Orthopedic rigid splint-plate orthosis

Abstract

An orthopedic rigid splint-plate orthosis comprises a splint-plate which is provided in one of a combination of different shapes and sizes corresponding to different body members which may have to be treated. The splint-plate has at one of its edges a non-stretchable linking ribbon which at the end thereof opposite to the end joined to the plate includes locking means which are complementary with corresponding locking means provided in the edge of the plate opposite to that edge joined with the ribbon. The plate is provided presterilized and isolated inside an impervious bag which may be filled with boiling water to make the rigid splint-plate soft, whereafter the water is drained and the softened plate applied and moulded to the body member and then left to harden back to its rigid state. For use in an operating theatre, the bag with the plate may be closed inside a second bag and sterilized with gas or radiation; thereafter, the plate may be softened by submerging the sealed outside bag in hot water.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an orthopedic rigid bandage-plate orthosis or splint useful for medical applications, especially those applications in which some parts of the human body have to be secured against movement during a predetermined therapeutic treatment period. This includes treatment for foot deviations such as various foot, metatarsus aductus, overlapping toes, pes talus and bunions; sprained and fractured fingers and toes; sprained ankles; trigger finger; post-operative immobilization for neck, foot and hand surgery; genu valgum; torticollis; scoliosis; thoracic trauma; and provisional immobilization. Other uses may be those related to aesthetic and plastic surgery, and those in the veterinary field.

2. Description of prior art

Splints made of plastic-like materials are well-known in the art. One kind of splint is provided in rigid form and has to be moistened in water in order to be softened and wound around the human body member to be protected.

Another kind of rigid orthosis comprises a thermoplastic material plate provided in the form of a large sheet, from which each splint has to be cut in the proper shape according to the injured human body member. Once cut, the plastic rigid splint must be perforated and binding ribbons riveted thereto. It is then sufficiently heated in a skillet, pan or other adequate means to transform the thermoplastic FIG. 5 shows the invention having a second bag. orthosis/and bag 9 will preferably be aseptic in its interior.

When preparing the orthopedic rigid splint-plate orthosis 1 of the present invention for use, the physician, assistant or less skilled operator cuts the upper part of the bag 9 and pours the boiling water inside the bag 9. He then waits between one and two minutes to let the splint-plate 2 warm into a soft state. Once the splint-plate 2 is soft, the end 10 of the bag 9 is cut to function like a funnel allowing the discharge of the hot water. When practically all the water is discharged, the necessary part of the bag will be cut in order to permit removal of the splint-plate 2, which may then be placed directly over the skin of the patient in the region to be treated.

The necessary shape of the splint-plate, as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 3A and 4, is obtained by pressing with the fingers on the soft plate 2. Once the plate 2 is cooled, it reverts back to its original rigid state, where it will grip itself around the member of the patient and the strip 3 will perform an accessory fastening function. An adhesive strip may be used for the strip 3. The entire preparation and casting operation takes only a few minutes or so and requires no special instrumentation nor hardly any skill.

Another important feature of the present orthosis is that, during the therapeutic period or treatment, any necessary zone of the plate 2 may be reheated and remoulded on the body of the patient, in order to correct the position of the splint 2, as well as to relieve any excess pressure exerted in such zones.

The use of the present invention in an operating theatre differs somewhat, insofar that initially the sealed bag 9 is enclosed in a second (not illustrated) 9A shown in FIG. 5, which is sealed and sprayed with ethylene oxide gas. The molecular apertures of the plastic material used for the bags, e.g., nylon ar large enough for the gas molecules to pass through and too small for the microbes; hence, all contents of the bags are effectively sterilized until the bag is opened. Of course, other forms of gas or radiation may be employed. When needed, the pair of closed bags is submerged in hot water and, once the plate 2 has softened, the circulating nurse cuts open the outside bag and the scrub nurse then opens the inside bag 9. Into neither of the two bags is hot water poured.

Another feature of the rigid splint-plate 2 of the present invention is that the splint-plate 2 may be lined with a foam pad (not illustrated) 2B on an inner face thereof, which lined face is intended to be in contact with the skin of the patient. This pad surface is intended to avoid hurting the skin of the patient, as well as to make the rigid splint 2 more comfortable. This pad surface may be perforated and may comprise a thermoplastic material. Also, the plate may be gridded with holes 2A to facilitate skin breathing as well as saving material and providing a lighter splint.

Although the essential features of the invention have been brought out by means of a preferred embodiment, the invention is not limited to this embodiment and extends on the contrary to all alternative forms within the purview of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for immobilizing an injured body member comprising:

(a) opening the a bag in a combination comprising a splint-plate and the bag, with the splint plate inside a water the bag, the bag being liquid impervious, aseptically closed bag, mechanically resistant to the weight of the splint-plate and thermally resistant to temperatures at or below the boiling point of water, the splint-plate comprising a rigid thermoplastic plate pre-cut to conform to a specific body member and provided with fastening means attached thereon;

(b) pouring a liquid into the opened bag, the liquid being at a temperature at or below the boiling point of water and above the softening point of the thermoplastic splint plate;

(c) allowing the splint-plate to remain in the liquid until the splint-plate softens;

(d) removing the softened splint-plate from the bag;

(e) applying the softened splint-plate to a body member and molding it to fit the body member; and

(f) securing the splint-plate in place around the body member with the fastening means.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the softened splint-plate is removed from the bag by cutting the bottom of the bag to allow the liquid to drain from the bag.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the splint-plate is secured in place using at least one non-stretchable linking strip, one end of the strip being connected to the splint-plate and the other end of the strip being provided with a locking means which is engageable with a complementary locking means attached to the splint-plate.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of securing comprises securing the splint-plate in place around the body member with a fastening means attached to the splint-plate. 5. A combination for immobilizing an injured body member comprising an orthopedic splint-plate, a liquid-impervious, aseptically closed bag holding the splint-plate, the bag being mechanically resistant to the weight of the splint-plate and thermally resistant to temperatures at or below the boiling point of water, said bag being provided for receiving a hot liquid therein at or below the boiling point of water thereby to soften the splint-plate, the splint-plate comprising a rigid thermoplastic plate pre-cut to conform to a specific body member, the thermoplastic plate being deformable to conform to the body member after heating to a temperature at or below the boiling point of water, and becoming rigid on the body member upon subsequent cooling, said splint-plate further comprising a plurality of holes therethrough which permit the circulation of air from one face of the splint-plate to its other face. 6. The combination according to claim 5, further comprising fastening means attached to the thermoplastic plate for securing the plate to the body member. 7. The combination according to claim 5, wherein the bag has a V-shaped bottom part which can easily be cut to discharge the contents of the bag. 8. The combination according to claim 6, wherein the fastening means comprises at least one non-stretchable locking strip, one end of the strip being provided with a locking means which is engageable with a complementary locking means attached to the splint-plate. 9. The combination according to claim 5, wherein the splint-plate has a face intended to contact the body member

comprising padding. 10. A combination for immobilizing an injured body member comprising an orthopedic splint-plate, a liquid-impervious, aseptically closed first bag holding the splint-plate, the bag being mechanically resistant to the weight of the splint-plate and thermally resistant to temperatures at or below the boiling point of water, the splint-plate comprising a rigid thermoplastic plate pre-cut to conform to a body member and being deformable to conform to the body member after being heated in the bag to a temperature at or below the boiling point of water and becoming rigid on the body member upon subsequent cooling, and further comprising a second bag disposed about and sealing the first bag so that the second bag containing the first bag with the splint-plate may be submerged in a hot liquid to soften the splint-plate without contact of the hot liquid with said first bag and splint plate, said bags being permeable to sterilizing gas for sterilizing the splint-plate, but impermeable to the hot liquid and to microbes.

11. A combination for immobilizing an injured body member comprising an orthopedic splint-plate, a liquid-impervious, aseptically closed bag holding the splint-plate, the bag being mechanically resistant to the weight of the splint-plate and thermally resistant to temperatures at or below the boiling point of water, the splint-plate comprising a rigid thermoplastic plate pre-cut to conform to a body member, the thermoplastic plate being deformable to conform to the body member after being heated in the bag to a temperature at or below the boiling point of water and becoming rigid on the body member upon subsequent cooling, said bag being permeable to sterilizing gas for sterilizing the splint-plate, but impermeable to hot liquid and to microbes.