Apparatus and method of use for a wrist extension brace

• US 20120071804A1
• Filed: 09/09/2011
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semler Technologies, Inc
• Original Assignee: Semler Technologies, Inc
• Inventors: Philip, Benz, Niemeyer, Robert Henry III, Semler, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 8,652,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/21
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0118 for the arms, hands or fingers

Abstract

An apparatus and method of use for a wrist extension brace, intended to be used to position, secure, stabilize, and extend a patient'"'"'s wrist for the purpose of assisting cannulation of blood vessels in the wrist and forearm. The apparatus generally includes a frame having a fixed dorsiflexion angle and means for cushioning a patient'"'"'s hand, wrist and forearm and means of attaching such to the wrist extension brace. The method of use includes the steps of attaching the apparatus to a patient'"'"'s wrist and adjusting it after such attachment.

Claims

1. A wrist extension brace including at least one of a frame, a cushion pad, and a strap for use in extending a wrist and securing and stabilizing a hand, a forearm and said wrist for the purpose of assisting in the cannulation of a blood vessel in said wrist, the frame having a fixed dorsiflexion angle in the range of 10°

and 60°

.

2. The wrist extension brace of claim 1, which further includes a narrow waist generally in the center area of the frame.

3. The frame of claim 1, which further includes at least one stabilization foot, the foot having a flat edge at the tip of the frame.

4. The frame of claim 1, which further includes at least one integrally formed structural rib.

5. The frame of claim 1, which further includes at least one tie-down hole.

6. The frame of claim 1, which further includes means, formed as a unitary element of said frame, for removably attaching at least one of the cushion pad or strap.

7. The at least one strap of claim 1, which further includes at least one hand strap.

8. The at least one strap of claim 1, which more particularly includes at least one arm-board strap.

9. The at least one strap of claim 1, which more particularly includes at least one forearm strap.

10. The fixed dorsiflexion angle of claim 1, which is more particularly in the range of 20°

and 45°

.

11. The cushion pad of claim 1, which is more particularly composed of a material that wicks away moisture from a skin surface in contact with it.

12. The cushion pad and at least one strap of claim 1, which are more particularly removably attachable to the frame.

13. The cushion pad and at least one strap of claim 1, the material of which includes on at least one side loop material with which to removably attach to hook material.

14. A cushion pad for use with a wrist extension brace that is removably attachable to a frame of said wrist extension brace.

15. The cushion pad of claim 14, which is more particularly composed of a material that wicks away moisture from a skin surface in contact with it.

16. The cushion pad of claim 14, the material of which includes on at least one side loop material with which to mate with hook material.

17. A method of use of a wrist extension brace which includes the following steps:

i) a hand is placed onto said brace with its palmar aspect facing up and its dorsal aspect placed flat, directly onto the brace;

ii) the hand is secured onto the brace by placing a hand strap such that it extends across the palm of the hand, from the thumb MCP or thumb proximal phalanx, crossing the little finger MCP to hold the hand flat on the brace, and the forearm is secured onto the brace by placing a forearm strap such that it crosses over the forearm;

iii) the forearm and hand straps are firmly secured to the brace using an attachment means or tie-down holes on the brace.

18. The method of use of claim 17, which further includes an additional subsequent step of using an arm-board strap to secure the brace, with the hand placed in it, onto an arm-board or other flat surface.

19. The method of use of claim 17, which, following a cannulation of the patient'"'"'s vessel, further includes additional steps of:

(iv) unfastening the hand;

(v) placing a separate padding between the dorsal surface of the hand and the brace to reduce the dorsiflexion angle;

(vi) refastening the hand with the separate padding in place.

20. The method of use of claim 17, which, at time of and following removal of a cannula from the patient'"'"'s vessel subsequent to placement of the hand onto the brace, further includes an additional subsequent step of deploying a hemostatic device around the patient'"'"'s wrist.