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US 12,766,024 B2Granted
Mobilizing musculoskeletal structures
OwnerJ.W. Barry Bruckmanninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for enclosing a finger includes a protective shell having an opening for receiving the finger. The protective shell defines an interior cavity that is sized and shaped to allow extension and flexion of the finger within the shell.
Claims10
A device for protecting an injured finger or thumb, the device comprising:
- a protective shell formed of at least one of a rigid and a semi-rigid material, the protective shell defining an interior cavity and an opening for receiving the injured finger or thumb into the interior cavity;
- and
- an attachment device configured to secure the protective shell to one or more musculoskeletal structures of a hand or arm adjacent to the injured finger or thumb, wherein the protective shell is configured to be held in place without being attached directly to the injured finger or thumb,
- wherein the interior cavity is sized and shaped to provide clearance space around the injured finger or thumb and is configured to allow the injured finger or thumb to move freely within the interior cavity relative to the protective shell and to allow partial or full extension and flexion of the injured finger or thumb within the interior cavity,
- wherein the protective shell comprises two opposing sidewalls, each oriented generally along a plane defined by an arc of motion of a distal end of the injured finger or thumb between an extended position and a flexed position,
- wherein distal ends of each respective one of the two opposing sidewalls are configured to extend beyond the distal end of the injured finger or thumb throughout at least a portion of the arc of motion,
- wherein a volar side of the protective shell comprises a generally semi-cylindrical geometry configured to provide clearance space to accommodate partial or full flexion and extension of the injured finger or thumb, and
- wherein the protective shell is configured to permit sliding movement of the injured finger or thumb relative to the protective shell during flexion and extension, wherein the protective shell is configured to remain substantially stationary relative to the musculoskeletal structures adjacent to the injured finger or thumb while the injured finger or thumb moves within the interior cavity.
5 more elements
A method for protecting an injured finger or thumb using a device that is not designed to be directly attached to the injured finger or thumb, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a device comprising a protective shell formed of at least one of a rigid and a semi-rigid material;
- sizing and shaping the protective shell to form an interior cavity configured to receive the injured finger or thumb and to provide space around the injured finger or thumb within the interior cavity, thus allowing the injured finger or thumb to move freely within the protective shell;
- configuring the protective shell to provide an opening for inserting the injured finger or thumb therein;
- configuring the protective shell to have two opposing sidewalls, wherein the two opposing sidewalls are each oriented generally parallel to a plane defined by an arc of motion of a distal end of the injured finger or thumb between an extended position and a flexed position, and wherein each respective one of the two opposing sidewalls is configured to extend beyond the distal end of the injured finger or thumb throughout at least a portion of the arc of motion;
- configuring the protective shell to provide space within the interior cavity to allow a desired range of extension and flexion of the injured finger or thumb;
- configuring the protective shell to be attached to one or more portions of a hand or arm adjacent to the injured finger or thumb;
- attaching the protective shell to the one or more portions of the hand or arm adjacent to the injured finger or thumb using one or more attachment devices;
- and
- permitting sliding movement of the injured finger or thumb relative to the protective shell during flexion and extension such that the protective shell remains substantially stationary relative to musculoskeletal structures adjacent to the injured finger or thumb while the injured finger or thumb moves within the interior cavity.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.