Apparatus that improves discovery of cancer mass, and reduces inflammation - onset of symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis - tactile deficit of fingers, and increases discovery of foreign mass in breast and other self examinations

• US 20050197539A1
• Filed: 02/16/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John I.M. Choate
• Original Assignee: John I.M. Choate
• Inventors: Choate, John I. M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,547,286 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4523 Tendons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4824 Touch or pain perception evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

An apparatus to increase identification of cancer mass in subcutaneous tissue, by palpation by self examination, to accommodate disability, to increase therapy of medical and physical recovery and treatment, and method of using devices or compounds which reduce onset of symptoms of median nerve entrapment or carpal tunnel syndrome or repetitive stress syndrome, reduce tactile deficit of fingers, and as well as many other applications. This includes improving the efficiency of the movement of the fingers, reducing the inflammation in the carpal canal, reducing the tendon excursion in the carpal canal, reducing finger flexion, reducing loss of nerve sensation, reducing loss of tactile sensation, increasing tactile sensitivity of the fingers, increasing movement of the dorsal interossei muscles of the hand, increasing movement of the volar interossei palmar muscles of the hand, and increasing movement of the lumbrical muscles of fingers.

Claims

1. A device that reduces inflammation of structures associated with the median nerve, and improves the discovery of cancer mass by subcutaneous self examination by increasing tactile sensation and by decreasing median nerve entrapment.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising an efficient keyboard, in which the use of the keyboard reduces finger flexion, thereby prolonging the onset of symptoms of median nerve entrapment.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising aspirin, and all anti-inflammatory drugs.

4. A method for testing and preventing the onset of symptoms of nerve pathology, improving discovery of cancer mass and reducing inflammation, the method comprising the steps of:

A) identifying the subject'"'"'s nerve pathology by diagnostic tests;

B) identifying the subject'"'"'s base line physical condition by inspection or examination tests;

C) conducting the base line physical condition tests;

D) providing the subject a tool;

E) selecting exercises as uses of the tool to maximize inflammation in the structures adjacent to the nerve;

F) instructing the subject on a use of the tool to maximize inflammation in the structures adjacent to the nerve;

G) instructing the subject on self reporting of pain, tingling, decrease or change of feeling;

H) instructing the subject to perform the self reporting;

I) the subject performs the self reporting;

J) instructing the subject on exercises of the tool to maximize inflammation;

K) instructing the subject to perform the exercise of the tool to maximize inflammation;

L) the subject performs the exercise;

M) repeat steps C, H and I;

N) adjourning the testing while awaiting the return of the subject to the base line physical conditions in step B;

O) selecting exercises as uses of the tool to minimize inflammation in the structures adjacent to the nerve;

P) repeat steps C, H and I;

Q) instructing the subject on a use of the tool to minimize inflammation in the structures adjacent to the nerve;

R) instructing the subject to perform the exercise of the tool to minimize inflammation;

S) the subject performs the exercise;

T) repeat steps C, H and I;

U) identify number of tests to conduct to obtain statistically reliable and reproducible results;

V) identify number of subjects to test to obtain statistically reliable and reproducible results;

W) alternate between steps E to M and O to T to blind the results;

X) conduct, preserve, protect and record all steps as necessary with sufficient tests, subjects, and alternates to obtain meaningful data;

Y) establish end points for the data;

Z) calculate the statistical deviations necessary to compare the end points tools.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the diagnostic tests are chosen from any or all:

Tinel'"'"'s sign, Phalen'"'"'s test, carpel compression test, Durkam'"'"'s sign, flick test, tourniquet test, cotton ball finger stroke test, two-point discrimination test, palpation test, Semmen-Weinstein monofilament test, cervical spine x-ray, nerve conduction study, doppler ultramonography, magnetic resonance imaging, corticosteroid injection, wrist squareness ratio, wrist splint at night test, nerve face electroneurometer, vibration test, grip and pinch strength, dynamometer, pinch gauge, visual analog scale pain assessment, hand volume water displacement test, thermography, finger wrinkling, long finger III abduction and adduction, thumb 1 abduction opposition, pinky finger V flexion, middle finger III flexion, profundus tendon test, sharp pin impale finger test, loss of drag, index finger abduction, pinky finger abduction, Electro mylo gram, middle finger flexion, nerve stimulation, electrodiagnosis, flexor carpi ulnaris palpation, palmaris longus palpation, extensor digitorum communis palpation, finger whistle, thumb bending, spread hand palpation, dorsal interossei spread fingers, fingernail pressure, hypertrophy tendon, blindfold test, comparison of abnormal and normal limb, Linburg'"'"'s sign, wrist radiograph, Finkelstein'"'"'s test, dorsiflex wrist, extensor carpi ulnaris palpation, oblique retinacular ligament tightness test, grind test, arterial patency finger press test, tape measure, caliper, infusion catheter, distal sensory latency test.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the exercises and use of the tool, includes any or all:

1) to increase inflammation requires maximum repetitive flexion use;

     2) to increase inflammation includes typing on the QWERTY layout keyboard or typewriter, any keyboard wherein the majority of usage of letters is away from the home row, the ball or track mouse data entry peripheral, the and a one hand finger pad arrangement of numerals 0 through 9;

     3) to prolong the increase of inflammation or decrease inflammation requires minimum repetitive flexion use;

     4) to prolong the increase of inflammation or decrease inflammation includes typing on the AsInRedHot, Dvorak, keyboard or any efficient keyboard with the letter E on the home row, use of a drafting board, internal consumption of aspirin or any anti-inflammatory drug or medicine, section of the transverse carpal ligament, or any exercise;

wherein the tools includes a wrist brace, a chair, a table, a typewriter, a light, a VDT, or any equipment.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the nerve pathology is median nerve entrapment, ulnar nerve entrapment, or any neuropathy or neuritis.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the structures adjacent to the nerve include the nine flexor tendons next to the median nerve.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the work of any or all of the nine flexor muscles next to the median nerve is shifted to the lumbricals of the fingers, the dorsal interossei of the hand, the volar (aka palmar) interossei muscles.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the base line physical condition by inspection or examination tests include, any or all:

1) water displacement, caliper or tape measure of hand volume;

     2) self report upper extremity assessment battery, sensory evaluation palmar and dorsal views of hand;

     3) self report visual analogue scale for pain;

     4) self report verbal rating scale for pain;

     5) daily activity and medication log and pain level scale report; and

     6) turn key in lock.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the base line physical condition by inspection or examination tests includes any or all, identifying the patient'"'"'s name, address, phone, age, referring Health Care Professional, Health History, background data on carpal tunnel syndrome (or CTS) or cancer, gender, prior diagnosis, hands/fingers night tingle (paresthesia) or pain, braces or special support on hands or arm, pain relievers, prior nerve conduction velocity study, heart trouble, chest pain, fainting or dizziness, hand or finger THERAPY, bone/joint problem, arthritis, physical reason to avoid exertion, number of fingers used in activities, prior SURGERY, prior hospitalization, high blood pressure, swelling or any vascular disease, asthma/bronchitis (pulmonary disease), abnormal blood lipid or sugar levels, medications, allergy drugs, pain relievers, NSAIDS, steroids, anti-inflammatories, Prednisone, pills, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, multi-vitamins, dietary supplements, coronary disease, sudden death, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, menstruation, steroid injection, metabolic rate of discharge of drugs, with provisions to update the answers if they change, and instructions to avoid any pain relievers for times before each typing activity.

15. The method according to claim 4 wherein the method further comprises the step of the patient selecting for treatment of symptoms of any or all of the physical disabilities of:

aberrant anatomy, acidosis, acromegalic arthritis, acromegaly, acrosclerosis, acute wasting paralysis, acute ascending paralysis, acute anterior poliomyelitis, adenohypophysis, aerobic exercise, aging, alcoholism, amyloidosis, anemia, aneurysms, angina, apoplexy, arachnodactyly, arteriolar disease, arteriosclerosis, arteriovenous malformation, artery, arthritis of rheumatic fever, arthritis, atrophic arthritis, atrophy, backward cardiac failure, baseball finger, Bence-Jones protein, benign tumor, birth, birth palsy, blood vessel, bone marrow, bony ankylosis, brachial plexus, brachial birth palsy, brachial paralysis, brachialgia, brain, brain abscess, Buerger'"'"'s disease, bulbar apoplexy, burn, bursitis, calcinosis, calcium, calcium deposits, callus, canal volume increased, canal volume decreased, capillary walls, cardiac failure, carpal bones, carpal tunnel syndrome, carpometacarpal joint arthritis, cartilage, cataract, central nervous system, cerebral vessels, cerebral palsy, cervical adenitis, cervical spine arthritis, cervical radiculopathy, cervical radiculopathy, Charcot'"'"'s arthritis, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disorder, chorionitis, chronic arthritis, cigarette smoking, clubbed finger, collagen, coma, congestive, connective tissue, consciousness, contraceptive pills, cretinism, cyst of joint capsule, cyst of semi-lunar cartilage, cystic tumor of tendon sheath, cystic, dactylitis syphilitica, debility, deep palmar retroflexor space abscess, deformity, degenerative joint disease, degenerative conditions, deltoid, demineralization, dermatosclerosis, diabetes, diabetes mellitus, diabetic polyneuropathy, digital neuropathies individual, digital arteries, digits, disuse osteoporosis, dolichostenomelia, dropsy, drumstick finger, dyspnea, dystrophia myotonica, ear, edema, embolism, endocrine organs, eosinophilic cells, epicondylitis, epidemic paralysis, epidermis, Erb-Duchenne syndrome, erythroid myeloma, extracranial lesions, extravasation, fascia, fibromyalgia syndrome, flaccid paralysis, fracture, ganglion, gastric, gastrointestinal, glycosuria, gonococcus, gonorrheal arthritis, gout, gouty tophus, gouty arthritis, granulation, gumma, hammer finger, Haversian spaces, head injury, heart failure, heart, Heberden'"'"'s arthritis, Heine-Medin'"'"'s disease, hematogenous arthritis, hematoma, hemic myeloma, hemodialysis, hemolytic streptococcus, hemophilic arthritis, hemorrhage, hereditary conditions, high blood pressure, Hippocratic finger, hunger, hydrostatic pressure, hypercalcemia, hyperemia, hyperesthesia, hyperfunction, hyperglobulinemia, hyperglycemia, hypermotility, hyperplasia, hypertension, hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy, hypertropyhic reaction, hypothyroidism, incoordination, infantile paralysis, infection, infectious arthritis, infectious conditions, inflammation, inflammatory conditions, insulin, intracranial lesions, ischemic paralysis, joint capsule, joint surface, Kahler'"'"'s disease, ketosis, Klumpke palsy, knuckle, lead palsy, leprosy, lesion, leukocytosis, lipoma, lock finger, luxation, lymph, lymphocytic myeloma, lymphoid myeloma, malignant, mallet finger, malnutrition osteoporosis, Marfan'"'"'s syndrome, marrow, mass lesion, medulla oblongata, men, menopausal arthritis, menopause, menstruation, metabolic, migraines, mucoid hyaluronic acid, mucopolysaccharidosis, multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms, muscle tenderness, muscular dystrophy, myelocytic sarcoma, myeloid myeloma, myeloid tumor, myeloma, myeloma multiple, myofascial dysfunction, myosclerosis, myotonia dystrophica, myotonic dystrophy, myxedema, neoplastic conditions, neuritis, neurological, neurons, neuropathic arthritis, neuropathies individual, neurotrophic arthritis, obesity, obstetric paralysis, osmotic pressure, ossification, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, palsy, paralysis, paralytic poliomyelitis, phalangectomy, phalangitis, phalangitis syphilitica, phalangization, phalangophalangeal amputation, phalanx, phosphatase, phosphorus, plasma, plasma cell myeloma, plasmacytes, plasmacytic myeloma, plasmacytic sarcoma, plasmacytoma, plasmocytic sarcoma, plasmocytic myeloma, plasmocytoma, plasmona, pneumococcus, polio, poliomyelitis, polyneuritis, pons, postinjury, postmenopausal osteoporosis, power grip, pregnancy, prenatal syphilis, printer'"'"'s palsy, proliferative arthritis, pronator syndrome, protein concentration, proximal lumbrical insertion, proximal median neuropathy, psychosis of hysterical numbness and clenched-fist syndrome, pulmonary, punctiform, Quervain'"'"'s disease, Quinquaud'"'"'s phenomenon, radiation neuritis, radiohumeral articulation, radiohumeral bursitis, radiohumeral epicondylitis, Raynaud'"'"'s syndrome, Recklinghausen'"'"'s disease, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, renal failure, respiratory, reticular fibers, rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid tenosynovitis, ruptured disk, sanguineous apoplexy, scarlatinal synovitis, scarlatinal arthritis, scarlet fever, scleriasis, scleroderma, seal finger, seizures idiopathic peripheral causes, senile, osteoporosis, senility, skeleton, sodium urate, spastic diplegia, spider finger, spinal nerves, spinal cord, spinal cord lesions, splanchnomegaly, sprain fracture, springfinger, steinert'"'"'s disease, stellate cells, stroke, subchondral spaces, subdural hematoma, sugar tolerance, swallow, swelling, symmetrical synovitis, syndactyly, synovectomy, synovial, synovial tissues, synovial distention, synovial proliferation nonspecific, synovitis, synovium nonspecific fibrosis, syphilitic arthritis, syringomyelia, systemic disease, tabes dorsalis, tactile anesthesia, tendinitis, tendon sheath, tendons, tendovaginitis stenosans, tenosynovitis, thirst, thoracic outlet syndrome, thrombosed, thrombosis, thyroid hormone, thyroid conditions, tongue, tophaceous gout, trabeculae, transient ischemic attacks, trauma, traumatic conditions, tremors, trigger finger, tuberculosis, tuberculous tenosynovitis, tuberous sclerosis, tumor, tumor benign, ulnar nerve neuropathy, uremia, uric acid, urine, vascular spasm, vascular conditions, vasculitis, vasomotor disturbances, viscera, Volkmann'"'"'s paralysis, weakness, webbed fingers, weeping sinew, weight, white-finger syndrome, women, or wrist malalignment.