb is a leg; the muscoskeletal joint is a knee of the leg comprising a patella, an ACL, an MCL, and a pes anserine; and the different treatment sites are located approximate to the patella, the ACL, the MCL, and the pes anserine.
24 . The system of claim 23 , comprising a sleeve that is: separate from the brace; wearable under the brace; and comprises sleeve openings that are located approximate to the different treatment sites and sized to position skin-facing sides of the plurality of multi-energy generators against skin of the muscoskeletal joint when the sleeve is worn under the brace.
25 . The system of claim 24 , wherein: the sleeve openings comprise: a plurality of interface openings sized to receive the skin-contacting surfaces of the plurality of multi-generators; and at least one injection opening that is located to permit injection of a fluid through the sleeve and into the patella, the ACL, the MCL, or the pes anserine when the brace is worn.
26 . The system of claim 21 , wherein: each heat sink comprises a backing plate and a plurality of fins extending outwardly from the backing plate; and each multi-energy generator of the plurality of multi-energy generators is thermally coupled to the backing plate.
27 . The system of claim 26 , wherein: the plurality of different energy types comprise a thermal energy comprising hot or cold; and the plurality of generator elements of each multi-energy generator of the plurality of multi-energy generators comprise a thermoelectric device with: a skin-facing side that is positioned on skin of the muscoskeletal joint and operable to output one of the hot or cold to the skin when the brace is worn; and an outward-facing side that is thermally coupled to the backing plate and operable to dissipate the other one of the hot or cold into the air surrounding the limb via a surface area of the plurality of fins.
28 . The system of claim 27 , wherein: the thermoelectric device comprises an annular perimeter shape and an I-shaped cross section defining an interior indention; and a perimeter edge of the PCB is located within the interior indention and thermally isolated from the thermoelectric device with an epoxy.
29 . The system of claim 28 , wherein the plurality of cords define lumens extending between the plurality of the nodes and the frame and the system comprises: electrical conductors that extend through the lumens and are electrically connected to the PCB of each multi-energy generator of the plurality of multi-energy generators; and thermally insulated thermal conductors that extend through the lumens and are thermally coupled to the frame and the heat sink of each multi-energy generator of the plurality of multi-energy generators.
30 . The system of claim 29 , wherein: the plurality of different energy types comprise a vibratory energy; and the plurality of generator elements of each multi-energy generator of the plurality of multi-energy generators comprise an electromechanical actuator that is operable to output the vibratory energy and comprises a skin-facing side that is positioned on or adjacent the skin of the muscoskeletal joint when the brace is worn.
31 . The system of claim 21 , wherein: the plurality of different energy types comprise one or more of an electrical energy, a light energy, a thermal energy, a pressure energy, and a vibratory energy; and each generator element of the plurality of generator elements of each multi-energy generator of the plurality of multi-energy generators comprises circuitry that is independently operable to output the one or more of the electrical energy, the light energy, the thermal energy, the pressure energy, and the vibratory energy.
32 . The system of claim 21 , comprising: a power source that is mounted to the frames and operable with the plurality of generator elements to output the plurality of different energy types; a controller operable with the power source to cause the plurality of multi-energy generators to output the plurality of different energy types; one or more usage sensors operable with the power source and the controller to output usage data associated with the brace; and one or more efficacy sensors operable with the power source and the controller to output physiological data associated with the muscoskeletal joint.
33 . A system comprising: a brace that is wearable on a limb, the brace comprising frames and hinges operable to guide and support movements of a muscoskeletal joint of the limb by restricting rotational movements of the limb when the brace is worn; a plurality of multi-energy generators that are attachable to the brace and positionable at different treatment sites about the muscoskeletal joint when the brace is worn, each multi-energy generator of the plurality of multi-energy generators comprising: a plurality of generator elements operable to output a plurality of different energy types in a signal direction toward the muscoskeletal joint at one treatment site of the different treatment sites, each generator element of the plurality of generator elements being independently operable to output one energy type of the plurality of different energy types, and a heat sink that dissipates excess heat generated from the plurality of generator elements into air surrounding the limb; and a lattice structure comprising a plurality of cords, a plurality of nodes, and a plurality of openings, the plurality of cords forming an elastic open framework that structurally interconnects the plurality of nodes to one another and the frame, the plurality of nodes containing the plurality of multi-energy generators and being operable with the plurality of cords to attach the plurality of multi-energy generators to the frames and, when the brace is worn, to press skin-facing sides of the plurality of multi-energy generators toward the different treatment sites during the movements of the muscoskeletal joint, the plurality of openings being located between the plurality of nodes and sized to permit injection of a treatment fluid into the muscoskeletal joint at locations below the different treatment sites when the brace is worn, an exterior surface of each node of the plurality of nodes being operable with a needle to inject the treatment fluid into the locations through one or more openings of the plurality of openings without removing the brace.
34 . The system of claim 33 , wherein: the frames comprise a first beam with a first 3D curved shape that wraps partially around a first portion of the limb on a first side of the muscoskeletal joint and a second beam with a second 3D curved shape that wraps partially around a second portion of the limb on a second side of the muscoskeletal joint; and the hinges are operable with the first beam and the second beam to guide and support the movements of the muscoskeletal joint by limiting rotational movements of the first portion of the limb relative to the second portion of the limb during the movements.
35 . The system of claim 33 , wherein: the limb is a leg; the muscoskeletal joint is a knee of the leg comprising a patella, an ACL, an MCL, and a pes anserine; and the different treatment sites are located approximate to the patella, the ACL, the MCL, and the pes anserine.
36 . The system of claim 35 , comprising a sleeve that is: separate from the brace; wearable under the brace; and comprises sleeve openings that are located approximate to the different treatment sites and sized to position skin-facing sides of the plurality of multi-energy generators against skin of the muscoskeletal joint when the sleeve is worn under the brace.
37 . The system of claim 36 , wherein: the sleeve openings comprise: a plurality of interface openings sized to receive the skin-contacting surfaces of the plurality of multi-generators; and at least one injection opening that is located to permit injection of a fluid through the sleeve and into the patella, the ACL, the MCL, or the pes anserine when the brace is worn.
38 . The system of claim 33 , wherein: each heat sink comprises a backing plate and a plurality of fins extending outwardly from the backing plate; and each multi-energy generator of the plurality of multi-energy generators is thermally coupled to the backing plate.
39 . The system of claim 38 , wherein: the plurality of different energy types comprise a thermal energy comprising hot or cold; and the plurality of generator elements of each multi-energy generator of the plurality of multi-energy generators comprise a thermoelectric device with: a skin-facing side that is positioned on skin of the muscoskeletal joint and operable to output one of the hot or cold to the skin when the brace is worn; and an outward-facing side that is thermally coupled to the backing plate and operable to dissipate the other one of the hot or cold into the air surrounding the limb via a surface area of the plurality of fins.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a § 371 National Stage Entry of International Patent App. No. PCT/US23/34768, filed Oct. 9, 2023, claiming the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 63/414,140, filed May 5, 2023, and U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 63/464,537, filed Oct. 7, 2022, the entireties of which are incorporated by reference into this application. TECHNICAL FIELD Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to musculoskeletal apparatus, methods, and systems. Some aspects are described with reference to examples operable to administer energy prescriptions and verify their efficacy. BACKGROUND Many musculoskeletal injuries cannot heal effectively without immobilization and restraint. For injuries associated with a joint like the knee, for example, it is common to deploy a structural brace that limits lateral movements of the superior leg relative to the inferior leg in the coronal plane while permitting and often guiding walking movements of the superior leg relative to the inferior leg in the sagittal plane. Various medications are often prescribed and used to treat pain associated with the injury, making it easier for the injured party walk with support of the structure brace. It is known that some of these medications can be habit forming, such as opiates, potentially causing more harm than good. It is also known that a thermal energy like cold from an ice pack may be applied to treat the pain. Further improvements are required to enable and promote the prescription of additional forms of energy-based treatments or “energy prescriptions” as viable alternatives to medication-based treatments. SUMMARY Numerous aspects are described in this disclosure. One aspect of this disclosure is a system. The system may comprise a brace that is wearable on a limb and operable to guide and support movements of a muscoskeletal joint of the limb; a plurality of multi-energy generators that are attachable to the brace at different treatment sites about the muscoskeletal joint, each multi-energy generator of the plurality of multi-energy generators comprising: a plurality of generator elements operable to output a plurality of different energy types in a signal direction toward the muscoskeletal joint at one treatment site of the different treatment sites, each generator element of the plurality of generator elements being independently operable to output one energy type of the plurality of different energy types, and a heat sink that dissipates excess heat generated from the plurality of generator elements into air surrounding the limb; and a structure that attaches the plurality of multi-energy generators to the brace and is operable when the brace is worn to press the plurality of energy generators toward the different treatment sites during the movements of the joint. The brace may comprise a first frame wearable on one side of the muscoskeletal joint, a second frame wearable on an opposite side of the muscoskeletal joint, and one or more hinges operable to guide and support the movements of the muscoskeletal joint by limiting rotational movements of the first frame relative to the second frame. The system may comprise a power source for the plurality of multi-energy generators that is mounted to and contain in a structural member of the frame. The brace may comprise an open network of beam elements operable to obtain a form-fit with the muscoskeletal joint. The brace may comprise one or more living hinges operable to guide and support the movements of the muscoskeletal joint by limiting rotational movements of the joint. The system may comprise a sleeve that is wearable under the brace and comprises openings located approximate to the different treatment sites. The openings may comprise: a plurality of interface openings sized to receive skin-contacting surfaces of the plurality of generators, and at least one injection opening that is located to permit injection of a fluid through the sleeve and into the muscoskeletal joint at a location under one or more of the plurality of openings. The plurality of different energy types may comprise a thermal energy and the plurality of generator elements of each multi-energy generator of the plurality of multi-energy generators comprise a thermoelectric cooler that is operable to output the thermal energy and thermally coupled to the heat sink. Each multi-energy generator of the plurality of multi-energy generators may comprise a PCB board; and a skin-facing side of the thermoelectric cooler may be positioned toward the skin, an outward-facing side of the thermoelectric cooler may be positioned away from the skin and thermally coupled to the heat sink, and a portion of the thermoelectric cooler may be located between its skin-facing and outward-facing sides is attached to a perimeter edge of the PCB board. The thermoelectric cooler comprises an annular perimeter shape and an I-shaped cross section defined by first annular