MEDICAL DEVICE FOR TREATING CARPAL TUNNEL AND DE QUERVAIN'S SYNDROMES

• US 20190321249A1
• Filed: 04/22/2019
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anodyne Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Anodyne Systems LLC
• Inventors: Maier, Joel Elisha
• Granted Patent: US 11,529,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/00 Apparatus for passive exercising A61H5/00 takes precedence; Vibrating apparatus driving means for vibrating A61H23/00; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/006 Apparatus for applying pressure or blows for compressive stressing of a part of the skeletal structure, e.g. for preventing or alleviating osteoporosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0218 Drawing-out devices suspension devices for supporting the patient in upright walking or standing position A61H3/008; orthopedic devices for non-surgical treatment A61F5/01; stretching fractured limbs A61F5/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0274 for the upper limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0192 Specific means for adjusting dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/12 Driving means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1418 Cam
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1638 Holding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1654 Layer between the skin and massage elements, e.g. fluid or ball
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1664 linear
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1671 rotational
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5053 mechanically controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5071 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/06 Arms

Abstract

Devices and methods for treating carpal tunnel syndrome or DeQuervain'"'"'s syndrome. The device may include a resting portion for receiving a user'"'"'s forearm, first and second contact portions configured to contact the user'"'"'s forearm, and a stretching mechanism configured to apply opposing forces to the first contact portion and the second contact portion to stretch the user'"'"'s underlying tissue. The first contact portion may be configured to apply a compressive force to the user'"'"'s forearm at a first location. The second contact portion may be configured to apply a compressive force to the user'"'"'s forearm at a second location different than the first location.

Claims

1. A device for treating carpal tunnel syndrome or DeQuervain'"'"'s syndrome, the device comprising:

a resting portion for receiving a user'"'"'s forearm;

a first contact portion configured to contact the user'"'"'s forearm and apply a compressive force to the user'"'"'s forearm at a first location;

a second contact portion configured to contact the user'"'"'s forearm on a same side of the user'"'"'s forearm as the first contact portion, the second contact portion configured to apply a compressive force to the user'"'"'s forearm at a second location different than the first location;

a stretching mechanism configured to apply opposing forces to the first contact portion and the second contact portion to stretch the user'"'"'s tissue.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the stretching mechanism is configured to apply the opposing forces in a direction generally perpendicular to the compressive forces applied by the first and second contact portions.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion are configured to move no more than 3 inches relative to each other when compressive forces of up to 200 lbf are applied.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more actuators configured to adjust the compressive forces being applied to the user'"'"'s forearm by the first contact portion and the second contact portion.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising one or more gauges configured to transfer the compressive forces from the one or more actuators to the first and second contact portions.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the first and second contact portions are positioned between the actuator and the resting portion.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the stretching mechanism comprises an actuator configured to adjust the opposing forces applied to the first and second contact portions.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the stretching mechanism comprises a double ended screw.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the stretching mechanism comprises a compression spring.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the stretching mechanism comprises a mechanical linkage.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the stretching mechanism comprises a torsion spring.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the stretching mechanism comprises a scissor mechanism.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein a distance between the first and second contact portions and the resting portion is adjustable.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock a position of the first and second contact portions relative to the resting portion.

15. A device for treating carpal tunnel syndrome or DeQuervain'"'"'s syndrome, the device comprising:

a resting portion for receiving a user'"'"'s forearm;

a first contact portion configured to contact the user'"'"'s forearm and apply a compressive force to the user'"'"'s forearm at a first location;

a second contact portion configured to contact the user'"'"'s forearm on a same side of the user'"'"'s forearm as the first contact portion, the second contact portion configured to apply a compressive force to the user'"'"'s forearm at a second location different than the first location;

a stretching mechanism configured to apply the compressive forces to the user'"'"'s forearm at the first location and the second location, the stretching mechanism further configured to apply opposing forces to the first contact portion and the second contact portion to stretch the user'"'"'s tissue; and

a locking mechanism configured to lock a position of the first and second contact portions relative to the resting portion.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the stretching mechanism is configured to move the first and second contact portions toward the resting portion.

17. The device of claim 15, further comprising a compressive force mechanism configured to move the resting portion toward the first and second contact portions.

18. The device of claim 15, further comprising a release mechanism configured to release the position of the first and second contact portions.

19. A method for treating a user, the method comprising:

positioning the user'"'"'s forearm on a resting portion of the device;

contacting a first contact portion of the device with a posterior side of the user'"'"'s forearm over a radius and/or an ulna bone,

contacting a second contact portion of the device with the posterior side of the user'"'"'s forearm over carpal and/or metacarpal bones at a second location different from the first location;

applying a compressive force to the user'"'"'s forearm using the first and second contact portions;

applying opposing forces to the first contact portion and the second contact portion using a stretching mechanism to stretch the user'"'"'s tissue.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein applying the opposing forces comprises applying the opposing forces in a direction generally perpendicular to the compressive force applied by the first and second contact portions.