AN IMPROVED TRUSS FOR RUPTURE OR HERNIA
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest, Marie, Bourjeaurd, of 49 Davies Street, Berkeley
Square, London, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturer of Surgical
Appliances, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED TRUSS FOR RUPTURE OR
HERNIA
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest Marie Bourjeaurd
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th March 1883.
ERNEST, MARIE, BOURJEAURD, of 49 Davies Street, Berkeley Square, London,
in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturer of Surgical Appliances,
IMPROVED TRUSS FOR RUPTURE OR HERNIA
"
AN
This invention relates to a lifting Inguinal Truss for the relief or cure of Rupture
or Hernia
I propose to construct my improved Truss of a plate of steel, iron; wood of other
suitable substance formed to the shape of the lower part of the abdomen; at the
top, bottom or middle of this pelvic or abdominal plate I fix by screws; or otherwise,
a main spring, preferably of steel, say ¼ of an inch to two or more inches in
width, by from 2 inches to 7 inches or more in length. This steel spring presses
by each end upon two side springs fixed to hinges secured to the pelvic plate, the
other end of each of these side springs being secured to a pad plate. This pad
plate may be oval, round, square or of any suitable shape and will carry a pad
made air tight so that it may be inflated with air, water, moc-main or any
suitable fluid or substance.
The side hinged springs cause these pads to act so as to give a lifting support.
In order to obtain a direct pressure of the pads upon the part to which they are
applied, I fix upon the pelvic plate two small catches, hooks or springs which hold
the spring pad while the Truss is being applied. When the Truss is exactly applied
these catches or hooks are pulled, the pads are thereby released and the lifting
pressure is at once directly obtained by the action of the mainspring on the hinged
springs.
My improved Truss will be kept in place by means of a leather or any
suitable band secured to each end of the pelvic plate, or to a band extending across
said plate.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Ernest Marie Bourjeaurd in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th September 1883.
ERNEST MARIE BOURJEAURD of 49 Davies Street Berkeley Square London
in the County of Middlesex Manufacturer of Surgical Appliances "AN
IMPROVED TRUSS FOR RUPTURE OR HERNIA
"
My Invention relates to an Inguinal or other truss for the relief or cure of
Rupture or Hernia; and its main objects are to obtain a direct pressure of the pad
or pads upon the part or parts affected, such pressure being a lifting pressure, and
to regulate the extent of this pressure at will.
I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings:-
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) representing a front view of a single truss embodying my
Invention.
Figure 2 a similar view, but illustrating a double truss of my Invention and :-
Figure 3 shewing in detail the arrangement of the spring catches for securing
the pads during the application of the truss.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
My improved truss is constructed of a plate A, of steel, iron, wood or other
suitable substance formed to the shape of the lower part of the abdomen, or part
of the body to which it is to be applied.
At the top, bottom or middle of this pelvic or abdominal plate, A, I fix, by
'screws or otherwise, the mainspring B, preferably of steel and say from a quarter
of an inch to two or more inches in width by from two to seven inches or more in
length. This steel spring B presses by one or both ends (see Figures 1 and 2)
upon a side arm or side arms, springs, or levers C, D, accordingly as this Truss is
single or double. These arms C, D, are fixed to hinges E, secured to the pelvic
plate A, the other end of each of these arms being secured to a pad plate F. For
the purpose of regulating the pressure of the spring BI may insert an elastic
washer Z immediately beneath the nut or screw by which it is held, or I may
regulate the pressure by any suitable device.
The pad plate or plates F may be made oval, round, square, or of any
suitable shape and will carry a pad G, made air tight so that it may be inflated
with air, water, moc-main or any suitable fluid or substance.
The side hinged arms C, D, (Fig: 2) cause the pads G, G, to act so as to give a
lifting support; the single hinged arm shown Fig: 1 acting in precisely the same
manner.
In order to obtain a direct pressure of the pads G upon the part to which they
are applied, I fix upon the pelvic plate A, two small catches, hooks, or levers HH,
which hold the arms C, D, while the truss is being applied.
When the Truss is exactly applied upon the part affected the catches, hooks, or
levers HH, are pulled, the arms C, D, are thereby released and the lifting pressure
of the pad is at once obtained by the action of the spring B on the arms C. D.
Notches or projections I, I, formed upon the arms C, D, form stops by which the
play of these arms may be regulated.
The screw studs L, L, secured upon the catches or levers H are intended to be
entered into the holes M, M, in the plate A when it is desired to give unrestricted
play to the arms C, D.
The springs K K are for the purpose of operating the catches H, H.
To make a cheaper Truss I might dispense with the spring B, the hinges E, E,
of the arms C, D, being also suppressed, so that the whole pressure will be derived

page_text: from the arms C, D, themselves made suitably elastic for this purpose, but I give
preference to the arrangement I have previously above described and shown on the
Drawing.
My improved Truss will be kept in place by means of a leather or any suitable
band secured to each end of the pelvic plate, or to a band extending across said
plate, or in any convenient manner.
Upon Sheet II of the accompanying Drawings I have shown a modification of
the above described arrangement.
Figure 4. Being a front view of a double truss provided with adjustable pads.
Figures 5 and 6 representing the pad plate F and spring arm or lever C in
detail.
Figure 7. Illustrating the application of this arrangement to a single truss and
spring belt.
In this construction it will be seen that both the pad plate F and spring arm or
lever Care furnished with slots X whereby the position of the pad G can be varied
to suit the requirements of each case by simply loosening and tightening up the
nut Y.
It will be understood that I may use all my several improvements in com-
bination, or apply one or more of them to any kind of truss as I may find
expedient.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention and in
what manner the same is or may be performed.
What I Claim as secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent is
Firstly-In a truss for the treatment of Inguinal or other hernia, the com-
bination of the spring B with the hinged spring arm or arms or levers C, D,
operated by the catch or catches H, substantially as shown and described, for the
purpose specified.
Secondly-In a Truss for the treatment of Inguinal or other hernia, the use
of the arm or arms or levers C, D, not hinged at E, or acted upon by the spring B,
but giving a direct lifting pressure to the pad or pads G by their own elasticity
when operated by the catch or catches H, substantially as berein before described.
Thirdly-In a Truss, the use of the notches or projections I upon the arm or
arms or levers C, D, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Fourthly-In a Truss, the use of the screw stud or studs L substantially in the
manner and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof I the said Ernest Marie Bourjeaurd have hereunto set
my hand and seal this fifth day of September in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty three:
ERNEST MARIE BOURJEAURD (L.S.)