Instruments for diagnosing and treating fibrotic soft tissues
AssigneePerformance Dynamics, Inc.
InventorsThomas L. Sevier, Robert H. Helfst, Jr., Sue A. Stover, Eric W. Tisdale
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Presented are novel instruments intended for use in the diagnosis and treatment of fibrotic soft tissue through soft tissue mobilization therapies performed on, particularly, a human patient. Three such instruments are provided by the invention including a variety of curvilinear and linear tissue-engaging edges and converging surfaces accommodating their use on the irregular contours of numerous soft tissue areas of the human body.
Claims14
A diagnostic and therapeutic instrument, comprising:
- a graspable body comprising an upper handle portion, a lower massaging portion formed by a pair of sides converging from the upper handle portion, and a circumferential peripheral edge, said circumferential peripheral edge being defined by a curvilinear edge comprising a concave first edge portion and a convex second edge portion disposed opposite from said first edge portion, said sides tapering to form an inclined surface leading to the concave first edge portion, said body having sufficient length to form a firmly graspable body and being longer than it is wide, wherein the converging sides of said instrument body taper toward one another from the upper handle portion toward a lower edge of said instrument body, said converging sides further tapering toward one another from a central portion of said instrument body longitudinally in both directions toward said first edge and toward said second edge.
A hand-held instrument for engaging and applying pressure to the skin of a patient in the diagnosis or treatment of underlying fibrotic soft tissue, comprising:
- a graspable rigid unitary body comprising an upper handle portion, a lower massaging portion formed by a pair of sides converging from the upper handle portion, and a circumferential peripheral edge defined by a curvilinear edge including a concave leading edge and a convex rear edge disposed opposite from said leading edge, said sides tapering to form a chisel-like surface leading to the concave leading edge, said body having sufficient length to define a firmly graspable instrument and being longer than it is wide, said leading edge including a concavely curved peripheral edge portion extending substantially from an upper edge of the instrument body to a lower edge thereof, said concave leading edge being suitably dimensioned for providing effective massage of soft tissue of the upper or lower limbs of the human body, wherein the converging sides of said instrument body taper toward one another from the upper handle portion toward said lower edge of said instrument body, said converging sides further tapering toward one another from a central portion of said instrument body longitudinally in both directions toward said concave leading edge and toward said convex rear edge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.