Non-Invasive Method for Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a device for the treatment of symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.

2. Background and Prior Art

The complex of symptoms resulting from compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel is referred to as carpal tunnel syndrome.

A cross-section of the carpal tunnel, (indicated at 20 in FIG. 2) demonstrates the vulnerability of the median nerve. The carpal bones which are tightly bound together form the dorsal medial and lateral walls of the tunnel. These bones are joined anteriorly by the transverse carpal ligament, a dense, non-resilient structure. The carpal tunnel contains the median nerve as well as nine flexor tendons and their tendon sheets.

A number of conditions such as obesity or pregnancy can increase the contents or decrease the size of the carpal tunnel and thereby compress the median nerve. Anomalous overdeveloped muscles may also compress the median nerve. Similarly, any condition that produces edema in the hand and wrist may cause or accentuate carpal tunnel compression.

The most common pathologic finding among patients with carpal tunnel syndrome is non-specific tenosynovitis. This condition is characterized by thickening of the tenosynovium, which increases the volume of the structures within the carpal tunnel thereby compressing the median nerve. A non-specific thickening of the tenosynovium is the most common cause of carpal tunnel syndrome. A patient with carpal tunnel syndrome usually first complains of pain and numbness in the fingers of one hand. At times, a patient may complain of pain extending into the forearm or even the upper arm or shoulder. The discomfort can range from mild to excruciating. If carpal tunnel syndrome has been present for several months or years, patients may also complain of clumsiness and weakness in the hand which makes it difficult for them to pick up and hold small objects. These symptoms often result from atrophy of the thenar muscles; these muscles are supplied by the motor branch of the median nerve.

If carpal tunnel symptoms are mild and of short duration (2 or 3 months), conservative treatment is usually recommended. This is particularly true when the symptoms are expected to disappear in the foreseeable future (e.g., termination of pregnancy or change of occupation). Conservative treatment includes medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids or diuretics, immobilization and steroid injection of the wrist. Elsey, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,309 (col 1, lines 11-16) suggests that exercise can be used to overcome problems associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. Unfortunately, no examples of such exercises are presented. The patent teaches the use of a wrist splint to treat the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Non-operative treatment may provide early symptomatic relief of carpal tunnel syndrome, but often fails to give protracted benefit. This is particularly true for the individual whose job requires constant repetitive wrist and hand activities. Surgical treatment is indicated when non-operative management is ineffective and symptoms are of sufficient severity to warrant surgery. Surgical intervention involves dissection of the transverse carpal ligament. The incision may cause injury to one or more of the small cutaneous branches of the median nerve which can result in neuroma formation or a painful hypertrophic scar. Anomalies of the median nerve are not uncommon and small incisions that will require blind dissection to decompress the nerve are fraught with significant potential complications. The complications of surgery have been documented (for a summary of complications, see, for example, "Complications of Surgical Release for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome," Rodney McDonald et al Journal of Hand Surgery, Vol. 3, No. 1, pg. 70 (1978)) and include incomplete division of the transverse carpal ligament, damage to the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve, palmar hematoma, and other nerve injuries.

In view of the foregoing complications of surgery, it is desirable that a device and method for treating symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome which is both conservative and applicable towards both early and more advanced states of the syndrome should be available.

Greenfield, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,734, teaches the construction and use of a band exerciser. The exerciser generally comprises a regular array of openings in planar elastic member through which openings the fingers and thumb may be inserted. The fingers may be moved relative to one another against the resistance of the elastic member to exercise various muscle groups. Greenfield suggests (Col 4, lines 10-18) that the exerciser may be useful for treating arthritis and rheumatism and for exercising or training for sporting activities.

Williams, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,827 describes a similar exercise device comprising a disk-like member provided with recesses in its periphery and at least one aperture for the thumb. The device has the capability of either individually or simultaneously exercising or manipulating all digits of a patient's hand thereby strengthening the muscles and tendons. Surprisingly, until now it has not been recognized that a particular set of exercises as will be described below may be performed on hand exercising devices similar to the prior art devices above to provide relief for the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the hand looking down upon the palm of the right hand.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the hand of FIG. 1 taken along line 22.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows the device being used for the treatment and prevention of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Turning now to FIG. 2 the anatomy of the carpal tunnel 20 and surrounding anatomical structures is shown. The four carpal bones 23 form the floor of this rigid tunnel. The roof of the tunnel consists of the transverse carpal ligament 24 which is a non-elastic structure. The tunnel contains nine flexor tendons 22 as well as the median nerve 21. It is seen that the median nerve 21 and nine flexor tendons 22 all lie entirely within and pass through the carpal tunnel generally indicated at 20. Any condition that alters the amount of space within the carpal tunnel may result in median nerve compression. For example, if one of the carpal bones 23 encroaches on the carpal tunnel, it may produce secondary compression of the median nerve. Thickening of the tendon sheaths surrounding the tendons 22 within the carpal tunnel will decrease the space within the tunnel and thereby impinge or bear upon the median nerve. Median nerve compression can also result if osseous particles or other lesions are present within the carpal tunnel.

Turning now to FIG. 3, we see a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the device generally indicated at 30. The preferred embodiment of the device is made in a single piece from a homogeneous elastomeric material such as silicone, latex, polyurethane, or copolymers thereof. Attachments for the fingers 31 and thumb 32 are positioned around the periphery of the device. The finger holes 31 and thumb holes 32 (or recesses within the periphery) can be conveniently made in a mold or simply stamped or punched out of a sheet of expandable material.

Turning now to FIG. 4, we see the device 30 of FIG. 3 on the hand 40 of a patient being treated for carpal tunnel syndrome. Repetitive extension of the fingers 41 and thumb 42 in the direction of the arrows against the resistance of the device for approximately five minutes twice daily gives immediate relief from the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome. While it remains unclear exactly how the device works, it is probable that the repetitive exercise strengthens the extensor muscles thereby or pulling the carpal bones away from the transverse carpal ligament and enlarging the carpal tunnel thereby reducing the pressure on the median nerve.

In cases where carpal tunnel syndrome results from over-use of flexing muscles of the hand, the device strengthens the extensor muscles thereby providing a balancing of opposing muscle groups. It is a particularly important feature of the method for treating carpal tunnel syndrome according to the present invention that the digits of the hand be fully extended before being forced away from one another against a restoring force.

The foregoing embodiment is exemplary and included to provide instruction in the use of the invention. Many modifications of this embodiment are possible and obvious. The expandable member may be fabricated of any material having suitable elasticity and the device may be used for treating symptoms arising from over-use of the flexor muscles of the hand and general rehabilitation. The scope of the invention is not to be limited to the particular embodiment described herein. For example, the elastic member may have slits placed therein or material removed therefrom to vary the restoring force on the fingers during extension thereof. Instead, the scope of the invention should be interpreted in accordance with the scope of the claims appended hereto.