Wrist support band

A wrist support band for use in the treatment of wrist ailments. The wrist support band provides support to the wrist while at the same time allows mobility of the wrist. The wrist support band includes an elastic sleeve that contains a flexible mold support. The mold support incorporates two elongated protuberances and a central recess intermediate the protuberances. The sleeve is slid over the hand and wrist until the elongated protuberances are proximate the wrist's proximal carpal row. At least one strap is wrapped about the sleeve to hold the sleeve and mold support in position firmly against the wrist. The interior of the sleeve may also be equipped with an anti-slip patch to prevent the sleeve from sliding up and down the wrist or forearm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
A great number of the population suffer from ailments that affect movement 
of the wrist. These ailments include: non-dissociative dorsiflexion 
intercalated segment instability or DISI; slight to moderate palmar 
translocations of the wrist, as a result of generalized hypermobility or 
post-macrotraumatic conditions (distal radial fractures with and without 
malalignment); status after luxation-fractures of the wrist; carpal tunnel 
syndrome as a result of carpal instability; ulno-carpal instability as a 
result of generalized hypermobility or post macrotraumatic conditions; 
triangular fibrocartilaginous complex lesions; ulnar tunnel syndrome as a 
result of ulnocarpal palmar translocation; and others. 
To accommodate these wrist ailments, a number of support systems for the 
wrist have been developed. Many supports offer good stability, but their 
designs inhibit easy mobility of the wrist. The decreased mobility results 
in decreased compliance of the patient in wearing the support system. 
Remodeling of connective tissue is a slow process thus, decreased 
compliance in wearing a wrist support system can extend treatment for 
extra months, years or may even result in completely ineffectual 
treatment. As such, there is a tremendous need for a wrist support system 
that allows some mobility in the wrist. However, currently there are no 
wrist supports known that offer stability to the kinematical complex of 
the wrist while at the same time allow an adequate amount of mobility of 
the wrist. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The wrist support band may be used in the treatment of wrist ailments. The 
use of the wrist support band provides support to the wrist while at the 
same time allows mobility of the wrist. The wrist support band includes an 
elastic sleeve that contains an interior flexible mold support. The mold 
support incorporates two elongated tapered protuberances and a central 
recess intermediate the protuberances. The sleeve is slid over the hand 
and wrist until the elongated protuberances are proximate the wrist's 
proximal carpal row. At least one strap is wrapped about the sleeve to 
hold the sleeve and mold support in position firmly against the wrist. A 
securement means is provided to secure the strap about the sleeve. The 
interior of the sleeve may also be equipped with an anti-slip patch to 
prevent the sleeve from sliding up and down the wrist or forearm. 
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved wrist support band of relatively simple and inexpensive design, 
construction and operation, which is safe and durable and which may be 
used by an individual in treating wrist ailments. 
Another principal object of the present invention is to supply stability to 
the kinematical complex of the wrist while at the same time allowing for 
an adequate amount of mobility in the wrist by controlling movement 
patterns of only the proximal carpal row. 
A feature of the present invention is a sleeve that can be slid over the 
hand and wrist. 
Another feature of the present invention is a mold support that has two 
elongated protuberances and a central recess intermediate the elongated 
protuberances. The mold support is attached to the interior of the sleeve 
such that when the sleeve is slid over the hand and wrist the elongated 
protuberances are proximate the wrist's proximal carpal row. 
Still another feature of the present invention is that the elongated 
protuberances of the mold support extend from the front end of the mold 
support to the rear end of the mold support and taper from approximately 
the midpoint of the mold support to the rear end. The tapering of the 
protuberances provides extra comfort to the user, as along the tapered 
portion of the protuberances pressure against the wrist is decreased. 
Furthermore, the tapering allows more mobility of the rear end of the 
wrist (the area toward the forearm). 
Still another feature of the present invention is at least one strap that 
may be wrapped about the exterior of the sleeve to hold the mold support, 
its protuberances and the interior of the sleeve in position firmly 
against the wrist. 
Still another feature of the invention is a securement means that secures 
the strap about the sleeve. 
Still another feature of the invention is an anti-slip patch that can be 
provided on the interior of the sleeve to prevent the sleeve and mold 
support from sliding up and down the forearm or wrist.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
One form of the invention is illustrated and described herein. The wrist 
support is enumerated as item 10 and generally comprises a sleeve 14, a 
mold support 20, an anti-slip patch 30, two straps 32 and a securement 
means 42. 
The sleeve 14 is of a tubular shape and is made of a soft, breathable and 
washable elastic fabric that allows the sleeve to be slid over the hand 
and wrist of an individual (FIGS. 1 and 2). The sleeve 14 can be made in a 
number of diameters to accommodate various users who naturally have 
differing wrist circumferences. The exterior 16 of the sleeve 14 
incorporates a loop material while the interior 18 of the sleeve 14 is 
generally a soft, fairly smooth surface. 
The mold support 20 is generally square or rectangular in shape and is made 
of a soft, flexible rubber or rubber-like material. The mold support 20 
has a front end 21, a rear end 22, a midpoint 23, two elongated 
protuberances 24 and a central recess 26 intermediate the elongated 
protuberances 24. The elongated protuberances 24 extend from the front end 
21 of the mold support 20 to the rear end 22. However, the protuberances 
24 taper from approximately the midpoint 23 of the mold support to the 
rear end 22 of the mold support (FIG. 4). The elongated protuberances 24 
themselves may be of a rounded or rectangular cross section. The mold 
support 20 is attached to the sleeve with a nylon-like thread 28, the 
thread 28 running the length of the central recess 26. While a nylon-like 
thread is appropriate and most durable, other types of attachment means 
may also be used such as adhesives, cotton thread, plastic thread, nylon 
or plastic rivets. 
Located adjacent the mold support 20 within the interior 18 of the sleeve 
14 is an anti-slip patch 30 (FIG.'s 1-3). The anti-slip patch 30 is a 
thin, rubber or rubber-like material attached to the sleeve 14 with a 
nylon-like thread 28, as described above. Once again, alternate attachment 
means such as those described above may be used. The anti-slip patch helps 
to prevent the sleeve 14 from sliding up or down the user's arm/wrist; it 
is especially helpful when the wrist support band 10 is worn for long 
periods of time or when the user's wrist is active with twisting and 
turning motions. 
Attached to the exterior 16 of the sleeve 14 are two elongated straps 32 of 
soft, breathable and washable elastic fabric identical to the fabric used 
for the sleeve 14 (FIG.'s 1 and 2). Each of the straps 32 is attached with 
nylon-like thread 28 to the sleeve 14. It is advantageous to use only one 
length of the nylon-like thread 28 to attach all components including the 
mold support 20, anti-slip patch 30 and the elongated straps 32; numerous 
layers of thread, if used, may bunch and protrude into the interior of the 
sleeve 14 causing discomfort to the user. Similar to the sleeve 14, the 
elongated straps 32 have an exterior 34 that incorporates a loop material 
while the interior 36 of the elongated straps 32 is generally soft and 
fairly smooth. The first strap 32 when sewn through its center for 
attachment to the sleeve 14 serves to form two proximal bands 38 while the 
second serves to form two distal bands 40 (FIG.'s 1-3). Note that the 
combined width of the straps 32 is approximately equal to the width of the 
sleeve. 
Located at each end of the proximal bands 38 and distal bands 40 is a 
securement means 42. The securement means 42 is generally an affixation 
member 44 incorporating hook material that is engageable with the loop 
material of the sleeve 14 and bands 38, 40 (FIG.'s 1 and 2). 
Alternatively, the securement means 42 may comprise hooks, snaps, tape or 
butterfly fasteners. 
The use of the wrist support band 10 will now be addressed. The initial 
application of the wrist support band 10 should always be under the 
supervision of a professional health care provider. To apply the wrist 
support band 10, the sleeve 14 is pulled over the hand onto the forearm so 
that the pole of the scaphoid and the pisiform are covered by the sleeve 
14. The two protuberances 24 of the mold support 20 should rest against 
these two bony structures, the anti-slip patch 30 should be below or 
behind the mold support 20 on a portion of wrist or upper forearm. Next, 
with the forearm supinated, thumb clasped in hand and wrist in ulnar 
deviation, the proximal bands 38 are applied by pulling and wrapping the 
bands 38 firmly about the wrist/forearm and engaging the hook material of 
the affixation member 44 to the loop material of the sleeve 14 or proximal 
band 38 as appropriate. 
Finally, care should be taken in applying the distal bands 40. In most 
instabilities (DISI), the distal bands 40 should be applied with the wrist 
still ulnarly deviated and slightly extended. However, in instances of 
volar translocation of the entire proximal carpal row or of only one ulnar 
column, dorsal realignment should be ensured before applying the distal 
bands 40. Actual application of the distal bands 40 is completed by 
pulling and wrapping the bands 40 firmly about the wrist and engaging the 
hook material of the affixation member 44 to the loop material of the 
sleeve 14 or distal band 40 as appropriate. 
The wrist support band 10 should not be used to cover open wounds or local 
skin irritations and should not be used on individuals with vascular 
problems that could lead to the inability of the individual to feel too 
much pressure from the support band. 
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without 
departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, therefore, the 
illustrated embodiment should be considered in all respects as 
illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended 
claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of 
the invention.