U.S. patent application number 10/816148 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-23 for wrist bandage.
Invention is credited to Bodenschatz, Stefan, Stradt, Thorsten.
Application Number | 20040186403 10/816148 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7855360 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040186403 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bodenschatz, Stefan ; et
al. |
September 23, 2004 |
Wrist bandage
Abstract
Wrist bandage, consisting of an anatomically shaped section
which receives the wrist and the hand and which is formed from a
single piece of flexible and elastic material, the section
narrowing in the proximal direction, the section having, on the
medial edge, a cutout for receiving the thumb, and with at least
two straps secured on the medial edge, which straps can be secured
on the dorsal side of the bandage, and with a pocket which is
secured on the palmar side of the bandage, in particular sewn
thereon, in such a way that the centre axis of the pocket forms an
inwardly directed arch.
Inventors: |
Bodenschatz, Stefan;
(Buxtehude, DE) ; Stradt, Thorsten; (Hamburg,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WILLIAM GERSTENZANG
NORRIS, MCLAUGHLIN & MARCUS, P.A.
220 EAST 42ND STREET, 30TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10017
US
|
Family ID: |
7855360 |
Appl. No.: |
10/816148 |
Filed: |
April 1, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10816148 |
Apr 1, 2004 |
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09233832 |
Jan 20, 1999 |
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6730053 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
602/21 ;
602/64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 2/91 20130101; Y10S
2/917 20130101; A61F 5/0118 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
602/021 ;
602/064 |
International
Class: |
A61F 005/00; A61F
013/06; A61F 013/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 23, 1998 |
DE |
198 02 336.7 |
Claims
1. Wrist bandage, consisting of an anatomically shaped section
which receives the wrist and the hand and which is formed from a
single piece of flexible and elastic material, the section
narrowing in the proximal direction, the section having, on the
medial edge, a cutout for receiving the thumb, and with at least
two straps secured on the medial edge, which straps can be secured
on the dorsal side of the bandage, and with a pocket which is
secured on the palmar side of the bandage, in particular sewn
thereon, in such a way that the centre axis of the pocket forms an
inwardly directed arch.
2. Wrist bandage, consisting of an anatomically shaped section
which receives the wrist and the hand and which is formed from a
single piece of flexible and elastic material, the section
narrowing in the proximal direction, the section having, on the
medial edge, a cutout for receiving the thumb, and with at least
two straps secured on the medial edge, which straps can be secured
on the dorsal side of the bandage, and with a pocket which is
secured on the palmar side of the bandage, in particular sewn
thereon, in such a way that the centre axis of the pocket has an
inwardly directed kink.
3. Bandage according to claim 2, characterized in that the centre
axis of the pocket has an inwardly directed kink which encloses an
angle of 150.degree. to 170.degree..
4. Bandage according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the
straps are provided with a velcro closure which is secured on a
roughened surface, the roughened surface being secured on the
dorsal side of the bandage in such a way that the centre axis of
the surface is located in an inwardly directed arch or the centre
axis of the surface has at least one inwardly directed kink.
5. Bandage according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one
strap of the bandage is secured at the distal end of the medial
edge, and the strap on the palmar side is provided with a
padding.
6. Bandage according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the
bandage is made of a material which is flexible in the medial and
lateral direction and substantially inflexible in the proximal and
distal direction.
7. Bandage according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a
substantially inflexible splint adapted to the anatomy of the inner
surface of the hand is inserted into the pocket of the bandage.
8. Bandage according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the pocket secured on the palmar side of the
bandage, in particular sewn thereon, has a roughened surface, and
in that the roughened surface secured on the dorsal side of the
bandage, in particular sewn thereon, is designed as a pocket.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a wrist bandage for immobilizing
the wrist.
[0002] Depending on their design and on the indications for which
they are intended, orthopaedic bandages exert a fixing, guiding,
bracing and/or supporting action on the extremities of the human
body.
[0003] These medical bandages must have a shape which corresponds
to the anatomical circumstances in order to be able to act
externally on the human body with a form fit and a force fit.
[0004] Medical bandages of this kind are produced by cutting out
blanks from planar material, for example neoprene, knitted fabrics
or woven fabrics. The anatomically appropriate shape is obtained
via the shape of the blanks or darts, for example with gussets, and
subsequent joining together of the blanks, as is also customary in
articles of clothing.
[0005] This joining together can be done by sewing, gluing or other
conventional methods. The great disadvantage of these bandages is
that the exact anatomical fit can be achieved only with difficulty
and there are a large number of connection points, for example
seams. These connection points change the properties of the
material used, and there is the danger of pressure points on the
skin.
[0006] Dressings or bandages for the wrist are used in the
treatment of distortions, contusions or sprains of the ulnar and
radial ligaments. However, they can also support the healing
process in the case of fissures of the metacarpal bones. Finally,
by means of appropriate immobilization of the wrist, irritation of
the metacarpal joints can be reduced to such a point that it
entirely disappears.
[0007] EP 0 775 476 discloses a wrist bandage designed for both
hands, using a flexible support material which has been
anatomically shaped and on which two pockets are sewn, in each case
in the lateral edge area, and these are used for receiving a
splint. The bandage is applied and fixed around the wrist with the
aid of several straps.
[0008] An advantage of the disclosed bandage is that it can be used
for both hands. To do this, all that needs to be done is to remove
the splint from one pocket and insert it into the other one.
[0009] However, a disadvantage of the bandage is that it is divided
along the middle at least once, so that the bandage has to be sewn
together from several pieces in order to guarantee a good fit on
the wrist.
[0010] The pockets provided are sewn straight onto the support
material, and this causes unattractive and undesired falling of the
folds when the bandage is being applied.
[0011] The object of the invention is to make available a bandage
which, by means of an explicit fit, ensures a reliable and stable
fixation of the wrist at a very low production outlay and does not
have the stated disadvantages of the prior art.
[0012] This object is achieved by a bandage as is specified in
Claim 1. Claim 2 concerns an alternative embodiment of the bandage
according to the invention. The subclaims relate to advantageous
developments of the bandage.
[0013] Accordingly, the invention provides a wrist bandage which
consists of an anatomically shaped section which receives the wrist
and the hand and which is formed from a single piece of flexible
and elastic material,
[0014] the section narrowing in the proximal direction,
[0015] the section having, on the medial edge, a cutout for
receiving the thumb, and
[0016] with at least two straps secured on the medial edge, which
straps can be secured on the dorsal side of the bandage.
[0017] A pocket is secured on the palmar side of the bandage, in
particular sewn thereon, in such a way that the centre axis of the
pocket forms an inwardly directed arch.
[0018] The pocket is in this case preferably situated in the edge
area of the section, at least in the area of the cutout for
receiving the thumb.
[0019] In an alternative embodiment, the wrist bandage likewise
consists of an anatomically shaped section which receives the wrist
and the hand and which is formed from a single piece of flexible
and elastic material,
[0020] the section narrowing in the proximal direction,
[0021] the section having, on the medial edge, a cutout for
receiving the thumb, and
[0022] with at least two straps secured on the medial edge, which
straps can be secured on the dorsal side of the bandage
[0023] In contrast to the first variant, the pocket here is secured
on the palmar side of the bandage, in particular sewn thereon, in
such a way that the centre axis of the pocket has at least one
inwardly directed kink.
[0024] Here too, the pocket is situated preferably in the edge area
of the section, at least in the area of the cutout for receiving
the thumb.
[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the centre axis of the pocket has
a kink which encloses an angle of 150.degree. to 170.degree..
[0026] The straps are preferably provided with a known velcro
closure which is secured on a roughened surface, the roughened
surface being secured on the dorsal side of the bandage in such a
way that the centre axis of the surface is located in an inwardly
directed arch or the centre axis of the surface has at least one
inwardly directed kink.
[0027] Here too, it has proven particularly advantageous if the
centre axis has only one kink which encloses an angle of
150.degree. to 170.degree..
[0028] The roughened surface is advantageously contiguous with the
outer edge of the section.
[0029] It is moreover advantageous if one strap of the bandage is
secured at the distal end of the medial edge, and the strap on the
palmar side is provided with a padding.
[0030] The bandage consists in particular of a material which is
flexible in the medial and lateral direction and substantially
inflexible in the proximal and distal direction.
[0031] In addition to this, however, neoprene and similar materials
have also proven suitable.
[0032] A substantially inflexible splint adapted to the anatomy of
the inner surface of the hand can be inserted into the pocket of
the bandage. The splint can be made of aluminium, for example.
[0033] In a further preferred embodiment of the bandage, the pocket
secured on the palmar side of the bandage, in particular sewn
thereon, has a roughened surface, and the roughened surface secured
on the dorsal side of the bandage, in particular sewn thereon, is
designed as a pocket. Thus, there are two preferably identical
combinations of pocket/roughened surface present on the bandage. In
this way, it is possible, with just a single design, to apply the
bandage to either wrist, provided the splint has been inserted into
the appropriate pocket.
[0034] The bandage according to the invention serves as a special
post-traumatic and post-operative bandage for injuries in the wrist
region.
[0035] A special bandage of this kind must have an explicit fit in
order to ensure a reliable and stable fixation of the wrist.
[0036] In addition, a bandage according to the invention should be
simple and inexpensive to produce and, unlike the situation in the
prior art, it should not have to be joined together from a large
number of cut-to-shape parts in order to achieve the necessary
fit.
[0037] Surprisingly, it has also been found that because the
pocket, receiving the splint, and the roughened surface are not
sewn directly onto the support material, as was previously the
case, an excellent application of the bandage over the wrist is
possible without falling of the folds.
[0038] A particularly advantageous embodiment of the bandage
according to the invention will be described below with reference
to a number of figures, but without thereby unnecessarily limiting
the invention.
[0039] FIG. 1 shows the bandage according to the invention in the
design for the right wrist, and
[0040] FIG. 2 shows the bandage splint which is inserted into the
pocket of the bandage, namely in a plan view and in a side
view.
[0041] In FIG. 1, the bandage (1) according to the invention in a
preferred embodiment is shown in the state before it is applied.
The bandage (1) is intended for the right wrist, and the one for
the left wrist will have a mirror-image configuration.
[0042] The bandage (1) has a central, anatomically shaped section
(11) which receives the wrist and the hand and which is formed from
a single piece of transversely elastic material. The section (11)
narrows in the proximal direction.
[0043] There is also a cutout (12) present on the medial edge,
which cutout (12) serves to receive the right thumb when the
bandage (1) is applied.
[0044] At the distal end of the section (11) there is a further
cutout (14) for increasing the mobility of the fingers.
[0045] The section (11) has an elastic band (13) sewn round all its
edges.
[0046] Moreover, a total of four straps (21, 22) are secured on the
medial edge of the section (11), these straps (21, 22) serving to
fix the bandage (1) on the hand and on the wrist, respectively. In
addition, the straps (21, 22) have a velcro closure by means of
which they are secured on a roughened surface (23), the roughened
surface (23) being sewn onto the dorsal side of the bandage (1) in
such a way that the centre axis of the surface (23) has an inwardly
directed kink which encloses an angle .alpha. of 165.degree., the
angle being indicated on one of the outer edges of the surface
(23).
[0047] Although not shown here, a padding (24) is arranged
underneath the strap (21) situated at the distal end of the medial
edge, which padding (24) permits a more comfortable fit of the
bandage (1).
[0048] A pocket (31) is sewn on the palmar side of the bandage (1)
in such a way that the centre axis of the pocket (31) like the
centre axis of the surface (23) encloses an angle .beta. of
165.degree., this angle also being indicated on one of the outer
edges of the pocket (31).
[0049] A splint (41) preferably made of aluminium is inserted into
the pocket (31) so that, with the bandage (1) applied, the fixation
and stabilization of the wrist are ensured.
[0050] Finally, a label, on which it is possible to indicate on
which hand the bandage (1) is to be applied, is sewn onto the
surface (23).
[0051] For applying the bandage (1), the latter is applied with the
underside according to FIG. 1 on the inner surface of the patient's
hand, so that the cutout (12) receives the thumb. The pocket (31)
with the splint (41) extends from the inner surface of the hand
over the wrist as far as the forearm. The section (11) is then
placed round the hand and fixed firmly by means of the straps (21,
22).
[0052] Finally, FIG. 2 shows the splint (41) in a plan view and in
a side view, illustrating the anatomically appropriate shape of the
splint (41) for the inner surface of the hand, the splint (41)
being made of aluminium and thus being largely inflexible.
* * * * *