US5437620A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wrist splint
Assignee: Bio Tex Ltd Inc
•
Filing: 1993-02-24
•
Granted: 1995-08-01
•
Expires: 2013-02-24
Abstract
Abstract A wrist splint (10) is disclosed, comprising a splint platform (20), at least one bladder receptacle member (16, 18) slidingly engaged with the splint platform (20) and at least one air bladder (12, 14), each air bladder (12, 14) coupled to one of the bladder receptacle members (16, 18). Other devices, systems and methods are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Randy L. Shelly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:41
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/01; A61F5/04; A61F5/05; A61F5/058; A61F5/05841; A61F5/05858; A61F5/05866
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
48 words
A wrist splint for correcting contracture of a hand, comprising: a splint platform; at least one rigid bladder receptacle member slidingly engaged with said splint platform; and at least one air bladder, each said air bladder coupled to one of said at least one rigid bladder receptacle member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
48 words
A wrist splint for correcting contracture of a hand, comprising: a splint platform; at least one rigid bladder receptacle member slidingly engaged with said splint platform; and at least one air bladder, each said air bladder coupled to one of said at least one rigid bladder receptacle member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The wrist splint of claim 1, wherein each said air bladder includes a valve which is operable to allow each said air bladder to be inflated or deflated, thereby changing its size.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The wrist splint of claim 1, further including means for securing said at least one rigid bladder receptacle member so that said at least one rigid bladder receptacle member remain stationary with respect to said splint platform.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
A wrist splint for correcting contracture of a hand, comprising: a splint platform; a first rigid bladder receptacle member slidingly engaged with said splint platform; a first air bladder coupled to said first bladder receptacle member; a second rigid bladder receptacle member slidingly engaged with said splint platform; and a second air bladder coupled to said second bladder receptacle member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
A wrist splint for correcting contracture of a hand, comprising: a splint platform; a first rigid bladder receptacle member slidingly engaged with said splint platform; a first air bladder coupled to said first bladder receptacle member; a second rigid bladder receptacle member slidingly engaged with said splint platform; and a second air bladder coupled to said second bladder receptacle member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The wrist splint of claim 4, wherein said first and second air bladders each include a valve which is operable to allow each said air bladder to be inflated or deflated, thereby changing its size.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The wrist splint of claim 4, wherein said first and second bladder receptacle members may be moved independently of each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The wrist splint of claim 4, further including means for securing said first and second bladder receptacle members so that they remain stationary with respect to said splint platform.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The wrist splint of claim 4, further including at least one strap for attachment of said splint platform to a patient.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for correcting contracture of a hand of a patient, comprising the steps of: inserting an air bladder between a palm and fingers of said hand; increasing an inflation of said air bladder until pressure is exerted on said palm and said fingers, forcing said fingers toward a noncontracted position; and moving said air bladder toward said fingers and away from a wrist of said patient after a period of time and fixing said air bladder at a position where it exerts pressure on said fingers, forcing them toward a noncontracted position.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for correcting contracture of a hand of a patient, comprising the steps of: inserting an air bladder between a palm and fingers of said hand; increasing an inflation of said air bladder until pressure is exerted on said palm and said fingers, forcing said fingers toward a noncontracted position; and moving said air bladder toward said fingers and away from a wrist of said patient after a period of time and fixing said air bladder at a position where it exerts pressure on said fingers, forcing them toward a noncontracted position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 9, further including the step of fixing a second air bladder at a second position where it exerts pressure on tips of said fingers, forcing said fingers toward a noncontracted position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
121 words
A wrist splint for correcting contracture of a hand, comprising: a splint platform for attachment to an underside of a patient's forearm; a first rigid bladder receptacle member slidingly engaged with said splint platform; a first air bladder coupled to said first bladder receptacle member; a second rigid bladder receptacle member slidingly engaged with said splint platform; and a second air bladder coupled to said second bladder receptacle member, wherein said first air bladder is positioned adjacent a palmer region of said hand and said second air bladder is positioned adjacent an underside of said patient's fingers, such that gradual removal of said first and second rigid bladder receptacle members from said splint platform forces said hand from a contracted position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
121 words
A wrist splint for correcting contracture of a hand, comprising: a splint platform for attachment to an underside of a patient's forearm; a first rigid bladder receptacle member slidingly engaged with said splint platform; a first air bladder coupled to said first bladder receptacle member; a second rigid bladder receptacle member slidingly engaged with said splint platform; and a second air bladder coupled to said second bladder receptacle member, wherein said first air bladder is positioned adjacent a palmer region of said hand and said second air bladder is positioned adjacent an underside of said patient's fingers, such that gradual removal of said first and second rigid bladder receptacle members from said splint platform forces said hand from a contracted position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The wrist splint of claim 11, wherein said first and second air bladders each include a valve which is operable to allow each said air bladder to be inflated or deflated, thereby changing its size.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The wrist splint of claim 11, wherein said first and second bladder receptacle members may be moved independently of each other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The wrist splint of claim 11, further including means for securing said first and second bladder receptacle members so that they remain stationary with respect to said splint platform.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The wrist splint of claim 11, further including at least one strap for attachment of said splint platform to a patient.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1389741A
Cited
US2520035A
Cited
US2863449A
Cited
US3581740A
Cited
US3769970A
Cited
US4366812A
Cited
US4907574A
Cited
US4977890A
Cited
US5020515A
Cited
US5056504A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-31 | 1999-01-30 | 1999-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-31 | 2003-01-30 | 2003-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-31 | 2007-01-30 | 2007-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |