GB2393395A

GB2393395A - Oedema treatment device

Info

Publication number: GB2393395A
Application number: GB0222200A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Knowle Stanley
Original assignee: Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Nhs
Current assignee: Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Nhs
Priority date: 2002-09-25
Filing date: 2002-09-25
Publication date: 2004-03-31
Also published as: GB0222200D0

Abstract

An oedema treatment device and method for reducing swelling in a body member such as a finger. A tube of resilient material is provided which defines an open end 1 dimensioned to receive and grip the tip of the finger such as a tapered form, 3,4. The tube material is dimensioned such that it may be rolled onto the inserted finger (figures 5-8) so as to progressively apply pressure to the finger from the tip as the tube is rolled onto the finger, and may be formed to facilitate rolling. The device may be formed from a polymer especially a foam sandwiched between stretchable fabric. The inner surface of fabric covering may be removed at the open end 1 to provide grip.

Description

> 2393395

OEDEMA TREATMENT DEVICE

The present invention relates to an oedema treatment device and method for reducing swelling in body members such as fingers.

Accidental or surgical trauma to the body generally gives rise to swelling. Finger joints are surrounded only by a tendon and ligament, and lack the hydromechanical action of a muscle. Therefore following digital surgery or trauma, finger joints are particularly prone to prolonged swelling. Prolonged swelling of finger joints is known to affect finger flexion. It is therefore known to be desirable to reduce swelling of finger joints. A swelling (generally referred to as an oedema) is caused by an accumulation of an excessive amount of watery fluid in cells, tissues or serous cavities. Reducing swelling therefore requires the expulsion of this fluid from the site of the swelling.

Various methods are currently used to reduce swelling after digital surgery or trauma.

One method involves elevation of the hand to encourage dispersal of the fluid causing the oedema. This is known to have only limited effectiveness. Another method involves massaging the finger from its tip downwards. This is again only of limited effectiveness and is very time consuming and labour intensive.

It is also known to use string wrapping, where string is applied to the injured finger to squeeze out the oedema. This is again time consuming and can be very painful for the patient. A similar method involves the application of an adherent tape to the finger, to squeeze out the oedema. A suitable tape is Coban_ manufactured by 3M. This method is again painful and is disadvantageous in requiring nursing staff to apply the tape to the patient.

Various devices are known for the removal of oedemas from limbs. One such device is described in US4781189 where an inflatable bladder is provided which is inflated to remove the oedema from the limb. This and other known devices for use on limbs are not suitable for use in the treatment of finger oedemas.

a\ Thus, despite considerable activity in the field, there is no known device which is

capable of effectively removing an oedema from a finger without causing excessive pain to the patient, or being excessively costly in terms of medical staff time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device and method to obviate or mitigate the above problems.

According to the present invention, there is provided an oedema treatment device for reducing swelling in an elongate body member, comprising a tube of resilient material, an open end of the tube being dimensioned to receive and grip a tip of the member, and the tube material being such that the tube may be rolled onto the member from the tip so as to apply pressure to the member.

The invention also provides a method for reducing swelling of an elongate body member, wherein a tip of the member is inserted into the open end of a tube of resilient material, the open end of the tube being dimensioned to grip the tip of the member, and the tube is rolled onto the member so as to progressively apply pressure to the member from the tip as the tube is rolled onto the member.

The term "tube" is used herein in the sense that it includes within its scope both cylindrical and conical structures. Preferably however the tube is conical and tapers towards the open end into which in use the tip of the member is inserted. The invention is primarily intended for use in reducing swelling in a finger, in which case the tube is dimensioned to be rolled onto the finger to be treated. The invention may however be applied to the reduction in swelling of other body members, for example toes, arms or legs.

The term "rolled onto" is used to include within its scope both the formation of a roll of increasing diameter on the finger or other member as the device is advanced onto the finger, and the simple inversion of the tube so as to form a double-walled tube on the finger. Preferably, however as the tube is rolled up it forms a roll of the resilient

material of progressively increasing size, thereby progressively applying increasing pressure to the finger.

It would also be possible to deliver the device to the user with the end into which the finger is to be inserted already formed into the start of a roll of the resilient material.

Preferably however the open end of the tube into which the finger is inserted in defined by an edge of the tube material which facilitates initial rolling up of the tube from that edge. For example, the edge may include at least one portion that projects further in the direction of the length of the tube than at least one other portion of the edge, and an inner surface of the tube adjacent the edge may be formed from a material which resists slippage between the tube and the inserted finger which is in contact with the inner surface. The tube may also taper at an angle which increases immediately adjacent the open end.

The resilient material may be formed from a layer of resilient polymer sandwiched between layers of stretchable fabric. The resilient polymer may be for example a foam and a portion of the stretchable fabric adjacent the edge defining the end into which the fingertip is inserted may be removed to expose the sheet of resilient polymer adjacent that edge. The tube may be formed from a sheet of material edges of which are seamed together.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is photograph showing a sheet of resilient material from which the device of the present invention may be manufactured; Figure 2 is a cross section through the material of figure 1; Figure 3 is a photograph to an enlarged scale of one end of the sheet of figure 1;

- Figure 4 is a photograph of a device in accordance with the present invention, manufactured from the sheet of figure 1; and Figures 5 to 8 are photographs showing the progressive application of the device of figure 4 to a finger.

Referring to figure 1, there is illustrated a sheet of material which may be used to form an oedema treatment device in accordance with the present invention. The sheet has a tapered shape defined by a first curved end edge 1, a second straight end edge 2, and straight side edges 3, 4. The sheet is made from a resilient material, and has a cross section as shown in Figure 2.

It can be seen from Figure 2 that the sheet of material comprises a foam rubber layer 5 which is interposed between two stretchable fabric layers 6, 7. A suitable material for the manufacture of the layer 5 is neoprene, which is a versatile synthetic rubber which is resistant to many chemicals and has good physical toughness.

Figure 3 shows the edge 1 of the sheet of figure 1 to a larger scale. It can be seen that the edge I is not straight, defining side portions 8 which project beyond a central position 9, and that part of the fabric 6 adjacent the edge 1 has been removed so as to expose a part of the foam layer 5. This allows the device to grip an inserted finger more reliably during use of the device as will be described below.

The sheet illustrated in figure 1 is rolled to form a conical tube by bringing together the edges 3 and 4 with the exposed surface of the foam layer 5 facing inwards, and joining the two edges to form a seam. The joining may be effected by sewing, gluing or other conventional means. The rolled sheet is illustrated in figure 4. It can be seen that the tube created by rolling the sheet has a first narrow open end corresponding to the first edge 1 and a second wider open end corresponding to the second edge 2. The edges are joined so that the angle of taper increases immediately adjacent the open end into which the finger is inserted.

The device may be made in a variety of different sizes to suit different finger sizes. In order to improve ease of use, devices may be colour coded so as to ease identification of any device's size. Typically, the device will be about 12cm to 16cm in length. The shape of the material used to create the device (figure 1) may remain unchanged regardless of the size of the device.

Referring now to figures 5 to 8, use of the device will be described. A finger 10 is inserted into the narrower open end 1. The exposed foam surface inside the narrower open end acts to grip the device on the tip of the finger. In addition, the increased angle of taper of the tube immediately adjacent the open end 1 apparent particularly in Figure 5 ensures a good grip between the open end and the tip of the finger. The device may then be rolled onto the finger. Given the configuration of the device, this causes the device to roll up within itself as it is moved further onto the finger. This is shown in figure 6. The curved nature of the edge 1 means that initially only part of the circumference (corresponding to the edge portions 8, figure 3) of the device need be rolled up, with progressively larger portions of the circumference being rolled up as the device is further applied to the finger. This aids initiation of the rolling effect of the device.

Further rolling of the device onto the finger is shown in figures 7 and 8. This results in the diameter of the rolled up part of the device increasing progressively. As this rolling action continues, and the device is moved further onto the finger, the pressure exerted on the finger 10 by the device causes the oedema to be squeezed away from the finger into the body of the hand, where it can be easily dispersed. The device is therefore a suitable aid in the rehabilitation of patients following digital trauma, and removes finger swelling quickly and effectively.

Application of the device to a finger as described with reference to figures 5 to 8 can be carried out by the patient for a prescribed period of time. This allows patients to rehabilitate themselves with limited discomfort and little dependence on medical staff.

The device is intended for single patient use and is disposable.

Claims

1. An oedema treatment device for reducing swelling in an elongate body member, comprising a tube of resilient material, an open end of the tube being dimensioned to receive and grip a tip of the member, and the tube material being such that the tube may be rolled onto the member from the tip so as to apply pressure to the member.

2. An oedema treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the tube is conical and tapers inwards towards the said open end.

3. An oedema treatment device according to claim 2, wherein the tube tapers at an angle which increases immediately adjacent the said open end.

4. An oedema treatment device according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the said open end of the tube is defined by an edge of the tube material which is formed to facilitate initial rolling up of the tube from that edge.

5. An oedema treatment device according to claim 4, wherein the said edge includes at least one portion that projects further in the direction of the length of the tube than at least one other portion of the edge.

6. An oedema treatment device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein an inner surface of the tube adjacent the said edge is formed from a material which resists slippage between the tube end and the tip of the member in contact with the inner surface.

7. An oedema treatment device according to any preceding claim, wherein the resilient material comprises a layer of resilient polymer sandwiched between layers of stretchable fabric.

8. An oedema treatment device according to claim 7, wherein the resilient polymer is a foam.

9. An oedema treatment device according to claim 7 or 8 as dependent upon claim 5, wherein a portion of the stretchable fabric adjacent the said edge is removed to expose the sheet of resilient polymer such that the said inner surface is defined by the sheet of resilient polymer.

10. An oedema treatment device according to any preceding claim, wherein the tube is formed from a sheet of material edges of which are joined at a seam extending along the length of the tube.

11. A method for reducing swelling of an elongate body member, wherein a tip of the member is inserted into the open end of a tube of resilient material, the open end of the tube being dimensioned to grip the tip of the member, and the tube is rolled onto the member so as to progressively apply pressure to the member from the tip as the tube is rolled onto the member.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the tube is rolled onto the finger such that a roll of the resilient material of progressively increasing size forms as the tube is advanced onto the finger.

13. An oedema treatment device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A method for reducing swelling of a finger substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.