Abstract: An orthosis for the support of a joint, adapted to the thumb or wrist, comprising: sleeve-like main member made of an elastic material, adapted to envelop the joint and distal and proximal limb portions on either side of the joint, elastically deformable panel housed in a pocket formed in the main member, and non-elastic bracing device for bracing the main member and a proximal portion of the panel around the proximal limb portion, the panel being configured such that, over at least 50% of the length of the main member along the limb portions, including a limb portion covered by the bracing device, the panel has a cross-section occupying more than 30% of the perimeter of the underlying limb, the panel having a stiffness defined by a Young's modulus between 5 and 10 MPa, while the material forming the main member has a stiffness of a lower order of magnitude.

Abstract: A knee orthosis including: a sleeve made of elastic fabric and configured to exert compressive forces on the knee, proximal and distal anchors for maintaining proximal and distal parts of the sleeve in fixed positions on the lower limb, and a panel including a viscoelastic layer of polymer gel fixed to an inner face of the sleeve, an annular part configured to surround the kneecap, and a distal tab, the viscoelastic layer having an adherence to the skin so, once stretched out longitudinally on the leg, the panel applies forces to the skin for supporting the kneecap, and the sleeve is formed from pieces of fabric including: a front piece supporting the panel, a rear piece and two lateral pieces, the rear and lateral pieces having moduli of elasticity in the axial direction which are respectively less than and greater than the modulus of elasticity of the front piece.

Abstract: A device protecting the plantar padding of a foot that includes a cushion including a viscoelastic material that is configured to be held against the skin of the plantar region and to cover all of the metatarsal heads and the metatarsophalangeal joints of the foot, and an elastic band attached to the cushion along two opposing transverse edges and by a tab configured to pass between the big toe and the adjacent toe of the foot. The band has a width configured to entirely cover side bulges formed by the metatarsophalangeal joints of the small and big toes. A portion of the band configured for contacting the top of the foot includes tacky elements on both sides thereof, which prevent the protective device from sliding on the skin when the device is placed on the foot and inside a sock surrounding the foot.

Abstract: A knee orthosis including: a sleeve made of elastic fabric and configured to exert compressive forces on the knee, proximal and distal anchors for maintaining proximal and distal parts of the sleeve in fixed positions on the lower limb, and a panel including a viscoelastic layer of polymer gel fixed to an inner face of the sleeve, an annular part configured to surround the kneecap, and a distal tab, the viscoelastic layer having an adherence to the skin so, once stretched out longitudinally on the leg, the panel applies forces to the skin for supporting the kneecap, and the sleeve is formed from pieces of fabric including: a front piece supporting the panel, a rear piece and two lateral pieces, the rear and lateral pieces having moduli of elasticity in the axial direction which are respectively less than and greater than the modulus of elasticity of the front piece.

Abstract: An extra-light orthosis includes a woven elastic fabric sleeve, shaped to exert compression forces on a member on either side of and on a joint, and a plate fixed onto an inner face of the sleeve to come into direct contact with the skin on the joint, the plate including an elastic fabric layer onto which a layer of polymer gel is adhered, an annular part shaped to surround the top of a joint protruding area, and a tab extending from an outer edge of the annular part, in an axial direction of the sleeve, the plate adhering to the skin such that, under the effect of the compression forces exerted by the sleeve, when the sleeve is longitudinally stretched, the plate remains stretched and applies tensile forces locally to the skin parallel to the surface of the skin, toward the center of the annular part and of the joint.

Abstract: A supporting or compressing device configured to surround a limb or a joint of a user, including an elastic band having two band segments having different stiffness values, the elastic band having an inner face in contact with an area covered by the band and an outer face opposite to the inner face, the inner face of the band providing, in the presence of a compression pressure exerted when the band is fitted under traction around a limb or joint, an adhesion with the covered area, such that the two segments of the band conserve elongations resulting from different traction forces, after removal of the traction forces.

Abstract: A device protects the plantar padding of a foot, wherein: a cushion including a viscoelastic material, configured to be held against the skin of the plantar region, and covering all of the metatarsal heads and the metatarsophalangeal joints of the foot, and an elastic band attached to the cushion along two opposing transverse edges, and by a tab configured to pass between the big toe and the adjacent toe of the foot, the band having a width configured to entirely cover side bulges formed by the metatarsophalangeal joints of the small and big toes, wherein a portion of the band configured for contacting the top of the foot includes tacky elements on both sides thereof, thereby preventing the protective device from sliding on the skin when it is placed on the foot and inside a sock surrounding the foot.

Abstract: An extra-light orthosis includes a woven elastic fabric sleeve, shaped to exert compression forces on a member on either side of and on a joint, and a plate fixed onto an inner face of the sleeve to come into direct contact with the skin on the joint, the plate including an elastic fabric layer onto which a layer of polymer gel is adhered, an annular part shaped to surround the top of a joint protruding area, and a tab extending from an outer edge of the annular part, in an axial direction of the sleeve, the plate adhering to the skin such that, under the effect of the compression forces exerted by the sleeve, when the sleeve is longitudinally stretched, the plate remains stretched and applies tensile forces locally to the skin parallel to the surface of the skin, toward the center of the annular part and of the joint.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a protective layer for protecting skin and tissues in a vicinity of the skin includes the steps of: forming a mixture comprising approximately 15% of dimethyl-vinyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane with a viscosity greater than 20,000 mPa·s, approximately 25% of dimethyl-vinyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane with a viscosity between 200 and 20,000 mPa·s, approximately 45% of trimethyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane, approximately 12% of trimethylsiloxy-treated pyrogenic silica, and approximately 3% of dimethyl-hydrogen-terminated co-polydimethylsiloxane-polymethyl-hydrogen-siloxane; polymerizing at least partially the mixture to obtain a polymer gel; and forming the protective layer using the polymer gel. The polymer gel has, at a temperature of 35° C.

Abstract: A device for protecting an area of skin of a human body includes a plate. The plate includes a first face covered by an external layer and a second face opposite the external layer. The second face is configured to be applied onto an area of skin to be protected. The plate also includes a protective part made of a polymer gel and at least one adhesive part made of a polymer gel. The protective part is configured to ensure mechanical protection of the area to be protected and the adhesive part is configured to come into contact with the skin. The adhesive part has an adhesive power greater than an adhesive power of the protective layer to hold the plate on the area to be protected.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a protection device includes the steps of forming a plurality of cells in a support strip, filling the cells with a non-cross-linked compound, cross-linking the compound to form at least one module made of viscoelastic gel in the plurality of cells, depositing an adhesive substance on each module, and depositing a strip of fabric on the support strip to obtain a final compound strip. The at least one module made of viscoelastic gel is glued onto the strip of fabric by the adhesive substance.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a protective layer for protecting skin and tissues in a vicinity of the skin includes the steps of: forming a mixture comprising approximately 15% of dimethyl-vinyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane with a viscosity greater than 20,000 mPa.s, approximately 25% of dimethyl-vinyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane with a viscosity between 200 and 20,000 mPa.s, approximately 45% of trimethyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane, approximately 12% of trimethylsiloxy-treated pyrogenic silica, and approximately 3% of dimethyl-hydrogen-terminated co-polydimethylsiloxane-polymethyl-hydrogen-siloxane; polymerizing at least partially the mixture to obtain a polymer gel; and forming the protective layer using the polymer gel. The polymer gel has at 35° C., when a stress frequency varies between 0 and 100 Rd/s, a rigidity or elastic component varying from 11,000 to 20,000 Pa, a viscosity or cushioning component varying from 700 to 8,000 Pa, and a cushioning factor or Tan Delta varying from 0.06 to 0.38.

Abstract: A device for protecting an area of skin of a human body includes a plate. The plate includes a first face covered by an external layer and a second face opposite the external layer. The second face is configured to be applied onto an area of skin to be protected. The plate also includes a protective part made of a polymer gel and at least one adhesive part made of a polymer gel. The protective part is configured to ensure mechanical protection of the area to be protected and the adhesive part is configured to come into contact with the skin. The adhesive part has an adhesive power greater than an adhesive power of the protective layer to hold the plate on the area to be protected.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a protection device includes the steps of forming a plurality of cells in a support strip, filling the cells with a non-cross-linked compound, cross-linking the compound to form at least one module made of viscoelastic gel in the plurality of cells, depositing an adhesive substance on each module, and depositing a strip of fabric on the support strip to obtain a final compound strip. The at least one module made of viscoelastic gel is glued onto the strip of fabric by the adhesive substance.