US 4,706,658 AGranted

Gloved splint

OwnerPenny S. Cronininventor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A gloved splint is adapted for use in conjunction with physical therapy necessitated by injury or disease and to preclude grotesque distortion of the fingers due to rheumatoid arthritis induced muscle contractions. Hinged finger splints, with or without a hinged thumb splint, extending from a palm splint, permit flexing of specific joints in normal manner while precluding sideways flexing at any of the joints; moreover, inflexible or particularly molded finger and/or thumb splints may be incorporated to assist particular therapeutic treatment. A glovelike envelope, fillable with a fluid, incapsulates the hand, fingers and thumb and provides a shock absorbent buffer to minimize transmission of painful blows and jolts to the hand; a further envelope attendant a wrist portion of the glove serves as a reservoir for delivering fluid to and receiving fluid from the glovelike envelope. Insulation, vents and fluid transfer capability may be included to minimize pain, to increase comfort or assist therapy through application or withdrawal of heat.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A hand protector for supporting and protecting selected ones of the fingers and thumb of a disease stricken or injured hand, said hand protector comprising in combination:

(a) a palm splint positionable in juxtaposed relationship to the palm of the hand;
(b) selected ones of finger splints and a thumb splint extending from said palm splint for supporting the respective fingers and thumb in a predetermined relationship to the palm of the hand;
(c) glove means for maintaining said palm splint and said selected finger splints and thumb splint in juxtaposed relationship with the corresponding parts of the hand, said glove means including;
i. a first envelope for holding fluid in juxtaposed relationship with at least a portion of the parts of the hand supported by said palm splint, and the selected ones of said finger splints and said thumb splint;
ii. a wrist portion for engaging the wrist and a part of the forearm of a user;
iii. a second envelope developed within said wrist portion for holding fluid;
iv. means for interconnecting said first and second envelopes to accommodate flow of fluid therebetween;
v. means for exposing and for maintaining exposed the tips of the respective supported ones of the fingers and thumb;
and
vi. means for discouraging application of pressure by any fluid within said second envelope of said glove means against the under side of the wrist.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/866,608Filed 14 May 1986
Priority: DE 343379514 Sep 1984
Granted: 17 Nov 1987
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

A61F 5/10
Orthopaedic devices, e.g. long-term immobilising or pressure directing devices for treating broken or deformed bones such as splints, casts or…
A41D 19/01588
With means to restrain or support the hand: including rigid elements
A61F 5/0118
Without articulation: for the arms, hands or fingers
A61F 7/08
Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body: warming pads, pans or mats; Hot-water bottles