Compressible braided mesh finger splint and therapeutic uses thereof

Abstract

A finger splint and method of providing support for a finger is disclosed. The finger splint can include a braided mesh folded over itself to form a hollow tube having a double wall and having a longitudinal axis. The folded over braided mesh can have a first open end that is flared. The braided mesh, before being folded over, is compressible and after being compressed and released, springs back to its original shape. In accordance with the method of providing support to a finger, a finger is inserted into an open end of a compressible tabular braided mesh splint that has been folded over to form a cylindrical two-walled splint and the splint is pulled onto the finger.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A finger splint, comprising:
 a braided mesh folded over itself to form a hollow tube having a double wall and having a longitudinal axis,   the folded over braided mesh having a first open end that is flared;   wherein the hollow tube is compressible and after being compressed and released, springs back to its original shape; and   wherein the braided mesh is formed from a material that is not compressible.   
     
     
         2 . The finger splint of  claim 1 , wherein the finger splint is compressed to receive a finger and released to support the finger. 
     
     
         3 . The finger splint of  claim 2 , wherein the finger splint, when worn, allows the finger to be moved. 
     
     
         4 . The finger splint of  claim 3 , wherein the finger splint, when worn, resists a movement of the finger. 
     
     
         5 . The finger splint of  claim 1 , wherein the finger splint is applied to a finger to treat a swollen, sprained, or broken finger. 
     
     
         6 . The finger splint of  claim 1 , wherein the mesh is made of PET 
     
     
         7 . The finger splint of  claim 1  wherein the braid is made of a textile composition made with yarn thread crossing in diagonal direction, wherein each thread intertwines the diagonal threads it crosses, one from above and one from below. 
     
     
         8 . The finger splint of  claim 7 , wherein the mesh is PET. 
     
     
         9 . The finger splint of  claim 1 , further comprising a set of instructions providing guidance as to how to place the finger splint on a finger for therapeutic purposes, and packaging enclosing one or more finger splints and the set of instructions.