US-20260124101-A1 - MODULAR THERAPEUTIC DEVICE AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF

Abstract

The current invention includes a therapeutic medical device, specifically, a modular myofascial release device configured to perform directed, or self-directed myofascial release, deep tissue massage, or joint mobilization as a single or modular unit on a subject in need thereof.

Inventors

• Nicholas Scott Reynolds

Assignees

• BUENAONDA LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20260105

Claims (18)

1. 1 - 20 . (canceled)
2. 21 . A therapeutic device comprising: two compression spheres, each compression sphere of the two compression spheres being made from an elastomeric material and having an annular channel penetrating a portion of a length of each compression sphere; and a hollow connector including an outer surface, which is cylindrical, and an inner surface, which is also cylindrical and spaced from the outer surface, the hollow connector being insertable into the annular channel of each compression sphere of the two compression spheres, and when the hollow connector is inserted into the annular channel of one compression sphere of the two compression spheres the hollow connector being secured in position by friction exerted by the elastomeric material of the one compression sphere on both the outer surface and the inner surface of the hollow connector.
3. 22 . The therapeutic device of claim 21 , wherein when the hollow connector is inserted into the annular channel of the one compression sphere of the two compression spheres the hollow connector being secured in position by a compression force exerted by the elastomeric material of the one compression sphere on both the outer surface and the inner surface of the hollow connector.
4. 23 . The therapeutic device of claim 22 , wherein when the hollow connector includes a recessed notch positioned adjacent a terminal end of the hollow connector, and when the hollow connector is inserted into the annular channel of the one compression sphere of the two compression spheres the elastomeric material of the one compression sphere conforms to the recessed notch.
5. 24 . The therapeutic device of claim 23 , wherein the recessed notch is annular.
6. 25 . The therapeutic device of claim 23 , wherein an extension is provided along a surface of the annular channel, the extension being configured to be mated with the recessed notch.
7. 26 . The therapeutic device of claim 25 , wherein the recessed notch is annular, and wherein when the extension is annular.
8. 27 . The therapeutic device of claim 26 , wherein the extension provided along the surface of the annular channel mates with the recessed notch on the outer surface of the hollow connector forming a connection preventing retraction of the hollow connector from the annular channel, and a predetermined lateral force on the one of the compression spheres or the hollow connector overcomes the frictional force holding the hollow connector in the annular channel.
9. 28 . A therapeutic device, comprising: two compressive spheres, each defining an outside surface and a center, each sphere having a channel extending from each respective outside surface toward each respective center so that each respective channel is accessible from each respective outside surface; and an elongated connector being sized and shaped to selectively engage, at a first magnitude of friction, within each respective channel of the two spheres to connect the two spheres and provide two connected spheres and the connector being of sufficient length to separate the two connected spheres a predetermined distance thereby exposing a portion of the connector between two connected spheres so that the two connected spheres can be used as a first therapeutic device; wherein at least one of each respective sphere being selectively removable from the connector by applying sufficient lateral force between at least one sphere of the two spheres and the connector to overcome the first magnitude of friction, so that a separated sphere can be used alone as a second therapeutic device.
10. 29 . The therapeutic device of claim 28 , wherein the connector is hollow including an outer surface, which is cylindrical, and an inner surface, which is also cylindrical and spaced from the outer surface.
11. 30 . The therapeutic device of claim 29 , wherein the connector includes a recessed notch provided on the outer surface positioned adjacent a terminal end of the connector.
12. 31 . The therapeutic device of claim 30 , wherein the recessed notch is annular.
13. 32 . The therapeutic device of claim 31 , wherein an extension is provided along a surface of the channel, the extension being annular and configured to be mated with the recessed notch.
14. 33 . The therapeutic device of claim 32 , wherein the extension provided along the surface of the channel mates with the recessed notch on the outer surface of the connector forming a connection preventing retraction of the connector from the channel, and the sufficient lateral force on the at least one sphere or the connector overcomes the first magnitude of friction holding the connector in the channel.
15. 34 . The therapeutic device of claim 33 , wherein each sphere is made from an elastomeric material and each respective channel is an annular channel, when the connector is inserted into each channel of the two spheres the connector being secured in position by friction exerted by the elastomeric material of the respective sphere on both the outer surface and the inner surface of the connector.
16. 35 . The therapeutic device of claim 34 , wherein when the connector is inserted into each channel of the two spheres the connector being secured in position by a compressive force exerted by the elastomeric material of the respective sphere on both the outer surface and the inner surface of the connector.
17. 36 . A therapeutic device comprising: two compression spheres, each compression sphere of the two compression spheres being made from an elastomeric material and having an annular channel penetrating a portion of a length of each compression sphere, wherein an extension is provided along a surface of the annular channel; and a hollow connector including an outer surface, an inner surface, which is spaced from the outer surface, and a recessed notch on the outer surface, the hollow connector being insertable into the annular channel of each compression sphere of the two compression spheres, and when the hollow connector is inserted into the annular channel of one compression sphere of the two compression spheres the hollow connector being secured in position by the elastomeric material of the extension of the one compression sphere conforming to the recessed notch.
18. 37 . The therapeutic device of claim 36 , wherein the recessed notch is annular.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/212,204, filed Jun. 18, 2021. The entire specification and figures of the above-referenced application are hereby incorporated, in their entirety by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a device and a method for a therapeutic device, and particularly a modular device configured for myofascial release therapy and deep tissue massage during physical therapy and as part of an ongoing program of self-care and maintenance. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Myofascial release is a type of soft tissue therapy utilizing tissue manipulation to achieve muscle relaxation via stretching and autogenic inhibition. Myofascial release techniques find applicability in many fields, including massage therapy, physical therapy, and chiropractic care, for example to correct or improve the health of multiple body parts and tissues such as muscles and fascia. When muscles are sore or damaged, they may contract. Contracted muscles may lead to immobility and pain in the area of the contracted muscle. Fascia is a connective tissue that covers muscles. Fascia can become restrictive from, for example, overuse, trauma, and inflammation, which may lead to adhesion formation, further muscle spasm, and decreased blood flow to the corresponding muscle. Myofascial release techniques generally focus on relaxing contracted muscles and restricted fascia by stimulating proprioceptors and mechanoreceptors in the muscle of interest. Conventionally, myofascial release techniques include a therapist or chiropractor repeatedly pressing or “kneading” a muscle of interest until release is achieved. However, these techniques are laborious for the health care provider, often result in painful therapy for the patient, and allow the patient's reflexes to work against the health care provider, leading at times to less than favorable therapeutic results. In many instances, patients may benefit from performing self-myofascial release and self-massage to treat a variety of conditions as notes above. Self-myofascial rollers are often utilized in self-myofascial release therapy. The self-myofascial devices are rolled across each muscle group (e.g., gastrocnemius, latissimus dorsi, piriformis, adductors, quadriceps, hamstrings, hip flexors, trapezius, rhomboids, and the tensor fasciae latae muscles), the user maintaining pressure from the self-myofascial roller on selected areas for selected periods of time. Self-myofascial rollers may be constructed of foam and/or hard plastics. Foam rollers tend to lose their shape with extended use, in turn decreasing the foam roller's ability to provide the requisite pressure for self-myofascial release. On the other hand, hard plastic rollers provide a consistently firm surface that can in turn be uncomfortable for the user. Self-myofascial rollers have been proposed that combine hard plastic cores with foam outer shells. These combination rollers alleviate some of the discomfort, but the foam outer shell eventually still loses its shape and effectiveness with extended use. It is therefore desirable to provide therapeutic devices that can used by medical professionals and individual to perform self-myofascial release and self-massage that are comfortable, durable, effective, and that can be modularly adjusted to conform to a variety of body types, locations and therapeutic techniques. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One aspect of the current invention includes a myofascial release device. In one preferred aspect, the myofascial release device of the invention may be configured to perform directed, such as by a medical professional, or self-directed myofascial release or deep tissue massage on a subject in need thereof. In this preferred aspect, the myofascial release device of the invention may be configured to perform directed, or self-directed myofascial release or deep tissue massage along the spine or one or more major muscle group, such as gastrocnemius, latissimus dorsi, piriformis, adductors, quadriceps, hamstrings, hip flexors, trapezius, rhomboids, and the tensor fasciae latae muscles in a subject in need thereof. Another aspect of the current invention includes a modular myofascial release device. In one preferred aspect, the modular myofascial release device of the invention may be configured to perform directed, or self-directed myofascial release or deep tissue massage as a single or modular unit on a subject in need thereof. In one preferred embodiment, the modular myofascial release device may include a plurality of compression spheres coupled by a connector. Such coupling may be integral or transitory in nature. For example, in another preferred aspect, one or more compression spheres may be decoupled from the device and used for to perform directed, or self-directed myofascial release or deep tissue massage. Another aspect of the current invention includes a vibrating