Improvements in Surgical Splints.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Jan., 1995-Accepted, 16th Feb., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Surgical Splints.
1. REINHOLD HOPPE a citizen of the United States by occupation a Manu-
facturer located and doing business at No. 328 Bush Street in the City and County
of San Francisco State of California, United States of America, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This device relates to an improved surgical splint, and the same is so constructed
that the supporting plates may be fitted upon the outside or inside of a joint, the
plates having longitudinal and rotatable movement upon jointed supporting rods,
whereby the distance between the plates may be readily shortened or lengthened
and freely turned upon the supporting rods so as to assume any desired position, in
order to adapt the supporting plates to fit any form, shape or position, and for any
desired pronation.
The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective splint, which may
be readily adjusted to any angle desired and held locked in such position or angle
the plates being allowed unlimited pronation after the supporting rods have been
locked; and permit the supporting rods to be locked or unlocked after being
covered by the bandages, thus overcoming the necessity of extreme care being
exercised in wrapping of bandages so as not to cover the adjusting mechanism.
Referring to the drawings forming a part of this application wherein similar
letters of reference denote corresponding parts:
Figure 1 is a view showing the splint applied to the outside of a joint;
Figure 2 shows the splint in position to be used upon the inside joint, showing
the extensionable rod connected thereto for breaking and ankylose;
Figure 3 is a detail partly broken view of the extensionable rod ;
Figure 4 is a top plan detail view showing end portion of the exteusionable rod
and plate connected thereto for securing the rod to one of the clamp sleeves;
Figure 5 shows the splint as applied to the leg;
Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of the supporting rods one of the rods being
partly broken away so as to show the position of the lock rod for holding the
supporting rods in any desired angle, showing one of the clamp sleeves in position
and connected to its supporting plate;
Figure 7 is a top plan view of the clamp sleeve; and
Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view of the coupling connection, partly in section,
for the device when used as a leg splint.
The letters A A' indicate the support or splint plates which may be manu-
factured of wood or metal as desired aluminium being preferred, owing to its
lightness and its easiness of manipulation. These plates are secured to the
supporting rods B B₁ by means of splint clamps B' through the medium of the
small set screws a which pass through the plates and ears a' of the clamps B' being
held in place by thumb nuts a². By loosening these thumb nuts the plates may be
moved in or out upon the supporting rods so as to shorten or lengthen the splint or
be rotated thereon so as to secure any desired pronation each independent of the

page_text: other. In order to hold the plates at any desired pronation it is only necessary to
screw up or tighten the thumb screws, which cause the spring clamps to tightly
embrace the supporting rods, thereby setting the plates and holding same in
position. By reference to the drawings it will be noticed that the spring clamps
have quite a long bearing, consequently the supporting rods are not cut into or
marred by the tightening of the spring clamp. These clamps consist of metallic
tubing having an internal diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of
the supporting rod which is to fit therein, and spring or elasticity is given this
clamp by cutting a longitudinal slot a³ in one side thereof the entire length of the
tube. By thus slotting the tube I provide a splint clamp having sufficient
elasticity or spring to permit of the same moving in or out with the tightening or
loosening of the thumb screws a².
The supporting rods B B are hinged together. The inner end of rod B
terminates in a ratchet wheel C which fits between ears C' projecting from inner
end of rod B' being secured therebetween by piu b. Supporting rod B₁ is a tubular
one and within same is fitted the lock rod C2 the inner end of which is shaped
as to fit between the teeth of the ratchet wheel C.
80
When this rod is moved inward its full distance, the end thereof engages within
the teeth of the ratchet wheel and holds the rods locked together at whatever angle
they may be when the lock rod engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel. By simply
moving the lock rod outward sufficiently far to take the inner end from between the
teeth of the ratchet wheel, the supporting rods are unlocked and may be moved in
or out to any angle desired. This lock rod is carried in or out by means of the
screw rod C³ which is connected to the outer end of the said rod by a socket joint
as shown at . The threads of the screw rod C³ engage with the inner threads of
the tubular supporting rod outer end of which screw rod is enlarged in order to
provide a handle or knob by which the said rod may be screwed in and out. By
securing the screw rod to the lock rod by means of a socket joint, the screw rod is
free to turn without rotating the lock rod. For the purpose of preventing any
possibility of the lock rod being rotated I cut in the inner end portion thereof the
guide groove or slot within which fits the guide pin or stud said pin or stud
projecting through the inner end portion of the tubular supporting rod Figure 6.
By means of this pin or stud the lock rod is held in true line with the teeth of the
ratchet wheel ( so that when the lock rod is moved inward the end thereof will
enter between the teeth of the ratchet wheel. If this guide pin or equivalent be
not provided the lock rod might possibly become displaced which would consume
time to place the end of the said rod in line with the teeth of the ratchet wheel.
When thus constructed I provide a device similar to that illustrated by Figure 1
where the supporting rods are free to move in and out to any desired angle, and the
splint plates free to be turned to any desired position of pronation. each independent
of the other. As thus constructed, the splint devices, after proper pronation of
the splint plates is secured may be entirely covered by bandages and the supporting
rods locked or unlocked without removing the same. This feature of my inven-
tion will be greatly appreciated by users of the splint, inasmuch as the same may
be secured to the limb and the limb then bent until a comfortable angle or position
is secured, when the supporting rods may be unlocked at such angle. Again, the
rods may be unlocked and the movement of the limb tried without removing the
bandages hence preventing displacement of the splint plates. By permitting a free
unlimited rotation to be given the splint plates the same may be so adjusted as not
to bear upon such muscles of the limb as to necessitate the patient holding the limb
in an unnatural position, so as to avoid pain. As shown in the construction
illustrated in Figure 1, I may flex the device in either direction.
It ofttimes is required that the surgeon break an ankylose, and in order to
accomplish this successfully where the splint is used, I make employment of what I
term a break rod which consists of the screw rod D and tubular rod D' within
which the screw rod fits the screw rod D passing through the screw nut D³ which

page_text: nut is movably secured to inner end of the tubular rod D'. As this screw nut is
turned to the right or left the screw rod is forced in or out of the tubular rod;
when moved outward the pressure thereof forces the supporting rods apart or away
from each other, which, if sufficient pressure be applied, will readily cause the
breaking of an ankylose. The outer end of the screw rod D and tubular D₁ is
slotted so as to receive end of ear d which is swivelled to plate D³. Ear dis
secured within the slotted ends by means of pin d. Consequently the tubular
rod and screw rod may be said to be secured to plate D³ by an universal joint.
Plates D³ are provided with openings d² through which the screws a extend, the
thumb nuts a holding the plates in position Figure 2. In this manuer the
break device is connected to the splint or supporting plates. By providing an
universal connection between the tubular rod D' screw rod D and securing plates D³
the break device may be readily attached to the splint plates as before described,
although the splint plates may be placed at different angle of pronation as illustrated
by Figure 2.
The screw nut D2 is prevented from moving out of the tubular rod by means of
the pine which extends through said rod and fits within the annular groove c¹ cut
within the stem of the screw nut.
In cases of joint fractures where it is a necessity that the joint be moved each
day so as to prevent stiffness this attachment to my splint will be found of the
utmost importance, inasmuch as by giving a slight turn to the screw nut each day,
so as to move the screw rod in and out, the joint will be moved correspondingly,
while the splint or supporting plates will hold the splintered bone sufficiently rigid
to cause the same to knit properly.
In Figure 5 my device is shown when converted to a leg splint. For this
purpose I make employment of a third splint or supporting plate A² the supporting
rods being connected to the splint plates as heretofore described. When thus
used it is necessary to make use of two sets of supporting rods and connect same
by a coupling device which consists of a right and left-handed screw threaded
rod E which works within the screw threaded coupling sleeves E' E². The outer
end portion of these sleeves at one side I slot for a distance, as shown at e, an
provide with ears e'. Through these ears works the thumb screw E³. By slotting
the end of the sleeves E' EI give a spring thereto. Within the slotted portion
of the sleeves fits the free end of supporting rods B said rods being held in place
by screwing down of thumb screws E³. When the supporting rods have been
coupled, the same may be moved toward or from each other by merely turning the
screw rod E to the right or left. The hinged joints of the splint are locked in
any position in the same manner as when used as an arm splint.
While I make employment of the coupling device for moving the inner supporting
rods toward or from each other, so as to gain the proper distance such is not the
primary object thereof, for this may be obtained by simply loosening one of the
clamps B2 and moving the rod up or down. The main purpose of the coupling
device is to enable me to stretch the limb when contracted by a fracture. This
is accomplished by simply loosening one of the clamps B2 and turning the coupling
rod so as to force the bandaged plates away from each other by increasing the
distance between the ends of the inner rods, thus gaining proper extension of the
bone.
The fact that my splint plates are removably secured to the spring clamps
enables me to utilize different sized or shaped plates without requiring separate
fastening devices, for by merely puncturing the plates, in order to permit the
screws a to pass therethrough the same clamps may be used. This is an important
feature in the manufacture of these devices, as it materially reduces the cost of the
article.
Of course it will readily be understood that my device may be used to straighten
and strengthen a curvature of the back, and for various other injuries or
malformations to the human body.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a surgical splint the combination with the hinged supporting rods a locking
device adapted to be moved into locked engagement with the hinged joint of the
supporting rods whereby the rods may be readily locked at any angle or unlocked
at will and the splint or supporting plates secured to the supporting rods said
plates having a slidable and rotatable movement upon the said rods.
2. In a surgical splint the combination with the hinged supporting rods a
locking device for said rods which holds the rods locked at any desired angle the
splint or supporting plates spring clamps fitted upon the supporting rods and the
set screws for removably securing the plates to the spring clamp and locking
the clamps to the said rods.
3. In a surgical splint the combination with the supporting rods hinged together
one of said rods being tubular and terminating in ears the other terminating in a
ratchet wheel which fits between the ears of the tubular rod a longitudinally
movable lock rod fitted within the tubular rod which moves in or out of engagement
with the ratchet wheel so as to lock or unlock the supporting rods a screw rod
movably connected to the lock rod for forcing the said rod in or out of engagement
with the ratchet wheel and the splint or supporting plates connected to the
supporting rods so as to have a longitudinal or rotatable movement upon the
supporting rods.
4. A surgical splint consisting of the hinged supporting rods adapted to fit over
an inside or outside joint lock mechanism carried by the rods for holding same
locked at any angle and supporting plates so connected to the connecting rods as
to permit any desired pronation to be obtained.
5. In a surgical splint the combination with the hingel supporting rods having
a lock mechanism carried thereby the supporting plates connected thereto so as to
have a slidable and rotatable movement a spring clamp for securing the plates to
the supporting rods said clamps having a longitudinal slot cut therein and the set
screws for securing the plates to the clamps and clamps to the rods.
6. In a surgical splint the combination with the hinged supporting rods a lock
mechanism carried by said rods in order that the same may be locked at any desired
angle spring clamps secured upon the rods supporting plates removably connected
to the clamps a device connected to the clamps for forcing the supporting rods apart
in order to break an ankylose or give movement to a joint sai device consisting of
a screw threaded rod and a tubular rod within which the screw threaded rod works
a screw nut movably secured to the tubular rod for forcing the screw rod in or
out, the outer end of the rods being hinged to an ear swivelled to a plate which is
connected to the clamps.
7. In a surgical splint for the leg the combination with the hinged supporting
rods connected to a series of supporting or splint plates said plates having au
independent slidable and rotatable movement lock mechanism for the hinged rods,
whereby they may be held locked at any desired position and a coupling device for
connecting the two inner supporting rods said device consisting of a right and left-
handed screw threaded rod coupling sleeves within which said screw threaded rod
works and device for connecting said sleeves to the ends of the inner supporting
rods.
8. In a surgical splint for the leg the combination with a series of supporting
plates the hinged supporting rods to which the plates are connected so as to have
slidable and rotatable movement independent of each other the hinged rods being
capable of being flexed for an inside or outside joint a lock device for securing the
supporting rods at any desired angle and an adjustable coupling device for
connecting the inner hinged rods together.
9. In a surgical splint the combination with the hinged supporting rods a locking
device carried thereby for securing the rods at any desired angle the supporting

page_text: plates removably secured to the supporting rods and a device for forcing the
supporting rods apart in order to break an ankylose said device being fastened to
the rods by swivel connections whereby the rods may be forced apart with the
supporting plates at any position of pronation.
Dated this 15th day of January 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.