Patent ID: 7344511

Claim:
An apparatus for treating carpal tunnel syndrome in a person's hand, the hand having a longitudinal axis, a palmar aspect with thenar and hypothenar regions and a central dorsal region opposed to the palmar aspect, the apparatus comprising a housing having a first lower support section, a curved section that includes an open interior region, extending between said first lower surface and a top portion, said top portion comprising a first edge, a fulcrum extending upwardly from said first edge, said open interior region adapted to receive the hypothenar portion of the hand, said first edge is positioned along the longitudinal axis of the central dorsal region of the hand, said first lower support section contacts at least a portion of the hypothenar region of the palmar aspect of the hand, a tension means for retaining the thenar region of the hand and for applying a first upward force on the thenar region of the hand opposed by a downward force exerted by said first edge on the central dorsal region of the hand, wherein a second upward force is exerted by the first support section on the hypothenar region of the palmar aspect of the hand in response to the first upward force is exerted, such that the downward force is balanced and opposed by the first and second upward forces, wherein said downward force and said first and second upward forces causes carpal bones of the hand to separate to transversely stretch a carpal ligament and flexor retinaculum of the hand, said first support section having an electronic device attached to a top surface thereof, said electronic device further comprising a sensor that measures the amount of stretching of the flexor retinaculum or the carpal tunnel ligaments.