Surgery: splint – brace – or bandage – Orthopedic bandage – Skeletal traction applicator
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-18
2001-04-24
Brown, Michael A. (Department: 3764)
Surgery: splint, brace, or bandage
Orthopedic bandage
Skeletal traction applicator
C602S040000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06221037
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method for placing a patient's wrist in traction for the purpose of treating carpal tunnel syndrome, and provides a device such as the illustrated embodiment to hold the patient's arm in an anatomically neutral position while a harness connects the patient's hand to a traction unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The carpal bones or carpus of the wrist form a deeply concave gutter through which the Median Nerve and flexor tendons pass. The gutter is converted into a tunnel by a ligament, the flexor retinaculum. The crowded long flexor tendons emerge from the carpal tunnel and diverge as they pass down the hand. Usually, the flexor tendons are very slick and glide against each other in the carpal tunnel as the hand is used to grasp objects. However, any condition which causes irritation or inflammation of the tendons or surrounding tissue increases the pressure in the carpal tunnel because the carpal bones and flexor retinaculum ligament are not able to stretch in response to the swelling. Increased pressure in the carpal tunnel begins to squeeze the Median Nerve and the hand will feel numb or ache. This is commonly referred to as carpal tunnel syndrome.
The traditional treatments in the early stages of carpal tunnel syndrome include administering anti-inflammatory medication and splinting or immobilizing the wrist to allow the inflammation and swelling to subside. In more advanced cases, the flexor retinaculum ligament is cut, thereby opening a wall of the carpal tunnel and allowing sufficient space in the wrist to prevent the median nerve from being squeezed.
Obviously, surgery is to be avoided if possible, and to further that goal, the present invention provides an additional method to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, particularly in less advanced cases. The invention preferably consists of an attachment to exiting traction devices that will to enable a patient's wrist to be placed in traction. This wrist traction provides a slight longitudinal separation between the carpal bones in the wrist and the lower heads of the lower arm bones, the radius and the ulna. The slight separation provides some space to relieve compression in the carpal tunnel area.
A need exists to provide a therapeutic device which is distinguishable from a surgical traction splint. Surgical traction splints require surgery and often are associated with the surgical implantation of skeletal pins which is an invasive procedure. Skeletal pins are not natural to the body and may result in infection, or at least discomfort, to the patient. Therapeutic devices are devised to operate without the need to first perform surgery on the patient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an attachment for existing traction devices is provided with three principal components. The first component is an arm restraining segment that immobilizes the patient's arm in an anatomically neutral position and protects the patient's shoulder and elbow from injury during traction. The second component is a sling or harness to engage the patient's hand and connect it to the traction units. The final component is a mechanism to hold the arm immobilizing portion substantially stationary relative to the traction unit so that tension is applied to the patient's wrist.
With this device it is an object and advantage of the invention to apply traction to a patient's wrist to relieve symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, other tendon problems and muscle tightness.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a wrist traction attachment that is compatible with existing traction units.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a wrist traction device which may be used by patients with a substantial range of muscular strength and bone size with only simple adjustments.
It is yet another object of the invention to protect the patient's shoulder and elbow from strain during wrist traction and to position the patient's lower arm bones (the radius and ulna) in a generally parallel alignment.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the drawings and from a review of the specification following hereinafter describing the preferred embodiment which has been given by way of illustration only.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2091643 (1937-08-01), Longfellow
patent: 5003967 (1991-04-01), McConnell
patent: 5181904 (1993-01-01), Cook
patent: 5405312 (1995-04-01), Jacobs
Johnson Gordon C.
Johnson Ronald K.
Johnson William R.
Brown Michael A.
JB, Ltd. L.L.C.
Johnson Douglas T.
Miller & Martin LLP
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