The wrist support board generally relates to stabilizing a wrist of a patient and more particularly relates to limiting uncontrolled immobilization and exposure of the wrist in relationship to the radial artery.
People suffer various injuries and chronic conditions to their bodies. A person who presents himself for treatment becomes a patient with that injury or chronic condition. Select injuries and conditions call for access to the wrist of a patient for treatment. Alternatively, other injuries and conditions have their access through ankle of a patient for their treatment. The injuries and conditions include carpal tunnel syndrome, aortic defects, other cardiologic conditions and detriments, nerve sheath ruptures, other neurologic deficits and conditions, vascular surgical procedures, orthopedic treatments of joint structures, and other treatments that often involve a catheter. A catheter generally has a form of an elongated flexible tube capable of insertion into a space, a volume, or a tubular structure of a patient.
A common instance of catheter insertion occurs during cardiology. During cardiology, medical staff seek an access to a radial artery of a patient. As a reminder, the radial artery is a major artery in the human forearm. It has a position close to the surface of the underside of the forearm. In a person, when the palm of the hand points upwards, the radial artery also does so. In some situations, medical staff will perform access to the radial artery using a ventral approach and in other situations using a dorsal approach. Medical staff select the approach and then various devices assist in making the approach into the radial artery of the patient. Once medical staff opens access to the radial artery, the medical staff inserts a catheter for additional treatment.
The medical profession has a current problem of supporting a wrist and arm or an ankle and foot in the proper orientation for an access procedure and follow on treatment.
Seeking to support wrists and ankles, the medical staffs across the nation utilize existing technology. To some extent, that technology has limited complexity, almost embarrassing in its simplicity. Medical staffs presently utilize towels, rolled towels, and tape that props up the wrists, arms, ankles, and legs in the proper orientation. Medical staff applies a process of taping the extremity to the procedure table for other medical staff to perform the access procedure. The towels and rolled towels provide a comfortable fit between the extremity and the frame or edge of an operating table. The tape gently but firmly secures the towels and rolled towels to the operating table and the extremity to the rolled towels and towels. Patients who have had prior injuries or played a sport remember the usage of tape and towels from earlier years. However, towels may serve as an infection vector and rolled towels may compress when wetted. The compressed towels may disrupt the proper orientation of an extremity.
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and provides a wrist support board that eliminates the use of tape, towel rolls, and the process of taping an extremity to the operating table. The present invention provides a more ergonomic, comfortable, and safe means to secure and immobilize the trans-radial area of a wrist after arterial access. The wrist support board will see utilization in the securing of vascular sheathes after establishing access, thus preventing accidental dislodgement and massive arterial bleeding. Furthermore, the wrist support board makes it possible for utilization in promoting vascular compression post intervention.
Generally, the present invention provides a wrist support board. Though the word patient is used in this specification that also includes veterinary patients and though the phrase medical staff is used that also includes veterinary staff, first responders, and other users of catheters and IV lines. The present invention has a board with a ventral surface and an opposite dorsal surface, a smooth curve lengthwise through the board, a proximal end to the board and an opposite distal end, a proximal strap, a distal strap, and a center strap. The proximal strap and the distal strap extend from the ventral surface and enwrap a patient's arm and fingers placed upon the dorsal surface of the board. The center strap extends through slots in the board proximate the vertex of the curve. The center strap enwraps a patient's arm slightly proximal from the patient's wrist and has a buckler for compression of the patient's arm or wrist. The proximal strap, the distal strap, and the center strap have an orientation perpendicular to the board. The three straps secure proximate their middles to the board and present two free ends for securement following wrapping of the straps around a patient's arm. The invention also has elongated slots to position the center strap for usage in an approach to the pollis artery. The wrist support board assists in the immobilizing, stabilizing, and hyper-exposure of the trans-radial artery of a patient.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. The present invention also includes a buckle upon the center strap, the buckle constricts the ends of the center strap together, free ends of the proximal strap and the distal strap secured using hook and loop fastener, a radius of curvature of the board compatible with the wrist of a patient, and hypoallergenic construction.
As stated above, the current problem within the industry involves securing a wrist at an extended angle, alternatively a foot and an ankle, which requires the creative use of towels, rolled towels, and tape. The tape secures the wrist to a towel, the towel within rolled towels, and the rolled towels to an operating table. The present invention solves that problem with a curved board including straps for securement of an arm so that the wrist attains the desired curve. The present invention ensures proper positioning of a wrist, hand, ankle, or foot for select catheter related surgical procedures without the challenges and difficulties associated with tape and rolled towels during preparation of a patient for care and in addition to pre-hospital settings as performed by the EMS or other first responder. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter, and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.
Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiment of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
One object of the present invention is to provide a wrist support board that secures and stabilizes a patient's wrist for arterial line monitoring.
Another object is to provide such a wrist support board that prepares a wrist for arterial monitoring during treatment of critically ill or injured patients.
Another object is to provide such a wrist support board that treats minor sprains and strains of the wrist that require hyper-extension immobilization temporarily.
Another object is to provide such a wrist support board that lends simplicity to the use of the invention.
Another object is to provide such a wrist support board that utilizes a one step process to eliminate the multiple steps of current practice.
Another object is to provide such a wrist support board that eliminates the tying or taping of the patient's extremity to an exam table.
Another object is to provide such a wrist support board that has usage in many different medical specialties.
Another object is to provide such a wrist support board that has usage in cardiology, neurology, vascular surgery, and orthopedics among others.
Another object is to provide such a wrist support board that has usage during the universal securing of vascular sheathes following establishment of access, thus preventing accidental dislodgement and massive arterial bleeding.
Another object is to provide such a wrist support board that promotes vascular compression post intervention.
Another object is to provide such a wrist support board that prompts immediate access.
Another object is to provide such a wrist support board that may be utilized in every aspect of cardiology.
Another object is to provide such a wrist support board that may be utilized in every aspect of IV therapy.
Another object is to provide such a wrist support board that may be utilized in every aspect of carpal tunnel therapy.
Another object is to provide such a wrist support board that receives the wrist of a patient in either palm up or palm down orientations.
Another object is to provide such a wrist support board for use with pediatric to geriatric patients and those in between.
Another object is to provide such a wrist support board that has a low cost of manufacturing so the purchasing physicians, nurses, practices, practice groups, hospitals, medical facilities, veterinary facilities, and organizations can readily buy the invention through stores and supply sources.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.
In referring to the drawings,
The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.
The present invention overcomes the prior art limitations by providing a wrist support board especially during cardiologic or other insertion situations and sees use by nurses, doctors, clinicians, technicians, and related medical staff who insert catheters and related instruments into patients.
A practitioner, or medical staff, follows a procedure or method of use for the present invention that includes these steps. First, the medical staff places the patient's hand and wrist in an appropriately sized invention that hyper-exposes the radial artery. Second, the medical staff secures the device to the selected arm by the hook and loop straps, both proximal and distal, of the invention as later shown. Third, the medical staff then prepares a sterile field on and around the invention as indicated by procedural technique for accessing the radial artery of the patient. And fourth, the medical staff watches the invention as it remains in position for the duration of the procedure, or as per the discretion of the medical staff.
The present invention can be used and characterized similar to other splints and supports for limbs. The present invention though has a critical difference where it has a radius of curvature along its length to support an arm as opposed to present practices of propping an arm and a wrist using towels and other improvised devices.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a wrist support board appears with reference to the drawings in
Referring now to
Turning to the invention itself,
Upon the distal end, the distal strap has two free distal portions 31 here shown extending mutually outwardly from the board 2. Opposite those portions, the proximal end has the proximal strap with its two free proximal portions 41. The two free distal portions have cooperating hook and loop fastener sections joined thereto while the two free proximal portions also have cooperating hook and loop fasteners. In the preferred embodiment, the board has two spaced apart slots 26 in mutual registration and positioned slightly proximal of the center of the board. This off center position of the slots permits further positioning of a wrist upon the invention 1. In an alternate embodiment, the slots have a positioned centered upon the length of the board.
The slots 26 have a narrow elongated form positioned inwardly from the right edge and the left edge. The slots have a width sufficient to admit the center strap 5 therein but exclude the buckle 6. That is, the slots in their length exceed the width of the center strap 5. The slots have a width at least twice the width of the center strap. Here, this figure shows slots with a width approximately four times that of the center strap. The center strap has an elongated flexible form. The slots permit movement of the center strap inwardly and outwardly from the centerline of the board so that medical staff may position the buckle 6 at an appropriate place upon a patient's forearm. In a board with two slots, the center strap passes through each slot. In this figure, the buckle 6 has its ventral surface 61 shown as rectangular and this surface also abuts the skin of a patient. The board has its slots 26 generally parallel to the right edge and the left edge but of their length as shown. Here, the slots extend towards the distal end 21 and that allows for positioning the center strap 5 closer to the distal strap 31. In this position, the center strap closes upon the wrist of the patient or up to the carpometacarpal joint. The slots permit usage of the center strap with buckle to secure a patients arm, wrist, or hand for great access capability to the pollis artery during trans radial cardiac catheterization.
In summary, the device 1 has a single component board 2 with a proximal strap 4 and a distal strap 3. Each strap has hook and loop fasteners, often made of Velcro®. The application of the invention upon the patient provides hyper-extension and better exposure of the wrist and radial artery to medical staff for a procedure. Therefore, immobilizing, securing and exposing the access area to a safer and improved ergo-friendly environment.
Next,
In the preferred embodiment, the center strap 5 has its flexible, thin, elongated form that passes through the two slots 26. The center strap has a free end, here shown proximate the right edge, and the buckle 6 upon the opposite end of the center strap. The buckle has its dorsal surface 62 shown and a knob 63 extending outwardly from the dorsal surface towards the reader. The knob provides fine adjusting and tightening of the center strap into the buckle. One supplier for the knob includes BOA Technology, Inc. of Denver, Colo. And outwardly from the center strap and opposite the distal strap, the invention has its proximal strap 4 with its two free proximal portions 41. The proximal strap also has its form of being thin, flexible, elongated, and the strap secures upon the board's ventral surface, generally centered. As in
Then
Rotating the invention,
Opposite
In an alternate embodiment, the invention has dual compression capability. The board 2 supports a patient's arm and wrist in a position where the palm faces up, or supinated position. The board also follows developments in medicine where practitioners have accessed the pollis artery which runs along the pronated position of the thumb and has great access capability for trans radial cardiac catheterization. The board 2 also supports a patient's arm and wrist in a position where the palm faces down, or pronated position. The invention's board allows for usage with supinated and pronated positions of a patient's palm. In usage, a practitioner rotates the board one hundred eighty degrees about an axis perpendicular to its length. In this embodiment, the slots have additional length towards the proximal end so the center strap 5 reaches a patient's wrist positioned on the proximal end and his forearm upon the greater portion of the curve. This alternate embodiment has the slots and curve cooperate, so the slots allow the center strap to migrate towards the pollis artery. This alternate embodiment allows the invention to support two access points for the physician to choose for a catheterization procedure.
And,
Unlike in the previous figures, here the center strap 5 occupies diagonally opposite slots as shown with the buckle 6 and its ventral surface 61 shown diagonally opposite the free end of the center strap 5. This number of slots and the length of the slots allows for repositioning of the center strap readily and for use upon a diagonal. More particularly, the four slots—of the two pairs—have elongated and slender form, each pair of slots in this figure appear mutually parallel and spaced apart, and each pair of slots has its position inwardly from the left edge or the right edge. The center strap passes through one of each pair of slots, so it attains one portion of an X like shape. When medical staff utilizes two center straps 5 in a diagonal arrangement, the straps 5 provide further securing of the invention upon a patient's arm against movement linearly upon the arm.
From the aforementioned description, a wrist support board has been described. The wrist support board is uniquely capable of strapping the hand and forearm of a person into an arcuate form for select medical procedures. The wrist support board, and its various components may be manufactured from many materials, including but not limited to, polyester, steel, aluminum, brass, bronze, polymers, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, their alloys, and composites. The wrist support board would be made from a stamp molding process and have sizes of small, medium, and large respectively to compensate for all age groups. With the device being a single item with hook and loop, or Velcro®, secured straps, all of the elements of the invention would be considered necessary.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. Therefore, the claims include such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and the scope of the present invention.
While the present invention has description above of its preferred embodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. Instead, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
This non provisional application claims priority to non-provisional application Ser. No. 16/873,234 filed on Feb. 28, 2020 which claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 62/811,880 filed on Feb. 28, 2019 which are owned by the same inventors.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62811880 | Feb 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16873234 | Feb 2020 | US |
Child | 18148987 | US |