Finger cot for tendonitis

Abstract

To provide a finger sack for tenosynovitis, which is easily attached to a finger and enables early recovery.SOLUTION: The fingerstall 1A for tenosynovitis is used by putting the peripheral wall 2 on the J2 of a joint part where tenosynovitis occurs in fingers 30. The peripheral wall 2 is made of an elastomer and has a thickness of 3 to 7mm.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a finger cot for treating tendonitis, which is used to treat tendonitis in people suffering from tendonitis in the fingers. [Background technology]

[0002] In general, to achieve early recovery from tendonitis in the joints of the fingers, it is considered effective to limit the range of motion of the joint affected by tendonitis so that the joint remains as still as possible. One known method for doing so is a taping method in which tape is wrapped around the joint affected by tendonitis or its vicinity to limit the range of motion of the joint. JP 2022-184605 A (Patent Document 1) discloses a taping tape used in this taping method. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-184605 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when using taping, if the tape is wrapped too tightly, it can compress the veins and cause circulatory problems. Furthermore, if the tape is not wrapped properly, a quick recovery cannot be expected, so specialized knowledge of the taping method is required, and the process of wrapping the tape properly is itself a hassle.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned technical background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a finger cot for tenosynovitis that is easy to put on the fingers and that can promote early recovery. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides the following means.

[0007] 1) A finger cot for treating tendonitis, the peripheral wall of which is placed over a joint in a finger where tendonitis has occurred, The peripheral wall of the finger cot for treating tendonitis is made of elastomer and has a thickness of 3 to 7 mm.

[0008] 2) At least one of a thin portion and a groove portion that opens to the inside of the peripheral wall and extends in the length direction of the peripheral wall is provided in a circumferential portion of the peripheral wall as a reduction portion that reduces pressure on the dorsal digital vein that runs through the joint portion, 2. The finger cot for treating tendonitis according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral wall is placed over the joint portion with the reduction portion positioned on the back side of the joint portion.

[0009] 3) The recessed portion is provided as the reduced portion in a part of the peripheral wall in the circumferential direction, The peripheral wall is formed in a substantially C-shaped cross section, and a space between one end and the other end of the peripheral wall in the circumferential direction is the recessed rib portion, 3. The finger cot for treating tendonitis according to claim 2, further comprising connecting means for connecting the one end and the other end of the peripheral wall placed over the joint portion in a state in which the one end and the other end are spaced apart.

[0010] 4) A finger cot for treating tendonitis as described in the preceding paragraph 3, wherein the peripheral wall is formed by bending the elastomer base plate into a generally C-shaped cross section so that one end and the other end in the width direction are spaced apart.

[0011] 5) The connecting means comprises an adhesive tape; 5. The finger cot for treating tendonitis according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the adhesive tape is adhered to the outer surface of the peripheral wall so as to connect the one end and the other end of the peripheral wall while keeping the one end and the other end spaced apart.

[0012] 6) The connecting means comprises a connecting belt; the connecting belt is wound around the outer surface of the peripheral wall that covers the joint portion, 6. The finger cot for treating tendonitis according to any one of items 3 to 5, wherein at least one of one end and the other end in the length direction of the connecting belt is provided with fastening means for detachably fastening the one end of the connecting belt to the other end of the connecting belt in a state in which the connecting belt is wrapped around the outer surface of the peripheral wall that covers the joint portion.

[0013] 7) The connecting means includes a connecting piece extending from the one end side of the peripheral wall, 7. The finger cot for treating tendonitis according to any one of items 3 to 6, wherein fastening means is provided on at least one of the tip end side of the connecting piece and the other end side of the peripheral wall, for detachably fastening the tip end side of the connecting piece to the other end side of the peripheral wall.

[0014] 8) A finger cot for treating tendonitis according to any one of paragraphs 2 to 7 above, wherein the width of the reduced portion in the circumferential direction of the joint portion when the peripheral wall is placed over the joint portion is set in the range of 1 / 4 to 2 / 5 times the circumferential length of the joint portion.

[0015] 9) The finger cot for tendonitis according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 8, wherein the peripheral wall has a length such that, when placed over a PIP joint, which is the joint where tendonitis has occurred, one end of the peripheral wall in the length direction is positioned between the DIP joint and the PIP joint, and the other end of the peripheral wall in the length direction is positioned between the PIP joint and the MP joint. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] The present invention has the following advantages.

[0017] In the above item 1, the finger stall is attached to the finger by covering the joint where tendonitis has occurred with the peripheral wall of the finger stall, so that the finger stall can be easily attached to the finger.

[0018] Furthermore, since the peripheral wall is made of elastomer and has a thickness of 3 to 7 mm, the range of motion of the joint where tendonitis has occurred can be restricted, and early recovery from tendonitis can be achieved.

[0019] In the preceding paragraph 2, since a vein called the dorsal finger vein runs along the length of the finger on the dorsal side of the finger joint, by covering the joint with a peripheral wall so that at least one of the thin portion and the concave portion is located on the dorsal side of the joint as a reduction portion that reduces pressure on the dorsal finger vein, it is possible to reduce pressure on the dorsal finger vein caused by covering the joint with the peripheral wall, thereby suppressing the occurrence of circulatory disorders due to pressure on the dorsal finger vein.

[0020] In the above paragraph 3, the peripheral wall is formed with a substantially C-shaped cross section, and the recessed rib portion is formed at the spaced portion between one end and the other end of the peripheral wall in the circumferential direction, so that the peripheral wall can be easily placed over the joint portion, and the recessed rib portion extends over the entire length of the peripheral wall, so that pressure on the dorsal digital vein can be reliably reduced. Furthermore, by connecting the one end and the other end of the peripheral wall placed over the joint portion with the spaced-apart state by the connecting means, it is possible to prevent the peripheral wall from falling off or shifting from the joint portion while maintaining the reduced pressure on the dorsal digital vein.

[0021] In the preceding paragraph 4, the peripheral wall is formed by bending an elastomer blank into a generally C-shaped cross section so that one end and the other end in the width direction are spaced apart. Therefore, when initially placing the peripheral wall (finger cot) over a joint where tendonitis has occurred, the blank is bent into a generally C-shaped cross section from the palm side of the joint, so that one end and the other end in the width direction are spaced apart on the dorsal side of the joint, and wrapped around the joint. The peripheral wall is then placed over the joint by connecting the one end and the other end in the circumferential direction of the blank (i.e., the one end and the other end in the width direction of the blank) with a connecting means so that this bent state (i.e., wrapped state) is maintained. This allows peripheral walls (finger cots) with an appropriate inner diameter to be easily and inexpensively produced, allowing for early recovery for joints of various thicknesses.

[0022] In the above-mentioned item 5, the one end and the other end of the peripheral wall are connected by adhering an adhesive tape (connecting means) to the outer surface of the peripheral wall so as to connect one end and the other end of the peripheral wall that is placed over the joint portion while the one end and the other end are spaced apart. Therefore, the one end and the other end of the peripheral wall can be easily connected.

[0023] In the preceding paragraph 6, one end of the connecting belt (connecting means) is fastened to the other end of the connecting belt by a fastening means so as to connect one end and the other end of the peripheral wall placed over the joint portion while the one end and the other end are spaced apart. This facilitates the connection of the one end and the other end of the peripheral wall. Furthermore, by separating the fastening of the one end of the connecting belt to the other end, the connection between the one end and the other end of the peripheral wall is released, making it easy to remove the peripheral wall (finger cot) from the joint portion.

[0024] In the preceding paragraph 7, the tip of the connecting piece (connecting means) is fastened to the other end of the peripheral wall by fastening means so as to connect one end and the other end of the peripheral wall placed over the joint portion while the one end and the other end are spaced apart. This facilitates the connection of the one end and the other end of the peripheral wall. Furthermore, by separating the fastening of the tip of the connecting piece from the other end of the peripheral wall, the connection between the one end and the other end of the peripheral wall is released, making it easy to remove the peripheral wall (finger cot) from the joint portion.

[0025] In the above paragraph 8, by setting the width of the reduction portion in the circumferential direction of the joint to be in the range of 1 / 4 to 2 / 5 times the circumferential length of the joint when the peripheral wall is placed over the joint, it is possible to reliably reduce pressure on the dorsal digital vein while restricting the range of motion of the joint, thereby reliably preventing blood circulation disorders caused by pressure on the dorsal digital vein.

[0026] In the preceding paragraph 9, the peripheral wall has a length such that, when placed over the PIP joint as the joint where tendonitis has occurred, one end of the peripheral wall in the length direction is positioned between the DIP joint and the PIP joint, and the other end of the peripheral wall in the length direction is positioned between the PIP joint and the MP joint. This allows bending of the DIP joint and the MP joint while restricting the range of motion of the PIP joint where tendonitis has occurred. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a finger cot for treating tendonitis according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the finger cot. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing the finger cot. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows the state in which the peripheral wall of the fingerstall is placed over the joints of the fingers. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a finger cot for treating tenosynovitis according to a second embodiment of the present invention, with the peripheral wall of the finger cot covering a joint. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a finger cot for treating tenosynovitis according to a third embodiment of the present invention, with the peripheral wall thereof placed over a joint. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a finger cot for treating tendonitis according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an end view of the finger cot with the peripheral wall covering the joint portion. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a finger cot for treating tenosynovitis according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, with the peripheral wall thereof placed over a joint. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Some embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0029] 1 to 4 are diagrams illustrating a fingerstall 1A according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] 4, the fingerstall 1A of the first embodiment is used by placing a peripheral wall 2, which serves as the main body of the fingerstall 1A, over the PIP joint J2 of the middle finger 31, which is the joint of the fingers 30 that is particularly susceptible to tenosynovitis. The peripheral wall 2 is made of elastomer and has flexibility and elasticity (tensile elasticity, compressive elasticity, etc.).

[0031] In the figure, the symbol "J1" indicates the DIP joint of the finger 30, the symbol "J3" indicates the MP joint, and the symbol "J4" indicates the IP joint of the thumb 32.

[0032] 1 and 2, in finger cot 1A, a groove 7 that opens to the inside of peripheral wall 2 and extends in the length direction of peripheral wall 2 is provided in part of the circumferential direction of peripheral wall 2. As shown in FIG. 4, peripheral wall 2 is placed over PIP joint J2 of middle finger 31 with tendonitis in such a way that groove 7 is located on the dorsal side (i.e., the back of the hand) of PIP joint J2.

[0033] Here, at each joint of the finger 30, a vein called a dorsal finger vein (not shown) runs along the length of the finger 30 on the dorsal side, and the groove portion 7 is provided in part of the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall 2 as a reduction portion that reduces pressure on the dorsal finger vein when the peripheral wall 2 is placed over the PIP joint portion J2.

[0034] 1 and 2, the peripheral wall 2 is formed to have a substantially C-shaped cross section, and the spaced apart portion 23 between one end portion 3a and the other end portion 3b in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall 2 is the above-mentioned groove portion 7. Therefore, the above-mentioned groove portion 7 extends over the entire peripheral wall 2 in the longitudinal direction.

[0035] 3, when the peripheral wall 2 is placed over the PIP joint J2 (shown by the two-dot chain line), the width H of the separation portion 23 in the circumferential direction of the PIP joint J2 (i.e., the opening width of the recessed rib portion 7 as the width of the reduced portion) is not limited, but is preferably set to a range of 1 / 4 to 2 / 5 times the circumferential length of the PIP joint J2 (i.e., the total circumferential length of the PIP joint J2). In this case, pressure on the dorsal digital vein can be reliably reduced while reliably restricting the range of motion of the PIP joint J2.

[0036] As described above, the peripheral wall 2 is made of an elastomer. Examples of elastomers include various elastomers (thermosetting elastomers and thermoplastic elastomers) used in cushioning materials, etc. Specific examples of thermosetting elastomers include natural rubber, silicone rubber, fluororubber, styrene rubber, butadiene rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, urethane rubber, acrylic rubber, and butyl rubber. Examples of thermoplastic elastomers include styrene-based, olefin-based, vinyl chloride-based, urethane-based, ester-based, and amide-based elastomers, and hydrogenated elastomers may also be used. Furthermore, the elastomer may be in the form of an elastomer foam (including an elastomer sponge). Furthermore, the cell structure of the elastomer is not limited, and may be a closed-cell type, an open-cell type, or a solid type.

[0037] Here, since silicone rubber has high water repellency, it is preferable to use silicone rubber as the elastomer, which makes it possible to reliably limit the range of motion of the PIP joint J2, and also allows the peripheral wall 2 to be used for a long period of time in a clean condition by washing the peripheral wall 2 with water when it becomes dirty.

[0038] The peripheral wall 2 is formed by bending the above-mentioned elastomer base plate 20, which is a flat plate that is approximately square in plan view, into an approximately C-shaped cross section so that one end 21a and the other end 21b in the width direction W are separated, as shown by the dotted line in Figure 3.

[0039] The peripheral wall 2 (base plate 20) preferably has a thickness t of 3 to 7 mm, and the thickness t of the peripheral wall 2 (base plate 20) is approximately constant over its entirety.

[0040] Furthermore, the fingerstall 1A is provided with a connecting means 10 that connects one end 3a and the other end 3b in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall 2 having a substantially C-shaped cross section that covers the PIP joint portion J2, with the one end 3a and the other end 3b spaced apart, so that the bent state of the base plate 20 is maintained.

[0041] In the first embodiment, the connecting means 10 includes an adhesive tape 11. More specifically, the adhesive tape 11 is a flexible single-sided adhesive tape having an adhesive surface 11a (see FIG. 3) on one side, and specifically, commercially available so-called vinyl tape, cloth tape, nonwoven fabric tape, etc., can be used as the adhesive tape 11. The thickness of the adhesive tape 11 is not limited, and is, for example, in the range of 0.05 to 0.5 mm. The width of the adhesive tape 11 is also not limited, and is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 1 times the length of the peripheral wall 2.

[0042] Adhesive tape 11 is adhered to outer surface 2a of peripheral wall 2 in a state where it is wrapped around one or more turns in the circumferential direction of peripheral wall 2 (i.e., width direction W of base plate 20) so as to connect one end 3a and the other end 3b of peripheral wall 2 with one end 3a and the other end 3b spaced apart from each other, without protruding outward from both ends 4a, 4b in the longitudinal direction of peripheral wall 2, thereby forming finger cot 1A shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0043] 4, the peripheral wall 2 preferably has a length such that, when the peripheral wall 2 is placed over the PIP joint J2, one end 4a of the peripheral wall 2 in the length direction L (see FIG. 1) is located between the DIP joint J1 and the PIP joint J2, and the other end 4b of the peripheral wall 2 in the length direction L is located between the PIP joint J2 and the MP joint J3. In this case, the DIP joint J1 and the MP joint J3 can be bent while the range of motion of the PIP joint J2 is limited.

[0044] According to the first embodiment of the fingerstall 1A, the fingerstall 1A is attached to the middle finger 31 by covering the PIP joint J2 of the middle finger 31 where tendonitis has occurred with the peripheral wall 2. This makes it easy to attach the fingerstall 1A to the finger 30, and does not require specialized knowledge, as is the case with taping methods.

[0045] Furthermore, peripheral wall 2 of finger cot 1A is made of elastomer and has a thickness t of 3 to 7 mm, which allows for early recovery from tendonitis. To achieve early recovery, the lower limit of t of peripheral wall 2 is more preferably 4 mm, and the upper limit of t is more preferably 6 mm, and the even more preferably 5 mm.

[0046] In the fingerstall 1A of the first embodiment, when the peripheral wall 2 (fingerstall 1A) is first placed over the PIP joint J2 where tendonitis has occurred, the blank plate 20 is bent in a generally C-shaped cross section along the outer circumferential surface of the PIP joint J2 from the palm side thereof so that one end 21a and the other end 21b in the width direction W of the blank plate 20 are spaced apart on the dorsal side of the PIP joint J2, as shown in Figure 3. In this state, the one end 21a and the other end 21b in the width direction W of the blank plate 20 become the one end 3a and the other end 3b in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall 2.

[0047] Then, adhesive tape 11 is wound around the outer surface 2a of the peripheral wall 2 in the circumferential direction, preferably one or more times, so as to connect one end 3a and the other end 3b of the peripheral wall 2 while keeping the one end 3a and the other end 3b spaced apart. By doing so, the peripheral wall 2 is placed over the PIP joint J2, and the fingerstall 1A is attached to the middle finger 31 (PIP joint J2). This prevents the peripheral wall 2 from falling off or shifting from the PIP joint J2 while reducing pressure on the dorsal digital vein caused by placing the peripheral wall 2 over the PIP joint J2. Furthermore, the peripheral wall 2 (fingerstall 1A) can be easily and inexpensively produced with an appropriate inner diameter that allows for rapid recovery for PIP joint J2s of various thicknesses.

[0048] With the fingerstall 1A thus produced, when going to bed, the middle finger 31 is removed from the peripheral wall 2 to remove the peripheral wall 2 from the PIP joint J2. After waking up, the middle finger 31 is inserted into the peripheral wall 2 from the fingertip to the PIP joint J2, and the peripheral wall 2 is placed over the PIP joint J2 to put the fingerstall 1A on the middle finger 31.

[0049] If fingerstall 1A is damaged (for example, if adhesive tape 11 breaks or peels off), a new fingerstall is made using the method described above. If the surface of fingerstall 1A becomes dirty, a new fingerstall may be made using the method described above, or the dirt may be removed by washing with water or the like.

[0050] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a fingerstall 1B according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a fingerstall 1C according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams illustrating a fingerstall 1D according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a fingerstall 1E according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In these figures, elements that perform the same functions as elements of the fingerstall 1A of the first embodiment described above are assigned the same reference numerals. Below, fingerstalls 1B to 1E of the second to fifth embodiments will be described, focusing on the differences from the fingerstall 1A of the first embodiment described above.

[0051] In the second embodiment of the finger cot 1B shown in FIG. 5, the peripheral wall 2 is approximately cylindrical, and a portion of the peripheral wall 2 in the circumferential direction is not separated; that is, the peripheral wall 2 is formed continuously around the entire circumferential direction.

[0052] Furthermore, in a portion of the peripheral wall 2 in the circumferential direction, a groove portion 7 having a generally U-shaped cross section that opens to the inside of the peripheral wall 2 is formed extending over the entire length of the peripheral wall 2 (see FIG. 1: L) as a reduction portion that reduces pressure on the dorsal finger vein, and at the portion of the peripheral wall 2 where the groove portion 7 is formed, a thin portion 8 that is thinner than the other portions of the peripheral wall 2 due to the formation of the groove portion 7 is formed extending (continuously) over the length of the peripheral wall 2 as a reduction portion that reduces pressure on the dorsal finger vein. Therefore, the thin portion 8 and the groove portion 7 as a reduction portion are formed at the same position in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall 2, extending over the entire length of the peripheral wall 2.

[0053] In the finger cot 1B of the second embodiment, the peripheral wall 2 is placed over the PIP joint portion J2 with the thin portion 8 and the grooved rib portion 7 located on the back side of the PIP joint portion J2. Here, by forming the grooved rib portion 7 in a portion of the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall 2, the elastic force (tensile elastic force, compressive elastic force, etc.) of the thin portion 8 of the peripheral wall 2 is reduced compared to other portions of the peripheral wall 2. Therefore, since not only the grooved rib portion 7 but also the thin portion 8 are located on the back side of the PIP joint portion J2, it is possible to reliably reduce pressure on the dorsal finger vein caused by placing the peripheral wall 2 over the PIP joint portion J2.

[0054] When the peripheral wall 2 is placed over the PIP joint portion J2, the opening width H of the recessed streak portion 7 and the width H of the thin portion 8, which are the widths of the reduced portions in the circumferential direction of the PIP joint portion J2, are preferably set to 1 / 4 to 2 / 5 times the circumferential length of the PIP joint portion J2, as in the first embodiment. The depth f of the recessed streak portion 7 is not limited, but is preferably 1 mm or more, more preferably 2 mm or more, and even more preferably 3 mm or more. The upper limit of f is not limited, but may be less than the thickness t of the peripheral wall 2.

[0055] In the second embodiment, both the thin portion 8 and the grooved streak portion 7 are provided as reduction portions in a portion of the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall 2, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, only the thin portion 8 or only the grooved streak portion 7 may be provided as the reduction portion.

[0056] In the fingerstall 1C of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the connecting means 10 includes a connecting belt 13. The connecting belt 13 is flexible and is made of, for example, a flexible synthetic resin (polyester, nylon, polyurethane, etc.) or cloth. The connecting belt 13 is wound around the outer surface 2a of the peripheral wall 2 that covers the PIP joint portion J2, making one or more turns in the circumferential direction, connecting one end 3a and the other end 3b of the peripheral wall 2 while keeping the one end 3a and the other end 3b spaced apart. The connecting belt 13 may be made of a material that has elasticity, such as tensile elasticity or compressive elasticity.

[0057] The thickness of the connecting belts 13 is not limited and is, for example, in the range of 0.1 to 2 mm. The width of the connecting belts 13 is also not limited and is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 1 times the length of the peripheral wall 2. There may be a plurality of connecting belts 13, such as two, and in this case, these connecting belts 13 are wound around the outer surface 2a of the peripheral wall 2, spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction L of the peripheral wall 2, and generally parallel to each other.

[0058] At least one of the longitudinal ends 13a and 13b of the connecting belt 13 is provided with a fastening means 14 for detachably fastening the one end 13a of the connecting belt 13 to the other end 13b of the connecting belt 13 while the connecting belt 13 is wound around the outer surface 2a of the peripheral wall 2 covering the PIP joint portion J2.

[0059] In the second embodiment, the fastening means 14 includes a pair of hook-and-loop fasteners 15a, 15b that are separably fastened to each other. One of the pair of hook-and-loop fasteners 15a is fixed to the inner surface of the connecting belt 13 at one end 13a by sewing, adhesive, or the like, and the other hook-and-loop fastener 15b is fixed to the outer surface of the connecting belt 13 at the other end 13b by sewing, adhesive, or the like.

[0060] In the fingerstall 1C of the third embodiment, the peripheral wall 2 is placed over the PIP joint J2 such that the separation portion 23 (recessed portion 7) between the one end 3a and the other end 3b of the peripheral wall 2 in the circumferential direction is located on the back side of the PIP joint J2. In this state, the connecting belt 13 is wound around the outer surface 2a of the peripheral wall 2 in the circumferential direction by one or more turns (one turn in FIG. 1 ) so as not to protrude beyond both ends (see FIG. 1 : 4a and 4b) in the longitudinal direction L of the peripheral wall 2. The hook-and-loop fastener 15a on the one end 13a side of the connecting belt 13 is separably fastened to the hook-and-loop fastener 15b on the other end 13b side of the connecting belt 13 in an overlapping manner. This connects the one end 3a and the other end 3b of the peripheral wall 2 with the one end 3a and the other end 3b spaced apart from each other. This facilitates the connection of the one end 3a and the other end 3b of the peripheral wall 2.

[0061] In addition, by shifting the position at which the hook-and-loop fastener 15a on one end 13a of the connecting belt 13 engages with the hook-and-loop fastener 15b on the other end 13b in the longitudinal direction of the connecting belt 13, the restraining force exerted by the peripheral wall 2 on the PIP joint portion J2 can be adjusted.

[0062] To remove the peripheral wall 2 (finger stall 1C) from the PIP joint J2, the peripheral wall 2 may be removed by pulling the middle finger 31 out from within the peripheral wall 2. Alternatively, the peripheral wall 2 may be removed by pulling one end 13a of the connecting belt 13 in the peeling direction away from the other end 13b, thereby releasing the engagement between the hook-and-loop fastener 15a on one end 13a side and the hook-and-loop fastener 15b on the other end 13b side of the connecting belt 13, separating the one end 13a side from the other end 13b side of the connecting belt 13, thereby releasing the connection between the one end 3a and the other end 3b of the peripheral wall 2, and then removing the peripheral wall 2 from the PIP joint J2. This makes it easy to remove the peripheral wall 2 (finger stall 1C) from the PIP joint J2.

[0063] In the fingerstall 1C, the peripheral wall 2 may be formed by bending a flat elastomer base plate 20 into a substantially C-shaped cross section so that one end 21a and the other end 21b in the width direction W are spaced apart on the back side of the PIP joint portion J2, as in the first embodiment.

[0064] In the fingerstall 1D of the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the connecting means 10 includes a plurality of connecting pieces 17 extending from one end 3a of the peripheral wall 2. Specifically, there are two connecting pieces 17, which are integrally provided at one end 3a of the peripheral wall 2 and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction L of the peripheral wall 2. The connecting pieces 17 are flexible and are made of, for example, a flexible synthetic resin (polyester, nylon, polyurethane, etc.). The connecting pieces 17 may have elasticity such as tensile elasticity or compressive elasticity. The width of each connecting piece 17 is not limited and is, for example, in the range of 0.1 to 0.3 times the length of the peripheral wall 2.

[0065] At least one of the tip 17a side of the connecting piece 17 and the other end 3b side of the peripheral wall 2 is provided with a fastening means 18 for detachably fastening the tip 17a side of the connecting piece 17 to the other end 3b side of the peripheral wall 2.

[0066] In this fourth embodiment, the fastening means 18 comprises an engaging portion 19a provided on the tip end 17a side of the connecting piece 17, and an engaging portion 19b provided on the other end 3b side of the peripheral wall 2 and which engages with the engaging portion 19a in a manner that allows it to be disengaged.

[0067] Specifically, the locked portions 19a are locking holes, and the locking portions 19b are locking protrusions. Each connecting piece 17 has a plurality of locking holes (locking portions) 19a (three in detail), which are arranged at intervals on the tip end 17a side of the connecting piece 17 in the extension direction of the connecting piece 17. The number of locking protrusions (locking portions) 19b is the same as the number of connecting pieces 17. The locking protrusions 19b are rigid and made of, for example, hard plastic, and are provided on the other end 3b side of the peripheral wall 2 so as to protrude from the outer surface 2a thereof and be fixed thereto.

[0068] In the fingerstall 1D of the fourth embodiment, the peripheral wall 2 is placed over the PIP joint portion J2 such that the separation portion 23 (recessed portion 7) between one end 3a and the other end 3b in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall 2 is located on the back side of the PIP joint portion J2 (see FIG. 8). In this state, the locking projections 19b corresponding to the locking holes 19a of the connecting pieces 17 are inserted and locked. This connects the one end 3a and the other end 3b of the peripheral wall 2 with the one end 3a and the other end 3b spaced apart from each other by the connecting pieces 17. This facilitates the connection of the one end 3a and the other end 3b of the peripheral wall 2.

[0069] Here, since a plurality of locking holes 19a are arranged at intervals in the extension direction of the connecting piece 17 on the tip end 17a side of the connecting piece 17, the restraining force of the peripheral wall 2 on the PIP joint portion J2 can be adjusted by selecting from these locking holes 19a the locking hole 19a into which the locking protrusion 19b is inserted.

[0070] Furthermore, when the peripheral wall 2 is placed over the PIP joint portion J2, the back side of the PIP joint portion J2 is positioned between both connecting pieces 17, 17 at the separation portion 23 (recessed portion 7) between one end 3a and the other end 3b of the peripheral wall 2.

[0071] To remove the peripheral wall 2 (finger stall 1D) from the PIP joint J2, the peripheral wall 2 can be removed by pulling out the middle finger 31 from within the peripheral wall 2, or by removing the locking projection 19b from the locking hole 19a of the connecting piece 17 to release the locking projection 19b from the locking hole 19a, thereby separating the tip end 17a of the connecting piece 17 from the other end 3b of the peripheral wall 2, thereby releasing the connection between the one end 3a and the other end 3b of the peripheral wall 2, and then removing the peripheral wall 2 from the PIP joint J2. This makes it easy to remove the peripheral wall 2 (finger stall 1D) from the PIP joint J2.

[0072] In the fourth embodiment, fastening means 18 includes locking holes 19a and locking projections 19b, but in the present invention, fastening means 18 may also include a pair of hook-and-loop fasteners 15a, 15b that are separably locked to each other, like the fastening means of finger cot 1C of the third embodiment (see FIG. 6: 14). In this case, it is preferable that, in the pair of hook-and-loop fasteners 15a, 15b, one hook-and-loop fastener 15a is provided on the tip end 17a side of connecting piece 17 (more specifically, on the inner surface of the tip end 17a side), and the other hook-and-loop fastener 15b is provided on the other end 3b side of peripheral wall 2 (more specifically, on the outer surface of the other end 3b side).

[0073] In the fingerstall 1D, the peripheral wall 2 may be formed by bending a flat elastomer base plate 20 into a substantially C-shaped cross section so that one end 21a and the other end 21b in the width direction W are spaced apart on the back side of the PIP joint portion J2, as in the first embodiment.

[0074] 9, the peripheral wall 2 is generally cylindrical and is formed continuously around the entire circumference. Furthermore, the peripheral wall 2 does not have any reducing portions, such as the thin portion 8 or the grooved portion 7 (spaced portion 23), that would reduce pressure on the dorsal finger vein, and the thickness t of the peripheral wall 2 is generally constant around the entire circumference.

[0075] In this fingerstall 1E, by inserting the middle finger 31 from the fingertip to the PIP joint J2 into the peripheral wall 2, the peripheral wall 2 covers the PIP joint J2 and the fingerstall 1E is worn on the middle finger 31. On the other hand, by pulling the middle finger 31 out from within the peripheral wall 2, the peripheral wall 2 is removed from the PIP joint J2.

[0076] In the fingerstall 1E, the peripheral wall 2 may be formed by bending a flat elastomer base plate 20 into a substantially cylindrical shape and bonding one end (more specifically, one end face) and the other end (more specifically, the other end face) with an adhesive or the like. In the drawing, in this case, the bonding portion 25 between one end (one end face) and the other end (the other end face) of the base plate 20 is shown by a dashed dotted line, and at this bonding portion 25, one end and the other end of the base plate 20 are bonded together in a butt-jointed manner.

[0077] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0078] For example, in the above-described embodiments, finger cots 1A to 1E are used by placing the peripheral wall 2 over the PIP joint J2 of the middle finger 31, which is one of the joints of the fingers 30 that is particularly susceptible to tenosynovitis. However, in the present invention, the finger cots may also be used by placing the peripheral wall 2 over, for example, the IP joint J4 of the thumb 32, which is another joint of the fingers 30 that is particularly susceptible to tenosynovitis. In this case, it is preferable that the peripheral wall 2 has a length such that, when placed over the IP joint J4, one end 4a of the peripheral wall 2 in the length direction L is located between the tip of the thumb 32 and the IP joint J4, and the other end 4b of the peripheral wall 2 in the length direction L is located between the IP joint J2 and the MP joint J3 of the thumb 32. [Industrial Applicability]

[0079] The present invention can be used as a finger cot for promoting early recovery from tendonitis in the fingers. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 1A~1E: Finger cot 2: Surrounding wall 3a: One end of the peripheral wall in the circumferential direction 3b: The other end of the peripheral wall in the circumferential direction 7: Concave section (reduced section) 8: Thin section (reduced section) 10: Connection means 11: Adhesive tape 13: Connecting belt 14: Fastening means 17: Connecting piece 18: Fastening means 20: Raw plate 21a: One end of the raw plate in the width direction 21b: other end of the base plate in the width direction 23: spaced portion 30: Finger J2: PIP joint

Claims

1. A finger cot for treating tendonitis is used by covering a joint in a finger where tendonitis has occurred with a peripheral wall, The peripheral wall of the finger cot for treating tendonitis is made of elastomer and has a thickness of 3 to 7 mm.

2. At least one of a thin portion and a groove portion that opens to the inside of the peripheral wall and extends in the length direction of the peripheral wall is provided in a circumferential portion of the peripheral wall as a reduction portion that reduces pressure on a dorsal digital vein that runs through the joint portion, The finger cot for treating tendonitis according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral wall is placed over the joint portion with the reduced portion positioned behind the joint portion.

3. The recessed portion is provided as the reduced portion in a circumferential part of the peripheral wall, The peripheral wall is formed in a substantially C-shaped cross section, and a space between one end and the other end of the peripheral wall in the circumferential direction is the recessed rib portion, 3. The finger cot for treating tendonitis according to claim 2, further comprising a connecting means for connecting the one end and the other end of the peripheral wall placed over the joint portion in a state in which the one end and the other end are spaced apart.

4. 4. The finger cot for treating tendonitis according to claim 3, wherein the peripheral wall is formed by bending the elastomer base plate so that one end and the other end in the width direction are spaced apart to form a substantially C-shaped cross section.

5. the connecting means comprises an adhesive tape; 5. The finger cot for treating tendonitis according to claim 3, wherein the adhesive tape is adhered to the outer surface of the peripheral wall so as to connect the one end and the other end of the peripheral wall while keeping the one end and the other end spaced apart.

6. the connecting means comprises a connecting belt; the connecting belt is wound around the outer surface of the peripheral wall that covers the joint portion, 5. The finger cot for treating tendonitis according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the longitudinal ends of the connecting belt is provided with a fastening means for detachably fastening the one end of the connecting belt to the other end of the connecting belt when the connecting belt is wrapped around the outer surface of the peripheral wall covering the joint portion.

7. the connecting means includes a connecting piece extending from the one end side of the peripheral wall, 5. The finger cot for treating tendonitis according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the tip end side of the connecting piece and the other end side of the peripheral wall is provided with fastening means for detachably fastening the tip end side of the connecting piece to the other end side of the peripheral wall.

8. The finger cot for treating tendonitis according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the width of the reduced portion in the circumferential direction of the joint portion when the peripheral wall is placed over the joint portion is set in the range of 1 / 4 to 2 / 5 times the circumferential length of the joint portion.

9. The finger cot for tendonitis according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the peripheral wall has a length such that, when placed over a PIP joint as the joint where tendonitis has occurred, one end of the peripheral wall in the length direction is positioned between the DIP joint and the PIP joint, and the other end of the peripheral wall in the length direction is positioned between the PIP joint and the MP joint.

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