MS. MAUREEN LORAINE LARUE, OTRL
Occupational Therapy at Eagle Rock Trl, Ormond Beach, FL

4297992, Nov 3, 1981

Nov 5, 1979

6/091587

Maureen L. LaRue - Ormond Beach FL
Richard R. Larsen - Daytona Beach FL

A61F 510

128 77

A splint for use with the distal joint of a finger or thumb to control marked hyperextension of the joint. The splint is particularly useful in improving handwriting of persons experiencing such hyperextension by providing a preselected force urging the finger into flexion. A generally E-shaped frame is formed from spring steel wire with mutually parallel outer arm, central arm and inner arm connected by an outer side element and an inner side element. The side elements form an obtuse angle in the range of 120. degree. to 130. degree. The arms are padded with the central arm pad disposed in the volar interphalangeal crease of the distal joint of the finger, the inner arm pad on the dorsal surface over the middle phalanx, and the outer arm pad on the dorsal surface over the distal phalanx. The angle of the side elements results in spring tension between the pads to resist hyperextension of the distal joint. When used as an aid for improving handwriting, the spring tension is preselected to produce a required force on the writing instrument when the fingers and thumb are in the normal prehensile grasp attitude.