FR2530946A3 - ORTHOPEDIC BRACE - Google Patents

Abstract

THIS STRING IS CONSISTING OF A FLEXIBLE AND WATERPROOF ENCLOSURE 3, PARTIALLY FILLED WITH MULTIPLE ELEMENTS 4 OF MATERIAL HAVING PROPERTIES OF ELASTICITY, DEFORMABILITY AND PERMEABILITY WITH X-RAYS AND PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE END CAP 5, CAPABLE OF THE SLEEVE BEARFUL. , AS WELL AS THE CONNECTION OF THE ENCLOSURE TO A SOURCE OF VACUUM, THE SAME FLEXIBLE AND WATERPROOF ENCLOSURE 3 IS DIVIDED INTO COMPARTMENTS 8 COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THEM ON DIFFERENT LEVELS, WHILE REMAINING WATERPROOF WITH RESPECT TO THE OUTSIDE, AND SAID END TIP 5 EQUIPPED WITH A FILTER 11.

Description

 The present invention relates to an orthopedic splint.

 Orthopedic splints, whether intended for human or veterinary medicine applications, must meet several imperatives such as easy installation without risk of worsening possible injuries to the traumatized limb, and maintenance of said limb on rigid position, sapas no trauma.

 There are also known systems for protecting the human body during transport, commonly known as "shell mattresses" or stretchers mattresses. These are systems made up of a flexible and waterproof envelope filled with multiple elements such as that plastic balls and which, while having good malleability in the absence of depression, is capable of being transformed, by creation and then maintenance of the vacuum in a compact block immobilizing the patient's body perfectly.

 Mattresses of this type are described in particular in French patents No. 2265347 and 2271805.

 It should however be noted that systems of this type have hitherto only been applied to the production of mattresses, stretchers or seats in which it was a question of immobilizing a significant part, if not the whole of the human body.

 The inventor had the idea of using devices of this type for the production of splints satisfying the requirements mentioned above and having, moreover, because of the relatively low cost price of their manufacture, a very interesting particular.

 Thus, the invention relates to a new application of the systems constituted by a flexible and impermeable envelope, partially filled with multiple elements of material having properties of elasticity, deformability and permeability to X-rays, and provided with '' at least one end piece allowing the loading of said elements as well as the connection of the envelope to a source of vacuum, to the production of orthopedic splints capable of surrounding the member, or part of the member, to be kept in a rigid position and whose the originality consists in that said flexible and impermeable envelope is divided into compartments, communicating with each other at different levels, while remaining watertight with respect to the outside and that said nozzle is equipped with a filter.

The present invention will be better understood moreover, and its advantages will emerge clearly from the following description of one of its embodiments, with reference to the appended schematic drawing in which
Figure i is a flat view of part of a fastener according to the invention
Figure 2 is a section on 2-2 of Figure i, and
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a splint in the use position.

 In the figures, (2) generally designates the splint according to the invention essentially consisting of a flexible envelope (3) filled with multiple plastic elements (4) and an end piece (5).

The flexible envelope (3) consists, in a manner known per se, of two flexible sheets of polyvinyl chloride 16), (7); these two excavations are assembled on their periphery by welding, with the exception of a narrow passage, intended, on the one hand to introduce into the envelope (3) the elements on plastic material (4), and on the other hand To receive a valve (5), fitted with a filter and capable of being connected to a vacuum source (not shown). These plastic elements are chosen from granules of material having good elasticity properties, deformability and permeability to X-rays. The granules on polystyrene seem to be the most suitable for this use. , divided into multiple compartments (8) by lines of
solder or any other means; however, it is planned,
in each separation line, intervals (9) by
which connect the different compartments together. The intervals (9) are arranged irregularly
they allow, on the one hand to ensure the filling by
tiel of the compartments (8) with the polystyre granules (4), without these granules accumulating in a pre
in one or more of the compartments
on the other hand, they provide uniform depression in
the different compartments when the splint is submitted
to the action of the vacuum, as specified below; their dimen
donations and their distribution finally make it possible to predetermine the general shape of the splint.

An embodiment of the splint according to the invention,
more specifically intended for immobilization of the arm
and the forearm, the elbow being bent, is shown
In Figure 3; for the convenience of member A
supporter is not represented in the splint in position
of use.

We can see in this figure that the different
compartments (8) have been provided to adapt to the elm
bent arm; in addition to the compartments (8), the splint (2) has, on its edges (10), a flat part allowing
to join these edges by any known fixing means
self: lace, strap, self-adhesive strip, hook and loop system of the type sold under the brand
Velcro, etc ...

Once the splint (2) is in place around the mem-
bre traumatized, and the fixing of the edges (io) assured, it
just connect the valve of the nozzle (5) fitted with the filter
(11) Has a vacuum source to create a vacuum a
the interior of all the compartments (8); the granules
(4) are then compressed against each other, which leads to a stiffening of the envelope (3) around the traumatized limb which is then perfectly maintained in the desired position, without any harmful compression.

 Due to the very nature of its X-ray permeable constituents, it is possible to x-ray the patient without removing the splint.

 However, it is not placed permanently and can be easily removed and then replaced then for local care operations or cleanliness care it will suffice, in fact, to break the vacuum established in the different compartments, and this by simple opening of the nozzle (5), the reverse operation of re-reading under vacuum and further stiffening being possible once the treatments have been carried out.

 Co it goes without saying, and as appears from the above, the invention is not limited to the single embodiment described above by way of non-limiting example; on the contrary, it embraces all the variants contributing to the same result, whatever in particular the nature and thickness of the sheets (6), (7) constituting the envelope (3), the nature and the dimensions of the plastic elements of filling (4), the relative dimensions of the compartments (8) and the general shape gives to the splint (2)

Claims (1)

 CLAIM  Orthopedic splint, characterized in that it consists of a flexible and impermeable envelope (3), partially filled with multiple elements (4) of material having properties of elasticity, deformability and permeability to X-rays and provided with at least one end piece (5), allowing the change of said elements, as well as the connection of the envelope to a vacuum source, said flexible and impermeable envelope (3) being divided into compartments (8), communicating with each other at different levels , while remaining watertight with respect to the outside, and said endpiece (5) being equipped with a filter (11).