US5027802A — Multi-mode digital traction system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 206 words

A traction system for the digits of a human extremity, each digit having a base and a palmar side and the extremity having a plurality of crotches between the digits comprising: a longitudinally extending traction plate for laying longitudinally alongside the palmar side of at least one of the digits, the plate having a free end and, longitudinally spaced from the free end, an anchor end; means for anchoring the plate anchor end to the extremity including a glove carried by the extremity and a contoured anchor member carried by the plate anchor end said member having a curved portion for engaging the glove and remaining in fixed relation with the extremity, said anchoring being effected solely by direct engagement of the anchoring means with the extremity adjacent the base of the at least one of the digits, the plate, in use, being substantially free of the at least one of the digits and said anchoring leaving all of the digits substantially unencumbered; and at least one elongated tension member extending generally longitudinally and having an end attached to the traction plate and an opposite end, the opposite end including means for attachment to a digit so as to apply a traction force to that digit.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 206 words

A traction system for the digits of a human extremity, each digit having a base and a palmar side and the extremity having a plurality of crotches between the digits comprising: a longitudinally extending traction plate for laying longitudinally alongside the palmar side of at least one of the digits, the plate having a free end and, longitudinally spaced from the free end, an anchor end; means for anchoring the plate anchor end to the extremity including a glove carried by the extremity and a contoured anchor member carried by the plate anchor end said member having a curved portion for engaging the glove and remaining in fixed relation with the extremity, said anchoring being effected solely by direct engagement of the anchoring means with the extremity adjacent the base of the at least one of the digits, the plate, in use, being substantially free of the at least one of the digits and said anchoring leaving all of the digits substantially unencumbered; and at least one elongated tension member extending generally longitudinally and having an end attached to the traction plate and an opposite end, the opposite end including means for attachment to a digit so as to apply a traction force to that digit.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 16 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the contoured anchor member is detachable from the traction plate.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the contoured anchor member is generally cylindrical and, in use, extends generally transversely of the extremity.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system of claim 1 and including means for providing a releasable connection between the contoured anchor member and the extremity.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 4 wherein the means for providing the releasable connection includes mating hook and loop type fabric surfaces, one surface on the glove and one on the contoured anchor member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the glove includes a digit covering portion and said portion is abbreviated so that the digits are substantially unencumbered by the glove.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 43 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the means for attachment of the tension member to the digit includes a sleeve for fitting over the digit the sleeve, upon the application of a tensile force, contracting in diameter so as to grip the digit.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the free end of the traction plate includes a tension member return surface over which the at least one tension member is trained.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the traction plate includes a transversely extending tension member attachment portion for receiving the attachment of the at least one tension member.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the traction plate and the means for anchoring comprise an independent unit for application to a single digit of the at least one of the digits.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 124 words

A finger trap for use in applying traction to a digit of a human extremity, of the type which contracts to grip the digit upon the application of a traction force to the distal end of the trap comprising: an elongated braided sleeve having opposite ends and being open at both ends, the sleeve including a plurality of strands the strands being formed into respective left- and right-hand spirals, each strand being an element of the braid and comprising a bundle of individual filaments; and a flexible connection patch for connecting to a tension member for applying the traction force, the patch being carried by the sleeve adjacent one of its opposite ends and making force transmitting contact with a plurality of the strands.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 124 words

A finger trap for use in applying traction to a digit of a human extremity, of the type which contracts to grip the digit upon the application of a traction force to the distal end of the trap comprising: an elongated braided sleeve having opposite ends and being open at both ends, the sleeve including a plurality of strands the strands being formed into respective left- and right-hand spirals, each strand being an element of the braid and comprising a bundle of individual filaments; and a flexible connection patch for connecting to a tension member for applying the traction force, the patch being carried by the sleeve adjacent one of its opposite ends and making force transmitting contact with a plurality of the strands.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 15 words

The finger trap of claim 11 wherein the connection patch is stitched to the sleeve.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 17 words

The finger trap of claim 11 wherein the connection patch partially wraps the end of the sleeve.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 31 words

The finger trap of claim 11 wherein the connection patch includes a connecting element for receiving the tension member and said connecting element is inset from the end of the sleeve.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 19 words

The finger trap of claim 11 wherein, in each strand, the filaments lie loosely together in substantially linear alignment.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 122 words

A traction system for applying traction to at least one of the metacarpophalangeal joints of a hand, the hand having a plurality of digits and crotches between the digits, the system including a traction frame for anchoring to the hand and means connectable between at least one digit and the frame for applying a traction force through the digit to the corresponding metacarpophalangeal joint characterized in that the system includes a glove conforming to and covering at least part of the hand and, in use, the traction frame is anchorable to the hand solely by engagement of the traction frame with the glove at the palm of the hand adjacent the metacarpophalangeal joints so that the corresponding metacarpophalangeal joint is under traction.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 122 words

A traction system for applying traction to at least one of the metacarpophalangeal joints of a hand, the hand having a plurality of digits and crotches between the digits, the system including a traction frame for anchoring to the hand and means connectable between at least one digit and the frame for applying a traction force through the digit to the corresponding metacarpophalangeal joint characterized in that the system includes a glove conforming to and covering at least part of the hand and, in use, the traction frame is anchorable to the hand solely by engagement of the traction frame with the glove at the palm of the hand adjacent the metacarpophalangeal joints so that the corresponding metacarpophalangeal joint is under traction.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 41 words

The traction system of claim 16 wherein the traction frame extends generally longitudinally of the hand and includes a free end disposed, in use, adjacent the tips of the digits and an anchor end disposed and anchored adjacent the metacarpophalangeal joints.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 19 words

The traction system of claim 16 wherein the traction frame has a lateral extent spanning at least two digits.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 33 words

The traction system of claim 16 wherein the glove includes means for engaging the crotches between the digits so that, in use, retraction of the traction frame is resisted substantially by the crotches.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 20 words

The traction system of claim 19 wherein, in use, the traction frame releasably engages the glove adjacent the metacarpophalangeal joints.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 146 words

A traction system for applying traction to at least one of the metacarpophalangeal joints of a hand, the hand having a plurality of digits and crotches between the digits, the system including a traction frame for anchoring to the hand and means connectable between at least one digit and the frame for applying a traction force through the digit to the corresponding metacarpophalangeal joint characterized in that the system includes a glove configured to be pulled onto the hand so as to engage at least one of the crotches between the digits and in that the traction frame is anchored to the hand by means of the glove and so that, in use, retraction of the traction frame under the action of the traction force applying means is resisted substantially by engagement of the glove with the at least one of the crotches between the digits.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 146 words

A traction system for applying traction to at least one of the metacarpophalangeal joints of a hand, the hand having a plurality of digits and crotches between the digits, the system including a traction frame for anchoring to the hand and means connectable between at least one digit and the frame for applying a traction force through the digit to the corresponding metacarpophalangeal joint characterized in that the system includes a glove configured to be pulled onto the hand so as to engage at least one of the crotches between the digits and in that the traction frame is anchored to the hand by means of the glove and so that, in use, retraction of the traction frame under the action of the traction force applying means is resisted substantially by engagement of the glove with the at least one of the crotches between the digits.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 33 words

The traction system of claim 21 wherein the glove is configured to expose a substantial portion of the at least one of the digits for facilitating connection of the traction force applying means.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 57 words

The traction system of claim 21 wherein the traction frame extends generally longitudinally and includes longitudinally opposite free and anchor ends and the glove includes a palmar side covering at least part of the palm of the hand and, in use, the anchor end is attached to the palmar side of the glove adjacent the metacapophalangeal joints.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 31 words

The traction system of claim 23 wherein the anchor end of the traction frame is releasably attached to the palmar side of the glove at a selectively variable point of attachment.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 19 words

The traction system of claim 21 wherein the traction frame has a lateral extent spanning at least two digits.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 13 words

The finger trap of claim 11 wherein the filaments are made from polypropylene.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-07-01	1994-12-31	1995-07-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-07-01	1998-12-31	1999-07-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-07-01	2002-12-31	2003-07-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Multi-mode digital traction system

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