Compact universal splint apparatus for focused immobilization such as of a single digit of the foot or hand, and method

• US 20060069334A1
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Barry M. Moskowitz
• Original Assignee: Barry M. Moskowitz
• Inventors: Moskowitz, Barry M.
• Application Number:
  US10/949,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20060069334A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/019 Toe correcting or spreading devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/05875 for fingers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/10 Devices for correcting deformities of the fingers

Abstract

A splint apparatus includes an immobilization member which is substantially rigid; and an apparatus mounting structure including a flexible sheet and a immobilization member retaining structure removably retaining the immobilization member and body area engaging means. The immobilization member preferably is an immobilization panel. The body area engaging structure preferably includes at least one arm portion extending from the flexible sheet and having an arm portion free end for wrapping around a part of a human body, and having a arm portion fastening structure for removably securing the at least one arm portion remote end after the at least one arm portion is wrapped around a part of a human body. A method of using the splint apparatus to splint a part of a human body is also provided.

Claims

1. A splint apparatus, comprising:

an immobilization panel which is pre-formed, substantially rigid, thin and of substantially universal size for splinting human digits;

and an apparatus mounting structure comprising a flexible and elastic sheet and immobilization member retaining means removably retaining said immobilization member and body area engaging means;

wherein said body area engaging means comprises at least one arm portion extending from said flexible sheet and having an arm portion free end for wrapping around a part of a human body, and having arm portion fastening means for removably securing the at least one arm portion remote end after said at least one arm portion is wrapped around a part of a human body.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. A splint apparatus, comprising:

an immobilization panel which is pre-formed, substantially rigid and thin, and can be cut with cutting means to dimensions suited for a particular application;

and an apparatus mounting structure comprising flexible sheet and an immobilization panel retaining portion comprising a pocket in said sheet material sized to receive at least part of said immobilization panel, and comprising a body area engaging portion;

wherein said body area engaging portion comprises a portion of said flexible sheet in the form of at least one arm portion having an arm portion free end for wrapping around a part of a human body, and having arm portion fastening means for removably securing the at least one arm portion remote end after said at least one arm portion is wrapped around a part of a human body.

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. A method of splinting a digit of a human body, comprising the steps of:

providing a splint apparatus comprising a pre-formed thin immobilization panel which is substantially rigid and of substantially universal size for splinting human digits, and an apparatus mounting structure comprising a flexible sheet and immobilization panel retaining portion comprising a pocket in the flexible sheet sized to receive at least part of the immobilization panel and body area engaging means comprising at least one arm portion having an arm portion free end and arm portion fastening means;

placing at least part of the immobilization panel into the pocket to extend along and against the digit to be splinted;

and releasibly fastening the at least one arm portion around a digit of the human body with the fastening means.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising the additional steps of:

removing the immobilization panel from the pocket;

trimming the immobilization panel with trimming means to desired immobilization panel dimensions;

and inserting the immobilization panel into the pocket.