Patent Publication Number: US-2022226164-A1

Title: Carpal tunnel wrist brace

Description:
PRIORITY APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/557,063, filed Aug. 30, 2019, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/726,130, filed Aug. 31, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/790,620, filed Jan. 10, 2019, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to orthopedic braces. In particular, a carpal tunnel wrist brace is disclosed. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that causes numbness, tingling and other symptoms in the hand and arm. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve. The median nerve runs from your forearm through a passageway in your wrist (carpal tunnel) to your hand. It provides sensation to the palm side of your thumb and fingers, except the little finger. It also provides nerve signals to move the muscles around the base of your thumb (motor function). Positions of extreme wrist flexion and extension are known to increase pressures within the carpal canal and apply pressure on the nerve. 
     The anatomy of your wrist, health problems and possibly repetitive hand motions can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome. The first symptoms often include numbness or tingling in your thumb, index and middle fingers that comes and goes. Carpal tunnel syndrome may also cause discomfort in your wrist and the palm of your hand, and when severe, maybe treated through surgery. 
     Although typically performed on an outpatient basis, recovery from carpal tunnel surgery can be lengthy. Pain, swelling, and stiffness after the procedure are common. Minor soreness in your palm may last for several weeks to several months. Grip and pinch strength usually return by about two to three months after surgery. Common complications of carpal tunnel release surgery include bleeding, infection, and nerve aggravation or injury. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to be able to prevent or treat a carpal tunnel injury or inflammation to avoid the recovery time and risks of surgery. 
     SUMMARY OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS 
     The systems, methods, and devices of the invention each have several aspects (features), no single aspect of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of this invention as expressed by the claims which follow, some of the aspects are described below. Also, various features of the embodiments described below maybe included on a brace to alleviate or prevent carpal tunnel injury. The drawings referred to in this disclosure illustrate various features that can be included in various implementations or examples of a brace. In some examples, not all of the features in a figure are included in a particular implementation of a brace. Various implementations of a brace can also have additional features. 
     In one innovation, a brace for carpal tunnel injury includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end defining s longitudinal direction, the body having a forearm support at the body proximal end, a wrist support coupled to the forearm support by a neck portion, the wrist support comprising a first palmar strap support disposed on a lateral side of the wrist support, and a first member and a second member extending from the wrist support in the longitudinal direction towards the distal end. The brace further includes a distal palmar support coupled to the wrist support by the first and second member, a proximal palmar aperture surrounded by the wrist support, the first and second members and the palm support, the proximal palmar aperture configured to fit over a portion of the proximal palmar of a hand, a palm band coupled to the first member at a proximal end and extending laterally from the first member to a distal end, the palm band comprising a second palmar strap support at the palm band distal end, the palm band configured to extend from the first member across a portion of the back of the hand when the brace is worn, and a palmar strap, extending between a proximal end attached to the first palmar strap support to a distal end, the palmar strap configured to extend through the second palmar strap support across a portion of the back of the hand and over a purlicue of the hand, the distal end of the palmar strap configured to removably attach to the distal palmar support. 
     The brace may have one or more other aspects (or features), certain aspects being noted here. However, various embodiments of the acetabular cup assembly may have additional aspects or fewer aspects, and the aspects disclosed herein can be used together in an number of embodiments even if specifically not illustrated or described as being in a certain embodiment, as one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate. 
     In some embodiments, the brace further includes a first wrist strap support and a second wrist strap support arranged on opposite lateral sides of the wrist support, and a wrist strap having a proximal end attached to the first wrist strap support, a distal end of the wrist strap configured to extend through the second wrist strap support and removably attach to a portion of the brace to secure the wrist support to a hand when the brace is worn. In some embodiments, the portion of the brace the distal end of the wrist strap removably attaches to is the wrist strap. In some embodiments, the first palmar strap support comprises an elongated first and second slot, and wherein the proximal end of the palmar strap passes through the first and second slot to attach to the first palmar support. 
     In some embodiments, the brace further includes a first wrist strap support on a lateral side of the wrist support, the first wrist strap support having an elongated slot configured to receive a wrist strap, the first palmar strap support being aligned on the same lateral side of the wrist support as the first wrist strap support, and the first palmar strap support includes an elongated first and second slot aligned in parallel, and the elongated slot of the first wrist strap support is aligned at an angle with the first and second slots of the first palmar strap support such that the elongated slot of the first wrist strap support is not aligned parallel to the first and second slots of the first palmar strap support. 
     In some embodiments of the brace, the elongated slot of the first wrist strap support is disposed distal to the longitudinal axis of the brace relative to the first and second slots of the first palmar strap support. In some embodiments, the brace further includes a first forearm strap support and a second forearm strap support arranged on opposite lateral sides of the forearm support, and a forearm strap having a proximal end attached to the first forearm strap support, a distal end of the forearm strap configured to extend through the second forearm strap support and removably attach to a portion of the brace to secure the forearm support to a forearm when the brace is worn. In some embodiments, the distal end of the forearm strap removably attaches to the forearm strap. In some embodiments, the distal end of the forearm strap removably attaches to a fastening surface on the brace. In some embodiments the fastening surface is a fabric. 
     In some embodiments of the brace, the brace further includes a distal exterior layer on the surface of the brace facing away from the hand when the brace is worn. In some embodiments, the first layer is rubber. In some embodiments, the brace further includes a proximal exterior layer on the surface of the brace facing towards the hand when the brace is worn. In some embodiments, the proximal exterior layer is a fabric. In some embodiments, the brace further includes a semi-rigid layer disposed between the distal exterior layer and the proximal exterior layer. In some embodiments, the semi-rigid layer comprises metal, plastic, a composite material, that is stiff to provide support but at least slightly deformable when enough force is applied to it. For example, in some embodiments the semi-rigid material is metal having a thickness of between about 0.4 mm and 2.7 mm. In some embodiments, the brace further comprises a fastener layer disposed between the distal exterior layer and the semi-rigid layer, wherein the distal exterior layer includes at least one cutout that exposes a portion of the fastener layer. In some embodiments the fastener layer is configured such that a portion of at least one strap of the brace may removably attach to a portion of the fastener layer exposed in a cutout of the distal exterior layer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features and advantages of the braces and methods described herein will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. These drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are not to be considered limiting of its scope. In the drawings, similar reference numbers or symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. In some instances, the drawings may not be drawn to scale. 
         FIG. 1A  is a plan view of an exterior side of an embodiment of an example of a carpal tunnel wrist (“CTW”) brace  100  that when worn, is arranged on a portion of a user&#39;s palm, wrist and forearm, the illustrated exterior side being disposed facing away from (e.g., distal) to the user&#39;s palm. The brace  100  is illustrated as lying flat without straps to illustrate certain aspects of the brace  100 . Typically, a forearm support  106  of the brace  100  is curvilinear in shape to generally align with the curve of the user&#39;s forearm, and a palm support  103  of the brace  100  is generally flat. 
         FIG. 1B  is a plan view of the brace  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1A  but also showing a semi-rigid internal structure  172  which is included in a portion of the forearm support  106 , the wrist support  162 , the first and second longitudinal members  148 ,  150 , and the lateral palmar support  103 . 
         FIG. 1C  is a plan view of a portion of the brace  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1A , showing the semi-rigid internal structure  172  without the rubber first layer  168  and the fabric second layer  170  (that is, the rubber first layer  168  and the fabric second layer  170  have been removed in this illustration). 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of a hand showing two portions of the hand that the CTW brace  100  is structured to support, the brace applying pressure at these two portions to release pressure on the carpal tunnel portion of the hand/wrist. 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration of the interior side of the brace of  FIG. 1A  without straps. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration of the interior side of the brace of  FIG. 3 , shown with a forearm strap  180 , a wrist strap  182 , and a palmar strap  184  that are attached to the brace body  102  but not fastened in a configuration for securing the brace  100  to the user. 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration of the interior side of the brace of  FIG. 3 , shown with a forearm strap  180 , a wrist strap  182 , and a palmar strap  184  that are attached to the brace body  102  and in a configuration for securing the brace  100  to the user. 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration of the exterior side of the brace of  FIG. 3 , shown with a forearm strap  180 , a wrist strap  182 , and a palmar strap  184  that are attached to the brace body  102  and in a configuration for securing the brace  100  to the user. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view schematic of an example of the layers of the CTW brace  100  of  FIG. 1A  along line L 1 -L 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is an illustration of the brace of  FIG. 1A  being secured on the forearm, wrist and hand of a patient, showing straps of the brace across a portion of the topside of the forearm, wrist and hand. 
         FIG. 9  is another illustration of the brace of  FIG. 1A  being secured on the forearm, wrist and hand of a patient, showing straps of the brace across a portion of the topside of the forearm, wrist and hand. 
         FIG. 10  is another illustration of the brace of  FIG. 1A  being secured on the forearm, wrist and hand of a patient, showing straps of the brace across a portion of the topside of the forearm, wrist and hand. 
         FIG. 11  is another illustration of the brace of  FIG. 1A  being secured on the forearm, wrist and hand of a patient, showing straps of the brace across a portion of the topside of the forearm, wrist and hand, with the forearm strap and the wrist strap secured. 
         FIG. 12  is another illustration of the brace of  FIG. 1A  being secured on the forearm, wrist and hand of a patient, showing the brace on the palm-side of the hand and the palmar strap being secured. 
         FIG. 13  is another illustration of the brace of  FIG. 1A  being secured on the forearm, wrist and hand of a patient, showing the brace on the palm-side of the hand and the palmar strap secured. 
         FIG. 14  is an illustration of a brace on the top-side of a hand with the brace secured on the forearm, wrist and hand. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INVENTIVE ASPECTS 
     The following detailed description describes embodiments of carpal tunnel braces and methods, some of which are illustrated in the figures. These embodiments are not intended to be limiting, and various modifications, variations, combinations, etc., of the features of these embodiments are possible and within the scope of this disclosure. 
     Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that causes numbness, tingling and other symptoms in the hand and arm. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve. The median nerve runs from your forearm through a passageway in your wrist (carpal tunnel) to your hand. It provides sensation to the palm side of your thumb and fingers, except the little finger. It also provides nerve signals to move the muscles around the base of your thumb (motor function). Anything that squeezes or irritates the median nerve in the carpal tunnel space may lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. Positions of extreme wrist flexion and extension are known to increase pressures within the carpal canal and apply pressure on the nerve. A wrist fracture can narrow the carpal tunnel and irritate the nerve, as can the swelling and inflammation resulting from rheumatoid arthritis. 
     The anatomy of your wrist, health problems and possibly repetitive hand motions can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms usually start gradually. The first symptoms often include numbness or tingling in your thumb, index and middle fingers that comes and goes. Carpal tunnel syndrome may also cause discomfort in your wrist and the palm of your hand. The surgical procedure performed for carpal tunnel syndrome is called a “carpal tunnel release.” The surgical techniques relieve pressure on your median nerve by cutting the ligament that forms the roof of the tunnel. This increases the size of the tunnel and decreases pressure on the median nerve. 
     Although typically performed on an outpatient basis, recovery from carpal tunnel release surgery can be lengthy. Immediately following surgery, you will be encouraged to elevate your hand above your heart and move your fingers to reduce swelling and prevent stiffness. Pain, swelling, and stiffness after the procedure are common. Minor soreness in your palm may last for several weeks to several months. Grip and pinch strength usually return by about 2 to 3 months after surgery. If the condition of your median nerve was poor before surgery, however, grip and pinch strength may not improve for about 6 to 12 months. Common complications of carpal tunnel release surgery include bleeding, infection, and nerve aggravation or injury. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to be able to prevent or treat a carpal tunnel injury or inflammation to avoid the recovery time and risks of surgery. 
     To address treating carpal tunnel injury or inflammation, a carpal tunnel wrist brace can be designed to be support portions of the hand to mitigate carpal tunnel injury. In various embodiments, such a brace may be worn on a portion of a user&#39;s forearm, wrist, and palm, along the palm side of the user&#39;s hand. The brace may have a longitudinal axis that runs along a portion of the user&#39;s forearm, across the wrist, and across the proximal palmar to the distal palmar of a patient&#39;s hand. 
     The brace may include a forearm support that is aligned laterally to the longitudinal axis and is configured to support a portion of a patient&#39;s forearm. The form support may be curved to conform with the patient&#39;s forearm. A strap may be used to connect a first side of the forearm support to a second side of a forearm support to secure the form support to the patient&#39;s forearm. The brace may also include a wrist support that is generally aligned laterally to longitudinal axis of the brace. The wrist support is configured to support a portion of a patient&#39;s wrist to alleviate pressure on certain portions of the wrist which may aggravate carpal tunnel inflammation. The wrist support may be secured to the wrist by a strap that connects a first side of the wrist support to a second side of the wrist support across the top side of the wrist (i.e., referring to a portion the wrist that is on the same side as the back of the hand). The brace may also include a palmar support, arranged on the brace in a portion distal to the forearm support, to support the palmar portion of a patient&#39;s hand. In some embodiments, two members extend from the wrist support portion of the brace to the palmar support. The two members, the wrist support, and the palmar support define edges of a proximal palmar aperture in the brace. 
     The brace may also include a band that extends from the brace near the distal palmar support, and wraps across a portion of the back of the patient&#39;s hand when the brace is worn. A palmar strap coupled to the end of the band, may be used to secure the distal palmar support to the patient&#39;s hand. In some embodiments, the palmar strap attaches to a strap support on the side of the wrist support, passes over the purlicue of the hand and extends through a slot at the end of the band, and then connects to a fastening surface on the brace. The brace, been secured to a person&#39;s forearm wrist and hand by the forearm strap, wrist strap, and palmar strap, provides support to relieve pressure on the carpal tunnel in provides a secure rigid platform to keep a patient&#39;s hand in a preferred position for treatment and recovery of carpal tunnel. 
     Illustrative Embodiment 
     An example of an embodiment of a brace is described below in reference to the figures. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the described technology. Such modifications and changes are intended to fall within the scope of the embodiments. It will also be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that parts included in one embodiment are interchangeable with other embodiments—one or more parts from a depicted embodiment can be included with other depicted embodiments in any combination. For example, any of the various components described herein and/or depicted in the figures may be combined, interchanged or excluded from other embodiments. 
     Below is a list of examples of certain components that are illustrated in examples included in certain figures of this disclosure, and that may be referenced in various embodiments of carpal tunnel wrist braces. In some instances, different terminology can be used for these components, for example, for clarity or brevity of description.
           100  brace     102  body     103  palmar support     104  distal exterior surface     105  proximal exterior surface     106  first forearm strap support     107  second forearm strap support     108  forearm support     109  distal edge of the distal palmar support     110  cutout in distal exterior layer     111  first end of brace     112  second end of brace     113  proximal edge of the forearm support     116  palmar band first connection     118  palmar band second connection     119  palmar aperture     120  proximal end palmar aperture     121  distal end palmar aperture     122  palmar band aperture     123  palmar band     124  palmar band outside edge     126  palmar band inside edge     127  first palmar strap slot     128  second palmar strap slot     129  third palmar strap slot     130  proximal end palm band aperture     132  distal end palm band aperture     134  distal end palmar band     135  palmar strap fastening surface     136  first wrist strap slot     138  second wrist strap slot     141  first palmar strap support     142  second palmar strap support     144  neck     146  first longitudinal member     148  second longitudinal member     154  first forearm strap slot     156  second forearm strap slot     158  neck first edge     160  neck second edge     162  wrist support     164  first wrist strap support     166  second wrist strap support     168  distal exterior layer     170  fastener layer     172  structure     174  proximal exterior layer     180  forearm strap     181  strap stop button     182  wrist strap     184  palmar strap     186  forearm     188  wrist     190  hand     192  fastener     194  proximal end of the structure  172       196  distal end of structure  172       198  distal end forearm strap     200  distal end palmar strap     202  distal end wrist strap       

       FIG. 1A  is a plan view of an exterior side of an embodiment of an example of a carpal tunnel wrist (“CTW”) brace  100  that when worn, is arranged on a portion of a user&#39;s palm, wrist and forearm, the illustrated exterior surface  104  being disposed facing away from (e.g., distal) to the user&#39;s palm, and a proximal exterior surface  105  ( FIG. 3 ) facing the patient&#39;s palm. The body  102  of the brace  100  is illustrated as lying flat, or substantially flat, and without straps (e.g., the forearm strap, the palmar strap, the wrist strap) to illustrate certain aspects of the brace  100 . Typically, a forearm support  108  of the brace  100  is curvilinear in shape to generally align with the curve of the user&#39;s forearm, and a palmar support  103  of the brace  100  is generally relatively flat. For example, the brace  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 3-6 and 8-14  shows an example of the curvilinear shape of a brace  100 . For example, the curve of the forearm support  108  around a portion of a forearm, the curve of a wrist support  162  around a portion of a wrist, and the shape of the palmar support  103  along the palm of a hand. In some embodiments, the brace  100  includes a conformable rigid or semi-rigid structure  172  ( FIG. 3 ) that allows a portion of the brace  100  to be deformed so as to conform with a portion of person&#39;s forearm (e.g., the brace  100  may be deformed and once it is deformed it maintains the deformed shape). For example, the forearm support  108  may be deformed to have a wide u-shaped curve to conform with the underside of a person&#39;s forearm when the brace is worn. 
     The embodiment of brace  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1A  includes the forearm support  108 , a wrist support  162 , and the palmar support  103 . The brace  100  extends in longitudinal direction from a proximal edge  113  of the forearm support  108  on a first end  111  of the brace  100 , to a distal edge  109  of the palmar support  103  on a second end  112  of the brace. The wrist support  162  is connected to the forearm support  108  by a neck  144  having a neck first edge  158  disposed on one lateral on the opposite lateral side of the neck  144 . The wrist support  162  is connected to the palmar support  103  by a first longitudinal member  146  and a second longitudinal member  148  that extend between the wrist support  162  and a distal palmar support  103 . 
     The forearm support  108  includes a first forearm strap support  106  disposed on a first lateral side of the forearm support  108  and a second forearm strap support  107  disposed on a second lateral side of the forearm support  108 , the first lateral side of the forearm support  108  and the second forearm strap support  107  located on opposite lateral sides of the forearm support  108 . The forearm strap supports  106 ,  107  are used to attached to a strap which secures the forearm support  108  to a patient&#39;s forearm. Although straps of the brace  100  are not shown in  FIG. 1A , an example of a forearm strap  180 , a wrist strap  182 , and a palmar strap  184  are illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In addition,  FIGS. 8-14  illustrate examples of the forearm strap  180 , wrist strap  182 , and palmar strap  184  being used to secure the brace  100  to a patient. In the illustrated embodiment, the first forearm strap support  106  includes a forearm strap first slot  154  and the second forearm strap support  107  includes forearm strap second slot  156 . The forearm strap slots  154 ,  156  are elongated apertures in the brace  100 , the elongation of the forearm strap slots  154 ,  156  generally aligned in the longitudinal direction of the brace  100 . Also, the forearm strap supports  106 ,  107  can include a portion of the distal exterior layer  168  for strength. The distal exterior layer  168  may include rubber, or another durable natural or synthetic material. 
     The lateral sides of the neck  144  are narrower than the forearm support  108  and the wrist support  162 . That is, the configuration of the neck  144  is such that the distance d 3  between the neck first edge  158  and the neck second edge  160  is less than the distance d 1  which is the lateral width of the forearm support  108 , and the distance d 3  is less than the distance the distance d 4  which is the lateral width of the wrist support  162 . The wrist support  162  and its corresponding wrist strap supports  164 ,  166  are configured such that at least a portion the wrist support  162  and its corresponding wrist strap supports  164 ,  166  deform as the wrist strap  182  is tightened (e.g., bend or flex to at least partially conform with the wrist of patient). In addition, in some embodiments (including the illustrated embodiment) the wrist support  162 , although rigid, is at least somewhat deformable. For example, the wrist support  162  may be deformed and once it is deformed it maintains the deformed shape). Also, the forearm support  108  and its corresponding forearm strap supports  106 ,  107  are configured such that at least a portion the forearm support  108  and its corresponding forearm strap supports  106 ,  107  can deform as the forearm strap  180  is tightened. 
     In addition, in some embodiments (including the illustrated embodiment) the forearm support  108  although rigid can be deformable (e.g., it may be deformed and once it is deformed it maintains the deformed shape). The configuration and dimensions of the neck  144  allows the forearm support  108  and the wrist support  162  to be secured to a patient&#39;s forearm and hand independently, allowing each of the forearm support  108  and the wrist support  162  to independently conform to the forearm and wrist, respectively, as the forearm strap  180  and the wrist strap  182  are tightened to secure the brace  100  onto the patient. Also, the configuration and dimensions of the neck  144  allows the forearm support  108  and the wrist support  162  to be independently deformed as needed to fit a patient&#39;s arm and hand. In some embodiments, the forearm support  108  and the wrist support  162  may be deformed such they are not in the same plane, that is, the forearm support  108  and the wrist support  162  may me misaligned by (slightly) bending the brace at the neck  144 . Accordingly and advantageously, the tightening the forearm strap  180  to secure the forearm support  108  to a patient with the proper fit, or deforming the forearm support  108  or the wrist support  162 , will not affect the tightening of the wrist strap  182 , or the deformation of the forearm support  108  or the wrist support  162  will not affect the deformation of the other of the forearm support  108  or the wrist support  162 , to secure the wrist support  162  to the patient with the proper fit. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1A , the neck  144  includes a cutout  110  in the distal exterior layer  168   110 . The brace  100 , in the illustrated embodiment, includes a plurality of cutouts  110 . A “cutout” as used herein in this context refers to an opening in the distal exterior layer  168  such that material that is disposed underneath the distal exterior layer  168  can be seen in the cutout  110 . As described in more detail in reference to  FIG. 7 , the distal exterior layer  168  is an exposed distal exterior surface  104  of the brace  100 , which is outward-facing, that is, it faces away from the palm of the patient when the brace is worn. In embodiments of the brace  100  that include multiple layers, a layer disposed adjacent to and underneath the distal exterior layer  168 , which may normally not be exposed as it is covered by the distal exterior layer  168 , may have a portion of such layer exposed through the one or more cutouts (openings)  110  in the distal exterior layer  168 . In some embodiments, the material exposed through a cutout  110  is a material or structure that the strap can be fastened to. For example, by using corresponding hooks and loops fastening structures on the strap and on the layer exposed through a cutout, or using a snap, or any other suitable fastening structure. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1A , the wrist support  162  includes a first wrist strap support  164  positioned on one lateral side (e.g., a first side) of the wrist strap support  162 , and a second wrist strap support  166  positioned on the opposite lateral side (e.g., a second side) of the wrist support  162 . The first wrist strap support  164  includes a first wrist strap slot  136 . In this embodiment, the elongation of the strap slot  136  is generally aligned in the longitudinal direction of the brace  100 . The second wrist strap support  166  includes a second wrist strap slot  138 . In this embodiment, the elongation of the strap slot  138  is generally aligned in the longitudinal direction of the brace  100 . Wrist strap  182  (e.g.,  FIG. 8 ) can be attached to one of the wrist strap slots  136 ,  138 , extend around the user&#39;s wrist through the other of the wrist strap slots  136 ,  138 , and then be fastened to either the strap  182  or somewhere else on the brace. 
     The first longitudinal member  146  and the second longitudinal member  148  extend from the wrist support  162  towards and are attached to the distal palmar support  103 . The wrist support  162 , the first longitudinal member  146 , the second longitudinal member  148 , and the palmar support  103  define a proximal palmar aperture  119 , which is structured to align with a portion of a patient&#39;s hand when the brace  100  is worn. In this embodiment, the proximal palmar aperture  119  includes a U-shaped proximal end  120  and a longer distal end  121  which in this embodiment includes a straight portion that runs along a portion of the palmar support  103 . In other embodiments, the edges of the first longitudinal member  146 , the second longitudinal member  148 , the wrist support  162 , and palmar support  103  may be different in length, curvature, and/or alignment, and correspondingly the shape of the proximal palmar aperture  119  may be different. The configuration of the palmar aperture  119  advantageously allows for airflow through the palmar aperture  119  across a patient&#39;s palm exposed palm (exposed by the palmar aperture  119 ) while still providing the rigid support of the wrist and hand as needed, which may mitigate sweating, and thus be more comfortable for a patient to wear for extended periods of time. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1A , the brace  100  includes a palmar band  123  extending from a lateral portion of the first longitudinal member  146 . The palmar band  123  is attaches to an outside edge of the first longitudinal member  146  at a palmar band first connection  116  and a palmar band second connection  118  at a portion on the first longitudinal member  146  that is closer to the first end  111  of the brace. The palmar band  123  in this embodiment is generally U-shaped, although other configurations of the palmar band  123  that perform the same functionality are also contemplated. A palmar band aperture  122  extends from a proximal end  130  to a distal end  132  and is within the U-shaped structure of the palmar band  123 , the palmar band aperture  122  been defined by the palmar band inside edge  126  which runs along the perimeter of the palm band aperture  122 . 
     A first palmar strap support  141  is disposed on a portion of the wrist support  162  in the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1A , the first palmar strap support  141  disposed between the second wrist strap support  166  and the centerline (or longitudinal axis) of the brace  100  that runs from the first end  111  to the second end  112 . The first palmar strap support  141  includes a first palmar strap slot  127 , and a second palmar strap slot  128  adjacently disposed by the first palmar strap slot  127  and parallel in alignment to the first palmar strap slot  127 . The palmar band  123  includes a distal end  134  and the second palmar strap support  142  is located on the distal end  134 . The second palmar strap support  142  includes a third palmar strap slot  129 . The proximal end of a palmar strap  184  ( FIG. 4 ) may be attached to the first Palmar strap support  141 . When the brace  100  is worn, the palmar strap  184  may run across a portion of the purlicue of the patient&#39;s hand. A distal end of the palmar strap  184  may pass through the third palmar strap slot  129  when the palmar band  123  is across the back of the hand, across a portion of the purlicue of the hand, and then the distal end of the palmar strap may attach to the brace  100 , for example, on the palmar strap fastening surface  135 . In this embodiment, the palmar strap passing surface  135  is part of the fastener layer  170  that is exposed in a cutout  110  of the distal exterior layer  168 . An illustration of the palmar strap  184  securing the brace  100  to a patient&#39;s hand is illustrated and described in more detail in  FIGS. 8-14 . 
       FIG. 1B  is a plan view of the brace  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1A  showing an example of a structure  172  provides rigidity to portions of the brace  100 . Portions of the structure  172  are included in the forearm support  108 , the wrist support  162 , the first and second longitudinal members  146 ,  148 , and the palm support  103 . That is, the illustrated structure  172  extends from the forearm support  108 , through the neck  44  to the wrist support  162 . Portions of the structure  172  further extend through the first and second longitudinal member  146 ,  148 , and then to the palmar support  103 . The structure  172  surrounds the palmar aperture  119  ( FIG. 1 ) to provide rigidity to the brace  100  as a whole to limit (separate) movement of a person&#39;s forearm, wrist, and hand. 
       FIG. 1C  is a plan view of a portion of the brace  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1A , showing the structure  172  without the rubber first layer  168  and the fabric second layer  170  (that is, the rubber first layer  168  and the fabric second layer  170  are not shown in this illustration). As described above, the components of brace  100  are shown as being flat, however, as used in worn by a patient, one or more of the forearm support  108 , wrist support  162 , the first and second longitudinal members  146 ,  148 , and the palmar support  103  may be at least slightly curved (or deformed) to conform to the patient&#39;s forearm, wrist, and hand. The structure  172  may comprise a rigid, or a semi-rigid (rigid but deformable) material. In some embodiments, the structure can be deformed to a shape to better fit the brace  100  to the patient&#39;s arm/hand, and after it is deformed it is rigid and maintains the deformed shape. In some embodiments where there are many different sizes of the brace  100 , the structure  172  may not be deformable and one of the many sizes of the brace  100  are selected for a particular application on a patient. In various embodiments, the structure  172  may comprise metal, plastic, a composite material, wood, fiberglass, or another suitable material. In some embodiments, structure  172  comprises titanium, steel, aluminum, or an alloy. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1C , the structure  172  is arranged on the brace  100  from a proximal end  194  in the forearm support  108  through the neck  44 , and continues through a portion of the wrist support  162  and extends in each of the longitudinal members  146 ,  148  to the distal palmar support  103 , and laterally across distal palmar support  103  to a distal end  196  of the structure  172 . Similar to the forearm support  108 , the structure  172  extends laterally such that a lateral dimension d 5  of the structure  172  in the form support  108  portion of the brace is greater than a lateral dimension d 6  of the structure  172  in the neck  44  region of the brace. Portions of structure  172  in the wrist support  162 , the longitudinal members  146 ,  148 , in the distal palmar support  103  surround the proximal palmar aperture  119 . In some embodiments, structure  172  may be formed by two or more structural members that are rigidly coupled together, loosely coupled, or not joined (except indirectly through another structure). 
       FIG. 2  is an illustration showing two portions of a hand  190  of a patient that the brace  100  is structured to support. When worn by a patient, the brace  100  supports portions A and B of the hand  190 , applying pressure at these two portions when the hand  190  is resting on the surface, with the brace  100  between the hand in the surface, to release pressure on the carpal tunnel portion of the hand and/or wrist. 
       FIG. 3  is an illustration of the proximate exterior surface  105  of the embodiment of the CTW brace  100  of  FIG. 1 , shown here with straps, which are described in more detail hereinbelow. The proximate exterior surface  105  is the surface of the brace  100  that is adjacent to, and contacts, the patient&#39;s forearm wrist and hand when the brace is worn. The proximate exterior surface  105  may comprise a material that is comfortable to be worn against the skin. For example the proximate exterior surface  105  may comprise a natural or synthetic fabric, or other material, that has good durability and is comfortable to be worn against the patient&#39;s skin for an extended period of time. As described in reference to  FIG. 7 , the proximate exterior surface  105  may be the surface of the proximate exterior layer  174 . In some embodiments, the proximate exterior layer  174  may comprise a padded material, a hypoallergenic material, a soft material, a smooth material, and/or a material that is not irritating. 
       FIG. 4  is an illustration of the proximate exterior surface  105  (the interior side) of the brace of  FIG. 1 , shown with a forearm strap  180 , a wrist strap  182 , and a palmar strap  184  that are attached to the brace body  102  but not fastened in a configuration for securing the brace  100  to the patient. In  FIG. 4 , the forearm strap  180  is shown as being attached to one of the forearm strap supports  106 ,  107  and having a distal end  198  of the forearm strap  180  extending through the forearm strap slot in the other of the forearm strap supports  106 ,  107 . The wrist strap  182  is shown as being attached to one of the wrist strap supports  164 ,  166  and having a distal end  202  of the wrist strap  182  extending through the wrist strap slot in the other of the wrist strap supports  164 ,  166 . The palmar strap  184  is shown as being attached to the first palmar strap support  141  and having a distal end  200  extending through the third palmar strap slot  129  in the palmar strap second support  142 . The distal end of each of the forearm strap  180 , the wrist strap  182 , and the palmar strap  184  includes a fastener  192  that may be used to removably attach the distal end of the strap to a portion of the brace  100  or to the strap itself. 
       FIG. 5  is an illustration of the interior side of the CTW brace of  FIG. 3 , shown with a forearm strap  180 , a wrist strap  182 , and a palm strap  184  that are attached to the brace body  102  and in a configuration for securing the brace  100  to the user. In the illustrated configuration, the distal end  198  of the forearm strap  180  is doubled-back and attached to the forearm strap  180 , and the distal end  202  of the wrist strap  182  is doubled-back and attached to a portion of the wrist strap  182 . The palmar strap  184  passes through the third palmar strap slot  129  and loops back around to the other side of the brace  100 , and can attach to palmar strap fastening surface  135  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     As illustrated in the embodiments in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the brace  100  may include a strap stop button  181  disposed near the distal end of the forearm strap  180  and/or the wrist strap  182  ( FIG. 5 ), and/or the palmar strap  184  ( FIG. 6 ). The strap stop button  181  is a structure that is attached to a strap and has a depth dimension that is slightly larger than the width of a strap slot of the brace  100  that the strap passes through, preventing the end of the strap from passing through the slot at an undesirable time, for example, when preparing to put the brace  100  on. In some embodiments, the stop strap button  181  is a metal structure that couples to a portion of the strap. For example, a strap stop button  181  attached near the distal end  198  of the forearm strap  180  increases a depth dimension of the strap where the stop strap button  181  is disposed such that the combination of the stop strap button  181  and the strap is slightly larger than the width of the forearm strap slots  154 ,  156 . A strap stop button  181  attached near the distal end  202  of the wrist strap  182  has a depth dimension that the combination of the stop strap button  181  and the wrist strap  182  is slightly larger than the width of the wrist strap slots  136 ,  138 . A strap stop button  181  attached near the distal end  200  of the palmar strap  184  has a depth dimension such that the combination of the stop strap button  181  and the palmar strap  184  is slightly larger than the width of the palmar strap slot  129 . In some embodiments, the strap stop button  181  may be just larger than the width of the slot such that with some force the distal end of the strap including the strap stop button can pass through the slot (as the material of the slot can be pliable), but such that it is unlikely to occur unless desired. A stop strap button  181  may be attached to one side of a strap during manufacture of the strap such that one side of the stop strap button protrudes from the outside of the strap (that is, on the opposite side as the fastener  192 ) and the other side of the stop strap button  181  is covered by a portion of the strap (e.g., the fastener  192 ) such that it is not exposed. 
       FIG. 6  is an illustration of the brace  100  showing the distal exterior surface  104 . The brace  200  is shown with the forearm strap  180 , the wrist strap  182 , and the palmar strap  184  that are attached to the brace body  102  and in a configuration for securing the brace  100  to the hand of a patient. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view schematic representing an example of layers of the brace  100  of  FIG. 1A  along line L 1 -L 1 , according to some embodiments. In this example, the layers of the brace include a distal exterior layer  168 , a fastener layer  170 , a semi-rigid structure layer  172 , and a proximal exterior layer  174 . The distal exterior layer  168  may comprise a durable and flexible material, for example, rubber or any suitable natural or synthetic material. When the brace  100  is attached to the patient&#39;s hand, the distal exterior layer  168  is disposed facing away from the patient&#39;s hand, wrist, and forearm. The distal exterior layer  168  may include a number of cutouts  110  ( FIG. 1 ) that allow the fastener layer  170  to be exposed through the distal exterior layer  168 . In some embodiment, the cutouts  110  also may facilitate increased flexibility of the in the areas of the cutouts  110 . In some embodiments, the cutouts  110  form part of the ornamental design of the brace  100 . 
     The fastener layer  170  is disposed adjacent to the distal layer  168 , between the distal exterior layer  168  and the proximal exterior layer  174 . In this embodiment, the faster layer  170  is also disposed adjacent to the semi-rigid structure  172  such that the faster layer  170  is between the distal exterior layer  168  and the semi-rigid structure  172  in the portions of the brace that include the semi-rigid structure  172 . The fastening layer  170  may provide a fastening surface that a portion of any of the straps of the brace may be attached to, according to various embodiments. For example, the fastening layer  170  may comprise hooks or loops, a corresponding surface of a strap may comprise the other of the hooks or loops. 
     In this embodiment, the semi-rigid structure  172  is disposed adjacent to, and between, the fastening layer  170  and the proximal exterior layer  174 . The semi-rigid structure  172  provides rigidity to the brace  100  in the portions of the brace  100  that include the semi-rigid structure  172 . The proximal exterior layer  174 , when the brace is worn on a patient&#39;s hand, is adjacent to the patient&#39;s hand in context the patient&#39;s hand. The proximal exterior layer  174  may comprise any suitable synthetic or natural fabric. In some embodiments the proximal exterior layer  174  is hypoallergenic. In some embodiments the proximal exterior layer  174  comprises a material which is non-absorptive to make it easier to clean. 
       FIGS. 8-14  are illustrations of different stages of the brace  100  of  FIG. 1A  been attached to a patient by the forearm strap  180 , the wrist strap  182 , and the palm strap  184 . Some of the components described may refer to components of the brace  100  shown in  FIG. 1A . 
       FIG. 8  is an illustration of a CTW brace on the topside of a hand  190  of a user before the straps are secured. As is illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the forearm strap  180  is attached to a forearm support  108  at the forearm strap first support  106  and extends across the top of the forearm  186  and through the forearm strap second slot  156 . The forearm strap  180  includes a fastener  192  that may be attached to another portion of the brace  100  to secure the forearm strap  180 , and the forearm support  108 , to the patient&#39;s forearm  186 . In some embodiments, the portion of the brace  100  that the brace fastener  192  attaches to is the forearm strap  180 . In some embodiments, the portion brace  100  that the brace fastener  192  attaches to is a surface on the body  102  of the brace  100 . 
     The wrist strap  182  is shown attached to one side of the wrist support  162  and passes across the top of the wrist  188  to the opposite side of the wrist support  162  where it passes through the second wrist strap support  166 . The wrist strap  182  includes a fastener  192  that may be attached to another portion of the brace  100  to secure the wrist strap  182 , and the wrist support  162 , to the patient&#39;s wrist  188 . In some embodiments, the portion of the brace  100  that the fastener  192  attaches to is the wrist strap  182 . In some embodiments, the portion of the brace  100  that the fastener  192  attaches to is a surface on the body  102  of the brace  100 . 
     The palmar strap  184  is shown attached to the first palmar strap support  141 , running across the back of the hand  190 , and passing through the third palmar strap slot  129 . The palmar strap  184  includes a fastener  192 , on the distal end of the palmar strap  184 , that may be attached to another portion of the brace  100  to secure the palmar strap  184  and the distal palmar support  103  to the patient. In some embodiments, the portion of the brace  100  that the fastener  192  attaches to is a surface on the body  102  of the brace  100 , for example, the palmar strap fastening surface  135 . In other embodiments, the fastener  192  of the palmar strap  24  may be attached to another part of the brace  100  that has a suitable fastening surface, e.g., a surface of the brace or a strap of the brace. 
       FIG. 9  is another illustration of the brace of  FIG. 1A  being secured on the forearm, wrist and hand of a patient, showing straps of the brace across a portion of the topside of the forearm  186 , wrist  188 , and hand  190  of a patient. In  FIG. 9 , the forearm strap  180  is illustrated in a unfastened position, that is, the distal end  198  of the forearm strap  180  is not been doubled back onto the forearm strap  180  such that the fastener  192  on the distal end  198  fastens to a portion of the forearm strap  180 . Similarly, the wrist strap  182  is illustrated in unfastened positioned, that is, the fastener  192  on the wrist strap  182  is not yet been doubled back onto the wrist strap  182  to fasten the wrist strap  182  onto the wrist  188 . The palmar strap  184  is shown as extending across the topside of hand  190  through the palmar strap slot  129  of the palm band  123 , that is, the distal end  200  of the palmar strap  184  is extending through the palmar strap slot  129 . 
       FIG. 10  is another illustration of the brace of  FIG. 1A  being secured on the forearm  186 , wrist  188 , and hand  190  of a patient, showing straps  180 ,  182 ,  184  of the brace across a portion of the topside of the forearm  186 , wrist  188 , and hand  190 . In  FIG. 10 , the wrist strap  182  has been secured across the patient&#39;s wrist  188 . Forearm strap  180  is shown being tightened on the patient&#39;s forearm  186 . 
       FIG. 11  is another illustration of the brace of  FIG. 1A  being secured on the forearm  186 , wrist  188 , and hand  190  of a patient, showing straps of the brace across a portion of the topside of the forearm  186 , wrist  188 , and hand  190 . In  FIG. 11 , the forearm strap  180  and the wrist strap  182  is secured. The palm band  123  is shown as extending across a portion of the topside of the hand  190 . The palmar strap  184 , extending through the palm strap  123 , is being pulled across another portion of the topside of the hand  190  such that it will extend across a portion of the hand between the thumb and the fingers of the patient, so that it can be secured to a portion of the brace, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 12  is another illustration of an embodiment of a brace of the type illustrated in  FIG. 1A  being secured on the forearm, wrist and hand of a patient, showing the brace on the palm-side of the hand  190  and the palmar strap  184  being secured to a portion of the brace. The fastener  192  on the distal end  200  of palmar strap  184  is secured to a portion of a fastening layer  170  which, in various embodiments, may extend across various portions of the distal exterior surface  104  ( FIG. 1A ). This allows the palmar strap  184  to be secured such that it holds the brace securely to the patient&#39;s hand for various size and shapes of the hand. 
       FIG. 13  is another illustration of an embodiment of a carpal tunnel brace on the left hand of a patient.  FIG. 13  also illustrates the palmar strap  184  being fastened to a fastening surface of the brace that is on the palmar support  103 . 
       FIG. 14  is an illustration of a brace on the top-side of a hand with the brace secured on the forearm  186 , wrist  188 , and hand  190  of a patient further illustrating the configuration of the forearm strap  180 , the wrist strap  182 , and the palmar strap  184  in a fully secured position. That is, the wrist strap  182  is secured to a portion of itself. The forearm strap  180  is secured to a portion of itself. In the palmar strap  184  is secured to the fastening surface  170  (shown in  FIGS. 1A and 12 ) on the other side of the brace. 
     Examples of Embodiments 
     Example 1: A brace for carpal tunnel injury, including a body having a proximal end and a distal end defining a longitudinal direction, the body including a forearm support at the body proximal end; a wrist support coupled to the forearm support by a neck portion, the wrist support including a first palmar strap support disposed on a lateral side of the wrist support; a first member and a second member extending from the wrist support in the longitudinal direction towards the distal end; a distal palmar support coupled to the wrist support by the first and second member; a proximal palmar aperture surrounded by the wrist support, the first and second members and the palm support, the proximal palmar aperture configured to fit over a portion of the proximal palmar of a hand; a palm band coupled to the first member at a proximal end and extending laterally from the first member to a distal end, the palm band comprising a second palmar strap support at the palm band distal end, the palm band configured to extend from the first member across a portion of the back of the hand when the brace is worn; and a palmar strap extending between a proximal end, attached to the first palmar strap support, to a distal end, the palmar strap configured to extend through the second palmar strap support across a portion of the back of the hand and over a purlicue of the hand, the distal end of the palmar strap configured to removably attach to the distal palmar support. 
     Example 2: The brace of example 1, further including a first wrist strap support and a second wrist strap support arranged on opposite lateral sides of the wrist support; and a wrist strap having a proximal end attached to the first wrist strap support, a distal end of the wrist strap configured to extend through the second wrist strap support and removably attach to a portion of the brace to secure the wrist support to a hand when the brace is worn. 
     Example 3: The brace of example 2, where the distal end of the wrist strap is configured to removably attach to the wrist strap. 
     Example 4: The brace of any of examples 1-3, wherein the first palmar strap support comprises an elongated first and second slot, and the proximal end of the palmar strap passing through the first and second slot to attach the palmar strap to the first palmar support. 
     Example 5: The brace of any of example 1, further including a first wrist strap support on a lateral side of the wrist support, the first wrist strap support having an elongated slot configured to receive a wrist strap, wherein the first palmar strap support is aligned on the same lateral side of the wrist support as the first wrist strap support, the first palmar strap support including an elongated first and second slot aligned in parallel, and wherein the elongated slot of the first wrist strap support is aligned at an angle with the first and second slots of the first palmar strap support such that the elongated slot of the first wrist strap support is not aligned parallel to the first and second slots of the first palmar strap support. 
     Example 6: The brace of example 5, wherein the elongated slot of the first wrist strap support is disposed distal to the longitudinal axis of the brace relative to the first and second slots of the first palmar strap support. 
     Example 7: The brace of any one of examples 1-6, further including a first forearm strap support and a second forearm strap support arranged on opposite lateral sides of the forearm support; and a forearm strap having a proximal end attached to the first forearm strap support, a distal end of the forearm strap configured to extend through the second forearm strap support and removably attach to a portion of the brace to secure the forearm support to a forearm when the brace is worn. 
     Example 8: The brace of example 7, wherein the distal end of the forearm strap is configured to removably attach to the forearm strap. 
     Example 9: The brace of example 7, wherein the distal end of the forearm strap is configured to removably attach to a fastening surface on the brace. 
     Example 10: The brace of example 9, wherein the fastening surface is a fabric. 
     Example 11: The brace of any one of examples 1-10, wherein the brace further comprises a distal exterior layer on the surface of the brace facing away from the hand when the brace is worn. 
     Example 12: The brace of example 11, wherein the first layer is rubber. 
     Example 13: The brace of any one of examples 1-12, wherein the brace further comprises a proximal exterior layer on the surface of the brace facing towards the hand when the brace is worn. 
     Example 14: The brace of examples 13, wherein the proximal exterior layer is a fabric. 
     Example 15: The brace of any one of examples 1-14, further comprising a semi-rigid layer disposed between the distal exterior layer and the proximal exterior layer. 
     Example 16: The brace of any example 15, wherein the semi-rigid layer comprises metal. 
     Example 17: The brace of claim  15 , wherein the semi-rigid layer comprises plastic. 
     Example 18: The brace of claim  15 , wherein the semi-rigid layer comprises a composite material. 
     Example 19: The brace of any one of examples 1-18, further comprising a fastener layer disposed between the distal exterior layer and the semi-rigid layer, wherein the distal exterior layer includes at least one cutout that exposes a portion of the fastener layer. 
     Example 20: The brace of claim  19 , wherein the fastener layer is configured such that a portion of at least one strap of the brace may removably attach to a portion of the fastener layer exposed in a cutout of the distal exterior layer. 
     The foregoing description details certain embodiments of the systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein. It will be appreciated, however, that no matter how detailed the foregoing appears in text, the systems, devices, and methods can be practiced in many ways. As is also stated above, it should be noted that the use of particular terminology when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being re-defined herein to be restricted to including any specific characteristics of the features or aspects of the technology with which that terminology is associated. 
     Conditional language such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, are otherwise understood within the context as used in general to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. 
     Headings are included herein for reference and to aid in locating various sections. These headings are not intended to limit the scope of the concepts described with respect thereto. Such concepts may have applicability throughout the entire specification. 
     Disjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, or Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to present that an item, term, etc., may be either X, Y, or Z, or any combination thereof (e.g., X, Y, and/or Z). Thus, such disjunctive language is not generally intended to, and should not, imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, or at least one of Z to each be present. 
     The phrase “based on” does not mean “based only on,” unless expressly specified otherwise. In other words, the phrase “based on” describes both “based only on” and “based at least on.” Unless otherwise explicitly stated, articles such as “a” or “an” should generally be interpreted to include one or more described items. Accordingly, phrases such as “a device configured to” are intended to include one or more recited devices. 
     The above description discloses several methods and materials of the present invention. This invention is susceptible to modifications in the methods and materials, as well as alterations in the fabrication methods and equipment. Such modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of this disclosure or practice of the invention disclosed herein. Consequently, it is not intended that this invention be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but that it cover all modifications and alternatives coming within the true scope and spirit of the invention as embodied in the attached claims. Applicant reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed inventions that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and sub-combinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same invention or a different invention and whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein.