Improvements in Surgical Splints.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1897-Accepted, 8th Jan., 1898
Improvements in Surgical Splints.
I, SIDNEY HERBERT GARDINER, a citizen of the United States of America, resid-
ing at 1085 Gates Avenue, in the City of Brooklyn, County of Kings and State of
New York, Physician and 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:-
Heretofore universal splints have been manufactured from a textile fabric which
necessitated cutting to approximate shape and the use of heat or warm water to
soften them that they might be set to the contour of the part, or they have con-
sisted of pieces of sheet metal or gauze that must be bent, cut and formed to the
contour of the part. By my device I eliminate all these difficulties by forming a
splint of a series of strips or pieces that shall be movably connected in such a
manner that they will readily take the contour of the part when so shaped. In.
certain cases it has been found advisable to strengthen or stiffen the outer edges
of the splint and for this purpose I employ what I term an auxiliary stiffening,
strip on either or both sides of the splint.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 represents a plan view illustrating a form of my invention.
Figure 2a section on the line 2-2, in Figure 1;
Figure 3 a detailed plan showing how the various parts may he lengthened:
Figure 4 a means of movably attaching the various parts to an auxiliary stiffen-
ing splint;
Figure 5 a side view of the same.
Figure 6 a view of my invention in use but without bandages;
Figure 7 a section on the line 6-6.
To
In the drawing A represents the foundation piece of what might be termed the
backbone of the splint and is preferably made of sheet metal, such as tin or
aluminium or compounds thereof, or of other metal that has a certain amount of
flexibility but is capable of maintaining its form when permanently set.
further stiffen the backbone I have turned over certain portions of the metal form-
ing what might be termed a bead along the edges of the backbone. To the other
side of the backbone I have movably connected in a suitable manner strips or
pieces a, a¹ and to render the set of these pieces accurate when shaped to the con-
tour of the part I have employed a strip B having its edges or certain portions
thereof turned over somewhat in the manner of the backbone at the same time
forming a device or track b, in which operates the movable connection C. The
movable connection C is preferably of the following construction: A flat piece of
metal is indented or cut out on either side and the projecting portions of the
original metal bent toward each other forming a loop on the upper side and a
stop c, e on the lower side. Through this loop C the strips or pieces a, a' slide and
when formed to the contour of the part may be turned over on the loop as shown in
Fig. 2, thereby holding the same rigidly in place. In many cases it becomes
necessary to lengthen the various parts particularly as shown in dotted lines in
Fig. 6.
For this purpose I may employ a very simple tied which consists of a

page_text: It
piece of strong wire bent in the shape desired and into which the strips or
pieces a, a are inserted and turned over upon themselves as shown in Figs. 3
and 5 and the added stripe attached to the opposite side in a similar manner.
is obvious that if necessary the tie may be circular in form and that several strips
may be added in fact a "sling" can be formed by this method. The object of
this invention is more particularly to produce what may be termed a staple
universal splint, and its advantage lies in the fact that a doctor or surgeon has
only to slip a splint of this nature in his bag and he is ready for any emergency.
He can sot a fracture, a dislocation or in fact any form of injury requiring a splint
irrespective of the position in which it is desired to hold it and he needs but one
splint for any part of the body. Another advantage of this invention is its
lightness, strength and cheapness.
Having now described this invention and its advantages I will describe its
operation with reference to Fig. 6. The stiffened portion or backbone is laid
parallel or as nearly so as possible to the normal direction of the part and shaped to
fit the contour of the part. The side projections are then bent over the part and.
assume the contour given them by the formation of the backbone as well as the
contour they assume by being shaped to the parts. The ends of these strips or
pieces are then inserted into the loops sliding in the auxiliary stiffening strip and
the stiffening strip shaped to the contour of the part. The ends of the projections
may then be turned over upon the loops and may be elongated by means of the tie
described so that they extend completely around the part and afterwards the
usual bandages applied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A new article of manufacture of the class described, consisting of a stiffened
or re-inforced strip, and lateral strips or pieces connected thereto by means of a
sliding pivotal connection.
2. A new article of manufacture of the class described, consisting of a stiffened
or re-inforced strip, lateral strips or pieces movably attached thereto and an
auxiliary stiffened or re-inforced strip connected with said lateral projections by
means of a sliding pivotal connection.
Dated the 23rd day of November 1897.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.