Inflatable hand orthosis
First Claim
1. An inflatable apparatus for assisting the therapeutic exercise of the fingers and thumb of a user'"'"'s hand, said apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable bladder made of a flexible material and sealed around the peripheral edge thereof to form a hollow interior for receiving and holding an inflating fluid;
partition means forming interconnected and communicating fluid passageways within said hollow interior of said bladder;
a plurality of exterior finger receiving channels formed by said partition means between said fluid passageways, said finger receiving channels adapted for positioning between the fingers and the palm of a user'"'"'s hand with individual fingers in alignment with said finger receiving channels and overlying said partition means, whereby inflation of said interconnected passageways will extend the fingers and abduct the thumb;
means for inflating said interconnected passageways of said inflatable bladder;
means for deflating said interconnected passageways of said inflatable bladder; and
means for attaching said inflatable bladder to the hand.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable hand orthosis promotes a functional positioning of the fingers and thumb. An inflatable air bladder is formed by two vinyl sheets bonded together and inflated and deflated by a pump bulb and-deflation valve, respectively, which are fixed to the vinyl sheets and communicatingly interconnected with the air bladder. The bladder is sewn into a soft cloth covering in order to form a wearable device which may be used either alone or in conjunction with hand, wrist, and finger orthosis. The hand device is placed on the palm and under the patient'"'"'s fingers while deflated. Then the bladder is inflated to align and extend the fingers and to abduct the thumb.
39 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An inflatable apparatus for assisting the therapeutic exercise of the fingers and thumb of a user'"'"'s hand, said apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable bladder made of a flexible material and sealed around the peripheral edge thereof to form a hollow interior for receiving and holding an inflating fluid; partition means forming interconnected and communicating fluid passageways within said hollow interior of said bladder; a plurality of exterior finger receiving channels formed by said partition means between said fluid passageways, said finger receiving channels adapted for positioning between the fingers and the palm of a user'"'"'s hand with individual fingers in alignment with said finger receiving channels and overlying said partition means, whereby inflation of said interconnected passageways will extend the fingers and abduct the thumb; means for inflating said interconnected passageways of said inflatable bladder; means for deflating said interconnected passageways of said inflatable bladder; and means for attaching said inflatable bladder to the hand. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A device for positioning in a patient'"'"'s hand between the palm and fingers of the hand comprising:
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an inflatable bladder with one surface adapted to fit against the palm of the patient'"'"'s hand and another surface adapted to fit against the fingers of the hand; a plurality of inflatable passageways within said bladder; a plurality of exterior arcuate finger receiving channels formed between said passageways, said finger receiving channels adapted for positioning so that the patient'"'"'s fingers can extend at least partially around said arcuate channels; means for inflating said bladder and passageways; and means for deflating said bladder and passageways. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification