An Improved Truss for Hernia.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Truss for Hernia.
THOMAS BROWNLOW, Junior, of 99, Vernon Street, Bolton, Joiner, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
I prepare out of steel or other suitable materials a spring or band of the required
shape. To one end of this spring or band I attach a pad which shall rest on the
spine of the back. From this pad the spring or band comes round the body over
the thigh bone to a point somewhat beyond the hollow of the groin. To this front
end of this spring or band I attach by a moveable joint another spring or band
of steel or other suitable materials. This second spring or band is turned to
follow the direction of the hollow of the groin, on the side nearest the hernia.
To the lower end of this second spring or band, I attach a pad made with a plate
having a boss with a bevilled end to allow of adjustment. The second spring or
band is also arranged to allow of adjustment. A strap or light band may be
attached to each end of the first spring or band to prevent lateral movement.
Instead of attaching the pad to the end of the second spring or band a third
spring or band may be added to carry the pad to cover the hernia in the required
position. The same single truss may be arranged to fit either side of the body
and 2 single trusses may be connected to form a double truss.
Dated this 27th day of December 1898
An Improved Truss for Hernia,
I, THOMAS BROWNLOW, Junior, of 97 and 99, Vernon Street, Bolton, in the
County of Lancaster, Joiner, 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 and accompanying drawings:-
My said invention relates to an improved construction of truss for use in the
treatment or cure of hernia or rupture of the abdomen as is well understood.
The invention has for its object to construct a truss which shall not be liable
to displacement and can therefore be worn with greater comfort, the pad
designed to bear on the hernia being so carried as to permit of its being accurately
adjusted to the exact position of the hernia.
My invention will be clearly understood from the following description when
read in conjunction with the annexed sheet of drawings, in which:-
Figs. 1 and 2 show front views of my improved truss which is reversible and
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page_text: may be used either on the right or left hand side of the body. In Fig. 1 the truss
is so shown as when used on the right hand side of the body, whilst in Fig. 2 the
truss has been turned upside down and the pendent pad adjusted to be suitable for
use on the left hand side.
Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow.
Fig. 4 shows a separate view of the pendent pad together with a portion of
the steel band to which it is attached.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 shows a method of obtaining adjustment of the pad by means of a suit-
ably arranged bevil.
Fig. 7 indicates the arrangement of parts in a double truss.
In carrying my invention into effect I take a strip or band of steel or other
suitable material a which is bent or fashioned to a curved form so as to readily
fit the body when in position.
The metallic or other strip a is suitable padded or enclosed in a cover b to
prevent abrasion of the wearer's skin such covering being made from soft leather
or the like.
If thought desirable the metallic strip might be covered with vulcanite or other-
wise treated to render same rust proof.
To one end of the steel strip or band a I attach a pad e designed to rest say on
the spine of the back.
From this pad the spring or band a comes round the body immediately over
the thigh bone to a point preferably a little beyond the hollow of the groin but
does not extend across the abdomen. The position of the pad c is adjustable by
fixing the screw d into one or other of the holes a¹ a² a³, or a slot may be formed
in the end of the spring for the same purpose. To the front end of the steel strip
or spring a I attach a slotted curved plate e, by means of screws f, and to this
plate I connect a suitably curved steel or other band g which carries the pad h
designed to bear on the hernia as will be understood."
The connection between the curved steel band g and the slotted plate e is made
by means of a screwed stud or bolt e¹, by slackening which the band g may be
readily turned or adjusted so as to follow the groin and bring the pad directly
over the hernia, whereupon the bolt may be tightened and the adjusted position
secured. A strap or light band may be employed to ensure that the pendent
band g shall always maintain its adjusted position.
The pad is secured in a slot g' formed in the spring by means of a screw h¹
and I prefer to form such pad with a boss 2 having a bevilled end as clearly
shown in Fig. 6 so as to permit of the angle of inclination of such pad being
adjusted. Such adjustment is effected by slackening back the screw and
revolving the pad h to a sufficient extent.
The length of the slot g¹ permits of any requisite adjustment of the pad h
being made.
To firmly maintain the position of the upper portion of the truss I might
employ a strap or light band i connected to the back of the pad c such band
encircling the body and being buttoned over the head e* of the bolt e¹.
A padded portion 1, extending from or secured to the covering b, is interposed
between the nut of the bolt e¹ and the body as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
I may if desired form the spring g in two parts one of such parts carrying
the pad and being adjustable on the other.
In certain instances I may utilise a third spring such third spring being jointed
to the pendent spring g in a convenient fashion.
In cases of double rupture I propose to employ a double truss constructed
according to my invention, the two steel bands a being preferably connected to
the one back pad c as is clearly indicated in Fig. 7.
By employing a truss such as above described having no liability to move by
reason, of its not being affected by the movements of the abdomen and in which
the pad can be brought directly over and securely maintained with an elastic
:

page_text: pressure upon the hernia it will be found that more beneficial support is obtained
and that in many cases the rupture may be entirely cured.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1) A truss for use in the treatment or cure of hernia having a pendent spring
or limb following the groin and carrying the pad designed to bear on the hernia,
such spring or limb being so connected to the main body of the truss as to per-
mit of the pad being adjusted and firmly secured in a position to rest directly on
the hernia, substantially as herein described.
2) A reversible truss for the indicated purposes, consisting of a spring or
band a fitting over the thigh bone, a pendent spring or limb g, and a pad h formed
either with or without a bevilled boss 2, substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 24th day of July 1899.
For the Applicant,
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 5, John Dalton Street, Manchester.