SPLINT DEVICE

Abstract: This invention concerns a splint for a limb bone fracture, especially a paediatric femoral fracture. The splint comprises a frame adapted to receive a selectively inflatable member at or near one end thereof, which permits the rotation of pressure points without moving or loosening the splint.

Description: SPLINT DEVICE This invention relates to a medical device. In particular, it relates to a splint for bone fractures or the like, especially femoral fractures. In paediatric femoral fractures, the splint conventionally used in the repair procedure is the Thomas splint . The Thomas splint comprises a substantially U-shaped metal frame supporting a metal ring which in use is positioned in the perineal area. Although the metal ring is covered with a cushioning material, it tends to apply considerable pressure to essentially the same areas of the skin in the perineal and buttock area. Because the splint must be worn for a lengthy period, usually about seven weeks, the metal ring often prevents adequate circulation of blood in the affected areas, leading to discomfort, pain and eventually pressure sores. It can also exacerbate constipation and cause urinary retention and damage to the urethra and sciatic nerve. It is an object of the invention to avoid or minimise the disadvantages of the prior art. According to the present invention there is provided a splint, in particular for a limb bone fracture, comprising a frame adapted to receive an inflatable member, the frame having a first end and a second end, said ends being positioned in use on opposing sides of the bone fracture and the inflatable member being disposed in use at or near one of said ends. The inflatable member preferably comprises at least two compartments which can be inflated via an inflation means to a predetermined level so that a pressure differential between compartments may be obtained. The inflatable member preferably has at least five compartments, more preferably from eight to nineteen compartments, most preferably nine compartments. The inflatable member is preferably tubular and can be inflated by the injection of a fluid, preferably a gas, most preferably air. The inflation means preferably comprises a valve means, preferably two valves disposed at a suitable location on the inflatable member, for example, on an end compartment of the inflatable member, each valve having a conduit extending therefrom in the direction of the remaining compartments and being in fluid communication with selected compartments, preferably every alternate compartment. Alternatively, a valve could be disposed on each of two adjacent central compartments with the conduits extending bidirectionally therefrom. In such constructions, every alternate compartment may be inflated via one of the valves while the remaining compartments are partially or completely deflated and vice versa . The conduits may be disposed outside or inside the inflatable member, or within a wall of the inflatable member. The first end of the frame of the splint preferably comprises a base from which a pair of spaced-apart legs extend towards the second end of the frame. One leg is preferably shorter than the other leg and one or both legs may be branched at the second end so that the or each leg is substantially V-shaped at the second end of the frame. If one leg only is branched, it is preferably the shorter leg. The splint of the invention preferably comprises a retaining means for the inflatable member. The retaining means preferably comprises a channel having a base and a side wall, the channel being substantially C-shaped in plan and arcuate in cross-section. The frame and channel may be formed from any suitable material, such as metal, e.g., stainless steel, or a plastics material, e.g., nylon, or fibreglass or a resin composite, such as carbon fibre, or a combination thereof. The channel may be secured to the frame by any suitable means, for example, by welding where the frame and channel are both formed from metal or screws where the channel is formed from plastics and the frame from metal. Alternatively, the frame and channel may be moulded as a single unit from a plastics or resin composite material. The inflatable member may be formed from any suitable inflatable material, such as, for example, rubber. The channel/inflatable member is preferably disposed at an angle of from about 10° to 80°, preferably about 20° to 60°, more preferably about 30° to 50°, especially about 40° to 45°, relative to the legs of the frame. The channel preferably comprises apertures through which the valves may project to allow easy access when inflation or deflation of selected compartments is required. The compartments may be inflated by any suitable means, such as, for example, a hand pump or an automated airflow exchange unit. In use, the inflatable member is seated in the channel with the valves projecting through complementary apertures in the channel. The channel containing the inflatable member preferably has a cover thereon formed from a soft, flexible material which is preferably elasticated in at least a portion thereof. The cover preferably has a shape complementary to that of the C- shaped channel . The cover may be secured by any suitable means, such as, for example, Velcro (Trade Mark), fasteners or the like. Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a splint according to the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the splint of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the inflatable member and channel of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the underside of the inflatable member of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a front view of a second embodiment of a splint according to the invention without the inflatable member; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the splint of Figure 5 ; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of a further inflatable member suitable for use in the splint of the invention. Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a splint 10 according to the invention suitable for use in the repair of paediatric femoral fractures . The splint 10 comprises a frame 20 and an inflatable member 40 disposed on a retaining means 30 mounted on the frame 20. The frame 20 comprises a base 21 having a pair of spaced-apart, elongate legs 22, 23 extending upwardly and slightly outwardly therefrom. The base 21 is preferably grooved to accommodate a traction cord. The leg 22 is bifurcated at the end thereof remote from the base forming two arms 24 and 25 which are substantially V-shaped. In the embodiments shown, the leg 22 (including the arms 24, 25) is shorter than the leg 23. The leg 23 may also be bifurcated as shown in Figures 5 and 6, forming two substantially V-shaped arms 26 and 27 which are slightly inwardly inclined in the direction of the leg 22. The retaining means 30 is in the form of a channel having a base and a side wall, the channel 30 being substantially C-shaped in plan and arcuate in cross-section. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1-3, the frame 20 and the support means 30 are formed from stainless steel. The base of the channel 30 is welded at its outer surface to the leg 23 and the arms 24, 25, so that the walls of the channel extend substantially upwardly in use. In Figures 5 and 6, the frame 20 and the channel 30 are formed as an integral unit from a plastics material or a resin composite. Because the leg 23 is longer than the leg 22, the channel 30 is disposed at an angle relative to the legs 22, 23 of the frame 20. A preferred angle is from about 40° to 45°. This inclination permits stable application of the splint without perineal pressure that arises when using the conventional Thomas splint. The inflatable member 40 is formed from a hollow tube closed at both ends. In the present embodiments, the inflatable member 40 is formed from rubber. The inflatable member 40 is divided into a total of nine discrete compartments designated 41a-e and 42a-d. As shown in Figure 4, adjacent central compartments 41c and 42c are each provided with a respective valve 43, 44. Each valve 43, 44 has a respective conduit 45, 46 extending bidirectionally therefrom along an outer surface of the inflatable member 40, said surface being uppermost or remote from the channel base in use. The conduit 45 is in fluid communication with each compartment 41a-e and the conduit 46 is in fluid communication with each compartment 42a-d, by means of ports 47 allowing the intake and release of fluid, such as air, from each compartment. In Figure 4, the compartments 41a-e are inflated and compartments 42a-d are substantially deflated. As shown in Figure 7, the end compartment 41e is provided with the two valves 43, 44 with the conduits 45, 46 extending therefrom in the direction of the remaining compartments. In this embodiment, the conduits 45, 46 are disposed within a wall 48 of the inflatable member 40, the wall 48 being uppermost or remote from the channel base in use. The wall 48 incorporating the conduits 45, 46 is formed so that it is slightly thicker and firmer than the remainder of the inflatable member 40 but is still flexible. The inflatable member 40 is seated in the channel 30 in use. The channel 30 comprises two apertures 31, 32 (see Figure 2) through which the respective valves 43 and 44 project, thus allowing ready access to the valves 43, 44. The channel 30 with the inflatable member 40 may be covered in use by a cover 50 formed from a suitable soft, flexible material, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) . The cover 50 includes a lightly elasticated cuff 51 of soft material. The cover 50 has a channel shape complementary to that of the channel 30. It is placed over the open side of the channel 30 seating the inflatable member 40 and is secured by means of Velcro strips 52 extending across the base of the channel 30. The cover 50 protects the skin from abrasion. Furthermore, because of its limited elasticity, it provides counter-pressure for the upper surface, i.e., the surface remote from the channel base in use, of the inflatable member 40 when inflated, thus allowing the inflated compartments to become rigid and transmit pressure . In use, alternate compartments 41a-e or 42a-d are inflated by pumping air into the respective valve 43 or 44 so that every second compartment 41a-e or 42a-d is inflated and the remaining compartments 42a-d or 41a-e are flat or partially inflated, if desired. In other words, when each compartment 41a-d is inflated, each compartment 42a-d is flat or partially inflated and vice versa . The invention thus provides an improved splint for bone fractures, especially femoral fractures, which permits the rotation of pressure points without moving or loosening the splint, thus minimising the problems associated with conventional splints. It can also be used in veterinary medicine in the treatment of large animals with fractured limbs. The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein which may be modified or varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims: CLAIMS : 1. A splint, in particular for a limb bone fracture, comprising a frame adapted to receive an inflatable member, the frame having a first end and a second end, said ends being positioned in use on opposing sides of the bone fracture and the inflatable member being disposed in use at or near one of said ends. 2. A splint according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable member comprises at least two compartments which can be inflated via an inflation means to a predetermined level so that a pressure differential between compartments may be obtained. 3. A splint according to claim 2, wherein the inflatable member comprises at least five compartments, preferably from eight to nineteen compartments, more preferably nine compartments. 4. A splint according to any preceding claim, wherein the inflatable member is tubular. 5. A splint according to any preceding claim, wherein the inflatable member is inflated by the injection of a fluid, preferably a gas, most preferably air. 6. A splint according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the inflation means comprises a valve means . 7. A splint according to claim 6, wherein the valve means comprises first and second valves disposed on the inflatable member, each valve having a conduit extending therefrom such that each conduit is in fluid communication with selected compartments, preferably alternate compartments. 8. A splint according to claim 7, wherein the first and second valves are disposed on an end compartment of the inflatable member and/or each conduit is disposed outside or inside the inflatable member or within a wall of the inflatable member. 9. A splint according to any preceding claim, wherein the first end of the frame comprises a base from which a pair of spaced-apart legs extend towards the second end of the frame, one of the legs preferably being shorter than the other and at least one of the legs being branched, preferably bifurcated, at the second end of the frame, and the inflatable member being disposed in use on the second end of the frame. 10. A splint according to any preceding claim, comprising a retaining means for the inflatable member. 11. A splint according to claim 10, wherein the retaining means comprises a channel having a base and a side wall, the channel being substantially C-shaped in plan and arcuate in cross-section; and/or the channel is disposed at an angle of from about 10° to 80°, especially about 40° to 45°, relative to the legs of the frame . 12. A splint according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame and channel are formed from a metal, a plastics material or a resin composite or a combination thereof and the inflatable member is formed from rubber. 13. A splint according to claim 12, wherein the frame and channel are integral with one another.

Inventors: NSUBUGA MARTIN, NSUBUGA, MARTIN
Applicants: NSUBUGA MARTIN, NSUBUGA, MARTIN
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A61F5
IPC codes: A61F5