Abstract:
A brace to be worn over the wrist for preventing and reducing pain and discomfort associated with the ulnar styloid of the wrist. The brace includes a band circumferentially fitted around the wrist. The band has an opening positioned to circumferentially surround the ulnar styloid. A pressure ring is attached to the opening, so that when the band is fittingly secured around the wrist with the ulnar styloid protruding through the opening, the pressure ring exerts controlled pressure to tissues associated with the ulnar styloid.

Description:
[0001]     The wrist is one of the most common sites for upper-extremity injuries and pain or discomfort experienced during sporting activities, which can include swinging motions in common leisure sports such as basketball, soccer, mountain biking, skiing, golf, and racket sports.  
         [0002]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the wrist  90  includes eight carpal bones  92 , the ulna  94 , the ulnar styloid  96 , the radius  98 , and various soft tissue structures, including the extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendon  80  and the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC)  82 . One of the manifestations of wrist-related injury or pathology is pain or discomfort that occurs in the ulnar styloid region of the wrist. Typically, such discomfort results from one or more of the following conditions: a TFCC tear, ECU tendon or sheath related problems, including ECU tenosynovitis and subluxation, ulnar styloid nonunion, and other wrist and forearm pathologies of undetermined nature. Pain can result from the sixth dorsal compartment of the ECU tendon  80  pressing on the ulnar nerve  84 .  
         [0003]     Although various wrist supports are commercially available for various conditions, there is currently no support device that specifically addresses ulnar styloid problems.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     The present teachings provide a brace to be worn over the wrist for preventing and reducing pain and discomfort associated with the ulnar styloid of the wrist. The brace includes a band circumferentially fitted around the wrist. The band has an opening positioned to circumferentially surround the ulnar styloid. A pressure ring is attached to the opening, so that when the band is fittingly secured around the wrist with the ulnar styloid protruding through the opening, the pressure ring exerts controlled pressure to tissues associated with the ulnar styloid.  
         [0005]     The present teachings also provide a method for preventing and reducing pain and discomfort associated with the ulnar styloid of the wrist. The method includes positioning an adjustable band having a pressure ring around the wrist, placing the pressure ring over and around the ulnar styloid of the wrist, and controlling the pressure of the pressure ring over the ulnar styloid.  
         [0006]     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a simplified representation of the various bones of a wrist;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a transverse section of the wrist;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of a brace for the ulnar styloid of a wrist according to the present teachings;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3 ( a ) is a cross-sectional view of a brace according to the present teachings;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is an assembly view of the brace of  FIG. 3 ; and  
         [0013]     FIGS.  5 ( a ),  5 ( b ) and  5 ( c ) illustrate how to use the brace of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0015]     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an exemplary brace  100  to be worn on the wrist  90  for preventing or relieving pain and discomfort associated with the region of the ulnar styloid  96  is shown. The brace  100  includes a band  102  with an opening  104 . A pressure ring  106  is overmolded or attached by other known means onto the opening  104 . The pressure ring  106  can be made of an elastomer, such as medical grade silicone with a 20-30 durometer Shore A, and is shaped to go over and surround the ulnar styloid  96 . The undeformed shape of the pressure ring  106  can be, for example, elliptical, oval, ovoid or other suitable shape, and can be provided in different sizes for different size wrists. The brace  100  can be worn on the right or left wrist, and in particular during activities that cause or exacerbate ulnar styloid pain, such as the swinging motions involved in golf, baseball, tennis, etc.  
         [0016]     The band  102  can be adjustable for providing controlled pressure on the ECU tendon  80  to hold the ECU tendon  80  in place and prevent the band  102  from pressing on the ulnar nerve  84 . A hook-and-loop fastener  108  having a first strap  110  and a second strap  112  can be used to adjust the band  102 . One of the straps  110 ,  112  is a hook strap and the other is a loop strap. The hook and loop straps  110 ,  112  are attached onto the top surface  114  of the band  102 , which is the surface opposite to the surface that comes in contact with the wrist  90 . The hook and loop straps  110 ,  112  can be sewn or glued or attached by known methods on the top surface  114  of the band  102 . The first strap  110  is positioned adjacent the pressure ring  106 . The second strap  112  is placed next to the first strap  110  and has a first end  116  attached to the band  102  and a second free end  118 . The length of the second strap  112  can be shortened by cutting the second strap  112  from the free end  118 . The band  102  has a first end  120  adjacent to the pressure ring  106  and a second end  122  which can also be cut to fit the circumference of the wrist  90 .  
         [0017]     The band  102  includes an elongated slot  128  between the pressure ring  106  and the first end  120 . The slot  128  is shaped to accommodate the width of the second strap  112 , which can be inserted through the slot  128 , folded over and attached to the first strap  110 .  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIG. 3   a , the band  102  can include padding  124 . The band  102  can be made, for example, from a padded strap of material that is folded and attached to form a flattened tube, such that the padding  124  is completely enclosed by an external material  126 . The external material  126  can be selected from materials that are naturally or artificially hypoallergenic and non-abrasive against the skin of the wrist  90 . The external material  126  can also be selected to provide a desired combination of smoothness such that the brace  100  can easily slide over the wrist  90  before fastening, while providing sufficient friction such that the brace  100  can be fastened around the wrist  90  to control the pressure provided by the pressure ring  106 .  
         [0019]     The band  102  can be reinforced with a frame  130 , which can be sewn as an insert inside the exemplary tubular band  102  shown in  FIG. 3 ( a ), or otherwise incorporated into the band  102  by known methods. The frame  130  can be made of plastic or other material that can increase the stiffness of the band  102  without adding much weight, such that the brace  100  remains flexible while retaining its shape over extended use, after washing, etc. The frame  130  includes an annular portion  132  that reinforces the opening  104  of the band  102 , and a D-ring  134  that reinforces the slot  128 . Other cutouts  136  can be provided on the frame  130  to reduce the weight of the frame  130  and increase its flexibility.  
         [0020]     Referring to FIGS.  5 ( a ) to  5 ( c ), the brace  100  can be presented for use with the second strap  112  already loosely looped through the D-ring  134 . The second strap  112  is be loosened as needed to slip the brace  100  over the affected wrist  90 , as shown in  FIG. 5 ( a ). The pressure ring  106  is placed over the ulnar styloid  96  with the D-ring  134  on top of the wrist  90 , as shown in  FIG. 5 ( b ). The second strap  112  is tightened to a desired tension and fastened to the first strap  110  to provide controlled pressure on the ulnar styloid area through the pressure ring  106 . After adjustment, any excess length of the second strap  112  can be trimmed away. Excess length of the band  102  can also be cut such that the two ends  120 ,  122  of the band  102  meet around the wrist  90 .  
         [0021]     The brace  100  was experimentally tested on various patients suffering from pain in the ulnar styloid region of the wrist at the Curtis National Hand Center of the Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, Md. The brace  100  was well tolerated and found to reduce pain of the ulnar styloid region during activities that cause or aggravate such pain.  
         [0022]     While particular embodiments have been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the present teachings without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present teachings are not be limited to the particular embodiments illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification, but that the present teachings will include any embodiments falling within the foregoing description and the appended claims.