JP2022034783A - Apparatus for thumb - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an apparatus for a thumb capable of fixing a thumb on a good position without restricting unnecessarily a daily life action.SOLUTION: An apparatus for a thumb includes a first fixing part for covering at least a part of a thumb proximal phalanx, a second fixing part for covering at least a part of a thumb metacarpal bone, and a third fixing part for connecting the first fixing part to the second fixing part. The first fixing part, the second fixing part and the third fixing part are fixed by using a thumb MP joint as a flexion position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a thumb orthotic device.

Osteoarthritis of the hand is a disease in which aging and wear of articular cartilage progresses due to overuse and aging of the hand, causing swelling and pain in the joint site. One of the degenerative arthropathy of the hand is thumb CM arthropathy, which causes swelling and pain in the thumb CM joint (third joint from the fingertip, thumb carpometacarpal joint) at the base of the thumb. Be done. Thumb CM arthropathy is a disease that is especially common in middle-aged and elderly women, and causes strong pain in the joints due to the movement of the thumb such as grasping an object or writing a letter.

Various orthotics that limit the movement of the thumb CM joint have been proposed for the treatment and / or prevention of thumb CM arthropathy. For example, in Patent Document 1, a thumb cap that wraps the thumb from the vicinity of the MP joint to a portion beyond the CM joint with the tip exposed, and the wrist cap that is locked by rotating the wrist joint. The thumb cap is formed of a silicone rubber containing a reinforcing cloth in a portion corresponding to the outer side of the thumb, which is a wrist joint orthotic device. Has been proposed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-218781

However, for example, the thumb orthotic device as proposed in Patent Document 1 tends to cover not only the thumb but also fingers other than the thumb and the wrist joint. Therefore, there is a problem that activities of daily living are unnecessarily restricted.

Therefore, it is a main object of the present invention to provide an orthotic device for a thumb that is not unnecessarily restricted in activities of daily living and can fix the thumb in a good limb position.

The present invention includes a first fixation portion that covers at least a part of the proximal phalanx of the thumb, a second fixation portion that covers at least a part of the metacarpal bone of the thumb, the first fixation portion and the above. A third fixing portion for connecting the second fixing portion is provided, and the first fixing portion, the second fixing portion, and the third fixing portion have the thumb MP joint in the flexed position. Provide a thumb orthotic device to secure.
The first fixation may be configured to cover at least a portion of the position between the thumb IP joint and the thumb MP joint.
A part of the second fixing portion may be configured to cover the position of the web between the thumb and the index finger.
The second fixation portion may be configured to cover a position on the thumb side of the proximal palm skin line and / or the thumb ball skin line.
The second fixing portion may be configured to cover the position on the thumb side of the wrist joint.
The first fixing portion, the second fixing portion, and the third fixing portion may be composed of one member.
The member may have plasticity.
In the three-point bending test, the member may have a load of 30 to 60 N at the initial stage of bending and a load of 50 to 90 N during bending.
The member may have water repellency.
The member may be provided with a cushioning member having a cushioning property on the side facing the skin surface.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an orthotic device for a thumb that is not unnecessarily restricted in activities of daily living and can fix the thumb in a good limb position. The effects described here are not necessarily limited, and may be any of the effects described in the present specification.

It is a schematic diagram when the state after the thumb orthotic device 10 which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention is attached is seen from the palm side. It is a schematic diagram when the state after the thumb orthotic device 10 which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention is attached is seen from the dorsal side. It is a schematic diagram which shows the thumb orthotic device 10 which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the manufacturing process of the thumb orthotic device 10 which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the manufacturing process of the thumb orthotic device 10 which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the manufacturing process of the thumb orthotic device 10 which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the manufacturing process of the thumb orthotic device 10 which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the thumb orthotic device 10 which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the right-hand RH. It is a schematic diagram which shows the time-dependent deformation of the thumb CM joint and the thumb MP joint in thumb CM arthropathy.

Hereinafter, suitable embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below show an example of a typical embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Further, the present invention can be combined with any of the following examples and variations thereof.

In the following description of the embodiment, the configuration may be described by terms with "abbreviation" such as substantially parallel and substantially orthogonal. For example, substantially parallel means not only completely parallel, but also substantially parallel, that is, including a state deviated from the completely parallel state by, for example, about several percent. The same applies to other terms with "abbreviations". Further, each figure is a schematic view and is not necessarily exactly shown.

Unless otherwise specified, in the drawings, "upper" means upward or upper in the figure, "lower" means lower or lower in the figure, and "left" means in the figure. Means to the left or left of, and "right" means to the right or right in the figure. In addition, in the drawings, the same or equivalent elements or members are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.

<1. Outline of the present invention>
First, the structure of the hand will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the structure of the right-handed RH. As shown in FIG. 9, the thumb of the right hand RH includes the thumb CM joint (third joint from the fingertip, the middle wrist joint of the thumb) and the thumb MP joint (2 from the fingertip) at the base of the finger. There is a second joint, the middle finger interphalangeal joint of the thumb, and an IP joint of the thumb (the first joint from the fingertip, the interphalangeal joint of the thumb).

When swelling or pain occurs in the CM joint of the thumb, the MP joint of the thumb tends to be in the hyperextended limb position as a compensatory action for avoiding the pain. If the hyperextended limb position of the MP joint of the thumb continues, the sub-dislocated limb position of the CM joint of the thumb is promoted, so that the MP joint of the thumb and the CM joint of the thumb are deformed, and further pain occurs. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the temporal deformation of the thumb CM joint and the thumb MP joint in thumb CM arthropathy.

FIG. 10A shows a thumb CM joint in a normal state without thumb CM arthropathy. FIG. 10B shows a state in which thumb CM arthropathy is in progress. There is a slight deviation in the CM joint of the thumb. FIG. 10C shows that the thumb CM arthropathy has completely occurred. The MP joint of the thumb is in the hyperextended limb position, and the CM joint of the thumb is in the subluxation limb position. This causes pain in the CM joint of the thumb.

Conventionally, the thumb orthotic device for treating and / or preventing CM arthropathy of the thumb tends to cover not only the thumb but also fingers other than the thumb and the wrist joint. Therefore, there is a problem that activities of daily living are unnecessarily restricted. Activities of daily living refer to basic behaviors that are indispensable for daily life, and include, for example, eating, changing clothes, moving, excretion, plastic surgery, and bathing.

Further, such a thumb orthotic device tends to exert an action on the thumb CM joint, for example, by pressing the thumb CM joint.

In view of the above circumstances, the present inventors have completed the present invention. The thumb orthotic device according to the embodiment of the present invention has a configuration in which the thumb and / or the vicinity thereof are covered, and the fingers other than the thumb, the wrist joint, and the like are not covered. As a result, troublesomeness and unnecessary suppression are less likely to occur.

Further, the present inventors have focused on the fact that fixing the thumb MP joint in the flexed position reduces the thumb MP joint from becoming the hyperextended limb position and enhances the afferent of the thumb CM joint. did. Centripetality refers to the nature toward the center. By moving the thumb CM joint toward the center of the hand, it is possible to reduce the thumb CM joint from being in the subluxed limb position. That is, the thumb orthotic device according to the embodiment of the present invention can fix the thumb in a good limb position. Here, the "good limb position" in the present specification means an optimum limb position that reduces the burden on the thumb CM joint.

<2. First Embodiment>
(1) Configuration of Thumb Orthotic Device 10 Hereinafter, as an embodiment, the thumb orthotic device 10 to be attached to the wearer's right hand RH will be described. The thumb orthotic device 10 may be worn on the wearer's left hand. When it is attached to the left hand of the wearer, the same effect can be obtained by attaching the thumb orthotic device 10 described below, which is configured by reversing the left and right sides.

The configuration of the thumb orthotic device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a state after wearing the thumb orthotic device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the palm side. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the state when viewed from the dorsal side.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the thumb device 10 according to the present embodiment has a first fixing portion 1 that covers at least a part of the proximal phalanx of the thumb and at least a part of the metacarpal bone of the thumb. A second fixing portion 2 for covering the above, and a third fixing portion 3 for connecting the first fixing portion 1 and the second fixing portion 2 are provided.

The first fixing portion 1, the second fixing portion 2, and the third fixing portion 3 fix the thumb MP joint in the flexed position. The angle of the thumb MP joint is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, about 30 degrees of flexion. As a result, the thumb orthotic device 10 can enhance the afferent of the thumb CM joint and reduce the deformation of the thumb CM joint. That is, the thumb orthotic device 10 can fix the thumb in a good limb position.

The first fixation portion 1 may be configured to cover at least a part of the position between the thumb IP joint and the thumb MP joint so as not to cover the thumb IP joint. Since the first fixation portion 1 does not cover the thumb IP joint, the confrontational movement of the fingers is not hindered. This facilitates operations such as grasping an object.

The first fixing portion 1 is formed in an annular shape so as to surround the proximal phalanx of the thumb, but is not limited to this shape. As shown in FIG. 3, the first fixing portion 1 may be formed in a substantially U shape so as to sandwich the proximal phalanx of the thumb, for example. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the thumb orthotic device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Here, it returns to the description of FIGS. 1 and 2. The second fixing portion 2 is configured to surround the metacarpal bone of the thumb, but is not limited to this shape. The second fixing portion 2 may have an opening 21 into which the thumb is inserted. The thumb inserted through the opening 21 penetrates the first fixing portion 1.

A part of the second fixing portion 2 may be configured to cover the position of the web between the thumb and the index finger. As a result, the distance between the thumb and the index finger is widened, and the thumb can be held by radial lateral displacement.

The second fixing portion 2 covers the position on the thumb side of the proximal palm skin line and / or the thumb ball skin line so as not to cover the proximal palm skin line and / or the thumb ball skin line. It may be configured in. Since the second fixing portion 2 does not cover the proximal palm skin line and / or the thumb bulb skin line, the abduction movement of the thumb is not hindered, and the fingers other than the thumb (indicator, middle finger, ring finger and little finger). The operation of is not disturbed. As a result, operations such as grasping an object become easy.

The second fixing portion 2 may be configured to cover the position on the thumb side of the wrist joint RW so as not to cover the wrist joint RW. Since the second fixing portion 2 does not cover the wrist joint RW, the range of motion of the wrist joint RW is not limited. Movability includes, for example, rotational movement, abduction movement, adduction movement, and the like. Since the second fixing portion 2 does not cover the wrist joint RW, the basic movements of the wrist joint RW (for example, palmar flexion, dorsiflexion, radial flexion, flexure, etc.) are not hindered.

The first fixing portion 1, the second fixing portion 2, and the third fixing portion 3 may be composed of one member. As a result, it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of types of members in the manufacturing process of the thumb orthotic device 10, and it is not necessary to join the members to each other, so that the manufacturing cost is reduced.

The manufacturing process of the thumb orthotic device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. 4 to 7 are schematic views showing a manufacturing process of the thumb orthotic device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is the first stage in the manufacturing process and shows the state before manufacturing. The area on the left side is the first fixing portion 1. The area on the right side is the second fixed portion 2. The region connecting the first fixing portion 1 and the second fixing portion 2 is the third fixing portion 3. The first fixing portion 1, the second fixing portion 2, and the third fixing portion 3 are composed of one member.

FIG. 5 is a second stage in the manufacturing process, and shows a state in which the second fixing portion 2 is bent so as to follow the shape of the right-handed RH.

FIG. 6 is a third stage in the manufacturing process, and shows a state in which the second fixing portion 2 is bent so as to follow the shape of the right-handed RH. The upper region in the second stage shown in FIG. 5 is bent downward. As a result, the opening 21 into which the thumb is inserted is formed.

FIG. 7 is a fourth step in the manufacturing process, and shows a state in which the first fixing portion 1 is bent so as to follow the shape of the right-handed RH. The first fixing portion 1 is formed in a substantially U shape so as to sandwich the proximal phalanx of the thumb. The first fixing portion 1 may be formed in a ring shape so as to surround the proximal phalanx of the thumb.

The member constituting the orthotic device 10 may be a metal material such as an aluminum alloy or steel, a plastic material such as polypropylene, or a resin material such as polyacetal. good.

The members constituting the thumb orthotic device 10 are preferably plastic. As a result, the shape of the thumb orthotic device 10 follows the shape and size of the wearer's hand and fits.

In order to securely fix the thumb MP joint, it is preferable that the thumb orthotic device 10 does not easily deform. Therefore, it is preferable that the member constituting the thumb orthotic device 10 has a tensile strength of 100 to 220 N / mm ² . More preferably, the member may have a tensile strength of 110 to 210 N / mm ² . More preferably, the member may have a tensile strength of 120 to 200 N / mm ² . Here, the tensile strength in the present invention shall be measured in accordance with JIS Z2241 using a test piece having a width of 20 mm, a length of 100 mm, and a thickness of 1 mm using an autograph manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation.

In the three-point bending test (pushing test), the member constituting the thumb orthotic device preferably has a load of 30 to 60 N at the initial stage of bending and a load of 50 to 90 N during bending. More preferably, the member may have a load of 40 to 50 N at the initial stage of bending and a load of 60 to 80 N during bending. Here, in the three-point bending test in the present invention, a test piece having a width of 20 mm, a length of 100 mm, and a thickness of 1 mm is prepared, and an autograph AG-20KNI and a 5kN load cell manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation are used in accordance with JIS Z2248. , 23 ° C., test speed 100 mm / min. The load at the initial stage of bending is the load when the product is pushed and bent by 1 mm (the load in the elastic region), and the load during the bending is the load when the product is pushed and bent by 4 to 15 mm (the load in the plastic region). These tensile strengths and / or the characteristics of the three-point bending test improve the fixation to the thumb MP joint.

The member constituting the thumb orthotic device 10 may have water repellency. As a result, for example, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the thumb orthotic device 10 contains water, sweat, or the like, or that the thumb orthotic device 10 is moldy. As a result, the thumb orthotic device 10 can be comfortably worn.

<3. Second embodiment>
The configuration of the thumb orthotic device 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the thumb orthotic device 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, the member constituting the thumb orthotic device 10 according to the present embodiment may be provided with a cushion member 4 having a cushioning property on the side facing the skin surface. For the cushion member 4, for example, a felt material or a sponge can be used. The thumb orthotic device 10 may be composed of two layers of the cushion member 4 and the above-mentioned plastic member. This reduces pain on the skin and improves the fit. Here, the combined thickness of the member having plasticity and the cushion member is 5 mm or less, preferably 3 mm or less, from the viewpoint of wearing comfort and fit, for example, the member having plasticity of 1 mm and the cushion material of 2 mm. It may be about 3 mm in total.

The present invention may also have the following configuration.
[1]
A first fixation that covers at least part of the proximal phalanx of the thumb,
A second fixation that covers at least part of the metacarpal bone of the thumb,
A third fixing portion for connecting the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion is provided.
The first fixing portion, the second fixing portion, and the third fixing portion are thumb orthotic devices that fix the thumb MP joint in a flexed position.
[2]
The first fixation is configured to cover at least a portion of the position between the thumb IP joint and the thumb MP joint.
The thumb orthotic device according to [1].
[3]
A portion of the second fixing portion is configured to cover the webbing position between the thumb and index finger.
The thumb orthotic device according to [1] or [2].
[4]
The second fixation portion is configured to cover a position on the thumb side of the proximal palm skin line and / or the thumb ball skin line.
The thumb orthotic device according to any one of [1] to [3].
[5]
The second fixing portion is configured to cover the position on the thumb side of the wrist joint.
The thumb orthotic device according to any one of [1] to [4].
[6]
The first fixing portion, the second fixing portion, and the third fixing portion are composed of one member.
The thumb orthotic device according to any one of [1] to [5].
[7]
The member has plasticity.
The thumb orthotic device according to [6].
[8]
In the three-point bending test, the member has a load of 30 to 60 N at the initial stage of bending and a load of 50 to 90 N during bending.
The thumb orthotic device according to [6] or [7].
[9]
The member has water repellency.
The thumb orthotic device according to any one of [6] to [8].
[10]
The member is provided with a cushioning member having a cushioning property on the side facing the skin surface.
The thumb orthotic device according to any one of [6] to [9].

10 Thumb orthotic device 1 First fixing part 2 Second fixing part 21 Opening part 3 Third fixing part 4 Cushion member RH Right hand IP Thumb IP joint MP Thumb MP joint CM Thumb CM joint RF Thumb RW Wrist joint

Claims (10)

A first fixation that covers at least part of the proximal phalanx of the thumb,
A second fixation that covers at least part of the metacarpal bone of the thumb,
A third fixing portion for connecting the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion is provided.
The first fixing portion, the second fixing portion, and the third fixing portion are thumb orthotic devices that fix the thumb MP joint in a flexed position. The first fixation is configured to cover at least a portion of the position between the thumb IP joint and the thumb MP joint.
The thumb orthotic device according to claim 1. A portion of the second fixing portion is configured to cover the webbing position between the thumb and index finger.
The thumb orthotic device according to claim 1 or 2. The second fixation portion is configured to cover a position on the thumb side of the proximal palm skin line and / or the thumb ball skin line.
The thumb orthotic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The second fixing portion is configured to cover the position on the thumb side of the wrist joint.
The thumb orthotic device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The first fixing portion, the second fixing portion, and the third fixing portion are composed of one member.
The thumb orthotic device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The member has plasticity.
The thumb orthotic device according to claim 6. In the three-point bending test, the member has a load of 30 to 60 N at the initial stage of bending and a load of 50 to 90 N during bending.
The thumb orthotic device according to claim 6 or 7. The member has water repellency.
The thumb orthotic device according to any one of claims 6 to 8. The member is provided with a cushioning member having a cushioning property on the side facing the skin surface.
The thumb orthotic device according to any one of claims 6 to 9.

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