Adjustable and Reversible Splint.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 25th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Adjustable and Reversible Splint.
I, JOHN BOYD, of the Town of Lucknow, in the County of Bruce, in the Province
of Ontario, Canada, Manufacturer of Artificial Limbs and Appliances for
Deformities, &c., 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 a device for holding a dislocation in place, or a broken
bone when set.
And the object of this invention is to provide a simple, durable and elicient
device for this purpose; one which may be adjusted to fit the leg of any size or
length of an adult, male or female; one which is reversible so that it may be used
for either leg; one which is adapted to draw overlapping bones or parts of bones
apart, and hold them in place; one which may be adapted to be bent at the knee;
and one by the use of which all crookedness or shortness of the limb as well as
eversion or turning of the foot will be avoided and completely prevented.
To this end my invention consists of the novel features of construction, and the
combination of parts as will be hereinafter first fully set forth and described and
then pointed out in the claims.
Reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein,--
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a splint embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 is a rear view of same.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail plan view on the line, &,, of Fig. 2, showing the
position of the leather bands when open at one side to receive the limb.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail plan view on the line, z, z, of Fig. 1, showing the
position of the leather bands when closed on the limb.
A², A2, A3, and A+, designate adjustable splint sections which are preferably
formed of steel, but they may be formed of any suitable material, and in the
accompanying drawings, a splint composed of four sections is shown, and this I
have found by experiment to give the best results, at the same time this splint
may be solid at the knee and composed of a less or greater number of sections as
found most suitable according to the circumstances in connection with which
it may be used.
In the adjacent ends of each of these splint sections, a series of three, four or more
holes, a, are formed and b¹, 6, are set screws, two of which are used to secure
the adjacent ends of the splint sections together, these set screws extend through
plain holes a³, in the outer section and into and engage with screw threaded holes
in the inner section, so that by screwing up the set screws, the adjacent ends of
the splint sections are secured together, this forms a convenient means for securely
fastening and holding the adjacent ends of the splint sections together against
accidental lateral adjustment.
As shown in the accompanying drawings, the splint sections A2, and A³, are
secured together at a point about the knee joint, and the end of one of these
sections is formed with a lateral extension a, in which screw threaded holes a³,
are formed, when so constructed if one of the set screws b¹, was removed,

page_text: sections A2, and A3, would be pivoted on the screw 2, so that these sections as well
as the portion of the limb above and below the knee joint could be adjusted at an
angle to one another, and when properly adjusted could be securely fastened in
this position by projecting the set screw b', into one of the holes a, in the outer
section and into one of the screw threaded holes 'a', of the lateral extension 6,
of the inner section.
And by forming a series of three, four or more holes, in both of the adjacent
ends of each splint section, the said ends of the splint sections could be adjusted
to lap more or less over on one another, and be secured together as before described,
in order to adjust the splint sections lengthwise, to adapt the splint to legs of
different length; and by adjusting each section slightly, it would be sufficient
in the aggregate to adapt the splint to the leg of any adult, male or female, at the
same time retain the normal shape and relation of the splint sections to one
another.
A, designates an extension which extends upwards and at one side of the splint,
which is preferably formed of the same material and its end as well as the
adjacent end of the splint section A', provided with a series of holes a³, and secured
together by two set screws b¹, b', and adjustable on one another the same as the
other splint section.
B, designates a curved band or brace preferably formed of steel, which is
securely fastened about midway between its ends to the upper end of the exten-
sion A, which curved brace extends partly around the pelvic region; and a belt C,
is secured to said curved brace B, and extends completely around the pelvic
region of the body, and its ends are buckled or otherwise secured together, for
the purpose of securing the upper end of the curved steel brace B, in place and
the splint to the body when required.
D, designates a perineal or counter extension strap the ends of which are secured
to the ends of the curved steel brace B.
The upper extension A, together with the connections B, C, and D, are necessary
for a short break near, and for a dislocation of the hip joint and for hip disease.
E, E, designate adjustable semi-circular resilient spring bands preferably formed
of steel but they may be formed of any suitable material, which bands extend
around the rear portion of the leg, their ends being secured by set screws e², to
the splint sections for the purpose of holding said splint sections firmly and
securely in place; and in the ends of said semi-circular bands two or more holes e¹,
are formed, so that by lapping the ends of the semi-circular bands E, more or
less over the splint sections and securing them thereto by the set screws e, the
semi-circular bands E, may be adjusted and adapted to legs of different size, and
by forming two or more holes, a8, in the splint sections adjacent to said bands E,
the latter may be adjusted vertically on said splint sections.
F, F, designate wide bands of leather or other suitable material which are
firmly rivetted or otherwise secured to the splint sections, and said bands F, are
open and lap over one another at both the back and front, these bands F, being for
the purpose of firmly securing the splint to the limb.
The sides of said bands F, lap over one another as shown in Fig. 4, when the
limb is placed therein and the overlapping bands F, are held in place around the
limb by straps and buckles f¹, as shown in the accompanying drawings.
G, designates a foot piece, and H, a leather counter and I, a wide strap provided
with a buckle, both of the latter being secured to the foot piece for the purpose
of securely holding the foot in proper position, and to avoid and completely prevent
its eversion or turning.
The leather counter H, is open at the front, and when the foot is placed therein
the sides of the leather counter are lapped over one another, and held in place by
a strap and buckle h¹.
J, designates a stirrup to which the foot piece G, is firmly secured; and in the
splint sections A4, or those adjacent to the foot piece, elongated slots a³, aro

page_text: formed; and 63, are two set screws, which extend through said elongated slots a³,
into screw threaded holes in the stirrup J; and the foot piece G, is firmly secured
ai the desired position or elevation in the splint sections A+, by screwing the
set screws 63, tightly on the splint sections A
K, designates a cross brace firmly secured to the lower ends of the splint
sections A, their ends being firmly secured together for the purpose of bracing
and holding one another firmly in place.
L, designates a screw bolt, the head of which extends through and is firmly
engaged with the foot piece 6, and stirrup J; and said bolt I, also extends through
a hole in the cross brace K.
M, designates a coil spring which encircles the lower end of the bolt I, and is
interposed between the cross brace K, and a winged nut N, screwed on the lower
end of the bolt I.
The adjacent ends of the splint sections, as well as the adjacent end of the
upward extension A, have been described, as being secured together by set
screws, and the adjacent ends of the leather bands have been described as being
secured together by a strap and buckle, but these parts may be secured together
in any manner or by any means found most suitable or convenient.
In adapting this splint to the dislocated or fractured limb, it is first regulated
in regard to length by adjusting the adjacent ends of the splint sections to lap
more or less over on one another, and securing them at the position to which they are
adjusted as hereinbefore described; the front of the leather bands I, are then opened
or spread apart as shown in Fig. 3 and the counter H, opened after the dislocated
or broken parts of the limb are set, the splint adjusted as described, is placed so
that the limb will rest in the leather bands F, and counter H; the sides of the
leather bands F, and counter H, are then lapped over said limb and held in place
as well as the limb by the straps and buckles f¹, and h¹, respectively, thus the
dislocated or fractured parts of the limb may be easily and instantaneously
adjusted and secured in the splint.
And said leather bands being secured to the steel splint sections and the latter
being firmly and securely held in place by the curved resilient semi-circular steel
spring bands E, the accidental displacement of the dislocated or fractured parts
of the limb will be avoided and completely prevented and said parts securely
held in apposition.
And my splint constructed as hereinbefore described will firmly hold and
resist any accidental displacement of the dislocation and fracture, and
in a resilient and flexible manner and not in a rigid manner as in the case where
a plaster of Paris jacket is used, the torture of which when the circulation is
retarded or when removing it from the limb is beyond description, all of which is
avoided and completely prevented by using my invention.
The leather bands F, the splint sections, and the curved resilient steel spring
hands E, are of sufficient firmness to safely hold and resist the accidental displacement
of the fractured parts of the limb, at the same time they are resilient and flexible to
a certain limited extent, and as a result, the limb will rest easily and naturally
in the splint and the pain and discomfort attending these class of injuries, will
be reduced to a minimum, or practically removed, consequently a rapid healing
and knitting together of the broken bones will take place, as well as a rapid
healing of the surrounding parts.
When the splint is complete and full length as shown in the accompanying
drawings, it is adapted to be used for a fracture of the thigh, and for a disloca-
tion of the hip joint, and for hip disease; the perineal strap D, secured to the
ends of the curved brace B, extends around the perineum and forms a counter
extension strap to draw the hip joint down into place to adapt the splint for use
in the case of a short fracture near or for a dislocation of the hip joint.
Again the construction of the splint with the lateral extension a, at the knee,
allows the flexion or bending of the latter and permits this splint to be adapted

page_text: for use in the fracture of the condyles or protuberance on the ends of the bones at
the knee or a fracture of the bones near the knee.
Again the splint is provided with a counter H, and foot piece G; to prevent
the eversion or turning of the foot, or to hold the foot in a natural position, and the
foot piece G, also projects a little beyond the toes to take off the pressure of the
bed-clothes.
And when the splint has been properly adjusted and secured to the leg, the
fractured limb is gradually and easily extended as far as the patient can con-
veniently bear, by means of the screw extension L, to draw the bones or parts of
bones apart and in place, and to gradually overcome the contracted muscles and
to complete the extension; the spring M, making this extension resilient to a
limited extent, as a result the fracture will come easily and naturally together.
Again by adjusting the extension A, and connections to the opposite side of the
splint, and reversing the lower splint section A, to which the foot piece G, and
connections are secured, and reversing the curved semi-circular resilient steel
spring bands E, the splint is made reversible to be used for the other leg, the
result of all which is that the one splint is reversible, so that it may be used for
either leg, it may be lengthened or shortened to adapt it to the
limb of any adult, male or female, and by its use, all crookedness and shortness of
the limb as well as any eversion or turning of the foot is avoided and completely
prevented, and a splint simple, durable, and efficient in practical use is provided,
and one which may be easily and instantaneously adjusted on the limb, and one
by which a more rapid healing and knitting together of the fracture will take
place.
I have found by experiment that the construction herein shown and described,
gives the best results, at the same time, while I prefer the same, I do not wish
to limit myself to the details thereof, as they may be modified in various ways
without departing from the spirit of my invention.
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 splint composed of adjustable splint sections, to adapt it to limbs of
different length, and means for holding and firmly securing said splint sections
together, at the position to which they may be adjusted, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
2nd, In a splint, the bands F, open at back and front, and means for securely
holding the adjacent sides of said bands in place, to permit the splint to be
reversed, to adapt it to either leg, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3rd, In a splint, the resilient spring bands E, for the purpose of firmly holding
and securing the splint sections in place, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
4th, A splint, composed of adjustable splint sections, in combination with
bands F, to adapt it to limbs of any length and size, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
5th, A splint composed of splint sections, in combination with the resilient
spring bands E, and bands F, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6th, The splint sections, the resilient spring bands E, and bands F, in com-
bination with the extension A, curved brace B, belt C, and strap D, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
7th, In a splint, a splint section A3, provided with a lateral extension a, in
combination with a splint section A2, and means for securing said splint sections
together at the position to which they are adjusted, by which the angle of flexion
is formed at the knee, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8th, In a splint, a foot piece G, provided with a counter H, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 9th, splint section A', provided with elongated slots a³, the foot piece G,
the counter H, and stirrup J, in combination with the screw L, cross brace K,
spring M, and nut N, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
10th, The splint section A', provided with elongated slots aº, the resilient
spring band E, the foot piece G, counter H, strap I, and stirrup J, in combination
with the screw L, cross brace K, spring M, and nut N, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
11th, The adjustable splint sections A1, A2, A3, and A', the resilient spring
bands E, and the bands F, in combination with the foot piece G. counter H,
stirrup J, screw L, cross brace K, spring M, and nut N, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
12th, The adjustable splint sections A1, A2, A3, and A, the resilient spring
bands the bands F, and the extension A, curved brace B, belt C, and strap D,
in combination with the foot piece G, counter H, stirrup J, screw L, cross brace K,
spring M, and nut N, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
1911.
f
1807