US1884927A - Surgical appliance - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 25, 1932.

M. VAN RAALTE SURGICAL APPLIANCE Filed April 25. 1950 IAN/EN TOR Mar/70 Van Faa/fif AZTTQFNE Patented Oct. 25, 1932 res . UNITED I MARTIN VAN RAALTE, OF LOUIS, MISSOURI SURGICAL APPLIANCE Application filed April 23,

This invention relates generally to surgical appliances and more particularly to inflatable padding for use with splints.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide an inflatable padding for use in conjunction with splints whereby pressure can be applied to the fractured bone to hol the fragment in proper position. e

Other objects of the invention are to provide means whereby the fluid pressure in said inflatable padding can be regulated as desired without disturbing the splint.

Still other objects of the invention are to provide a rubber bag adapted to be used as inflatable padding in conjunction with the splint and having a tubular extension adapted to extend exteriorly of such splint whereby the air pressure in said bag can be regulated to suit the conditions of the case, the

outer end of said tubular extension being fitted with a suitable valve or adapted to be clamped so as to close said opening and seal said bag.

Vi ith these and other objects in View, my

invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a detail cross section through a bandage showing the application of the inflatable padding.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of one form of my inflatable padding.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail cross section taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail cross sect-ion taken on line 1-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail view showing another mode of closing the tubular extension.

Heretofore in obtaining immobilization of the injured part, the general practice has been to use ordinary padding in conjunction with the splint or plaster cast. This requires close bandaging in order to obtain the necessary pressure to hold the fractured bone in proper position. Nhere considerable swelling takes place, this bandage has to be readjusted or the plaster cast out in order to relieve the pressure. On the other hand, where the in- 1930. Serial No. 446,426.

jured part is bandaged while in swollen condition, the fractured part is not firmly held in place when the swelling is reduced. Thus frequent readjustment of the splint or the plaster cast is required.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide an inflatable padding by means. of which pressure can be applied to the frag. ment to hold it in proper place and by means of which said pressure can be increased or reduced as desired.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing, 10 indicates asplint, and 11 the inner bandage by means of which the injured member is held immobilized. The inflatable padding 14 is arranged between bandage 11 and splint 10.

This inflatable member in the present instance is in the form of a rubber bag havingv a tubular extension 15 by means of which fluid under pressure, preferably air, can be admitted into said bag This extension 15 is of suflicient length to extend eXterio-rly of the bandageso that the fluid can be admitted into or released from said bag without disturbing the splint. To close this tubular extension and seal said bag, a suitable check valve 16,such as shown in Figure 4. can be used or the end of said tube can be clamped or tied as shown in Figure 5. Where the bag is of rectangular shape, as in the present instance, said tubular extensionis preferably located near one corner thereof as shown in Figure2.

When air under pressure is admitted into the bag the side walls thereof are caused to expand. As the outer wall 15 of the bag is held immovable by splint 10, thepressure is directed against the inner wall 15 and through it inwardlyv against the fractured part. The pressure thus applied causes the fragment to be brought into proper position.

The degree of inflation of member l Land the degree of pressure applied to the fragment can be varied as required through the medium of extension 15 which terminatesex teriorly of the splint and provides ready communication with said inflatable member at all times. Thus the pressure against the fragment can be increased or reduced as desired without disturbing the splint.

The fracture can be observed by means of fluoroscope and the position of the fragment noted to see whether or not it is properly located.

Inflatable member 14 can be made in various sizes for use on different parts of the body. While a bag of rectangular form is herein shown, it can be made of any other shape desired. The tubular extension 15 can be located at any point on member 14; thus, for instance, in some cases it may be advis able to have said extension leading from the central portion of wall 15 instead of the corner of said member 14.

While I have shown in the present instance one member 14, two or more members 14 may be used in some cases when it is desired to apply counter pressure.

The term splint as herein used refers to any appliance used to hold, or protect an injured part, such as plaster cast or other immobilization member.

As the inflatable member 14 is intended to take the place of padding now used, no changes are required in the construction or arrangement of splints.

My inflatable padding is inexpensive and can be readily applied and permits the regulation of pressure without disturbing the splint.

While I have shown and described herein the preferred form of my inflatable padding, it is obvious that various changes and modifications in the embodiment of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim: a

1. In an immobilization bandage for bone fractures, the combination of an inflatable pad placed against one side only of the fractured member, an immobile dressing completely enclosing said pad, and means for inflating said pad whereby pressure is applied against the displaced fractured part.

2. In an immobilization bandage for bone fractures, the combination of an inflatable pad placed to one side only of the fractured member adjacent to the displaced fractured bone, an immobile dressing completely enclosing said pad, and means communicating with' said pad and projecting outwardly through said immobile dressing for inflating said pad and applying fluid pressure therethrough to the displaced fractured bone.

3. In an immobilization bandage for bone fractures, the combination of an inflatable pad substantially rectangular in shape placed to one side only of the fractured member and adjacent to the displaced fractured bone, an immobile dressing completely enclosing said pad, a. tubular extension formed integral with said pad and extending outwardly through said dressing whereby fluid under pressure

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