Surgery: splint – brace – or bandage – Orthopedic bandage – Splint or brace
Patent
1992-07-09
1995-03-21
Apley, Richard J.
Surgery: splint, brace, or bandage
Orthopedic bandage
Splint or brace
602 13, 602 6, 602 27, A61E 500
Patent
active
053991524
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an apparatus for the surroundive fixation of extremities and regions of extremities, in particular for the treatment of fractures of extremities in the region of the lower leg, thigh, lower arm and upper arm.
For the treatment of fractures of extremities, plaster casts or their modern variants in the form of plastic casts are usually applied. The application of such casts however not only requires considerable aptitude and corresponding time and effort for the personnel but also frequently leads to edges of projections of the inner side of the plaster or plastic cast giving rise to pressure points which are extremely disturbing for the patient. After the setting of the respective fracture the patient is exposed to the follow-up winding on of the bandages and waiting until the plaster has set. Finally, it is as a rule necessary, with known plaster or plastic casts, to change this plaster or plastic cast when, during the course of treating the fracture, the swelling of the relevant limb goes down. This is also a complicated process which is again unpleasant for the patient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to develop an apparatus of the initially named kind in such a way that the indicated disadvantages of plaster and plastic casts can be avoided, so that treating fractures in extremities is possible which can be rapidly effected and does not lead to any form of pressure points, the fixation being effective practically without delay and capable of being simply released and immediately reapplied.
This object is satisfied in accordance with the invention in that at least two shell parts are provided which can be mutually clamped together and which surround the extremity to be surrounded, and in that deformable evacuatable cushions which are made vacuum-tight and provided with at least one valve and in which there are located a plurality of filling bodies which are movable relative to one another, in particular small grained filling bodies, are provided between the shell parts and the extremity.
Through the evacuation which can be carried out within a short time the cushions, which are applied closely and in a fitted manner to the section of the limb to be treated, become hard and of stable form in the shape provided during the application procedure. Thus a very firm sleeve which is modelled well to the respective extremity arises in conjunction with the hard shell parts and cannot generate any pressure points in the region of the skin, since during hardening of this structure no radially inwardly directed pressure arises and since no edges or projections can also be formed at the inner side.
The closure members which are provided at the longitudinal edge regions of the foot part and of the shaft part which can consist of strip-like closure parts, but which preferably consist of latching devices with latch elements which can be plugged into one another, in accordance with claim 3, serve in a very simple and rapid manner for the light contact pressure necessary prior to evacuation of the cushions against the surrounded body part. In this manner a sleeve of absolutely correct fitted shape can be generated and can first be determined via the closure member. After evacuation a sleeve is then present which is solidified in itself and stabilised in its shape.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be explained in more detail by way of an embodiment and with reference to the drawing in which are shown:
FIG. 1 a side view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention,
FIG. 2 a plan view on an apparatus in accordance with the invention,
FIG. 3 a vertical section through the apparatus in accordance with the invention,
FIG. 4 a section taken from FIG. 3,
FIG. 5 a horizontal section through the apparatus in accordance with the invention along the line V in FIG. 3,
FIG. 6 a horizontal section through a further apparatus in accordance with the invention similar to FIG. 5,
FIG. 7 a partly sectioned side view of an apparatus
REFERENCES:
patent: 3164152 (1965-01-01), Nicoll
patent: 3701349 (1972-10-01), Larson
patent: 3745998 (1973-07-01), Rose
patent: 3762405 (1973-10-01), DeGeorge
patent: 4505269 (1985-03-01), Davies et al.
patent: 4572169 (1986-02-01), Mauldin et al.
patent: 4657003 (1987-04-01), Wirtz
patent: 4862879 (1989-09-01), Coombs
patent: 4934355 (1990-06-01), Porcelli
patent: 4974583 (1990-12-01), Freitas
patent: 5022390 (1991-06-01), Whiteside
patent: 5070868 (1991-12-01), Hepburn et al.
patent: 5078128 (1992-01-01), Grum et al.
patent: 5092321 (1992-03-01), Spadeuas
patent: 5176623 (1993-01-01), Stetman et al.
Habermeyer Peter
Hassler Andreas
Lederer Stefan
Apley Richard J.
Dvorak Linda M.
LandOfFree
Apparatus for treating fractures in extremities does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus for treating fractures in extremities, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus for treating fractures in extremities will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1146054