Surgery: splint – brace – or bandage – Orthopedic bandage – Splint or brace
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-04
2004-05-25
DeMille, Danton D. (Department: 3764)
Surgery: splint, brace, or bandage
Orthopedic bandage
Splint or brace
C602S064000, C128S879000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06740056
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for supporting a wrist, and more particularly to a wrist support used for abating the affects of carpal tunnel syndrome.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition of the hand caused by swelling of the synovial membrane, tendon inflammation, and any condition that reduces the available space in the carpal tunnel. Activities that cause flexion of the wrist and fingers, such as repetitive and forceful grasping of the hands and repetitive bending of the wrist, are common causes of carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome can also be caused from injury or trauma such as blunt contusions, wrist bone dislocations and fractures which compromise the carpal tunnel, thereby resulting in pressure on the median nerve. Common symptoms of this condition include pain and numbness of the hand. Specifically, these symptoms are caused when a dense fibrous tissue called the transverse carpal ligament forms over and compresses the median nerve.
Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome varies according to the severity of the condition. Severe conditions usually require hand surgery to sever the transverse carpal ligament. For less severe cases, the use of a splint, which immobilizes the wrist, is sometimes effective, often in combination with anti-inflammatory medication. Such treatments are generally expensive, painful and may reduce the patient's ability to use the affected hand.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a particular problem for workers in industries which require repeated manual hand motions, such as modern day keyboard operations. In response to this problem, keyboard wrist rest and wrist devices have become ubiquitous.
The keyboard wrist rests are intended to keep the hand and wrist at about a 15° angle, which is referred to as the neutral position. However, the keyboard wrist rests provide no benefit except when the hand is placed properly thereon.
Wrist devices for the treatment or prevention of carpal tunnel syndrome include bracelets, gloves and wrist support. These devices have limitations such as being configured for use with only the left hand or the right hand, impede free motion of the hand and digits of the hand that is unrelated to carpal tunnel syndrome, are uncomfortable to wear and do not prevent the wrist from dropping below the neutral position.
Bracelets create pressure points around the wrist to alleviate carpal tunnel syndrome; however, these pressure points can be uncomfortable to the wearer. Moreover, brackets do not maintain the wrist in the neutral position.
Gloves are configured for either the right hand or the left hand to provide protection from vibrations and shocks which can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. However, the gloves may not maintain the wrist in a normal position and can impede free motion of the hand and digits.
Traditional wrist supports are adapted for either the left or right hand, and enclose the wrist and at least a portion of hand. Since the hand is partially encased, these devices unnecessarily restrict hand mobility and are uncomfortable to wear.
Additionally, wrist supports typically utilize a rigid stay to maintain the wrist in the neutral position. The stay in conventional wrist supports generally is too narrow and causes pressure points and ridge-lined surfaces which are uncomfortable, or, the stay is too wide and will not bend or conform to the circumference of the wrist.
Another problem is that the wrist device should provide support at or near the center of the hypothenar eminence, and at or near the thenar eminence in order to restrict opposition between the thumb and the fifth digit to prevent excess flexion. Narrow rigid stays do not cover the necessary surface area, while wide stays do not conform to the palm, and thus create gaps, pressure points and ridge-lines.
Accordingly, what is needed is a device for the treatment and prevention of carpal tunnel syndrome which keeps the wrist and hand from drooping below the neutral position. Also needed is for the device to not impede movement and use of the hand and digits of the hand in directions unrelated to carpal tunnel syndrome. Moreover, the device should restrict opposition between the thumb and fifth digit. Additionally needed is for the device to be interchangeably usable with either the left hand or right hand. Further, the device should be comfortable to wear.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Applicant is aware of the following U.S. patents concerning wrist support devices.
U.S. Pat.
No.
Inventor
Issue Date
Title
5,769,804
Harris et al.
Jun. 23, 1998
CARPAL TUNNEL
SYNDROME WRIST
BRACE
5,746,707
Donald Eck
May 5, 1998
CARPAL TUNNEL
SYNDROME
EXTERNAL BRACE
5,468,220
Benjamin Sucher
Nov. 21, 1995
CARPAL TUNNEL
BRACELET
5,417,645
Roger Lemmen
May 23, 1995
FLEXIBLE WRIST
SPLINT FOR
CARPAL TUNNEL
SYNDROME
TREATMENT
5,385,537
Mark Davini
Jan. 31, 1995
SPLINT SYSTEM
5,214,799
John Fabry
Jun. 1, 1993
PROTECTIVE GLOVE
FOR THE
PREVENTION OF
CARPAL TUNNEL
SYNDROME
5,160,314
Helena Peters
Nov. 3, 1992
WRIST SUPPORT
4,850,341
Fabry et al.
Jun. 25, 1989
GLOVE FOR
PROPHYLAXIS
OF CARPAL TUNNEL
SYNDROME
4,531,241
Saul Berger
Jul. 30, 1985
HAND GLOVE
Harris et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,804, discloses a carpal tunnel syndrome wrist brace to immobilize the wrist after carpal tunnel syndrome surgery. The brace includes a shell having first and second edges lined with a plurality of eyelets and both of the edges being connected together by a tongue stitched therebetween. The shell includes a thumb hole for receiving a thumb and is shaped to fit a patient's wrist such that the patient can insert the hand and wrist into the proximal end of the shell and extend four fingers through the distal end of the shell with the thumb through the thumb hole. The shell is then secured to the patient's wrist to activate immobilization of the wrist using a pair of hook and loop fasteners and a plurality of laces.
Eck, U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,707, teaches a wrist restraining device for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome wherein the device comprises a palmer brace which restrains the wrist, thumb and fifth digit, with unrestricted motion of the second, third, and fourth digits, to relieve pressure on the median nerve in the wrist.
Sucher, U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,220, provides a bracelet-like device for the treatment or prevention of carpal tunnel syndrome where the device includes a C-shaped member having a central portion located over the dorsal side of the wrist and two arms encircling the wrist. Each arm has a pad for engaging the palm near the attachment edges of the carpal ligament at the medial border and the lateral border of the carpal bones. The device also includes a pad attached to the central portion for engaging the dorsal part of the wrist.
Lemmen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,645, discloses a flexible splint for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. The splint includes an elongate, flexible member having a palmer portion and an elongate proximal portion. The palmer portion has a curved sickle shape and defines a thumb notch. The palmer portion is angled with respect to the proximal portion to position the hand in a near normal anatomical position. Elastic straps attach the splint to the wrist and palm of the user.
Davini, U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,537, discloses a splint including a brace which cradles either the radius or the ulna of the wrist and an attachment strap which embraces the other two bones. The brace and the strap act to approximate the radius and the ulna toward one another to support the carpal tunnel without allowing compression of the anterior surface of the carpal tunnel.
Fabry, U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,799, teaches a glove for preventing carpal tunnel syndrome wherein the glove has a palm-covering padding which protects the wearer's hand. The pad is made of a resilient flexible material to provide protection from vibrations and shocks which can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. The glove also has a fold line extending diagonally across the palm to facilitate gripping the handle of an implem
DeMille Danton D.
Dougherty Clements & Hofer
FLA Orthopedics, Inc.
Yu Justine
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