FR2740027A1 - Leg splint retaining articulation of knee - Google Patents

Abstract

The splint has two pieces of fabric (1,3) which are fixed removably to the centre of the thigh and to the calf by straps (2). Two lateral bent rods (7), made of rigid metal, are covered with a fabric cover and are fixed to the pieces of fabric. A back stiffening bar (4), curved to the same angle as the rods, is also fixed to the pieces of fabric. The end of each stiffening element is held in a sheath and they are fixed to the fabric pieces by complementary strips of hooked pile fasteners.

Description

KNEE JOINT SUPPORT BRACE
The invention relates to a compression splint for the knee joint.

 When the knee suffers from trauma, whether bone, cartilage or ligament, and especially during sprains, it is generally required to immobilize the joint, possibly after surgery. To this end, various techniques have been implemented to date.

 The first of these consists of plastering the joint, and more precisely the entire leg, the plaster extending from the top of the ankle to the top of the thigh. If from a purely mechanical point of view, this plastering technique fulfills its role, on the other hand it is accompanied by a certain number of drawbacks and in particular a certain discomfort for the patient. In addition, it is common to modify the configuration of the immobilization during treatment, which is not possible with a plaster, since, given its frozen nature, it is first necessary to unpaste and then restore place a new plaster. In recent times, plasters have been replaced by resins, making it easier to apply and reducing the weight of the compression system. However, with such resins, we encounter substantially the same disadvantages as those occasioned by the use of plaster.

 The second technique is to use compression splints. In known manner, a splint is made up of flexible elements which are fixed in a removable manner on the patient's leg. These splints also include rigid ribs, ensuring the maintenance of the joint according to a determined geometry and angulation. These whales are most often metallic and are inserted in sheaths provided for this purpose within said flexible elements.

 As the treatment progresses, it becomes very easy to change the splint depending on the desired therapy. However, it is therefore necessary to provide in each service several complete sets of splints, in particular according to the different sizes required and according to the desired configurations and angulations. In fact, the stocks and the corresponding costs are significantly increased.

 The object of the invention is to propose a splint for the knee joint, both modular and universal, that is to say capable of being used for all sizes, for all shapes and for all configurations. immobilization desired. This splint is aesthetic and can be hidden under pants, easy to store, and hygienic.

 This splint for the containment of the knee joint comprises at least two pieces of tissue or equivalent intended to be fixed removably at the thigh and at the calf of the knee joint considered, and at least one element of lateral stiffening, in particular a whale, reversibly fixed at the level of said pieces of fabric.

 It is characterized in that it further comprises an additional posterior whale, also reversibly fixed at the level of said pieces of tissue.

 In other words, the invention consists in conferring the modularity of the splint, in addition to the possible adjustment of the pieces of fabric coming to be fixed at the level of the thigh and the leg, also by the reversible fixing of the whales at the level pieces of fabric, the attachment zone of each of the stiffening elements, and in particular of the whales, being of sufficient size to precisely allow to have a sufficient length to cooperate effectively with the pieces of fabric fixed at the level of the leg so ensure the desired compression, regardless of the size of the leg and / or its thickness.

 Advantageously, the means of fixing the stiffening elements, and in particular of the whales, is carried out by means of a loop-hook system, well known under the registered trademark VELCRO.

 Furthermore, shorts and leggings, that is to say the fabric elements intended to be removably attached to the patient's thigh and calf, respectively, are provided with straps for fixing, being fixed on itself according to the same loop - hook system.

 The stiffening elements, namely the ribs, can be made of metal, in order to be radiopaque. Furthermore, they can in this case be provided with a means for adjusting their angulation, such as for example a screw or a clip. Whales can also be made of rigid plastic, giving them radiotransparency, which is sometimes sought after in the treatment of fractures, etc.

 According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the splint also has a comfort pad, intended to be positioned at the popliteal recess, this comfort pad being removable and held in place at said recess by means of the posterior rib , said pad possibly being filled with ice or a coolant.

 The manner in which the invention can be implemented and the advantages which ensue therefrom will emerge more clearly from the example of embodiment which follows, given by way of indication and without limitation in support of the appended figures.

 Figure 1 is a schematic exploded perspective representation of the invention in an angular configuration.

 Figure 2 is a schematic representation similar to Figure 1 of another configuration (straight) of the invention.

 Figures 3 and 4 are representations similar to Figures I and 2, the splints being shown mounted.

 Figures 5 and 6 are representations similar to Figures 3 and 4 in place at the leg of a patient.

 Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a lateral whale according to the invention.

 There are shown in Figures 1 and 2 two different configurations of the splint according to the invention.

 In Figure 1, the splint includes a shorts (1) and a leggings (3) made of flexible, permeable, comfortable, inextensible and washable fabric, and intended to come to surround respectively the thigh and the calf, these two elements being fixed removably on the leg by means of wide straps (2), coming to buckle in a sulk, the flap of the sulk coming to be fixed on said strap, for example by a hook-and-loop system of the type sold under the brand VELCRO.

 It is therefore understandable that these shorts and this leggings are adaptable to all sizes and all thicknesses of the thighs and calves by simple adjustment of the straps (2). Furthermore, these elements are easily washable, thus allowing numerous re-uses. However, in another application of the invention, a disposable product can be produced, then produced in a biodegradable fabric.

 This splint further comprises two lateral ribs (7) (FIGS. 3 and 7) shaped according to a determined angulation, said ribs being made of a ridge material such as in particular of metal. In this case, the metallic element is inserted into a fabric sheath (8), from which it can be easily extractable in order to allow the washing of said sheath.

 According to the invention, this sheath (8) is provided on its face intended to come into contact with the shorts (1) and the leggings (3), and respectively at its upper and lower portions, with a loop coating or hook (9, 10), intended to cooperate with the additional covering provided on the shorts (1) and the leggings (3), in order to allow its reversible positioning.

 Furthermore, in the central portion, between said upper and lower portions, that is to say at the level of the area intended to come to bear, if not support at least be in contact with the patient's knee, the latter is advantageously provided with a pad (11) covered for example with velvet, in order to increase the patient's comfort.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the splint comprises a posterior rib (4), for example bent in the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 corresponding substantially to the angulation imparted by the lateral ribs (7). Just like these lateral whales, the posterior whale is introduced into a sheath, also provided on its face intended to come into contact with the shorts (1) and the leggings (3), with a hook or loop coating, it is to say complementary to the coating of said shorts and said leggings, in order to allow its reversible positioning.

 The lateral (7) and posterior (4) ribs, as already mentioned, can be shaped according to a determined angulation or be rectilinear (Figures 2, 4 and 6). As part of an adjustable angulation, they are then made of metal and the variation of angulation can be carried out by any means, in particular screws, clips etc ...

 In another embodiment, these ribs (4, 7) can be made of a radio-transparent material and in particular of rigid plastic. In this case, said ribs are not adjustable in angle.

 According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the posterior whale (4) can receive, at its level of cooperation with the popliteal fossa, a pad (6), fixed on said whale (4) in (5) also by a loop - hook system. This cushion advantageously includes a cooling type gel pack, contained in a washable cover, and directing the cold so as to avoid the dispersion of frigories towards areas not concerned.

 Given the relatively large lengths of possible cooperation between the upper and lower zones of the lateral whales (7) and the posterior whale (4) and the shorts (1) and the leggings (3), we can imagine the great modularity of this splint.

 Indeed, there is, whatever the size of the patient, always a minimum length of cooperation respectively of the upper area of the whales with the shorts (1) and the lower area of said whales with the leggings (3) and this, so to ensure the primary function of the splint, namely compression. In this way, one obtains by means of a single splint a universality allowing on the one hand, to reduce significantly the costs of storage and on the other hand, to increase the comfort of use of the patient since, these splints are perfectly adaptable in length and thickness.

 In parallel, by the use of relatively thin fabrics, it is possible to put these splints under pants and to give the whole a certain aestheticism that the splints known to date did not allow to obtain. This thin fabric is advantageously permeable, inextensible, washable and compatible with the loop-hook system.

 We can therefore see the whole point of such a splint, especially in hospitals but also in non-hospitals.

Claims (10)

 1 / Splint for the containment of the knee joint comprising at least two pieces of tissue or equivalent (1, 3), intended to be fixed removably at the thigh and at the calf of the knee joint considered , and at least one lateral stiffening element (7), reversibly fixable at the level of said pieces of fabric, characterized in that it further comprises an additional posterior stiffening element (4), also reversibly fixable at the level said pieces of fabric (1, 3).  2 / splint according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the stiffening elements (4, 7) is provided at each of its ends with a zone of cooperation with the pieces of fabric (1, 3 ) for fitting the splint at the joint in question, said zones being of sufficient length to result in effective cooperation of said stiffening elements (4, 7) with the pieces of fabric (1, 3) so ensure the desired compression, regardless of the size of the leg and / or its thickness.  3 / Splint according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the reversible fixing of the stiffening elements, and in particular of whalebone (4, 7) on the pieces of fabric (1, 3) of fitting the splint at the joint in question, is carried out by means of a loop-hook system, well known under the registered trademark VELCRO.  4 / Splint according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pieces of fabric (1, 3) for positioning the splint at the joint in question are provided with straps ( 2) to ensure their attachment to the patient's leg, said straps buckling on themselves and being maintained according to the desired tightening by means of a loop-hook system.  5 / Splint according to one of claims 1 to 4, c a r c t é r i s é e in that the stiffening elements (4, 7) are made of metal.  6 / A splint according to claim 5, it is in that the stiffening elements (4, 7) are provided with means for adjusting their angulation, such as a screw or a clip.  7 / Splint according to one of claims 1 to 4, c a r c t é r i s é e in that the stiffening elements (4, 7) are made of rigid plastic, giving them radio-transparency.  8 / splint according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it further comprises a comfort pad (6), intended to be positioned at the popliteal recess, this comfort pad being removable and held in place at said hollow by means of the rear stiffening element (4).  9 / Splint according to claim 8, it is in that said comfort cushion (6) is held at the level of the rear stiffening element (4) by a system of hooks - hooks.  10 / Splint according to one of claims 8 and 9, c a r c t é r i s é in that the comfort pad (6) comprises a refrigerant pack integrated in a waterproof cover.