Functional low-profile dynamic extension splint and methods for its use and manufacture

Abstract

The present invention relates to medical devices and methods useful for improving a person's ability to grasp and release an object, and more specifically, the present invention relates to a splint for causing dynamic extension of a finger and/or thumb.

1 . A low-profile dynamic splint for treating flexor spasticity in a person having need for such treatment, the splint comprising:
 a hand supporter configured to surround and support the person's hand and thumb, said hand supporter having a semi-rigid mounting platform that comprises a mounting platform surface parallel to a hand supporter surface;   at least one finger extender configured to bias the person's finger into an extended position, the at least one finger extender comprising an arcurate shape and sized to fit snuggly around the person's finger, the at least one finger extender being flexibly connected to the semi-rigid mounting platform such that the at least one finger extender is approximately coplanar to the mounting platform surface of the semi-rigid mounting platform;   wherein the at least one finger extender and the semi-rigid mounting platform cooperate to resist flexion of the at least one finger extender out-of-plane with the semi-rigid mounting platform, and wherein the splint comprises a total height profile thickness of less than about one inch to provide the low-profile configuration of the splint.   
     
     
         2 . The low-profile dynamic splint of  claim 1 , comprising a flexible outrigger mounted to the semi-rigid mounting platform and extending away from the semi-rigid mounting platform parallel and proximate to the plane of the mounting platform surface, the flexible outrigger configured to resist flexion of the at least one finger extender out-of-plane with the semi-rigid mounting platform. 
     
     
         3 . The low-profile dynamic splint of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible outrigger is disposed less than one inch above the plane of the mounting platform surface. 
     
     
         4 . The low-profile dynamic splint of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible outrigger is disposed less than one-half inch above the plane of the mounting platform surface. 
     
     
         5 . The low-profile dynamic splint of  claim 2 , comprising an outrigger cushion pad attached to the flexible outrigger at a location that prevents the flexible outrigger from directly pressing against the dorsum of the person's hand. 
     
     
         6 . The low-profile dynamic splint of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one finger extender comprises a first and second finger extender. 
     
     
         7 . The low-profile dynamic splint of  claim 6 , comprising a finger extender bridge attached to the first and second finger extenders, the finger extender bridge slidably attached to the flexible outrigger. 
     
     
         8 . The low-profile dynamic splint of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second finger extenders are sufficiently rigid to prevent the person from curling his index and long fingers while the person is wearing the low-profile dynamic splint. 
     
     
         9 . The low-profile dynamic splint of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one finger extender comprises at least one Oval-8 splint. 
     
     
         10 . The low-profile dynamic splint of  claim 1 , wherein the hand supporter comprises a resilient material. 
     
     
         11 . The low-profile dynamic splint of  claim 1 , wherein the hand supporter comprises a thumb jacket configured to position the person's thumb by securing a portion of the person's thumb.