METHOD AND DEVICE TO ALLEVIATE CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME AND DYSFUNCTIONS OF OTHER SOFT TISSUES

• US 20120253244A1
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Frank Zanakis, Phillip Anthony Femano
• Original Assignee: Michael Frank Zanakis, Phillip Anthony Femano
• Inventors: FEMANO, Phillip Anthony, Zanakis, Michael Frank
• Granted Patent: US 9,125,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/84
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2015/0042 Balls or spheres
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1638 Holding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1642 Holding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1664 linear
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1673 Multidimensional rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/004 power-driven, e.g. electrical

Abstract

The present invention is a device and method to manipulate soft tissues such as tendons using a manipulator that works in conjunction with an orthopaedic device, such as a brace. The manipulator can be an electro-mechanical device. The manipulation can alleviate symptoms of soft tissue dysfunctions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist tenosynovitis and tendonitis, cubital tunnel syndrome, neck tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and Achilles tendonitis. Manipulation alleviates the inflammation and pressure and the concomitant associated pain and other symptoms of the dysfunction. The manipulation, combined with the orthopaedic aspect of the device, allows the limb to rest and recover between manipulative treatments in a suitably stationary position.

Claims

1. A device for manipulating one or more tendons in the wrist, elbow, knee, shoulder, plantar fascia or Achilles tendon region, the device comprising

a limb engaging portion;

and

a manipulator removably coupled to the limb engaging portion,

wherein the manipulator is adapted to be located adjacent to the skin and moves against the skin to manipulate the tendons below the skin.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the limb engaging portion is rigid and substantially an orthopaedic brace, and the manipulator is an electro-mechanical manipulator.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the limb engaging portion contains an opening or window, the manipulator being removably coupled over the opening or window and the opening or window being adapted to be placed over the affected body tissue of the one or more tendons.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the manipulator portion provides three dimensional massage motion comprising of co-planar lateral, co-planar horizontal, and substantially perpendicular with respect to the surface of the skin.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the limb engaging portion and the manipulator together provide massage therapy and the manipulator can be removed from the limb engaging portion and the engaging portion with the manipulator removed functions as an immobilizing brace.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the manipulator can move proximally, transversely, and distally along the skin.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein manipulator comprises one or more head or heads wherein the one or more heads rotate repeatedly.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the manipulator provides rotational, lateral, longitudinal, vertical, vibrational or orbital motion for massaging across the tendons.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the manipulator comprises at least one manipulating head and driving means for driving the at least one manipulating head, the at least one manipulating head being coupled to the driving means and driven by the driving means so as to provide the manipulation.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the at least one manipulating head comprises at least one pair of massaging elements, balls or rollers spaced from and on opposite sides of a shaft, said shaft either rotates or orbits on the surface of the skin over the tendons.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the limb engaging portion includes means for tendon protrusion by either extending or flexing the joint of a limb thereby extending the one or more tendons and/or causing the one or more tendons to protrude.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the one or more tendon is a flexor or extensor tendon.

13. The device according to claim 11 wherein the means for tendon protrusion includes a joint hinging two portions of the limb engaging portion on either side of the joint.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the joint is locked into a particular angle or position.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the limb engaging portion is adapted to restrain a limb and substantially immobilize the limb in use.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the limb engaging portion is adjustable to accommodate different limb sizes.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the limb engaging portion comprises at least one adjustable strap.

18. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device includes a protective layer associated with the manipulator, so that in use the protective layer is located between the manipulator and the skin.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the manipulator includes a motor.

20. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is portable.

21. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device includes a battery, the battery being connectable to the manipulator.

22. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a protective layer located so that in use the protective layer is adjacent to the skin.

23. A method for manipulating one or more tendons in the wrist, elbow, knee, shoulder, plantar fascia or Achilles tendon region comprising the steps of:

attaching a limb engaging portion to a limb including the one or more tendons; and

manipulating the one or more tendons with a manipulator removably coupled to the limb engaging portion,

wherein the manipulator is adapted to be located adjacent to the skin and moves against the skin to manipulate the one or more tendons below the skin.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

adjusting the limb engaging portion to restrain the limb before the manipulating step.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

extending the one or more tendons and/or causing the one or more tendons to protrude from the joint before the step of manipulating the one or more tendons.

26. The method of treating or alleviating symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, the method comprising the steps of:

attaching a limb engaging portion to a limb including the one or more tendons;

manipulating the one or more tendons in the anterior wrist with a manipulator by providing a lateral, proximal, distal motion and orbital motion to the one or more tendons with respect to the anterior wrist.

27. A method of treating or alleviating the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist tenosynovitis and tendonitis, cubital tunnel syndrome, neck tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and Achilles tendonitis the method comprising the steps of:

attaching a limb engaging portion to a limb including the one or more tendons; and

manipulating the one or more tendons with a manipulator removably coupled to the limb engaging portion,

wherein the manipulator is adapted to be located adjacent to the skin and moves against the skin to manipulate the one or more tendons below the skin.