Improvements in Trusses.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 8th July, 1892-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1892
OVIDIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Trusses.
I MARK JOHN LINDSEY of 32 Ludgate Hill in the City of London Surgical
Instrument Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to he as
follows:-
--
This my invention relates to improvements in trusses for the treatment of hernia
and my said invention consists in certain details and the combination and arrange-
ment of the same hereinafter described and set forth.
The spring of my improved truss is preferably of steel and of suitable form the
said spring being covered or coated with gum elastic vulcanite xylonite or other
suitable material so that the truss may be waterproof and suitable for use in any
climate.
The plaques or foundations for the pads are covered with similar material the
outer covering of the pad (i.e. the portion or face next the skin of the wearer is of
india rubber which is hermetically secured to the foundation and the intervening
space between the said outer covering and the foundation is filled or packed with
vegetable silk which will retain its elasticity. The combination of the stuffing
together with the air enclosed within the sealed covering will form an agreeably
soft and comfortable pad to the wearer.
Dated this 14th day of April 1892.
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Trusses.
I MARK JOHN LINDSEY of 32 Ludgate Hill in the City of London Surgical
Instrument Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This my invention relates to improvements in trusses and more particularly to
waterproofed or washable trusses for use in cases of hernia or rupture.
My invention is devised with the object of effecting certain new and useful
improvements in the manufacture of trusses, and my said invention consists in the
details hereinafter described.
In washable trusses of the usual construction the pad is made of a hard and solid
substance which being stiff and unyielding to the movements of the patient is most
inconvenient and unpleasant to wear.
By my improvement I substitute in the place of the hard pad before referred to
a pad of soft yielding material which shall be permanently elastic and impervious
to moisture and the said pad is secured to the spring of the truss in a simple manner
so that in the event of the pad becoming worn a new pad may be readily substituted
by the patient without the use of special tools or requiring skilled workmanship.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood reference is made
to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated a truss made in accordance
with my invention.
In the accompanying drawing, A represents the spring of the truss which is of
steel the said spring is covered with a casing of xylonite celluloid india-rubber or
other suitable material in order to prevent the oxydization of the metal, the said
covering being water-repellant and flexible.

page_text: One end of the said spring has a metallic plate B affixed thereto in any convenient
manner, the said plate B being of any suitable shape and being protected from
moisture in the manner before described.
The face of the said plate adjacent to the wearer,-(hereinafter referred to as
the inner face,)-is recessed so as to form a bed for the adjustment thereto of the
removable pad C.
The said pad C consists of a metallic plate to form a foundation, the said plate
being covered with sheet india rubber gutta percha or other suitable waterproo
tissue, the outer covering C being hermetically sealed to the covering of the said
plate and the space between the said plate and the outer covering is filled with
vegetable silk which forms a soft and highly elastic cushion or pad, which will
permanently retain its elasticity in any climate or under any ordinary conditions.
The said pad is secured to the inner face of the plate B of the truss by means of
two or more screws which are passed through the said plate B of the truss and into
the plate of the pad C. In order to prevent any undue pressure of the pad upon
the skin I prefer to bend the spring as shewn a a, so as that the surface of the pad
will be flush with that of the spring.
It will be readily understood therefore that the pad C may be easily replaced
when worn without necessitating any skill on the part of the wearer and at a low
cost.
The pad C may be filled with water, glycerine or other fluid (if preferred) in
place of the vegetable silk without departing from the spirit of my invention.
My improved truss will be found exceedingly comfortable and easy to the wearer,
and the soft yielding pad will avoid any excoriation or chafing of the skin which
frequently happens with the washable truss of the usual construction.
It will also be found particularly clean and will last a great length of time.
The truss requires no cumbrous fastening and will retain its position without
requiring any readjustment on the part of the wearer.
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,-
In a washable truss the combination of a waterproofed spring having a plate
secured thereto, with a durable elastic waterproof pad adapted so as to be readily
fixed to the said plate, the whole being constructed and arranged substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 7th day of July 1892.
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.