Patent ID: 6712780
Filing Date: 2004-03-30
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A method of therapeutically immobilizing a knee, comprising the steps of:(a) providing a knee splint, comprising: (i) an elongate substrate; (ii) a reactive system impregnated into or coated onto said substrate, the system remaining stable when maintained in substantially moisture-free conditions and hardening upon exposure to moisture to form a rigid, self supporting structure; and (iii) a flexible outer cover positioned over and enclosing the substrate, the substrate and outer cover forming a unitary structure for being molded while flexible to an aspect of the knee; (b) providing a bandage for being positioned on and held in a closely-conforming configuration around the knee; and (c) providing a splint support cooperating with said splint and said bandage for maintaining the splint on the bandage in a closely conforming position against the knee and substantially immobilizing the knee in a predetermined position; (d) placing the bandage in a closely-conforming configuration around the knee; (e) wetting the splint; (f) placing the splint into engagement with the bandage by cooperation with said splint support against the knee and thereby substantially immobilizing the knee in a predetermined recovery position; and (g) maintaining the bandage and engaged splint in the closely-conforming configuration for a period of time sufficient to allow the reactive system to harden the splint.