Splint for use with intravenous line

Claim 2

A disposable splint for supporting a patient's hand and at least a portion of the forearm to receive an intravenous line, comprising: a substantially rigid, one-piece molded body adapted to overlie the ventral aspect only of the patient's hand, wrist and forearm, said body defining a dome for mating engagement with only the medial portion of the palm of the hand and a transversely arcuate channel extending away from said dome to receive a portion of the forearm, the dome being disposed to support the hand in a substantially neutral position with regard to the forearm and terminating proximal the phalanges of the hand and having a relatively narrow width and a surface area less than the surface area of the palm so as to permit grasping movement of the thumb and fingers and the transversely arcuate channel being proportioned to permit the insertion of the intravenous line into the veins of the ventral aspect of the wrist; and fastener means for attaching the splint to the hand and forearm, said fastener means including a first strap disposed to retain the hand against the dome portion, a second strap disposed to retain the wrist against an intermediate portion of the splint, and a third strap disposed to retain the portion of the forearm against the transversely arcuate channel.

Claim 3

The splint according to claim 1 wherein the molded body is essentially of uniform thickness and symmetrical with reference to a center line, and the dome supports the palm so as to permit grasping movement of the thumb and fingers when the splint is used to support either the right or left hand of the patient.

Claim 4

A disposable splint for supporting a patient's hand and at least a portion of the forearm to receive an intravenous line, comprising: (a) a substantially rigid, one-piece molded body adapted to overlie the ventral aspect only of the patient's hand, wrist and forearm, said body defining a dome for mating engagement with the palm only of the hand and a transversely arcuate channel extending away from said dome to receive a portion of the forearm, the dome having a relatively narrow width and a surface area less than the surface area of the palm so as to contact only the medial portion of the palm so as to support the hand in a substantially neutral position with regard to the forearm and terminating proximal the phalanges of the hand to permit grasping movement of the thumb and fingers when the splint is used to support either the right or left hand of the patient, the transversely arcuate channel being proportioned to permit the insertion of the intravenous line into the veins of the ventral aspect of the wrist, and the molded body being essentially symmetrical with reference to a center line; and (b) fastener means for attaching the splint to the hand and forearm, said fastener means including a first strap disposed to retain the hand against the dome portion, a second strap disposed to retain the wrist against an intermediate portion of the splint, and a third strap disposed to retain the portion of the forearm against the transversely arcuate channel.

Claim 5

A disposable splint for supporting a patient's hand and at least a portion of the forearm to receive an intravenous line, comprising: (a) a substantially rigid, one-piece molded body adapted to overlie the ventral aspect only of the patient's hand, wrist and forearm, said body defining a dome for mating engagement with the palm only of the hand and a transversely arcuate channel extending away from said dome to receive a portion of the forearm, the dome having a relatively narrow width and a surface area less than the surface area of the palm so as to contact only the medial portion of the palm so as to support the hand in a substantially neutral position with regard to the forearm and terminating proximal the phalanges of the hand to permit grasping movement of the thumb and fingers when the splint is used to support either the right or left hand of the patient, the transversely arcuate channel being proportioned to permit the insertion of the intravenous line into the veins of the ventral aspect of the wrist, and the molded body being essentially symmetrical with reference to a center line; and (b) fastener means for attaching the splint to the hand and forearm, said fastener means including a first strap disposed to retain the hand against the dome portion, a second strap disposed to retain the wrist against an intermediate portion of the splint, and a third strap disposed to retain the portion of the forearm against the transversely arcuate channel.

Claim 6

A disposable splint for supporting a patient's hand and at least a portion of the forearm to receive an intravenous line, consisting essentially of: (a) a substantially rigid, one-piece molded body adapted to overlie the ventral aspect only of the patient's hand, wrist and forearm, said body defining a dome for mating engagement with the palm only of the hand and a transversely arcuate channel extending away from said dome to receive a portion of the forearm, the dome having a relatively narrow width and a surface area less than the surface area of the palm so as to contact only the medial portion of the palm so as to support the hand in a substantially neutral position with regard to the forearm and terminating proximal the phalanges of the hand to permit grasping movement of the thumb and fingers when the splint is used to support either the right or left hand of the patient, the transversely arcuate channel being proportioned to permit the insertion of the intravenous line into the veins of the ventral aspect of the wrist, and the molded body being essentially symmetrical with reference to a center line; and (b) fastener means for attaching the splint to the hand and forearm, said fastener means including a first strap disposed to retain the hand against the dome portion, a second strap disposed to retain the wrist against an intermediate portion of the splint, and a third strap disposed to retain the portion of the forearm against the transversely arcuate channel.

Claim 7

A disposable splint for supporting a patient's hand and at least a portion of the forearm to receive an intravenous line, consisting essentially of: (a) a substantially rigid, one-piece molded body adapted to overlie the ventral aspect only of the patient's hand, wrist and forearm, said body defining a dome for mating engagement with the palm only of the hand and a transversely arcuate channel extending away from said dome to receive a portion of the forearm, the dome having a relatively narrow width and a surface area less than the surface area of the palm so as to contact only the medial portion of the palm so as to support the hand in a substantially neutral position with regard to the forearm and terminating proximal the phalanges of the hand to permit grasping movement of the thumb and fingers when the splint is used to support either the right or left hand of the patient, the transversely arcuate channel being proportioned to permit the insertion of the intravenous line into the veins of the ventral aspect of the wrist, and the molded body being essentially symmetrical with reference to a center line; and (b) fastener means for attaching the splint to the hand and forearm, said fastener means including a first strap disposed to retain the hand against the dome portion, a second strap disposed to retain the wrist against an intermediate portion of the splint, and a third strap disposed to retain the portion of the forearm against the transversely arcuate channel.