Hand and digit immobilizer for pulse oximeter

• US 7,758,526 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2006
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael D. Degould
• Original Assignee: Michael D. Degould
• Inventors: DeGould, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bianco; Patricia M
• Assistant Examiner(s): NELSON, KERI JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US11/561,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20080119700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 602/21, 602/22, 2 1/6, 2 2/1, 215/8, 215/9, 216/11, 216/3, 128/879, 128/880, 473/212, 473/213
• US Class Current: 602/21
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6806 Gloves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7207 of noise induced by motion artifacts

Abstract

A hand and digit immobilizer prevents a patient from dislodging a pulse oximeter finger sensor by finger movement or fist clenching. In one form, the hand and digit immobilizer includes a glove body having a palm section and a back section defining a proximal opening for receiving a person'"'"'s hand. The glove body has four finger base openings for receiving the fingers of the hand and has a thumb base opening for receiving the thumb. A finger covering section is connected to and extends away from each finger base opening. At least one finger covering section having a distal finger opening at its distal end. A rigid plate is secured to the palm section of the glove body and a palm side of each finger covering section such that clenching of the fingers is prevented thereby avoiding dislodging of a finger sensor from a fingertip.

Claims

1. A hand and digit immobilizer comprising:

a glove body having a palm section and a back section defining a proximal opening for receiving a person'"'"'s hand at a proximal end of the glove body, the glove body having at least one finger base opening for receiving a finger of the hand;

at least one finger covering section connected to and extending away from a finger base opening, the at least one finger covering section having a distal finger opening at its distal end; and

a single rigid plate secured to the palm section of the glove body and a palm side of a finger covering section having the distal finger opening such that clenching of the finger covered by the finger covering section having the distal finger opening is prevented,

wherein the glove body is dimensioned such that the proximal end of the glove body terminates at the wrist, and

wherein the rigid plate is dimensioned such that the rigid plate extends distally beyond a distal knuckle of a finger within the finger covering section having the distal finger opening, and

wherein the rigid plate is dimensioned such that a proximal end of the rigid plate terminates at the wrist.

2. The hand and digit immobilizer of claim 1 wherein:

a section of the rigid plate secured to the palm side of the at least one finger covering section is adjustable to accommodate fingers of different lengths.

3. The hand and digit immobilizer of claim 2 wherein:

the section of the rigid plate includes a channel configured to engage an adjustable section such that the adjustable section can extend and retract.

4. The hand and digit immobilizer of claim 1 wherein:

the glove body has a thumb base opening for receiving the thumb of the hand,

the hand and digit immobilizer includes a thumb covering section connected to and extending away from the thumb base opening, and

the rigid plate is secured to a palm side of the thumb covering section such that clenching of the thumb is prevented.

5. The hand and digit immobilizer of claim 4 wherein:

a section of the rigid plate secured to a palm side of the thumb covering section is adjustable to accommodate thumbs of different lengths.

6. The hand and digit immobilizer of claim 4 wherein:

the glove body has four finger base openings for receiving the fingers of the hand, and

the hand and digit immobilizer has four finger covering sections connected to and extending away from the finger base openings.

7. The hand and digit immobilizer of claim 6 wherein:

the rigid plate is secured to a palm side of the four finger covering sections such that clenching of the four fingers is prevented.

8. The hand and digit immobilizer of claim 6 wherein:

each of the four finger covering sections includes a distal finger opening at its distal end.

9. The hand and digit immobilizer of claim 1 wherein:

the palm section and the back section of the glove body comprise a fabric.

10. The hand and digit immobilizer of claim 1 wherein:

the back section of the glove body includes an elastic material.

11. The hand and digit immobilizer of claim 1 wherein:

the rigid plate is secured within layers of the glove body.

12. The hand and digit immobilizer of claim 1 wherein:

the rigid plate is secured to an outside surface of the glove body.

13. The hand and digit immobilizer of claim 1 wherein:

the back section of the glove body has a cutaway section defining spaced apart inner edges, and

an elastic material is connected to the spaced apart inner edges such that the glove body can expand to fit hands of different sizes.

14. The hand and digit immobilizer of claim 13 wherein:

the elastic material is an elastic mesh.

15. The hand and digit immobilizer of claim 13 wherein:

the elastic material comprises at least one elastic band.

16. The hand and digit immobilizer of claim 1 wherein:

the rigid plate includes spaced apart finger sections.

17. A method for performing a medical measurement on a finger of a patient, the method comprising:

placing the hand and digit immobilizer according to claim 1 on the patient'"'"'s hand; and

applying a medical measurement sensor to the tip of the finger.

18. A hand and digit immobilizer comprising:

a glove body having a palm section and a back section defining a proximal opening for receiving a person'"'"'s hand at a proximal end of the glove body, the glove body having four finger base openings for receiving the fingers of the hand and having a thumb base opening for receiving the thumb of the hand;

a finger covering section connected to and extending away from each finger base opening, at least one finger covering section having a distal finger opening at its distal end; and

a single rigid plate secured to the palm section of the glove body and a palm side of each finger covering section such that clenching of the fingers is prevented,

wherein the glove body is dimensioned such that the proximal end of the glove body terminates at the wrist, and

wherein the rigid plate is dimensioned such that the rigid plate extends distally beyond a distal knuckle of a finger within each finger covering section, and

wherein the rigid plate is dimensioned such that a proximal end of the rigid plate terminates at the wrist.

19. The hand and digit immobilizer of claim 18 wherein:

a section of the rigid plate secured to the palm side of at least one finger covering section includes at least one adjustable section to accommodate fingers of different lengths.

20. The hand and digit immobilizer of claim 19 wherein:

the section of the rigid plate includes a channel configured to engage an adjustable section such that the adjustable section can extend and retract.

21. The hand and digit immobilizer of claim 18 wherein:

each finger covering section has a distal finger opening at its distal end.

22. The hand and digit immobilizer of claim 18 wherein:

the rigid plate includes spaced apart finger sections.

23. A method for performing a medical measurement on a finger of a patient, the method comprising:

placing the hand and digit immobilizer according to claim 18 on the patient'"'"'s hand; and

applying a medical measurement sensor to the tip of the finger.