Patent ID: 7364559
Filing Date: 2008-04-29
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. An orthotic appliance for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome in a carpus between a hand and a forearm of a human, the carpus being aligned to a carpus plane, the forearm being aligned to a ulnar-radial plane, the appliance comprising a biasing means consisting substantially of a resilient wire formed into an elongated U shape with two substantially parallel wire portions adapted for positioning on two sides of an ulnar styloid bone and a loop formed therebetween in comforming relationship to a surface of the forearm and the hand, the resilient wire having a first end adapted for positioning generally on a dorsum of the forearm and adjacent the ulnar bone and a second end positioned generally adjacent to the first end and adapted for positioning on the dorsum of the forearm, the loop adapted to be positioned on the volar surface of the hand in the region of the pisiform bone, wherein the loop of the resilient wire is arranged to provide a dynamic, dorsally directed force in the general region of a pisiform bone in the carpus when the carpus is in a neutral position, the dynamic, dorsally directed force arranged to promote dorsal glide against a proximal carpal row of the carpus by leveraging against the forearm; and a base means maintaining the biasing means in conforming relationship with the surface of the hand and forearm, wherein the base and biasing means cooperatively allow movement of the hand, carpus, and forearm during extension and flexion of the hand, during pronation and supination of the forearm and carpus, and during ulnar and radial deviation of the hand without preventing the normal activities of daily living.