Improvements in Trusses.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 5th May, 1894
Improvements in Trusses.
I, CARL BERTHOLD RÖSTEL of Jacksonville Jackson County State of
Oregon, U.S.A., Surgeon, 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 :-
My invention relates to Improvements in Trusses for the support of abdominal
rupture.
It consists in certain details of construction which will be more fully explained
by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a view of a truss with double pads attached to it. Figure 2 is one
with a single pad.
Figure 3 shows the application of an S-formed spring.
Figure 4 is a detail view of the adjustable spring plate.
Figure 5 shows connection between the pad B and the spring G as being self-
adjusting.
The object of my invention is to provide an elastic truss belt, adjustable in length
to suit the size of the person, and for the purpose of placing the pad or pads at the
proper point, without altering their position upon the belt; to provide a pad or
pads with an elastic pressure device, the tension of which is adjustable to any part
of the pad, and to any degree of strength; and to provide certain relieving pads
to prevent soreness at points where the belt passes around the body.
A is an elastic steel or other metal band of sufficient size, which is adapted to
pass around the body of the patient, and to have the pressure pad or pads B
attached to one or both ends as the case may be. Where only a single rupture is
to be treated, a single pad may be used, but if there are two, one upon each side,
there must be a pad upon each end of the band. In such a case it is necessary to
adjust the size of the band from a point between the pads, in order to bring each
pad to a proper position to act upon the part which is to be operated upon.
In order to do this I make my belt or band in two parts having holes made
through them, and bolts or clamps a by which the two parts of the band may be
caused to overlap more or less, and be secured at any desired point, thus separating
the pressure pads to the exact degree necessary to bring them to their proper points
of bearing on the person.
This metal band or belt is enclosed in any suitable soft material b, such as
buckskin or other suitable material having the interior surface padded so as to
present a soft surface of contact where the band surrounds the body.
This covering is loose and moves freely on the helt so as to prevent friction on
the body, and it may be taken up at the ends, or let out to suit the length and
adjustment of the belt.
At points just behind the hips, I place supplemental adjustable pads D which
relieve the pressure of the inflexible band, and prevent its pressing upon blood-
vessels or tender parts of the body so as to cause soreness or injury.
The pads B may be attached to the end of the band A by means of plates E
which are secured to the pad, and have holes e made through then for the reception
of a fastening bolt F by which the pad may be attached to the end of the band at
any desired angle to fit the part to be treated, and it also allows the pad to be
transferred to either end of the belt to fit upon the right or left side as may be
necessary. Independent movable surfaces M of sponge or other soft pliable
material may be attached to the truss pads B with a containing cover m which

page_text: allows their supplemental attachments to move freely, and thus prevent the body
from being chafed by frictional contact.
GG are elastic springs having one end fixed to the pad plate, or to the band A,
and these springs are curved outwardly so that the outer ends must be drawn
inwardly by the exercise of force.
•
The outer ends of these springs have flexible straps H attached to them, and
corresponding buckles and buttons are fixed upon the opposite side of the belt A
through which these straps are passed so as to draw the outer ends of the springs
down toward the belt.
This causes the inner convex portion of the spring to press upon the pad B, and
thus force it against the body with greater or less pressure, according to the
stiffness of the spring and the degree to which it is drawn down by the strap and
buckle.
If it is desired to increase the pressure upon either side of the pad, I employ
two or more of these springs placed side by side, so that by bringing the greater
strain upon the upper one,. the upper end of the pad will receive the greater
pressure, or by bringing the pressure upon the lower spring, the lower end of the
pad will receive the pressure.
In some cases I find it advisable to supplement the action of these springs by
that of a coil spring I, one end of which rests against the back of the pad, and the
other abuts against the inside of the flat spring or springs G, so that the pressure
of the flat spring is brought upon the outer end of the coil spring and through this
is transmitted to the pad.
This allows the pad to adjust itself to movements of the person, and while
maintaining a steady and constant pressure, to allow of movement without an
uncomfortable pressure.
A guiding stem J extends outward from the pad and passes through a hole made
in the flat spring, and the coil spring surrounds this stem.
In Figure 5, I have shown a modification of Figure 1, in which the plate E
instead of being attached to the pad is formed upon the end of the belt
portion A.
This plate has slots i made through it for the introduction of the stem J which
may thus be applied through either of the slots and carry the pad B to the upper
or lower side as may be desired.
is a yoke attached upon each side of the plate E so as to arch over and contain
the elastic spring I which surrounds the stem J.
The stem has a T-shaped head at the lower end which is adapted to enter
through the elongated slots I by turning it in the direction of the length of the
slot, and then it is turned at right angles so that the arched yoke r, to which its
outer end is attached, will stand in line with the securing bolts, and the T-head
will stand cross-wise with the slot thus locking it in place.
In order to relieve the parts of rigidity and to allow a certain freedom of motion
in bending and turning the body I have shown the end of the spring G which is
attached to the belt A as formed with a slot G', and the rivet head g passes through
this slot and serves as a guide upon which the spring may slide for purposes of
adjustment.
In order to relieve the pressure upon the hips I have fonnd it advisable to make
the spring G with a reverse curve or S form, as shown at K, so that the outer part
of this plate will pass around the hip bone, and enclose it and prevent undue
pressure there, while the inner part may be bent as before described to produce the
necessary pressure upon the pad.
In cases where it is desired to apply an electrical treatment to the rupture, it is
done by the use of any well known or suitable electric pad, or an ordinary pad
having a metal plate or moistened porous substance to form contact, and connecting
with it the poles of an electrical belt or battery in the usual form of such devices.
The ends of the springs, where they are connected with the flexible straps, are
preferably covered by a flexible piece of buckskin N, or other material, to prevent

page_text: the tendency to spring outwaru, from forcing them against the clothing and
wearing it.
Straps O may be attached to the body belt to pass beneath the thighs if found
necessary or desirable.
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 :-
1st. A truss band provided with a spring pressed pad B, having a loose
covering m, the soft movable facing M for said pad, the spring G secured to the
truss and crossing and bearing upon said pad, and provided with means for securing
its outwardly projecting end to the opposite end of the truss band, substantially as
herein described.
2nd. A truss consisting of a flexible metallic band, plates adjustably attached to.
its ends carrying truss pads adapted to press upon the part to be treated, flexible.
metallic bands G attached to one end of the truss band having an inward
curvature between the ends, and straps and buckles by which the outer ends are
drawn down against the opposite end of the truss belt whereby the convex portion
of the spring is caused to press upon the truss pad and hold it yieldingly in contact
with the part, substantially as herein described.
3rd. A truss consisting of a flexible metallic band with enclosing protective
case, plates secured to its end with truss pads adjustable thereon with relation to.
the band, and adapted to press upon the part to be treated, springs G having one.
end attached to one end of the truss band curving inwardly with the convex.
portion adapted to press upon the truss pad, and the outer end provided with a.
flexible strap adapted to connect with buckles upon the opposite end of the truss
belt whereby the springs are drawn down in combination with coil springs.
interposed between the truss pad and the flat springs, whereby the pressure of the
latter is transmitted through the coil springs to the pads, and the latter are allowed
to automatically adjust themselves to movements of the person, substantially as.
herein described.
4th. A truss consisting of a flexible metallic band, with suitable enclosing and
protective casing, truss pads and adjusting plates by which they are attached to the
ends of the truss band, spring pressure plates having one end connected permanently
with one end of the truss belt, and the other provided with flexible strips which
are connected with buckles upon the opposite end of the belt, said spring plates
having an inward curvature at the point where they connect with the truss pad,.
and an outward or convex curvature forming a reverse curve which passes over and
around the hip at the point of attachment to the truss belt, substantially as herein.
described.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of March 1894.