Hand traction wrap

US5003967A · kind A · utility

Inventor

• Bernard E. McConnell · Greenville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 25, 1988
• Grant date: Apr 2, 1991
• Expiry date: Mar 25, 2008

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S2/917
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A traction wrap for suspending a patient's hand and arm in a substantially elevated position during a surgical procedure includes a hand wrap for maintaining the patient's hand in a closed fist condition. A flexible panel is draped over a bar and is secured to the hand wrap along substantially the entire length of the patient's fist on both the palm and back sides. When the patient's hand is in closed, the fist defines a substantially conical shape. The lifting force exerted by a traction device is applied to the elongated bar and flexible panel member, which in turn applies the lifting force through the wrap substantially uniformly across the conical surface of the patient's closed fist. In this configuration, the lifting force does not exert excess pressure at a particular position, such as on the patient's wrist as in prior art devices, so that the flow of blood to and from the patient's hand and fingers is not constricted. The wrap is applied relatively loosely around the patient's wrist to allow ready access to the wrist bones during a surgical procedure and without restricting blood circulation.