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 Title: |
US4243026:
Finger splint
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Barber, Lois M.; Long Beach, CA 90803
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| Assignee: |
None
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| Published / Filed: |
1981-01-06
/ 1978-10-05
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| Application Number: |
US1978000948869
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
A61F 5/058;
A61F 5/10;
Core:
A61F 5/01;
A61F 5/04;
IPC-7:
A61F 5/10;
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| ECLA Code: |
A61F5/058H4C; A61F5/10;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
602/022;
Original:
128/077;
128/087.A;
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| Field of Search: |
128/87 A,77
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| Priority Number: |
| 1978-10-05 |
US1978000948869 |
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| Abstract: |
An adjustable finger splint made entirely of a single piece of spring steel wire which is bent into a configuration which includes a central arcuate section adapted to cup a portion of the circumferential curve of one of the dorsal and ventral surfaces of a finger or thumb. A pair of substantially arcuate arms extend in opposite directions from the ends of the central section in a lengthwise manner generally following the anatomical conformation of a finger which is to be splinted. A pair of arcuate support pieces in a somewhat rectangular shape are formed from the terminal ends of the arms. These support pieces are designed to cup the part of the finger into which they are in contact. The splint is worn with the terminal arm support pieces either under the finger for extension of the finger, or the terminal arm support pieces can be worn on the top of the finger for flexion of the finger. Heat sealed foam pads cover the central arcuate section and the terminal arm support pieces for comfort. Exposed parts of the spring steel are encased in a teflon sleeve. The spring steel wire of which the finger splint is constructed permits individualized fit through bending, as well as motion of the finger to be splinted. All of the fingers of the hand, including the thumb, can be splinted using the finger splint of the invention.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Bethel, George F. ;
Bethel, Patience K. ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Michell, Robert W.; Rose, Arthur S.
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
Show legal status actions
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| Family: |
None
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First Claim:
Show all 7 claims |
I claim:
1. An adjustable finger splint which permits limited movement comprising:
- an elongated central section having a first and a second end, said central section being concave lengthwise such that when said central section is mounted on one of the dorsal and ventral surfaces of a finger across the width of the finger and at the proximal interphalangeal joint, said central section will fit along the transverse circumferential curve of the finger;
- a first elongated arm having a proximal and a distal end, said proximal end of said first arm being connected to said first end of said central section;
- a second elongated arm having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end of said second arm being connected to said second end of said central section;
- said first and second arms being sized and positioned such that when said central section is mounted on one of the dorsal and ventral surfaces of a finger across the width of the finger and at the proximal interphalangeal joint, said first arm extends along one side of the finger to a point adjacent the tip of the finger and said second arm extends along the other side of the finger in a direction opposite to the direction of extension of said first arm to a point adjacent the base of said finger;
- a first elongated support connected at one end to said distal end of said first arm, said first support extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first arm such that when said central section is mounted on one of the dorsal and ventral surfaces of a finger across the width of the finger and at the proximal interphalangeal joint, said first support is in a position to hold and support a portion of the finger adjacent the tip of the finger on the side of the finger which is opposite to that being held by said central section;
- a second elongated support connected at one end to said proximal end of said second arm, said second support extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said second arm such that when said central section is mounted on one of the dorsal and ventral surfaces of a finger across the width of the finger and at the proximal interphalangeal joint, said second support is in a position to hold and support a portion of the finger adjacent the base of the finger on the side of the finger which is opposite to that being held by said central section;
- said central section and said first and second arm being formed of a continuous resilient spring material;
- said splint being otherwise open along its length to permit said splint to be readily mounted and removed;
- said arms being bent and bendable along their length in a direction opposite to the direction of the curve of the central section to permit adjustment of the forces applied to a finger.
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| Background / Summary: |
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 10 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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| Foreign References: |
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| Other References: |
Glanville, H.J., New Inventions, pp. 252-253 of The Lancet Feb. 3, 1962.
Orthopaedic Appliances Atlas, vol. 1, pub. by J. W. Edwards, Ann Arbor Mich., 1952, pp. 303-305, 312, 314, 315.
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