Patent ID: 6979305

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 dorsal region opposed to the palmar aspect, the apparatus comprising: a thenar portion having a first top section, and a first bottom section configured for contacting and retaining the thenar region of the hand, wherein the first bottom section comprises a first longitudinal edge positioned along and in contact with the palmar aspect of the hand; a hypothenar portion, positioned parallel to the thenar portion, having a second top section, and a second bottom section configured for contacting and retaining the hypothenar region of the hand, wherein the second bottom section comprises a second longitudinal edge positioned along and in contact with the palmar aspect of the hand, and wherein at least one of the first and second bottom sections is semicircular in cross section and configured such that at least one of the respective first and second edges is oriented toward the palmar aspect of the hand; a hole defined in said thenar portion between said first top and said first bottom sections, positioned and configured to receive a thumb of the hand when the hand is placed within the apparatus; a dorsal portion positioned between, and connected to, said first and second top sections; and pressure means, disposed along said dorsal portion so as to contact the dorsal region of the hand when the thenar and hypothenar regions of the hand are retained by said respective first and second bottom sections, for selectively applying pressure to the dorsal region of the hand, such that when said pressure means are activated, a first distributed force is applied to the central dorsal region of the hand between said thenar and hypothenar regions, said first force being balanced and opposed by a second and third forces applied to the thenar and hypothenar regions of the palmar aspect by said first and second bottom sections in response to said first force, to thereby cause the carpal bones to separate and to stretch the carpal ligament and flexor retinaculum, and to thereby effectuate enlargement of the diameter of the carpal tunnel.