Abstract:
The splint has two modes of adjustment, flexible and rigid. It consists of a plurality of similar pads strung on a flexible wire. Friction elements are provided between pads. A take-up screw is provided at one end of the wire and a take-up eccentric at the other, permitting the friction elements to be adjusted to any desired degree of low friction between pads, or adjusted to such high friction as to lock the pads together. In another embodiment both the take-up screw and the take-up eccentric are at the same end of the flexible splint.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to rigid elements for positioning on a broken limb of a human or animal body to keep the limb immobile or for use in keeping a part of the body in a fixed position. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     When a limb or digit is broken it is highly desirable to splint it immediately to prevent further damage to the ends of the broken bone or to the muscles, ligaments or blood vesels. After such immobilization the patient can then be moved with relative safety to a hospital. The rigid element used to splint the injured part must usually be improvised and may be a board, cane, bar, or even an umbrella. If splining is done by an ambulance attendant, rigid splints made for the purpose such as molded plastic splints may be used. 
     After a bone has been set by the surgeon he generally applies a plaster cast which stays on until the bone has knit. However, if the bone has been pinned after setting, the case, after several days is split longitudinally and temporarily removed so that the patient can get some exercise. This is highly desirable to prevent the formation of thrombi. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The flexible splint consists of a number of pads strung in a line on a series of tubes. These tubes are separated by ball joints and connected by a flexible steel wire. This wire can be loosened to allow the pads to move relative to one another, or tightened to bond the pads into a single, rigid unit. 
     One object of this invention is to provide a splint which at will can be made completely flexible or completely rigid. 
     Another object is to provide a series of pads strung on a wire to form a splint. In a first position of adjustment of the wire the pads are all movable relative to each other, so that when laid along a broken limb the splin can conform to the shape of the injured limb. In a second mode of use, after positioning the splint to become rigid, with no possible movement of the pads relative to each other. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 depicts the stiffening layer side of one embodiment of the flexible splint. 
     FIG. 2 is an edge view of one of the intermedite pads. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of one of the balls separating the pads. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the stiffener side of one of the intermediate pads, with the tube partly in section on line 4 -- 4, FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the stiffener side of end pad 12. 
     FIG. 6 is an edge view of end pad 12 sectioned on the line 6 -- 6, FIG. 5. 
     FIG. 7 depicts the stiffener face of end pad 13. 
     FIG. 8 depicts an edge view of end pad 13 partially sectioned on the 45 line 8 -- 8, FIG. 7. 
     FIG. 9 depicts a side view of an end pad providing a non-adjustable anchorage for one end of the cable. 
     FIG. 10 depicts an end pad providing a cable anchorage having both screw and eccentric adjustments of cable tension. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the flexible splint comprises identical intermediate pads 11, end pad 12 and a second similar but not identical end pad 13. Each pad comprises a padding layer as shown in FIG. 2 at 14, and a stiffening layer or stiffener 16. 
     The padding layer 14 may be made, for example of foam rubber or jute, and can be covered with vinyl or other protective material. Its thickness, length and width will depend on whether the flexible splint will be used on a person or an animal, and on the size of the limb, digit or some other part which is to be splinted. 
     The stiffener has exterior dimensions slightly smaller than those of the padding layer so as not to come in contact with the body of the patient. The thickness and material of the stiffener are such as to provide strength and stiffness combined with lightness. 
     The padding is secured to the stiffener by an adhesive. 
     With each pad stiffener there is associated a tube at 17, FIGS. 1 and 2, having a circular bore or internal cross section. In this embodiment the external cross section is also circular. These tubes are tightly fastened to the stiffener in the intermediate pads and in one end pad, 13. All tube bores may have the same diameter as shown at 18, FIG. 2. Each of the intermediate pad tubes is flared or bevelled at both ends and the end tubes are flared or bevelled at one end, all flares being preferably sized to fit identical spherical balls 19, FIGS. 1 and 3. The balls separate the pads and are made, for example, of steel, bronze or plastic. Each ball has a diametral hole 21. A connecting element, which may be stranded steel cable 22, FIG. 4, passes through all tubes and balls and is secured in both end pads. In at least one end pad the cable is secured adjustably, and in this embodiment the cable is secured adjustably in both end pads. 
     End pad 12, depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6, adjustably anchors one end of the cable 22 while permitting cable rotation, and provides a micrometer screw adjustment of the cable length, thus providing close adjustment of the friction between each tube and the adjacent balls throughout the entire length of the flexible splint. The cable 22 passes through a center hole in housing 24 and the cable end is secured, for example by soldering, in a cable retainer 23. The housing 24 is securely fastened to the stiffener 26 of pad 12. The housing 24 has a threaded cylindrical extension 27 which mates with a female thread in the end of tube 28. This tube 28 is flared or chamfered at the end opposite to its threaded end and abuts the adjacent ball 19A. The outside surface of tube 28 is knurled. A lockout 29 is provided to lock the thread motion, or a fine thread may be employed instead. 
     The end pad 13 is shown in detail in FIGS. 7 and 8, providing an eccentric mechanism for tightening cable 22 in order to convert friction contacts between balls and tubes to locking contacts. An eccentric housing or tube, 31, has the same flare dimension at one end, 32, as have the other tubes and makes contact with a ball 19B identical with the other balls. Tube 31 is securely fastened to the stiffener 33 of pad 13. A shaft 34 is borne in bearings in the tube 31, carrying a boss 36 at one end and held by retainer ring 37 at the other. A handle or lever 38 is fastened to the boss. The middle part of shaft 34 is enlarged to form an eccentric 39; an eccentric follower 41 is provided with a hole 42 fitting the eccentric 39. One end of follower 41 has a cavity 43 threaded at its open end. A threaded disc 44 is screwed therein. This disc 44 has a center hole through which the cable 22 is pressed. In assembly, the disc is removed, fitted on the end of the cable and secured thereon by soldering or otherwise. The disc is then screwed into the fastener 41 and secured by pinning, staking or otherwise. The follower is then inserted in tube 31 and the shaft 34 is put into its bearings and through hole 42 in follower 41, and secured by ring 37. 
     In operation of this embodiment of the flexible splint, normally the eccentric 39 will be positioned on its loosened cable position and the screw 27 of pad 12 will be in such position as to exert a slight pull on the cable. The several pads of the splint will thereby be pulled together so that each joint between a ball and an adjacent tube will have some friction. Tension of the cable 22 is adjusted by turning tube 28 until the friction between balls and tubes are sufficient to hold all parts of the splint in any attitude, yet not so must as to prevent easily forcing the splint into another altitude. 
     In applying the splint so adjusted to a broken limb the splint is conformed to the limb and tied thereto, for example by an elastic bandage or by a fabric having hooked filaments which adhere on contact. After applying the splint the handle or lever 38 is turned so that the eccentic 39 is rotated 180° to the position shown in FIG. 7. This tightens cable 22 to such an extend that all the bearings between tube and ball are immovably locked into position; thus the flexible splint becomes inflexible and holds the injured limb in the set position. 
     In another use of this invention the flexible splint replaces the plaster case which, in present practise, is applied after a broken limb is set. This application of the invention greatly facilitates the later temporary removal of the splint to allow the patient to exercise. 
     In a second embodiment both the screw adjustment and the eccentric adjustent of the cable tension are on the same end of the flexible splint. This embodiment is depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10. 
     In FIG. 9 one end of cable 22 is non-adjustably secured in a cable retainer 46 loosely fitted into a cable retainer housing 47, which is fastened to an end pad stiffener 48. One end of the housing 47 abuts a ball 49. The other end of the cable 22 is anchored at the other end pad as shown in FIG. 10. The cable, after passing through ball 51, passes through a knurled tube 52 abutting the ball, the tube carrying threads on one end 53. These threads are preferably fine so as to stay at any adjustment without requiring a locknut. The threads engage female threads in a tube 54 secured to the stiffener of the end pad. This tube 54 carries a cross shaft 56 which has a central eccentric portion 57 and an end boss 58 bearing a crank handle 59. An eccentric follower 41 surrounds the eccentric 57, and at one end is provide with a cavity 43 and a disc 44 threaded therein. The end of cable 22 passes through disc 44 and is secured thereto. 
     In operation, the eccentric handle is put in its loose position and the tube 52 is adjusted by screwing into tube 54 until the tension cable 22 produces slight friction at each ball joint, so that the flexible splint will stay in any position. The splint is then applied to the broken limb and the eccentric lever is moved to turn the eccentric 57 by 180° to the position shown in FIG. 10, locking the splint rigidly.