BE1021570B1 - BRACE - Google Patents

Abstract

Splint (1) for immobilizing a joint comprising; a main envelope (10) made in one piece, able to be folded to at least partially surround and immobilize said joint (2); a plurality of removable fixing means (15) capable of being coupled to said main casing (10) to maintain it in a position such that it at least partially surrounds said articulation (2), and capable of being decoupled from said main casing (10). At least two removable fixing means (15) of said plurality of removable fixing means (15) have different lengths and the latter are elastic.

Description

brace

Field of the Invention [0001] The invention relates to a splint for locking a joint such as a knee or an elbow. It comprises: - a main envelope made of a single piece, able to be folded to at least partially surround and immobilize said joint; a plurality of removable fastening means: i) capable of being coupled to said main envelope in order to maintain it in a position such that it at least partially surrounds said articulation, and ii) capable of being decoupled from said main envelope. STATE OF THE ART [0002] A splint for immobilizing a joint is in particular described in FR2902643. This splint comprises a wrapping piece (or main envelope) intended to enclose a limb to immobilize it or in an equivalent manner to immobilize a joint of this limb such as a knee. To this end, the splint further comprises stiffening ribs maintained relative to the main envelope by stitching and holding strips (or strips) for maintaining the main envelope in wrapping position of the limb to be immobilized. The support strips are engaged through slots in the stiffening whales so as to cross them.

The splint described in FR2902643 has the following drawbacks. A first problem is related to the fact that it is not possible to have a single splint as described in FR2902643 which satisfactorily attaches to members of shape and / or substantially different volumes. In particular a single splint as described in FR2902643 can not be suitable for two individuals having lower limbs of very different average diameter. It is therefore necessary to provide different models relating to different shapes and sizes of limbs on which the splint is to fit. A second problem arises from the fact that the splint of FR2902643 tends to slide down when placed around a lower limb of an individual to block his knee and when that individual moves. The splint does not remain in place, it does not fully ensure its function, namely to block a joint such as a knee. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a splint for locking a joint that easily adapts to members of shape and / or substantially different volumes and which remains in place even if the individual who wears it moves. To this end, the splint according to the invention is characterized in that: at least two removable fixing means of said plurality of removable fastening means have different lengths; and in that - said removable fastening means are elastic.

At least two removable fixing means have different lengths. Thus, if the purpose of the splint of the invention is to immobilize a lower limb of an individual and this lower limb has a large diameter, the removable fastening means having the greatest lengths will be chosen. If, on the other hand, the lower limb to be immobilized has a small diameter, the removable fastening means having smaller lengths will be chosen instead. Thus, thanks to the fact that there are at least two removable attachment means which have different lengths, it is possible to have a splint that easily adapts to members of shape and / or substantially different volumes. The removable fastening means are elastic. This allows for a better fixation of the splint around the limb on which it is placed, especially when the individual wearing the splint is moving. The elasticity of the removable fastening means makes it possible to resume the inevitable deformation that the splint undergoes if the individual moves the limb whose articulation is immobilized while permanently printing a clamping force of the splint against the limb around of which it is fixed. Thus, the splint of the invention is self-supporting and remains in place even if the individual who wears it moves.

Using removable fastening means that are elastic also allows to have a splint that easily adapts to members of shape and / or substantially different volumes. The longer the limb to be immobilized, the more the removable fastening means will be stretched. The elasticity of the removable attachment means therefore also makes it possible to use a single splint for different sizes of limbs comprising the joint to be immobilized. In a preferred embodiment, the splint of the invention comprises four removable elastic fixing means of different lengths. Different ways of coupling the removable elastic fastening means to the main envelope are conceivable, such as for example an attachment using a Velcro tape (also called VELCRO tape). The splint of the invention has other advantages. Use elastic fasteners that are removable allows not to replace the entire splint if one of them breaks. Just replace the one that is destroyed. Each piece of the splint is replaceable separately. Use of resilient securing means which is removable also facilitates the cleaning of the splint. Each of the elements can be cleaned separately and the space for washing the splint can be reduced by separating (or uncoupling) the removable elastic fastening means of the main envelope.

With a choice of suitable materials, the splint of the invention can be made particularly lightweight which improves the comfort of the patient who wears it. The splint of the invention is particularly simple to implement, especially through the use of a main envelope which is made in one piece. The feeling of constraint and congestion is also reduced for the patient (or individual) who wears it. The splint of the invention can be used for real estate knee or elbow for example. The removable elastic fastening means are, for example, removable elastic strips or elastic fastening strips. Those skilled in the art can use any other elastic fastening means.

Preferably, the removable elastic fixing means are adapted to be coupled to the main envelope at different locations of said main envelope. The variable positioning of the removable elastic fastening means on the main envelope makes it possible to adapt to members of shape and / or substantially different volumes even more easily. Preferably, the removable elastic fixing means are elastic strips.

Preferably, at least one removable elastic fastening means comprises at least one fastening strip adapted to be fixed to said main envelope according to the principle of a hook and loop tape.

This type of fixation (principle of a Velcro tape) also called VELCRO fastening is particularly easy to use.

Preferably, said main envelope comprises at least one velcro velvet type surface portion and the at least one fastening strip has a hook velcro type surface adapted to be secured to said at least one surface portion. Velcro velvet type.

The terms velcro velvet (or female velcro) and velcro hook (or male velcro) are known to those skilled in the art. In this preferred embodiment, it is a surface portion of the main envelope which makes it possible to fix the removable elastic fixing means. This preferred embodiment is therefore particularly advantageous for reducing the production steps of the splint, the main envelope comprising a surface portion acting as a fastener for the removable elastic fastening means. The surface of the main envelope represents its entire surface, that is to say both the part of the surface of the main envelope intended to be in contact with a member to be immobilized that the part of the surface of the main envelope not coming into contact with the limb to be immobilized.

Preferably, said removable elastic fastening means comprise two ends each having a fastening strip having a hook-type velcro-type surface adapted to be secured to said at least one surface portion of the main velcro-type envelope. velvet.

In this preferred embodiment, the two ends of the removable elastic fastening means can be fixed on at least one surface portion of the main envelope according to the principle of a hook and loop fastener.

Fixing the splint around the joint to immobilize is all the more facilitated.

Preferably, the entire surface of the main envelope is Velcro velvet type.

Preferably, said main envelope is substantially flat when it is not folded to at least partially surround said joint.

Preferably, at least one of the at least one sheath comprises an opening for inserting and removing a stiffening rib. Preferably, at least one of the at least one sheath is sewn to said main envelope. Preferably, at least one of the at least one sheath comprises at least one portion of outer surface capable of being fixed to said main envelope according to the principle of a hook and loop fastener. When at least one sheath comprises an opening for inserting and removing a stiffening whale, it is possible to easily change such a stiffening whale. This can be useful if, for example, a rigging whale breaks and needs to be replaced. This may also be useful if it is desirable to impose a predefined shape on a rigging whale to block (or immobilize) a joint in a given position. The use of aluminum stiffening whales allows them to be printed with a predefined shape or curvature. By cons, the use of a synthetic rod allows to have a splint that is not radiopaque, that is to say, which is transparent to the beam used in conventional radiography.

Preferably, at least one of the at least one sheath is sewn to said main envelope. Preferably, at least one of the at least one sheath comprises at least one portion of outer surface capable of being fixed to said main envelope according to the principle of a hook and loop fastener. Preferably, the at least one of the at least one sheath comprising at least one outer surface portion capable of being fixed to the main casing according to the principle of a hook-and-loop tape comprises at least one portion of the outer surface of velcro type velvet and at least a portion of outer surface Velcro hook type.

When at least one sheath comprises at least one outer surface portion adapted to be fixed on the main casing according to the principle of a hook and loop strip, it is possible to easily change the position of stiffening ribs relative to to the main envelope. This is particularly useful and makes the splint of the invention even more suitable for use in locking an articulation of members of substantially different shapes and / or sizes. It may indeed be desirable to move the position of the stiffening ribs along the main envelope depending on the size and / or shape of the limb to be immobilized. The fact of being able to decouple the sheaths of the main envelope (thanks to the principle of hook-and-loop tape) also facilitates the cleaning of the splint. The fact of being able to manufacture the sheaths separately from the main envelope and then to fasten them according to the principle of a hook-and-loop tape also makes it easier to manufacture the splint. Preferably, at least a portion of the surface of the main envelope is velcro velvet type (or female velcro), for fixing on this at least a portion of the surface of the main envelope sheaths comprising at least a portion external surface Velcro type hook (or male velcro).

Preferably, the main envelope comprises four sheaths each adapted to receive a stiffening rib for immobilizing a joint once the main envelope folded to at least partially surround said joint, two of said four sheaths being sewn to said envelope main, two of said four sheaths each comprising at least one outer surface portion adapted to attach to said main envelope according to the principle of a hook and loop tape and each comprising an opening for inserting and removing a stiffening rib. The use of four sheaths each comprising a stiffening whale, two of which can be positioned at different locations of the main envelope thanks to the hook-and-loop principle is particularly suitable for blocking a knee of a human lower limb. In another preferred version, [0015] Preferably, the removable elastic fixing means are asymmetrical in width along their length.

In such a case, one end of the removable elastic fastening means is narrower than the other along their length. Thus, when pulling on the narrower end, it stretches more than the other end if the removable elastic fixing means are made of a single material along their length. By fixing the widest end first on the main envelope, fixing the other end less wide on the main envelope is facilitated.

Preferably, the main envelope is adapted to be folded to surround essentially a lower human limb. Preferably, the splint of the invention comprises four removable elastic fixing means of different lengths.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0017] These and other aspects of the invention will be clarified in the detailed description of particular embodiments of the invention, with reference to the drawings of the figures, in which: FIG. 1 schematically shows a preferred version of the main envelope and the plurality of removable elastic fixing means when the splint is not folded around the joint to be immobilized and when the removable elastic fixing means are decoupled from the main envelope; Fig.2 shows schematically a preferred version of the splint of the invention surrounding a joint to be immobilized; FIG. 3 schematically shows a preferred version of the splint placed on two human lower limbs of different sizes; FIG. 4 shows a preferred version of the main envelope not folded around a joint and comprising a plurality of sleeves each adapted to receive a stiffening rib.

The drawings of the figures are not to scale. Generally, similar elements are denoted by similar references in the figures. The presence of reference numbers in the drawings can not be considered as limiting, even when these numbers are indicated in the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS [0018] The splint 1 of the invention comprises a main envelope 10 made in one piece. This main envelope 10 (or pan) can be folded to at least partially surround and immobilize a joint 2, such as a knee or elbow, for example. The main envelope 10 is preferably made of a relatively flexible material and can be deformed between a flat position, shown in FIG. 1, and a contention position shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the splint 1 blocks a knee 2, the splint 1 being fixed around a lower human limb 3. As is known to those skilled in the art, a lower human limb 3 comprises a leg and a thigh. The thigh is the part of the lower human limb 3 between the hip and the knee while the leg starts from the knee and ends at the ankle. Elastic removable fastening means 15 (elastic strips for example) make it possible to maintain the main envelope 10 in a position such that it at least partially surrounds the hinge 2 to be immobilized (restraint position). The elastic fixing means 15 are removable and can therefore be coupled to or decoupled from the main envelope 10. As illustrated in FIG. 1, at least two removable elastic fixing means 15 have different lengths. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the splint 1 comprises four removable elastic fixing means 15, all of which have different lengths. As shown in FIG. 2, the removable elastic fixing means 15 close the splint 1 preferably on the front of the lower human limb 3. The particular and preferred shape of the main envelope 10 shown in FIG. have an opening where is housed the protruding side of a knee 2. Thus, with this type of splint 1 and positioning, it is not necessary to have a hollow at the back of the knee. Closing the splint 1 in front is easier than closing splint 1 from behind.

The sizes of the main envelope 10 and removable elastic fastening means 15 may depend in particular on the use that is made of the splint 1. If the splint 1 is used to block a knee 2 of a Preferred dimensions for the magnitudes specified in FIG. 1 are: L1 between 54 and 62 cm, with a more preferred value L1 = 58 cm; - L2 between 42 and 50 cm, with a more preferred value L2 = 46 cm; - L3 between 34 and 42 cm, with a more preferred value L3 = 38 cm; - H1 between 45 and 60 cm, with a more preferred value H1 = 54 cm; LG1 between 5 and 9 cm, with a more preferred value LG1 = 7 cm; - LG2 between 12 and 16 cm, with a more preferred value L2 = 14 cm; - LG3 between 19 and 23 cm, with more preferred value LG3 = 21 cm. - LG4 between 33 and 37 cm, with a more preferred value LG4 = 35 cm; - LA between 6 and 10 cm, with the most preferred value LA = 8 cm. Any elastic material may be used for the removable elastic fastening means 15. Preferably, high tenacity jacquard elastic bands will be selected. Preferably, the main envelope 10 is made of a material comprising a polyurethane foam-tissue complex with an outer Velcro velvet surface.

Preferably, the removable elastic fixing means 15 are able to be coupled to the main envelope 10 at different locations. Different fixing mechanisms can be used to couple the removable elastic fixing means 15 to the main envelope 10. In a first preferred version, the main envelope 10 comprises loops in which the removable elastic fixing means 15 can pass and allowing to fix them to the main envelope 10. In a second preferred version, one or more removable elastic fixing means 15 comprises at least one fastening strip 20 adapted to be fixed to the main envelope 10 according to the principle of a hook-and-loop tape (also called Velcro fastening principle). It is this type of attachment which is shown in the preferred versions of FIGS. 1 to 3. In these examples, each removable elastic fixing means 15 comprises two fastening strips 20 capable of being fixed to the main envelope 10 according to the principle of a hook and loop fastener: in particular, it is conceivable that these fastening strips 20 have a velcro-hook surface (or male velcro) and that at least one surface portion 11 of the main envelope 10 is of the type velvet velcro (or female velcro). One can of course imagine the opposite where the fastening strips 20 have a velcro velvet type surface and where at least a surface portion 11 of the main envelope 10 is Velcro hook type. In both cases, the fixing of the removable elastic fixing means 15 to the main casing 10 is particularly easy when the principle of the hook and loop tape (or Velcro band) is used. In a preferred version (as shown in FIG. 2), the entire surface 11 of the main envelope 10 is of Velcro velvet type, facilitating the attachment of removable elastic fixing means 15 at different locations of the main envelope 10. The surface 11 of the main envelope 10 is the entire surface of the main envelope 10. Thus, the surface 11 of the main envelope 10 comprises the surface of this main envelope 10 which is in contact with the member to be immobilized when the splint 1 is placed and the surface of the main envelope 10 which is not in contact with the member once the splint 1 fixed around this member. When the entire surface 11 of the main envelope 10 is Velcro velvet type, it is possible to change the side on which the removable elastic fixing means 15 are hooked once a side of the main envelope 10 damaged. For another preferred embodiment, it is possible to imagine that one end of the removable elastic fastening means 15 couples to the main envelope 10 through a loop and another end couples to the main envelope 10 thanks to the hook-and-loop principle.

In a preferred version, the main envelope 10 comprises at least one sheath 25 (or sheath) to receive a stiffening whale to immobilize a joint 2 once the main envelope 10 folded to surround at least partially this articulation 2. The preferred embodiments shown in Figures 2 and 3 have such sheaths. The left side of Figure 3 shows the splint 1 placed on a lower human limb 3 of small diameter, while the right part of the same figure shows the splint 1 placed on a human member of larger diameter. The same main envelope 10 is used in both cases. The adaptation to the two different limb sizes is done thanks to the presence of the removable elastic fixing means 15, at least two of which have different lengths. For the preferred embodiment of Figure 4 the main envelope 10 comprising four sheaths 25. The stiffening whale may for example be a metal rod. Preferably, aluminum rods are used for stiffening ribs. Preferentially, the stiffening whales have a width of between 1 and 2 cm. The stiffening ribs have a preferred thickness of between 2 and 5 mm. When the stiffening ribs are aluminum, it is preferred to use a thickness of 3 mm. Preferably, at least one sheath 25 has an opening for inserting and removing a stiffening rib. To maintain a stiffening rib in a sheath 25, it may be advantageous to provide a sheath closure 50 as illustrated in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 4. This sheath closure 50 may be made of the same material as the main envelope 10 or in another material.

Different methods can be envisaged to fix the sheath or sheaths 25 to the main envelope 10. In a preferred version, at least one sheath 25 is sewn to the main envelope 10. In another preferred version, one or more sheaths 25 comprise at least one portion of outer surface capable of being fixed to the main casing 10 according to the principle of a hook and loop fastener. The entire outer surface of a sheath 25 may also be adapted to attach to the main envelope 10 according to the principle of a hook and loop tape. Thus, the outer surface of a sheath 25 may for example comprise a hook velcro type surface and the main envelope 10 may for example comprise a velcro velvet type surface over its entire surface 11. The opposite is also possible. The outer surface of a sheath 25 represents the entire outer surface of a sheath 25. It may be advantageous to have half of the outer surface of a velcro-velvet type sheath 25 and the other half of hook velcro type. In this preferred embodiment, the outer half of a hook velcro-type sheath 25 is used to secure the sheath 25 to a velcro-like main shell 10 while the outer half of the sheath 25 which is Velcro velvet type allows to fix one or more means (s) elastic attachment (s) removable (s) 15.

In another preferred embodiment, the main envelope 10 comprises four sheaths 25 each capable of receiving a stiffening whale. Two of these four sheaths 25 are preferably sewn to the main envelope and the other two are preferably adapted to be fixed to the main envelope 10 according to the principle of a hook and loop tape. In this preferred embodiment, each sheath 25 preferably includes an opening for inserting and removing a stiffening rib.

As shown in Figure 1, the removable elastic fixing means 15 are preferably asymmetrical in width along their length. Thus, preferably, the width of a removable elastic fastening means 25 varies along its length.

The present invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments, which have a purely illustrative value and should not be considered as limiting. In general, the present invention is not limited to the examples illustrated and / or described above. The use of the verbs "to understand", "to include", "to include", or any other variant, as well as their conjugations, can in no way exclude the presence of elements other than those mentioned. The use of the indefinite article "a", "an", or the definite article "the", "the" or "Γ", to introduce an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of these elements.

In summary, the invention can also be described as follows.

Splint 1 for immobilizing a hinge 2 such as a knee 2 and comprising: a main envelope 10 made in one piece, able to be folded to at least partially surround and immobilize said hinge 2; a plurality of removable fastening means 15 adapted to be coupled to said main envelope 10 to maintain it in a position such that it at least partially surrounds said hinge '2, and able to be decoupled from said main envelope 10. The splint 1 of the invention is characterized in that: at least two removable fastening means 15 of said plurality of removable fastening means 15 have different lengths; and in that said removable fastening means 15 are resilient.

Claims (18)

claims A splint (1) for immobilizing an articulation (2) comprising: - a main envelope (10) made in one piece, able to be folded to at least partially surround and immobilize said articulation (2); a plurality of removable fastening means (15): i) capable of being coupled to said main envelope (10) to maintain it in a position such that it at least partially surrounds said articulation (2), and ii) adapted to be decoupled from said main envelope (10); characterized in that: - at least two removable fastening means (15) of said plurality of removable fastening means (15) have different lengths; and in that - said removable fixing means (15) are elastic. 2. Splint (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the removable elastic fixing means (15) are adapted to be coupled to the main casing (10) at different locations of said main casing (10). 3. Splint (1) according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the removable elastic fixing means (15) are elastic strips. 4. Splint (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that at least one removable elastic fastening means (15) comprises at least one fastening strip (20) adapted to be fixed to said main envelope (10). ) according to the principle of a Velcro tape. 5. Splint (1) according to the preceding claim characterized in that said main envelope (10) comprises at least one velcro-velcro type surface portion (11) and in that the at least one fastening strip (20) has a hook velcro-type surface adapted to be secured to said at least one surface portion (11) Velcro type velvet. 6. Splint (1) according to claim 5 characterized in that said removable elastic fastening means (15) comprise two ends each having a fastening strip (20) having a velcro type hook surface adapted to be secured to said minus a surface portion (11) of the main envelope (10) velcro velvet type. 7. Splint (1) according to claim 5 or 6 characterized in that the entire surface (11) of the main casing (10) is Velcro velvet type. 8. Splint (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that said main envelope (10) is substantially flat when not folded to at least partially surround said hinge (2). 9. Splint (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that said main envelope (10) comprises at least one sheath (25) adapted to receive a stiffening rib for immobilizing said articulation (2) once the main envelope (10) folded to at least partially surround said hinge (2). 10. Splint (1) according to the preceding claim characterized in that said stiffening rib is a synthetic rod. 11. Splint (1) according to claim 9 or 10 characterized in that at least one of the at least one sheath (25) comprises an opening for inserting and removing a stiffening rib. 12. Splint (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 11 characterized in that at least one of the at least one sheath (25) is sewn to said main envelope (10). 13. Splint (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 12 characterized in that at least one of the at least one sheath (25) comprises at least one outer surface portion adapted to be fixed to said main envelope ( 10) according to the principle of a Velcro tape. 14. Splint (1) according to claim 13 characterized in that the at least one of the at least one sheath (25) comprising at least one outer surface portion adapted to be fixed to the main casing (10) according to the principle of a hook and loop fastener comprises at least one velcro velcro-type external surface portion and at least one hook-type velcro-type outer surface portion. 15. Splint (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that said main envelope (10) comprises four sheaths (25) each adapted to receive a stiffening rib for immobilizing said articulation (2) once the envelope main member (10) bent to at least partially surround said hinge (2), two of said four sleeves (25) being sewn to said main envelope (10), two of said four sleeves (25) each comprising at least a portion of an outer surface capable of to attach to said main envelope (10) according to the principle of a self-gripping tape and each comprising an opening for inserting and removing a stiffening rib. 16. Splint (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that said removable elastic fixing means (15) are asymmetrical in width along their length. 17. Splint (1) according to any preceding claim characterized in that said main envelope (10) is adapted to be folded to surround essentially a lower human limb (3). 18. Splint (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises four removable elastic fixing means (15) of different lengths.