Temperature therapy apparatus

• US 20040147990A1
• Filed: 01/27/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Breg Incorporated (Breg Acquisition Corp.)
• Original Assignee: EBI LP (Zimvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Graham, Thomas J., Israel, James D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,902,574 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/111
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0036 Hand
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0242 heated by microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/108 Cold packs, i.e. devices to be cooled or frozen in refrigerator or freezing compartment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling

Abstract

An apparatus for applying a temperature therapy to a hand includes an outer member and an inner member. The inner member functions to at least temporarily maintain a therapy temperature. In one embodiment, the therapy temperature is less than an ambient temperature. The outer member receives the inner member and defines a pocket for receiving a thumb of the hand. The outer member includes a feature for selectively attaching to the hand and further provides for use by either a right or a left hand.

Claims

1. A flexible apparatus for wrapping around a hand and applying a temperature therapy to the hand, the flexible apparatus comprising:

an inner member for at least temporarily maintaining a therapy temperature; and

an outer member receiving the inner member and defining a pocket for receiving a thumb of the hand;

the inner member and outer member cooperating to define a flexible pad for wrapping around the hand.

2. The flexible apparatus for wrapping around a hand and applying a temperature therapy to the hand of claim 1, wherein the pocket is positioned to selectively receive both the thumb of a right hand and the thumb of a left hand.

3. The flexible apparatus for wrapping around a hand and applying a temperature therapy to the hand of claim 2, wherein the left hand is positioned in one of a palm-down orientation and a palm-up orientation for receiving the thumb of the left hand and the right hand is positioned in the other of the palm-up and palm-down orientation when receiving the thumb of the right hand.

4. The flexible apparatus for wrapping around a hand and applying a temperature therapy to the hand of claim 2, wherein the left hand is positioned in a palm-down orientation for receiving the thumb of the left hand and the right hand is positioned in the palm-up orientation when receiving the thumb of the right hand.

5. The flexible apparatus for wrapping around a hand and applying a temperature therapy to the hand of claim 1, wherein a portion of the inner member is positioned proximate to the thumb when the flexible pad is wrapped around the hand.

6. The flexible apparatus for wrapping around a hand and applying a temperature therapy to the hand of claim 1, further comprising a fastening arrangement for securing the flexible pad to the hand.

7. The flexible apparatus for wrapping around a hand and applying a temperature therapy to the hand of claim 6, wherein the fastening arrangement is a hook and loop type fastening arrangement.

8. The flexible apparatus for wrapping around a hand and applying a temperature therapy to the hand of claim 6, wherein the fastening arrangement includes a hooked material positioned on at least a portion of one of the inner and outer sides of the flexible pad and a cooperating looped material positioned on at least a portion of the other of the inner and outer sides.

9. The flexible apparatus for wrapping around a hand and applying a temperature therapy to the hand of claim 8, wherein the hooked material is positioned adjacent a first edge of the flexible pad and the pocket is positioned a second, opposite edge of the flexible pad.

10. The flexible apparatus for wrapping around a hand and applying a temperature therapy to the hand of claim 1, wherein an inner side of the flexible pad includes a hand outline for selectively receiving and properly positioning a selected one of a right hand and a left hand.

11. The flexible apparatus for wrapping around a hand and applying a temperature therapy to the hand of claim 2, wherein a thumb outline of the hand outline at least partially extends into the pocket.

12. The flexible apparatus for wrapping around a hand and applying a temperature therapy to the hand of claim 1, wherein the therapy temperature is less than an ambient temperature.

13. A method of applying a temperature therapy to a hand, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a flexible pad including an inner member and an outer member, the outer member receiving the inner member and defining a pocket for receiving a thumb of the hand;

maintaining the inner member at a therapy temperature;

positioning the hand adjacent the inner side with a thumb of the hand extending at least partially into the pocket;

wrapping the flexible pad around the hand; and

securing the flexible pad to the hand.

14. The method of applying a temperature therapy to a hand of claim 13, further comprising the step of positioning the pocket on the outer member to selectively receive both the thumb of a right hand and the thumb of a left hand.

15. The method of applying a temperature therapy to a hand of claim 13, wherein the step of positioning the hand adjacent the inner side with a thumb of the hand in the pocket includes the step of positioning the thumb proximate a portion of the inner member.

16. The method of applying a temperature therapy to a hand of claim 13, wherein the step of positioning the hand adjacent the inner side with a thumb of the hand in the pocket includes the step of orienting positioning the hand in one of palm-down orientation and a palm-up orientation if the hand is a left hand or positioning the hand in the other of the palm-down orientation and palm-up orientation if the hand is a right hand.

17. The method of applying a temperature therapy to a hand of claim 13, wherein the step of securing the flexible pad to the hand includes the step of securing a portion of the inner side to a portion of the outer side.

18. The method of applying a temperature therapy to a hand of claim 17, wherein the portion of the inner side includes one of a hooked material and a cooperating looped material and the outer side includes the other of the hooked material and the cooperating looped material.

19. The method of applying a temperature therapy to a hand of claim 13, wherein the step of maintaining the inner member and a therapy temperature includes the step of maintaining the inner member and a therapy temperature less than an ambient temperature.