Patent GB-1146821-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to surgical splints
IPC: A61F13/04
Filed: 1966-03-21
Abstract: 1,146,821. Surgical splints. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ARMY, SECRETARY OF. 21 March, 1966 [19 March, 1965], No. 12290/66. Heading A5R. A splint package, which is adapted for direct application to a person, comprises a flexible sealed envelope divided into at least two compartments by separator means which can be manipulated to place the compartments in communication with each other, the or at least two of the compartments each containing at least one material which is a precursor of a cured resin; the arrangement of the compartments is such that, on placing adjacent compartments in communication, the materials contained therein may be mixed and may be distributed throughout the envelope, the mixture of precursor materials thereafter curing without the application of external heat to form the cured resin. A flexible pad, for example of polyurethane foam material, may be attached to the envelope to extend partly or wholly along the envelope; the pad is intended, when the splint package is used, to be positioned between the person and the envelope. The envelope, which may be in either single layer or laminate form, is made from or comprises a material which is inert to the precursor materials and to the cured resin, which resin may be an epoxy, a polyester or a polyurethane resin. When an epoxy or a polyester resin system is used, the envelope or a portion thereof may contain flexible reinforcement material into which the mixture of precursor materials may be worked after the compartments have been placed in communication with each other; when a polyurethane resin system is used, one of the precursor materials may be a blowing agent, thereby to provide a foamed resin, and the reinforcement material may be omitted. Examples of suitable materials for the envelope and details of suitable precursor materials are given in the Specification. The or each separator means between compartments may comprise a resilient member in clamping engagement with a fold extending across the envelope. As illustrated in Figure 1, a splint package comprises a flexible sealed envelope 1 at one end of which is a compartment 2 which is separated, by separator means comprising a split cylinder 4 which engages a fold 6 of the envelope extending around cylinder 50, form a compartment 3 which in turn is separated, by separator means comprising a split cylinder 5 which engages a fold 7 of the envelope, extending around cylinder 51, from the remaining portion of the envelope. Each of the two compartments contains at least one precursor material of a cured resin; the remaining portion of the envelope contains reinforcement material 8 which may be a woven, knitted or matted textile material, a mat of woven glass fibres being preferred. Adhered to one face of the envelope to be co-extensive with the remaining portion thereof is a flexible pad 9 of polyurethane foam; alternatively and as illustrated in Figure 3 (not shown), the flexible pad may be co-extensive with the whole of the envelope, a removable protective sheet being adhered to that portion of the pad which is co-extensive with the two compartments containing precursor materials. The separator means between compartments alternatively may comprise a rupturable capsule which constitutes a first compartment located within a second compartment. As illustrated in Figure 4, a splint package, intended for application to an injured jaw, comprises an envelope 21 which has a central opening 22 and to one face of which is adhered a foam pad 23 which is coextensive with the envelope. Precursor materials are contained within the main portion 24 of the envelope and within a rupturable capsule 25 which is located within the main portion of the envelope. Prior to use, the splint package may be situated, together with strap means for fastening the envelope to a person, in a tubular container, see Figure 5 (not shown).