IE20200119A1 - Thumb comfort device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a thumb comfort device for placement on the thumb and first webspace of a patient, the thumb comfort device comprising a substantially conical section and a substantially saddle shaped section, wherein the substantially conical section 5 is open at the top and base for receiving the patient’s thumb; and wherein the substantially saddle shaped section extends to the side and from the base of the substantially conical section, such that the thumb comfort device fits to the contour of the thumb and first webspace.

Description

28/05/2020 THUMB COMFORT DEVICE The present invention relates to a class one medical device, in particular to a device for improving the comfort of a patient wearing an upper extremity/upper limb cast.

Background to the Invention Upper limb trauma or elective surgical procedures of the upper limb often involve the placement of a cast. Commonly these casts wrap around the thumb. Patients can report discomfort around the thumb usually caused by irritation by the casting material. On occasion the discomfort can manifest as a pressure ulcer.

Casts are applied in layers, beginning with layers of padding, usually stocking and/or wool. 10 Plaster is applied on top of these padding layers. Applying layers around the thumb can be challenging for the inexperienced.

In an attempt to ease patient discomfort, surgeons sometimes place one end of a piece of adhesive felt on the outside of a cast and wedge the free end into the space between the cast material and patient’s hand. However, this wedged felt can cause more irritation.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device to assist in avoiding discomfort around a patient’s thumb when wearing an upper extremity/upper limb cast and to avoid the development of a pressure ulcer between the thumb and index finger.

Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for improving the comfort of a patient wearing an 20 upper limb cast which wraps around the thumb and secondarily avoiding the development of a pressure ulcer between the thumb and index finger. The term “upper limb cast” includes both a cast mainly on the hand and forearm of a patient as well as a cast covering each of the hand, forearm and upper arm of a patient. The term “upper extremity cast” may be used interchangeably with this term.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention is a thumb comfort device for placement on the thumb and first webspace of a patient, the thumb comfort device comprising a - 2 28/05/2020 substantially conical section and a substantially saddle shaped section, wherein the substantially conical section is open at the top and base for receiving the patient’s thumb; and wherein the substantially saddle shaped section extends to the side and from the base of the substantially conical section, such that the thumb comfort device fits to the contour of 5 the thumb and first webspace.

By “first webspace” is meant in the fold of skin between the thumb and index finger.

The skin fold in the first webspace is particularly at risk of a pressure ulcer if cast material is incorrectly applied.

The thumb comfort device according to the invention is open at the top and at the base with 10 the substantially saddle shaped section extending from the substantially conical section and, in use, is slipped onto a patient’s thumb and first webspace prior to layering of an upper limb cast to fill the region adjacent the thumb on the front and back of the hand and thus protect the hand in this region from the plaster or fibreglass of the cast and act to relieve irritation and potential pressure ulcerations. The top of the thumb extends through the top 15 of the substantially conical section when the device is being worn.

For the duration of a cast being worn, the thumb comfort device according to the invention provides comfort to the thumb and first webspace as well as providing added skin protection to the first webspace.

The thumb comfort device is easily applied. Casting material can be easily wrapped around 20 the thumb comfort device by the healthcare provider.

The thumb comfort device sits over the thumb and provides a soft base over which casting material can be wrapped. That is, the thumb comfort device is flexible rather than rigid.

The thumb comfort device preferably encompasses and covers the area of the thumb described by that portion of the hand (including bones and overlying soft tissues) comprising 25 the first metacarpophalyngeal joint, the interphalyngeal joint of the thumb, the dorsal and volar aspects of the first webspace up to the radial side of the second metacarpo-phalangeal joint. - 3 28/05/2020 The thumb comfort device is preferably symmetrical such that it may be used on either the left or right thumb.

In a preferred embodiment, the thumb comfort device is thicker at the portion which is adjacent the first webspace, preferably about twice as thick. This thicker portion provides 5 further padding to the first webspace in order to aid discomfort and protect the skin.

In a preferred embodiment, the side of the substantially conical section of the thumb comfort device opposite to that from which the substantially saddle section extends is provided with one or more perforated lines, preferably three perforated lines, wherein each perforated line independently extends from the top of the substantially conical section, preferably to about the midway point between the top and the base. In use of the thumb comfort device under a cast, this allows a top portion of the substantially conical section of the thumb comfort device to be folded back over the cast material.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the thumb comfort device is of one-piece construction. Alternatively, but less preferably, the thumb comfort device may me made of 15 multiple components.

In a preferred embodiment, the thumb comfort device is made from felt. The felt may be made of natural or synthetic fibres or from a blend thereof, for example the felt may be selected from among 100% wool felt, 100% acrylic felt or from a 55% wool 45% rayon blend felt, a 50% polyester 30% polypropylene and 20% wool blend felt, or a 80% wool 20% viscose blend felt. However, this is not to be considered limiting and other suitable types of felt may be used within the scope of the invention.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the thumb comfort device is made from a single layer of felt in the range of from about 1mm to about 3mm thick, e.g. about 1.6mm thick. The felt preferably overlaps within the first webspace to provide an extra layer of padding.

The thumb comfort device preferably tapers from a top diameter in the range of from about 20mm to about 30mm, e.g. about 26mm, to a bottom opening with a width in the range of from about 45mm to about 60mm, e.g. about 52mm, and a length in the range of from about 60mm to about 80mm, e.g. about 71mm. The length from the top of the substantially conical section to the base of the substantially conical section, i.e. the height of the thumb comfort device, is preferably in the range of from about 25mm to about 35mm, e.g. 30mm, and the - 4 28/05/2020 distance along the front of the device from the top of the substantially conical section to the bottom of the device is preferably in the range of from about 60mm to about 75mm, e.g. about 68mm. However, these dimensions are not to be considered limiting and devices with dimensions to fit various sizes of thumb for both paediatric and adult patients are 5 encompassed within the scope of the invention.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of protecting a patient’s thumb and first webspace from the casting material to relieve irritation and potential pressure ulcers, the method comprising placing a thumb comfort device as described herein onto the patient’s thumb and first webspace prior to layering of an upper limb cast to fill the region adjacent 10 the thumb on the front and back of the hand.

Brief Description of the drawings Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred thumb comfort device according to the 15 invention; Figure 2a shows a right-side view of the thumb comfort device of Figure 1; Figure 2b shows a plan view of the thumb comfort device of Figure 1; and Figure 2c shows a front view of the thumb comfort device of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the thumb comfort device of Figure 1 in place on a 20 patient’s hand; and Figure 4 shows a plan view of a blank for the thumb comfort device of Figure 1.

Detailed Description Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, where like reference numeral represent like parts and assemblies throughout 25 the several views. - 5 28/05/2020 Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 to 3 show a preferred thumb comfort device according to the invention, generally referred to herein by reference numeral 100. As shown in Figure 3, thumb comfort device 100 fits to the contour of thumb T and the dorsal and volar surfaces of the first webspace of a patient’s hand.

As shown in Figures 1 to 2c, thumb comfort device 100 comprises a substantially conical section 10 and a substantially saddle shaped section 20.

Conical section 10 is open at top 10a and base 10b and is for receiving the patient’s thumb.

Saddle shaped section 20 extends from base 10b to one side of conical section 10.

Figure 4 shows blank 200 used for making preferred thumb comfort device 100. Blank 200 10 is symmetrical and has a central U-shaped portion 210 disposed between two webspace flares 220. Each webspace flare 220 is independently adjacent a side portion 231, 232. Side portion 231 is provided with distal step 233. Side portion 232 is provided with distal step 234.

In order to form thumb comfort device 100, adhesive is applied to the underside of side 231 15 and blank 200 is folded such that side 231 is superimposed onto side 232.

Superimposed side portions 231, 232 provide an extra layer of padding for the first webspace.

Preferred measurements for thumb comfort device 100 are shown in Figures 2a to 2c, with the diameter of the top of conical section 10 being 26mm, the thickness of the felt layer 20 being 2mm, the width of the overlap, i.e. of each of distal step 233 and 234 independently, being 11mm. Preferred thumb comfort device 100 shown in these Figures tapers from top 10a to a bottom opening with a width of 52mm and a length of 71mm. The length from top 10a to base 10b is 30mm and the distance along the overlap, i.e. the length of side portions 231 and 232 respectively from top 10a to bottom of device 100 is 68mm.

In the application of an upper limb cast that includes the wrist or thumb, thumb comfort device 100 is applied as part of the first layer of the cast. As subsequent cast material layers are added, thumb comfort device 100 provides padding and protection to the skin, - 6 as well as providing comfort to the patient. Top 10a can be cut along perforation lines 40 and folded back to provide a neat and clean finish.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein which are given by way of example only and that various modifications and alterations are 5 possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 28/05/2020

Claims (8)

1. 28/05/2020 CLAIMS:

1. A thumb comfort device for placement on the thumb and first webspace of a patient, the thumb comfort device comprising a substantially conical section and a substantially saddle shaped section, wherein the substantially conical section is 5 open at the top and base for receiving the patient’s thumb; and wherein the substantially saddle shaped section extends to the side and from the base of the substantially conical section, such that the thumb comfort device fits to the contour of the thumb and first webspace.

2. The thumb comfort device of claim 1, wherein the device is symmetrical such that it 10 may be used on either the left or right thumb.

3. The thumb comfort device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the device is thicker at the portion which is adjacent the first webspace, preferably twice as thick.

4. The thumb comfort device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the side of the substantially conical section of the thumb comfort device opposite to that from which 15 the substantially saddle section extends is provided with one or more perforated lines, wherein each perforated line independently extends from the top of the conical section.

5. The thumb comfort device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thumb comfort device is made from felt. 20

6. The thumb comfort device of claim 5, wherein the thumb comfort device is made from felt in the range of from about 1mm to about 3mm thick, preferably about 1.6mm thick.

7. The thumb comfort device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thumb comfort device is of one-piece construction. 25

8. A method of protecting a patient’s thumb and first webspace from the plaster of a cast to relieve irritation and potential pressure ulcers, the method comprising placing a thumb comfort device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims onto the - 8 patient’s thumb and first webspace in order to fill the region adjacent the thumb on the front and back of the hand prior to layering of an upper limb cast. MACLACHLAN & DONALDSON 5 Agents for the Applicant Unit 10, 4075 Kingswood Road Citywest Business Campus Dublin D24 C56E 28/05/2020