Improvements in or applicable to Surgical Trusses.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1896-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1896
Improvements in or applicable to Surgical Trusses.
I, RICHARD HART HAMILTON, of Desert Martin, Belfast, Ireland, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement: -
This invention relates to certain improvements in or applicable to surgical double
trusses, the improvements having been designed with the object of affording
greater comfort to the wearer, and of enabling the instrument to be worn with
ease at all times, and of rendering it more efficient for its intended purpose of
utility, and being effective in rendering the instrument as comfortable and efficient
as any such instrument could be, and in increasing the likelihood of a complete
cure from hernia due to the comfort of its wear permitting of its being constantly
worn, and to its nonliability to shift its position.
To the end aforesaid, in lieu of making the truss of one continuous padded spring
from end to end as ordinary double trusses are made, I, in accordance with the
invention, make it in separate half parts a, b;-vide the accompanying drawings,
on which Fig. 1, is a front view and Fig. 2, is a back view-which are adjustably
connected to each other by a strap c, and are supported by a back pad d, in the
desired relation to each other and adjustably in relation to the pad.
The back end of each half part a, b, of the truss, is fitted with a stud a 1, 61,
adapted to engage with eyelet holes c 1, made in the connecting strap'c, so permitting
of the half parts being adjusted in relation to each other. Both such half
parts a, b, and the connecting strap c, are supported by the pad d, in manner
aforesaid, the back ends of the half parts a, b, and the adjacent ends of the
strap c, fitting snugly in sheaths d 1, sewn or otherwise secured to the pad d, and
the intervening part of the band c, passing under a strap d 2, similarly secured to
the pad. The pad d, is flexible, and may be made of leather stuffed with horsehair
or of any other suitable material, and while serving to support the ends of the
truss half parts, in the desired relation to each other, serves also to prevent the
back part of the truss from pressing on the spine, and is effective in causing
the truss to comfortably fit the body.
In ordinary trusses, the front pads e, which bear on the seat of the hernia, are
each fitted with diagonally placed studs which serve to retain a fastening strap
which passes between the legs. I avoid the inconvenience of this strap, by fitting
cach such pad e, with a stud e 1, placed centrally of the pad, and by connecting
and holding the pads together while the instrument is in use by a strap e 2, engaging
with the studs el. This connection, aided by the pad d, fitting closely to the
spine, effectually holds the parts of the truss together and keeps the same in
position.
By the aforesaid means, the instrument is converted from, as-it-were, an iustru-
ment of torture liable to fail at a critical moment, to the serious inconvenience of
the wearer, into a comfortable instrument which will enable the wearer to cycle,
play golf, lift weights, ride or pursue any of the ordinary avocations and pleasures
of life as or almost as well as if he were not possessed of the hernia, with an
enhanced likelihood of a cure and without the liability of the truss failing in its
functions under any ordinary circumstances.
The invention may be applied in the manufacture of new trusses, and may also
be applied to existing trusses which may be cut across at the back and somewhat
shortened at the back ends and then adjustably connected and supported as
hereinbefore described.