Thumb brace

Abstract

A thumb brace for at least partially immobilizing a thumb of a user is provided. The thumb brace includes a first curved support element configured to be disposed on a heel of a hand along an intercarpal articulation of the thumb and in a palmar gutter of the hand. The thumb brace includes a second curved support element coupled to the first curved support element and configured to be disposed on a palm of the hand along a metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb. The thumb brace includes a third curved support element configured to be disposed on a backside of the hand along the intercarpal articulation of the thumb. The thumb brace includes a fourth curved support element coupled to the third curved support element and configured to be disposed on the backside of the hand along the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb. Related methods are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thumb brace ( 100 ) for at least partially immobilizing a thumb ( 102 ) of a user, comprising:
 a first curved support element ( 108 ) configured to be disposed on a heel ( 110 ) of a hand ( 104 ) along an intercarpal articulation ( 112 ) of the thumb and in a palmar gutter ( 114 ) of the hand;   a second curved support element ( 116 ) coupled to the first curved support element and configured to be disposed on a palm ( 118 ) of the hand along a metacarpophalangeal joint ( 120 ) of the thumb;   a third curved support element ( 122 ) configured to be disposed on a backside ( 124 ) of the hand along the intercarpal articulation of the thumb; and   a fourth curved support element ( 126 ) coupled to the third curved support element and configured to be disposed on the backside of the hand along the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb.   
     
     
         2 . The thumb brace of  claim 1 , further comprising a joining element ( 128 ) coupling the first curved support element, second curved support element  116 , the third curved support element, and the fourth curved support element along a side of the hand defined by a thumb metacarpal ( 106 ) of the hand. 
     
     
         3 . The thumb brace of  claim 1 , further comprising a first strap ( 130 ) coupled to the first curved support element, the first strap configured to wrap around a wrist ( 132 ) of the hand and couple to the third curved support element. 
     
     
         4 . The thumb brace of  claim 2 , further comprising a second strap ( 134 ) coupled to the joining element, the second strap configured to wrap around the thumb and coupled to at least one of the second and fourth curved support elements. 
     
     
         5 . The thumb brace of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first curved support element, the second curved support element, the third curved support element, and the fourth curved support element has a concave curvature. 
     
     
         6 . The thumb brace of  claim 5 , wherein the concave curvature corresponds to a respective local curvature of a portion of the hand on which at least one of the one or more of the first, second, third and fourth curved support elements is configured to contact. 
     
     
         7 . The thumb brace of  claim 1 , wherein the first curved support element does not extend laterally toward a little finger ( 136 ) of the hand substantially beyond the palmar gutter. 
     
     
         8 . The thumb brace of  claim 1 , wherein the third curved support element does not extend laterally toward a little finger ( 136 ) of the hand substantially beyond a midline ( 138 ) of the hand. 
     
     
         9 . The thumb brace of  claim 1 , wherein the first curved support element substantially surrounds at least a proximal portion of a thumb metacarpal ( 140 ) on the palm and/or the heel of the hand. 
     
     
         10 . The thumb brace of  claim 1 , wherein second curved support element  116  substantially surrounds at least a proximal portion of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb on the palm of the hand between a thumb phalange ( 106 ) and a thumb metacarpal ( 140 ). 
     
     
         11 . The thumb brace of  claim 1 , wherein the third curved support element substantially surrounds a proximal portion of the intercarpal articulation of the thumb along a backside and/or a side of a wrist ( 132 ) of the hand. 
     
     
         12 . The thumb brace of  claim 1 , wherein the fourth curved support element substantially surrounds at least a proximal portion of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb on the backside of the hand between a thumb phalange ( 106 ) and a thumb metacarpal ( 140 ). 
     
     
         13 . The thumb brace of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth curved support elements comprise strips of an elastomeric material or a fabric, the elastomeric material or the fabric reinforced with a semi-rigid material. 
     
     
         14 . The thumb brace of  claim 1 , wherein none of the first, second, third or fourth curved support elements wrap around the thumb from the palm to the backside of the hand. 
     
     
         15 . A method of using a thumb brace ( 100 ) for at least partially immobilizing a thumb ( 102 ) of a user, the method comprising:
 disposing a first curved support element ( 108 ) on a heel ( 110 ) of a hand ( 104 ) along an intercarpal articulation ( 112 ) of the thumb and in a palmar gutter ( 114 ) of the hand;   disposing a second curved support element ( 116 ), coupled to the first curved support element, on a palm ( 118 ) of the hand along a metacarpophalangeal joint ( 120 ) of the thumb;   disposing a third curved support element ( 122 ) on a backside ( 124 ) of the hand along the intercarpal articulation of the thumb; and   disposing a fourth curved support element ( 126 ), coupled to the third curved support element, on the backside of the hand along the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising disposing a joining element ( 128 ) coupling the first curved support element, the second curved support element, the third curved support element, and the fourth curved support element along a side of the hand defined by a thumb metacarpal ( 106 ) of the hand. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one of:
 wrapping a first strap ( 130 ), coupled to the first curved support element, around a wrist ( 132 ) of the hand and coupling the first strap to the third curved support element; and   wrapping a second strap ( 134 ), coupled to the joining element, around the thumb and coupling the second strap to at least one of the second and fourth curved support elements.   
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a thumb brace ( 100 ) for at least partially immobilizing a thumb ( 102 ) of a user, the method comprising:
 forming a first curved support element ( 108 ) configured to be disposed on a heel ( 110 ) of a hand ( 104 ) along an intercarpal articulation ( 112 ) of the thumb and in a palmar gutter ( 114 ) of the hand;   forming a second curved support element ( 116 ) coupled to the first curved support element and configured to be disposed on a palm ( 118 ) of the hand along a metacarpophalangeal joint ( 120 ) of the thumb;   forming a third curved support element ( 122 ) configured to be disposed on a backside ( 124 ) of the hand along the intercarpal articulation of the thumb; and   forming a fourth curved support element ( 126 ) coupled to the third curved support element and configured to be disposed on the backside of the hand along the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising forming a joining element ( 128 ) coupling the first curved support element, the second curved support element, the third curved support element, and the fourth curved support element along a side of the hand defined by a thumb metacarpal ( 106 ) of the hand. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one of:
 coupling a first strap ( 130 ) to the first curved support element such that the first strap is configured to wrap around a wrist ( 132 ) of the hand and couple to the third curved support element; and   coupling a second strap ( 134 ) to the joining element such that the second strap is configured to wrap around the thumb and couple to at least one of the second and fourth curved support elements.