US1573296A - Adjustable splint - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 16,1926. 1,573,296

H. T. BRASELL ADJUSTABLE SPLINT Filed June-13, 192 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .5- TBraseZZ Feb. 16 1926.

v H. T. BRASELL ADJUSTABLE SPLINT Filed June 13, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 dummy Patented Feb. 16, 1926.

' time stares PATENT HUGH THOMASBEASELL, F FORT SUMNER, l lEVf MEXICO.

ADJUSTABLE similar.

I Application filed June 13, 1822. eria1 No. 567,985.

7 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hour-1T. Bnasnm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Sumner, in the county of De Baca and State 5 of New Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Splints, of which the following is a specification. r i This invention relates to improvements in surgical splints and more particularly to a splint designed for employment in comic"- tion with the lower limbs, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a splint by the use of which the inconvenience and disadvantages of confining the broken limb in a plaster of Paris cast are obviated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a splint which, while it will be adapted to properly sustain the broken or fractured limb in as el'licient a manner as though oncased in a cast, will pe mit of convenient access at all times to the injured member for the purpose of treatment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a splint so constructed as to cause mini mum inconvenience to the patient and much less discomfort than a plaster cast.

A further objectv of the invention is to 7 provide a splint which may be'adjusted and adapted to the broken or fractured limb in a manner to insure of propersetting of the bones and without the liability of any subsequent deformities.

w A still further object of the invention is to provide a splint which will be as effective as a plaster cast in sustaining the injured'limb in condition to insure of proper setting of the bones and which will yet be of such'construction as not to interfere with the patient moving about on crutches and otherwise assisting himself, which is not practical where a'cast is employed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is'a perspective view of the splint embodyingthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view therethrough;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

"Fig. 4: is aview partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section illustrating the foot rest of the appliance;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the supporting member for the foot rest.

Generally speaking, the splint. embodying the invention comprises a frame embodying nouns for securing it in proper position upon the injured limb and adjustable to meet the conditions, and a foot rest adjustably n'lounted within the frame and in the drawings the said frame imlicated in general by the numeral 1 and comprises an upper section and a lower section indicated in gen cm], respectively, by the numerals 2 and The upper section 2 of the frame comprises side members l wl 'ch n'et'crably extend parallel to each other and may be of rod niatcrial, and these members are connected at their upper ends by an arcuate y :lre portion 5 adapted to extend about the rear side of tl e limb in the applied position of the splint.

The numeral 6 indicates a limb encircling band which is preferably relatively broad and which may bemadc of loath r or any other material found suitable for the purpose, and this band is disposed within the upper edge portion of the frame, as best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing and has its upper rear marginal portion riveted or other wise secured, as at 7, to the yoke member 5. The band 6 is open at its front, as indicated by the numeral 8, so as to adapt it to be applied about the limb as, for example, at a point immediately below the knee, as shown in Fig. 1, and a lacing string 9 is suitably adjusted through eyelets 10 PIGVltlOtl at the opposite sides of the open front 8 of the band and may be drawn and tied so as to secure the band about the limb with a sulflicient degree of snugness and firmness to retain the appliance in proper position. Preferably a liap l1 oi clotlnleather, or any other flexible material suitable for the purpose, is secured to the inner side of the band at one side of the open front 8 and is adapted to be arranged about the forward sine of the limb and in a position extending across the open front 8. This flap serves to obviate any discomfort which might otherwise be caused the patient through the presence of the open front 8 and lacing string 9. it this point it will be evident that the yoke member 5 encircles the rear side of the band 6 and that the upper portions of the side members -1- of the frame section 6 extend downwardly at opposite sides of the said band and, when the band is applied to the limb. are, as a consequence, positioned at opposite sides of the lower portion of the limb.

The frame section 3 comprises side mem-' bers 12 and a cross bar 13 connecting the lower ends of said members. The side members 12 are of tubular form and telescopically receive therlower end portions of the side members a of the frame section 2. as best illustrated in Fig. 2, set screws 14 being threaded through bosses 15 formed at the upper ends of said members 12 and being adapted to be tightened so as to bind agains the members 4 and thus secure the two sections of the frame in positions of relative longitudinal adjustment. It will be evident by reference to Fig. 1, that the side members 12 of the frame section 3 likewise extend at opposite sides of the limb, and the cross bar 13 extends transversely beneath the foot, in the applied position of the splint.

The foot rest embodies in its structure a cross bar or head 16 provided in its ends with openings 17 receiving the side members 12 ofthe frame-section 3 and adapting the, said member to be adjusted vertically and the cross bar 16 will be correspondingly,

adjusted vertically within the frame. A short standard 22 projects upwardly from the upper side of the cross bar 16 preferably in alinement with the lower standard 18 and is provided with a spherical head or ball 23 which serves a purpose to be presently explained.

The foot rest further includes a foot plate 2 f provided upon its underside with a downwardly projecting short shank 25v constituting an extension from a vsocket 26, 1 the wall of which is split vertically, as at 27, to provide segments '28 adapted to fit snugly about the head 23 of thestandard 22. The shank 25 is gradually increased in diameter exteriorly. as it merges with the socket 26, and it is also exteriorly threaded,

as indicated by the numeral 29. A nut or. threaded collar 30 is fitted on to the threaded shank 25- and may be threaded down uponthe shank so as to close the segments 28about the head 23 with a greater or less degree of firmness. It will be understood at this point that the socket 26 will.

fit the head 2?; in a manner to aiforda substantially universal joint connection between the foot plate 24 and standard 22 upon the upper limbs.

plate 24. t

From the foregoing description of the invention it will be obvious that the splint constructed as described may be readily adapted to a brolrenor fractured limb and its several component parts suitably relatively adjusted to conform to the length of the limb and the desired angular disposition of the foot. It will also be seen that while the splint is designed to maintain the injured limb in the position which it is desirable it shall assume during the knitting process, it is not liable to cause any discomfort inasmuch as it is not cumbersome, does not encase the limb, and is so light in weight as not to impose any appreciable strain on the muscles.

It will be understood that while the splint in the form illustrated in the drawings designed more especially for application to a broken or fractured lower limb, the

principles'of the invention may be made use of in the production of a splint for use evident that considered in a general way, the splint embodies a frame, means associated therewith for attaching the same to a limb, and a rest within the frame for an articulated member of the limb and which member would be the foot ofthe lower limb or the hand of an upper limb.

It will also be Having thus described the invention,

what is claimed as new is:

A surgical splint comprising a frame member including side bars and a yoke connecting said bars atone end, a limbencircling band secured rigidly to-said yoke and disposed between said side bars, a second frame member including tubular side bars and a cross bar connecting said side U bars at one end, the side bars of the firstmentioned frame member being adjustably secured in the tubular side bars of the sec- HUGH THOMAS BR-ASELL.

Images