The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 17, 2001
Filed:
Jan. 18, 2000
Thomas D. Darcey, Mooresville, NC (US);
Smith & Nephew, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US);
Abstract
A thumb spica splint for being custom-fitted to the thumb portion of the hand for immobilizing the thumb while permitting continued unrestricted use of the other fingers of the hand, and including an elongate, flexible inner cushion layer, an initially flexible intermediate layer overlying the inner cushion layer, the intermediate layer formed of a fabric impregnated or coated with a moisture-curable resin which hardens upon curing to form a rigid structure of the fabric which retains a shape into which it is molded during curing. A flexible protective outer layer overlies the intermediate layer and is attached to the inner cushion layer for enclosing the intermediate layer and forming the inner layer, intermediate layer and outer layer into a single, integrated splint structure. The splint is shaped to extend along and conform to the medial aspect of the lower arm and thumb to the distal joint thereof. An elongate thumb strap is fixedly attached by one end thereof to the splint structure adjacent the thumb for extending around the thumb and releasably attaching to a thumb strap attachment element fixedly attached to the splint structure for holding the splint structure in a supporting position around the thumb. Arm straps are fixedly attached by one end thereofto the splint structure adjacent the arm for extending around the arm and releasably attaching to an arm strap attachment element fixedly attached to the splint structure for holding the splint structure in a supporting position around the arm.