Abstract:
An inexpensive and easy to use orthopedic splint made from a plurality of plastic ribs held together on a fabric sheath. The plurality of ribs is affixed to the sheath by adhesive or similar means at equal intervals across one surface of the sheath. The sheath can be designed to fit about a particular body section or it can be a generic rectangular unit. The ribs may be designed with perforations or other such similar weak areas so that the length of the splint may be shortened by breaking off and removing ends of the rib. Alternatively, the ribs may already have partitions so that breaking or cutting the ribs is not required. The ribs have apertures through which a cable tie or similar fastener is passed in order to secure the splint snugly to the injured appendage.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to orthopedic medical products. More particularly, this invention relates to a versatile flexible splint system for immobilizing injured limbs and other body parts in order to facilitate healing. 
     Bone fractures, dislocations and connective tissue strains and tears are serious medical conditions that require immediate medical attention in order to prevent complications and unnecessary pain. Medical treatment for these injuries commonly includes immobilizing the damaged limb with a splint to promote healing of the bones in the proper orientation. 
     There are numerous types of splints that may be used to immobilize the injured limb. Traditional splints are composed of support boards secured against the injured body part with wrapped cloth. These splints are simple to use, but they provide only nominal support for the damaged limb. Formed plastic splints are designed to hold a limb in the proper splinted position. These splints provide better support than traditional splints, but it can be difficult to find a size that fits an individual properly. An improper fit can result in complications, such as failure to provide proper immobilization of the injured limb if the splint is too large, or restricted circulation to the damaged area if the splint is too small. Water-hardened or plaster splints are used extensively as long-term splinting materials in hospitals and physicians offices. These materials provide excellent support and are moldable to conform precisely to individual limb dimensions. However, if the splint is being applied outside a traditional medical facility, such as when splints are applied in the field by military medical personnel or by rescue workers, the lack of clean water for the preparation of plaster splints can be a problem. Further, the exothermic reaction associated with the hardening process can be uncomfortable against the patient&#39;s skin, and the resulting cast is bulky, heavy, and rigid. If post-injury swelling occurs, the cast must be cut off and a new one applied. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a versatile flexible splint system for immobilizing injured limbs in order to facilitate healing. The splint system comprises a fabric sheath having a plurality of plastic ribs running longitudinally along the sheath. Adjustable plastic fasteners can be passed through apertures in the ribs to secure the sheath to the damaged limb. The ribs provide the support necessary to immobilize the limb. 
     Optionally, perforations or weak sections may be included in the ribs to permit them to be broken and removed from the fabric sheath. Alternatively, the ribs may be individual segments with short gaps in between each segment. This alleviates the need to break or cut the ribs. The sheath can then be shortened as needed to accommodate a variety of limb lengths. 
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a splint system made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the ribbed sheath shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the ribs used on the ribbed sheath shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of one of the ribs used on the ribbed sheath shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of one of the ribs used on the ribbed sheath shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom view of one of the ribs used on the ribbed sheath shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is the splint system of FIG. 1 shown positioned about a person&#39;s arm; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of one of the ribs used on the ribbed sheath shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 9 is a top view of another embodiment of the ribbed sheath; 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of an embodiment of one of the mated members of the locking hinge; 
     FIG. 11 is a side view of an embodiment of the assembled locking hinge and, 
     FIG. 12 is a splint system of FIG. 7 shown positioned about a person&#39;s arm having a locking hinge connected thereto. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention relates to a versatile flexible splint system for immobilizing injured limbs in order to facilitate healing. The splint system includes a soft, lightweight, compact splint that can be quickly applied about a patient&#39;s limb, does not require clean water for preparation, and can be sized to accommodate limbs of different lengths and circumferences. A plurality of sizeable ties secure the splint around the patient&#39;s limb. The ties can be easily removed and replaced allowing the splint to be adjusted to compensate for swelling of a portion of the injured extremity without the need for removing the entire splint. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-11, the splint system  10  of the present invention comprises a splint  20  having a fabric sheath  22  with a plurality of plastic ribs  30  running longitudinally along the sheath  20 . A plurality of adjustable plastic fasteners  40  can be used to secure the splint  20  to the damaged limb  90 . Optionally, as shown in FIG. 7, one or more stays  50  may be used to retain the muscles associated with the damaged limb  90  at the desired angle to ensure proper healing of the limb  90  without causing permanent damage to the mobility of the limb  90 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-6, the splint  20  comprises the fabric sheath  22  and the ribs  30 . The sheath  22  can be made from any woven or non-woven material which can be wrapped about the damaged limb  90  and can be cut to size. Because the sheath  22  is intended to make direct contact with a patient&#39;s skin, it is recommended that the sheath  22  be made from a soft, breathable material such as linen, lightweight cotton, gauze, lightweight poly/cotton, or a similar material that will be comfortable and non-irritating against the patient&#39;s skin. Optionally, the sheath  22  may include markings, such as length designations or rib positioning templates. 
     The ribs  30  include a plurality of fins  32  secured to an essentially flat backbone  34 . In one embodiment shown, and particularly as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ribs  30  are essentially evenly spaced along the fabric sheath  22 , with about ½″ of fabric being exposed between any two neighboring backbones  34 . Alternatively, the ribs  30  may be irregularly spaced or may have a greater or lesser amount of fabric sheath  22  between the backbones  34  as desired by the user. 
     In one embodiment shown, the fins  32  run along the entire length of the backbone  34 . Each fin  32  includes a pair of apertures  36 ,  38 . As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first aperture  36  is positioned essentially adjacent to the backbone  34 , and in the embodiment shown, is rectangular in shape. The first aperture  36  is intended to receive the fastener  40  to secure the splint  20  to the damaged limb  90 . Thus, the shape of the aperture  36  may vary as necessary to accommodate the selected fastener  40 . The second aperture  38  is positioned near an end  39  of the fin  32 , and in the embodiment shown, is essentially round in shape. The second aperture  38  is intended to receive the stay  50 , and the shape of the aperture  38  may vary as necessary to accommodate the selected stay  50 . As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the backbone  34  of the rib  30  optionally includes lines of perforation  35 . The perforations  35  allow the user to break the rib  30  to the desired length and then to trim the sheath  22  to provide the best fit about the damaged limb  90 . Alternatively, the ribs can comprise short rib units  37  aligned in parallel rows with narrow breaches  70  between each segment as shown in FIG.  8 . The breaches  70  are narrow enough that the ribs still provide stability and support to the injured body part, but wide enough to permit a cutting device to shear the fabric sheath  22  at the breach  70 . This arrangement alleviates the need to break or cut the ribs in order to shorten and fit the splint properly to the patient. 
     In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the fins  32  run the length of the backbone, however there are gaps  31  between some of the fins  32 . The gaps  31  may be positioned with one or more fins  32  between each gap  31  as may be required. Each fin  32  has one aperture  38 , rather than two. The gap  31  is intended to receive the fastener  40 , rather than a second aperture. The gaps  31  may also have one or more ridges  33  that extend upward from the backbone  34 . The ridges  33  serve two functions. First, they disperse the downward force of the fastener  40  on the rib  30  across a broader surface. Second, the ridges  33  raise the fastener  40  slightly above the surface of the splint  20 , permitting a user to more easily slip a finger or instrument between the splint  20  and fastener  40  as needed to adjust or quickly cut the fastener  40 . 
     The ribs  30  may also be supplied to the user separate from the sheath  22 . The ribs  30  may have a pre-applied adhesive on the side of the backbone that would face the sheath  22 , or a separate adhesive may be supplied to the user. The user could then position the ribs  30  on the sheath  22  to best accommodate the damaged limb  90 . Alternatively, the user may position the ribs  30  along the pre-printed markings or templates on the sheath  22 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the splint system  10  of the present invention also includes one or more adjustable plastic fasteners  40  which can be used to secure the splint  20  to the damaged limb  90 . The fasteners  40  include a semi-rigid plastic strip  42  with a retention device  44 . The plastic strip  42  is passed through the first apertures  36  of neighboring ribs  30 . The strip  42  is then passed through the retention device  44  of the respective fastener  40  and tightened by the desired amount. The retention device  44  grabs or catches the strip  42  preventing the strip  42  from loosening, similar to the action of a common cable tie. 
     Optionally, as shown in FIG. 7, the splint system of the present invention may include one or more stays  50  to retain the muscles associated with the damaged limb  90  at the desired angle to ensure proper healing of the limb  90  without causing permanent damage to the mobility of the limb  90 . The stays  50  may have a variety of designs as desired by the user. For example, the stay  50  may be a relatively short plastic strip with locking means, such as nubs or buttons attached to either end of the strip. The nubs should be sized to fit through and matingly engage the second aperture  38  of the fins  32 . Alternatively, the stay  50  may be a plastic fastener  40  with the strip  42  threaded through the second apertures  38  of the fins and then held by the retention device  44 . 
     Alone or in combination with the stays  50 , the splint system of the present invention may incorporate a locking hinge  60  at a joint to further provide stability and rigidity for stabilizing a limb in a particular position. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the embodiment of the locking hinge  60  may comprise a two part hinge system, each of the first and second mated members (FIG. 10) comprising a central body  62  having a generally circular design. At the center of the central body  62  is a central opening  64  sized to accept a fastening means, such as a screw or rivet that permits rotatable connection of the two halves of the locking hinge  60 . Radiating outward from the central opening is a plurality of radial ridges  66 . The radial ridges  66  lockingly engage complementary radiating ridges  66  on the other half of the locking hinge  60 . Extending from the central body  62  is a fastening arm  68  having a plurality of interlinked openings  69  for securing the locking hinge  60  with a fastening means such as a screw or rivet to an aperture  38  on a fin  32 , as shown in FIG.  12 . FIG. 11 shows the assembled locking hinge  60 . 
     In use, the limb is positioned as desired with the splint in place and each half of the locking hinge  60  positioned so that the radial ridges  66  lockingly engage and secure the fastening arms  68  at the angle desired to secure the limb properly. The locking hinge  60  is affixed to the splint  20  using a fastening means securing the fastening arm  68  to a fin  32 . Another fastening means through the central opening  64  locks the two halves of the locking hinge  60  at the desired angle. The locking hinge  60  can be constructed so that only one size and type of fastening means is required to lock the two halves of the locking hinge  60  together and attach the fastening arms  68  to the splint  20 . 
     The splint system  10  of the present invention is ideally suited for use in field situations where time is of the essence and materials and expertise are limited. The splint system  10  is easy to use, is lightweight and compact for transporting, does not require water for setting the materials, and can easily be sized and re-adjusted to accommodate post-injury swelling. For example, if the damaged limb  90  swells at a particular section, one or more fasteners  40  in the swollen region may be cut away and replaced with new fasteners  40  without the need to remove the entire splint  20 . 
     From a reading of the above, one with ordinary skill in the art should be able to devise variations to the inventive features. For example, a variety of fasteners may be used to secure the splint to the damaged limb, and the apertures may vary in shape to better accommodate the selected fastener. Further, a plurality of splints, sheaths, ribs or a combination thereof, may be used interchangeably to best stabilize the damaged limb. These and other variations are believed to fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.