US5095897A — Orthopedic splint and method of constructing same

Claim 1

Independent Claim 149 words

An orthopedic finger splint for treating finger joint angulation deformities comprising a tube of flexible material with a thickness greater than 1/16 inch, said tube having a dorsal side for contacting a dorsal surface of the finger joint and a volar side for contacting a volar surface of the finger joint, said tube defining an internal surface forming a splint passage with an approximate longitudinal shape toward which a finger joint to be treated is to be biased, said splint passage having a cross-sectional size and shape such that said internal surface of said splint passage fits snugly on the finger joint when the finger joint is placed therein, said internal surface defining a radially-directed internal ridge extending lengthwise along the volar side of the tube, opposite the dorsal side, for pressing against a volar surface of the finger joint when the finger joint is placed in said passage.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 149 words

An orthopedic finger splint for treating finger joint angulation deformities comprising a tube of flexible material with a thickness greater than 1/16 inch, said tube having a dorsal side for contacting a dorsal surface of the finger joint and a volar side for contacting a volar surface of the finger joint, said tube defining an internal surface forming a splint passage with an approximate longitudinal shape toward which a finger joint to be treated is to be biased, said splint passage having a cross-sectional size and shape such that said internal surface of said splint passage fits snugly on the finger joint when the finger joint is placed therein, said internal surface defining a radially-directed internal ridge extending lengthwise along the volar side of the tube, opposite the dorsal side, for pressing against a volar surface of the finger joint when the finger joint is placed in said passage.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 99 words

An orthopedic finger splint as in claim 1 wherein said splint is constructed by the method steps of: folding a substantially flat sheet of flexible material in half with free edge portions being flat against one another to form a transition tube having a transition internal passage to approximately snugly fit the joint to be treated; attaching said free edge portions together to form a seam having a seam allowance; turning said transition tube inside out so as to form a splint tube having a splint internal passage with said seam allowance forming said radially directed internal ridge therealong.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

An orthopedic finger splint as in claim 2 wherein said step of attaching said free edge portions together is accomplished by sewing.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 37 words

An orthopedic finger splint as in claim 2 wherein is further included in said method of constructing said orthopedic splint the step of cutting free edge portions to define a V-shaped angle of between 140° and 160°.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 18 words

An orthopedic finger splint as in claim 4 wherein said angle of said V-shaped cut is approximately 150°.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

An orthopedic finger splint as in claim 4 wherein said V-shape of said V-shaped free edges is a symmetrical V.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 16 words

An orthopedic finger splint as in claim 2 wherein said flexible material is a neoprene rubber.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

An orthopedic finger splint as in claim 2 wherein said splint passage is curved along a length thereof.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

An orthopedic finger splint as in claim 8 wherein said internal ridge is directed radially in a direction toward which ends of said splint passage are curved.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 19 words

An orthopedic finger splint as in claim 1 wherein the flexible material has a thickness less than 1/4 inch.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 17 words

An orthopedic finger splint as in claim 10 wherein the flexible material thickness is approximately 1/8 inch.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 112 words

A method of constructing an orthopedic splint for treating joint angulation deformities comprising the steps of: folding a substantially flat sheet of flexible material in half with free edge portions being flat against one another to form a transition tube having a transition internal passage to approximately snugly fit said joint to be treated; forming said free edge portions to define a V-shaped angle of between 140° and 160°; attaching said free edge portions together to form a seam having a seam allowance; turning said transition tube inside out so as to form a splint tube having a splint internal passage with said seam allowance forming a radially directed internal ridge therealong.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 112 words

A method of constructing an orthopedic splint for treating joint angulation deformities comprising the steps of: folding a substantially flat sheet of flexible material in half with free edge portions being flat against one another to form a transition tube having a transition internal passage to approximately snugly fit said joint to be treated; forming said free edge portions to define a V-shaped angle of between 140° and 160°; attaching said free edge portions together to form a seam having a seam allowance; turning said transition tube inside out so as to form a splint tube having a splint internal passage with said seam allowance forming a radially directed internal ridge therealong.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 20 words

A method as in claim 12 wherein said step of attaching said free edge portions together is accomplished by sewing.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method as in claim 12 wherein is further included in said method of constructing said orthopedic splint using neoprene rubber as the material.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method as in claim 12 wherein said angle of said V-shaped cut is approximately 150°.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method as in claim 12 wherein said V-shape of said V-shaped free edges is approximately a symmetrical V.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method as in claim 12 wherein the sheet of flexible material has a thickness greater than 1/16 inch and less than 1/4 inch.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 13 words

A method as in claim 17 wherein the thickness is approximately 1/8 inch.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method as in claim 12 wherein said seam is fabricated to be approximately 1/4 inch wide.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 135 words

An orthopedic finger splint for treating finger joint angulation deformities comprising a tube of flexible material having a dorsal side for contacting a dorsal surface of the finger joint and volar side for contacting a volar surface of the finger joint, said tube defining an internal surface forming a gradually-curved splint passage with an approximate longitudinal shape toward which a finger joint to be treated is to be biased, said splint passage having a cross-sectional size and shape such that said internal surface of said splint passage fits snugly on the finger joint when the joint is placed therein, ends of said dorsal side being curved away from said volar side wherein said gradual curve is in an opposite direction than a finger joint to be treated with said splint normally bends during manipulation thereof.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 135 words

An orthopedic finger splint for treating finger joint angulation deformities comprising a tube of flexible material having a dorsal side for contacting a dorsal surface of the finger joint and volar side for contacting a volar surface of the finger joint, said tube defining an internal surface forming a gradually-curved splint passage with an approximate longitudinal shape toward which a finger joint to be treated is to be biased, said splint passage having a cross-sectional size and shape such that said internal surface of said splint passage fits snugly on the finger joint when the joint is placed therein, ends of said dorsal side being curved away from said volar side wherein said gradual curve is in an opposite direction than a finger joint to be treated with said splint normally bends during manipulation thereof.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 26 words

An orthopedic finger splint as in claim 19 wherein said tube of flexible material has a thickness greater than 1/16 inch but less than 1/4 inch.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 15 words

An orthopedic finger splint as in claim 21 wherein said thickness is approximately 1/8 inch.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 18 words

An orthopedic finger splint as in claim 20 wherein said gradual curve resemble the curve of a banana.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 31 words

An orthopedic finger splint as in claim 20 wherein said orthopedic finger splint has a longitudinal ridge in said splint passage for pressing against a volar surface of the finger joint.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 22 words

An orthopedic finger splint as in claim 24 wherein said longitudinal ridge extends along the entire length of said orthopedic finger brace.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 87 words

An orthopedic finger splint for treating finger joint angulation deformities comprising a tube of flexible material having an internal surface forming a splint passage with an approximate longitudinal shape toward which a joint to be treated is to be biased, said splint passage having a cross-sectional size and shape such that said internal surface of said splint passage fits snugly on the joint when the joint is placed therein, and said tube of flexible material having a thickness greater than 1/16 inch but less than 1/4 inch.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 87 words

An orthopedic finger splint for treating finger joint angulation deformities comprising a tube of flexible material having an internal surface forming a splint passage with an approximate longitudinal shape toward which a joint to be treated is to be biased, said splint passage having a cross-sectional size and shape such that said internal surface of said splint passage fits snugly on the joint when the joint is placed therein, and said tube of flexible material having a thickness greater than 1/16 inch but less than 1/4 inch.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 15 words

An orthopedic finger splint as in claim 26 wherein said thickness is approximately 1/8 inch.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-03-17	1995-09-16	1996-03-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-03-17	1999-09-16	2000-03-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-03-17	2003-09-16	2004-03-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Orthopedic splint and method of constructing same

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