摘要 |
The inventive apparatus includes a bilateral housing (10) for receiving the patient's right or left hand (40) with two bottom capture regions (12, 14) f or capturing and retaining the thenar and hypothenar regions of the patient's hand. The housing also includes a top portion (16) with a pressure element (24) adapted and configured to contact at least a portion of the central longitudinal dorsal region of the patient's hand. The pressure element is connected to an active pressure source (26), such that when the hand is inserted into the housing, the pressure element may be activated to exert pressure on the respective central dorsal region of the hand while the hypothenar and thenar regions of the hand are disposed within and retained b y the first and second captures region, thus exertiing forces opposite to the pressure exerted by the pressure element. This forces the thenar and hypothenar regions apart, thus, advantageously transversely stretching the carpal ligament, the flexor retinaculum, superficial structures and muscles of the hand.
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