CA1299951C - Splint device for spinal immobilization - Google Patents
Splint device for spinal immobilizationInfo
- Publication number
- CA1299951C CA1299951C CA000560089A CA560089A CA1299951C CA 1299951 C CA1299951 C CA 1299951C CA 000560089 A CA000560089 A CA 000560089A CA 560089 A CA560089 A CA 560089A CA 1299951 C CA1299951 C CA 1299951C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- wings
- patient
- support portion
- pair
- central support
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A splint device for the spinal immobilization of a patient. The splint includes a central support portion and two pairs of laterally extending flexible wings adapted to extend, respectively, about the head and about the body of a patient and the central support portion is formed integrally with the wings from a synthetic plastics material and is concave on one side.
The concavity includes a plurality of stiffening ribs adapted to render the central support portion substantially inflexible. The central support portion may be formed in two parts joined together by a lockable hinge such that the angle of inclination of a head part of the splint to the body part thereof may be selectively adjusted between 0° and 30°.
A splint device for the spinal immobilization of a patient. The splint includes a central support portion and two pairs of laterally extending flexible wings adapted to extend, respectively, about the head and about the body of a patient and the central support portion is formed integrally with the wings from a synthetic plastics material and is concave on one side.
The concavity includes a plurality of stiffening ribs adapted to render the central support portion substantially inflexible. The central support portion may be formed in two parts joined together by a lockable hinge such that the angle of inclination of a head part of the splint to the body part thereof may be selectively adjusted between 0° and 30°.
Description
The present invention relates to a splint device for the spinal immobilization of a patient and more particularly to such a splint device wherein the majority of the splint is formed integrally from a synthetic plastics material.
Splints of the type to which the present invention relates are frequently used in emergency situations such as auto-mobile accidents in which the patient has suffered injury, or suspected injury, to the back or neck areas. The handling of such injured patients requires special care in order to avoid further injury to the patient during the patient's extrication from the site of the accident and his transference to a hospital. Conven-tional stretchers do not meet the needs of such patients as it is often necessary to extricate the patient from a wrecked auto-mobile, building site or some similar location where the patient cannot be disposed easily onto a stretcher. In these cases it is conventional to endeavour to immobilize the spinal column of the patient. Conventional splints of the type to which the present invention relates are made from a plurality of pieces such as wood and flexible fabric materials (see United States Patent 4,211,218).
It has not previously beèn considered possible to form such a splint from a single unitary plastic moulding due to the require-ments that a central portion of the splint is required to be sub-stantially rigid and inflexible while wings extending laterally from the central support portio~ are required to be flexible such that they may be wrapped around portions of the body of the patient to hold the spine of the patient against the central support ~29995~
Splints of the type to which the present invention relates are frequently used in emergency situations such as auto-mobile accidents in which the patient has suffered injury, or suspected injury, to the back or neck areas. The handling of such injured patients requires special care in order to avoid further injury to the patient during the patient's extrication from the site of the accident and his transference to a hospital. Conven-tional stretchers do not meet the needs of such patients as it is often necessary to extricate the patient from a wrecked auto-mobile, building site or some similar location where the patient cannot be disposed easily onto a stretcher. In these cases it is conventional to endeavour to immobilize the spinal column of the patient. Conventional splints of the type to which the present invention relates are made from a plurality of pieces such as wood and flexible fabric materials (see United States Patent 4,211,218).
It has not previously beèn considered possible to form such a splint from a single unitary plastic moulding due to the require-ments that a central portion of the splint is required to be sub-stantially rigid and inflexible while wings extending laterally from the central support portio~ are required to be flexible such that they may be wrapped around portions of the body of the patient to hold the spine of the patient against the central support ~29995~
3 642~3-7 portion of the splint.
The present invention consists in a splint device for the spinal immobilization of a patient, comprising a generally rigid central support portion adapted to extend from the lumbar region to the head region adjacent the spine of a patient, two pairs of laterally extending flexible wings attached to the side edges of the support portion, a first pair of the wings being adapted to extend about the head of a patient, and a second pair of the wings being adapted to extend about at least one of the thoracic and lumbar region of the patient, first engagement means adapted to retain the first pair of wings about the head of a patient and second engagement means adapted to retain the said second pair of wings about at least one of the thoracic and lumbar regions of a patient, the splint device being characterized in that the central support portion is formed integrally with the wings from a synthetic plastic material and has a longitudinal cavity and includes within the cavity a plurality of longitudinal and diagonal stiffening ribs adapted to render the central support portion substantially inflexible laterally along its length.
~299951 rrhe stiftenlng ribs positioned wlthin the concavlty serve to give the central support portion rigldity and inflexibility suf~icient to adequately support the splne of the patient from movlng in a way which could dan,age the patient's spinal cord if the patient's vertebrae have been damaged. These stiffening ribs serve to mechanically rigi~ify the plastics material which has been selected specifically to give flexibility to the wings whlch are formed integrally with the central support portion. The central support portion itself, is preferably concave on the side proximal to the side which will come into contact with a patient in use and the integrally formed ri~s, or at least some of them, preferably run diagonally of the central support portion. The use of at least some diagonal ribs in the concavlty provides improved torsional rigidity as compared with ribs which only run longitudinally and~or transversely of the central support portion of the splint device. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention two sets of substantially parallel diagonal ri~s are provided in the concavity, ribs of the respective sets intersecting. Such an array of intersecting diagonal ribs may be combined with one or more longitudinal and/or transverse ribs.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention a closure panel is provided on the central support portion to cover the concavity and the integrally formed stiffening ribs contained therein. I'he closure panel is preferably so connected with the central support portion that its outer surface is flush with the outer surface of the central support portion or any other portion of the device with which it is contiguous. In this way the splint device may be given a smooth exterior shape such that it may readily be positloned about a patient even if it has to be slid between the patient and `~ 129995~
a car seat or the like on whlch the patlent wac positlonea when the accident occurred.
The wings must have sufficient flexibillty to allow them to be freely posltioned about the patient. In one em~odiment of the invention each wing of at least one palr of wings is formed with a plurality of spaced apart, substantially parallel and longitudinally extendlng, integral hinges. These hinges need to be qulte numero~s in order to provide the wings with the desired flexibility. In a more preferred em~odiment of the invention the wings of at least one pair are each tormed of a moulded sheet (formed integrally with the central support portion) of the synthetic plastics material and is of such a thickness and the synthetic plastics materlal is so selected that the wing is inherently flexible. It is particularly preferred that the thic~ness of the wing tapers, continuously or discontinuously, from a position adjacent the central support portion to a position adjacent the free end of that wing. It is particularly preferred that each wing tapers from a thickness of from 3 to 5mm adjacent the central support portion to a thic~ness of from 0.5 to 2 5mm adjacent the free end of that wlng.
It is also particularly preferred that the wings, and therefore the whole splint device, is formed ot polypropylene.
The wings of at least one pair are, in a most preferred emoodiment of~this invention, formed of such a sheet of synthetic plastics material which tapers slightly towards its free end as has been described and whicn is formed wlth an array of longitudinally extending, su~stantially parallel, corrugations, each of which extends part way across the width of the wing but without making contact with the edge thereof. Each of these corrugations preferably extends through the full thickness of the wing. Each corrugation lS prefera~ly separated ` 12999S~
~, from the next a~jacent corrugation by a planar portlon o~
the wing which portion has a width of from ~.3 to 3.0 times the width of the corrugation. These corrugations provide to the wings a longitudinal stiftness wlthout inhibiting the treedom with which the wing may ~e wrappe~
around the appropriate region of the patlent's anatomy.
This longitudinally stiffness is desirable to stop one wing "riding" up or down on the patient's body relatlve to the other wing to which it is connected by the respective one of the engagement means.
In a preterred embodiment of the invention the tirst engagement means comprise a pair of straps adapted to ~e passed around the forehead and chin respectively of a patient an~ connected at each end to one or other oi the first pair of wings. The second engagement means preferably comprises straps adapted to pass around the legs and abdomen of a patient. The straps are prefera~ly connected to the second wings by releasable clips or buckles or are formed in two parts each of which is connected to one of the second pair of wings, the strap parts being connectable together oy releasable clips or buckles.
There are situations where a patient's anatomy is such, or where the patient's position after an accident is such, that it is not appropriate or desirable that the part of the central support portion in the region of the head of the patient be in axial alignment wlth the part o~
the central support portion in the thoracic or lumbar region of the patient. The second aspect of the present invention addresses this problem by providing a hinge between these parts of the central support portion. 'rhis hinge can preferably operate over a range of about 30 with the parts in alignment at one end o~ the range and out of alignment by the full 30 at the other end o~ the range. It is important that locking means are provided to releasably retain the two parts in s~bstantlally any desired relative angular relationship.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the n1nge comprises tubular members on each part adapted to ~e arranyed in axial alignment such that they lnterdlgltate with one another, the locking means comprising bolt means extending axially through the interdigitated tu~ular members and means on the bolt means to releasably clamp the tubular members together by axial pressure on the opposite end ones thereof.
Hereinafter described by way of example only, are preferred embodiments of the present invention described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a splint according to the present invention in position on a patient;
Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the splint ofEigure 1 without fastening means and with the cover plate removed;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along III-III of the splint according to Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along IV-IV of the splint according to Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the ~.ead portion of the splint according to Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view along VI-VI of t~,e splint according to Figure 2, Flgure 7 is a longitudlnal sectional view through a cover plate for attachment to the splint of Figure 2 showing an enlargement of a nipple for connection of the 3~ cover plate to the splint;
Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of a splint according to this invention showing a hinged connectlon between the head portion and the thoracic portion of the support portion thereof; and Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view through the hinge ~ 1299951 of the embodiment of the inventlon depicted in Figure ~.
The splint device 10 according to Eigs. 1 to 7 comprises a central support portion 11, a first pair o~
wings 12 and 13 adapted to extend abo~t the head of a wearer, a second pair of wings 14 and 15 adapted to exten~
about the body of a wearer, a first pair of straps 16 and 17 adapted to hold wings 12 and 13 about the wearer's head and a second pair of straps 18 and 19 adapted to hold wings 14 and 15 about the wearer's body.
The central support portion 11, as is best seen in Fig. 2, is rectangular and concave, being recessed on its side proximal to the patient. The central support portion 11 comprises a pair of inclined end walls 21 and 22, a pair of inclined side walls 23 and 24, and a bacK
wall 25. ~ithin the recess formed by the end walls 21 and 22, the side walls 23 and 24, and the back wall 25 are a plurality of stiffening ribs. One stiffening ri~ 26 extends longitudinally of the recess; one set of ribs 27 extend diagonally across the recess in one direction; and a second set of ribs 2~ extend diagonally across the recess in a direction transverse to the set of ribs 27 such that there is a minimum included angle therebetween of approximately 60. Each of the ribs 26, 27 and 28 is formed integrally with the central support portion and extends from the back wall 25 up to a level flush with a ledge 29 WhiCh surrounds the recess. At the point of intersection of some of,the ribs 27 and 2~ an enlarged boss 31 is formed. Each ~oss is formed with an axially extending bore ~2. At it upper end each bore 32 is constricted by an annular, inwardly directed flange 33.
The back wall 25 is itself provided with two indentations 20, one spaced eguidistantly on each side of rib 26 midway between the zones over which the wings 12 and 13 join the central support section 11. The indentations 20 are of such a depth that the back wall 25 ,~ .
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is, over the areas of the indentations 20, flush with the free edges of the ribs 26, 27 and 28 and the ledge 29. These indenta-tions 20 add further to the stiffening of the central support portion provided by ribs 26, 27 and 28.
The central support portion 11 includes a substantially planar extension 34 at its head end in which is formed an aperture 35 by which the splint 10 may be carried. The aperture 35 is strengthened by a peripheral rib 36.
The first pair of wings 12 and 13 are substantially planar having a thickness adjacent to the central support portion 11 of 3mm and tapers to 1.5mm adjacent its free edge. The outer face of each wing is provided with two pads 37 of a "hook and loop" fastener material such as that sold under the trade mark "VELCR0". Each of the straps 16 and 17 is provided on its inside surface adjacent its ends with a complimentary pad (not shown) of the fastener material.
The second wings 14 and 15 are each provided adjacent their free ends with two pairs of apertures 38, 39, 40 and 41, each of which is surrounded by a stiffening rib 42. The strap 18 is adapted to be connected at its ends to a respective pair of apertures 38, or, in the case of a patient of slight build, to the apertures 40. Similarly, strap 19 is adapted to be connected at its ends to apertures 39 or 41. Each of the straps 18 and 19 is provided with a buckle, 43 and 44 respectively, allowing the strap to be rejoinably broken intermediate their respective ends.
129995~
- 9a - 64283-7 The lower edge of each of the wings 14 and 15 is provi-ded with a pair of apertures 45 and 46 which are each surrounded by a strengthening rib 47. These apertures 45 and 46 are adapted to be connected to straps encircling the patient's thighs if that is required for the safe handling of the patient.
1299951.
1 (, ~ ach of the wings 14 and 15 is providea with a plurality of elongate, substant1ally parallel corrugations 47. Each corrugation 47 stops short o~ the free edge ot the wing 14 or 15 and serves to provide lonyitudlnal stiffening to the wing which not restricting its flexibility as it is wrapped around the body o~ a patient. The wlngs 14 and 15 taper in thicKness trom about 5mm adjacent `the central support portion ~1 to a~out 2.5mm adjacent its free edge.
A cover plate 48 is provided to cover over the recess in the central support portion 11. Tne plate 4~ is provided on one face with detent devices 49 made up of a pair of divergent f1ngers 51 each of whlch is provided adjacent its free end with a radially outwardly projecting protruberance 52. The detent devices 49 are adapted to project into the bores 32 in bosses 31 of the central support portion 11. The protruberances 52 on fingers 51 engage behind respective flanges 33 to hold the plate 48 in place on the central support portion 11. The free edges of plate 48 nest into the ledge 29 surrounding the recess in the central support portion 11 and the face of the plate 48 carrying the detent devices 49 lies flush with the free edges of the ribs 26, 27 and 28 and the back wall 25 in the region of indentations 20.
The central support portion 11 and wings 1~, 13, 14 and 15 are formed integrally in a single moulding from polypropylene which is by its nat~re reasonably flexi~le.
By providing the central support portion 11 with a recess containing the array of ribs 26, 27 and ~ the central support portion 11 is rendere~ sufficiently stiff to allow a patient's bac~ to be immobilized while the wings retain the resilience and flexibility to be wrapped around a patient. The fact that the whole splint 10 is formed of essentially X-ray transparent materials allows a patient to be examined by X-rays without being removed from the 2999Sl splint.
The second aspect of the invention will now be described wlth reference to Figs. 8 an~ g. Slmilar parts of the splint 1~ o~ this e~odlment will receive the sanle nu~ers as they received in the description relating to Figs. 1 to 7. In all respects except the provislon of a hinge the splint 10 is identical with the splint 10 earlier described and for this reason the whole splint 1 is not described.
The hinge 60 is provided in the central support portion 11 between the indentations ~0 and the start o$
the wings 12 and 13. The head part 61 of central support portion is provided with an end wall b2 and projecting from the end wall is a transversely extending tube 63 having a hexagonal bore 64. The tu~e ~3 has its axis parallel to the plane of the ~ac~ wall 25 and at right angles to the axis of the central support portion 11. The tube 63 is centrally disposed on wall 62 and is su~stantially shorter than it.
The body part b5 of the central support portlon is provided with an end wall 66 from which extend a pair of spaced apart transversely extending tubes b7 and b8 each of which has a hexagonal bore 69 and 71 respectively.
The hinge includes four tu~ular locking pieces 72, 25 73, 74 and 75 formed of structural plastics material such as nylon. Each of the locking pieces 72, 73, 7~ and 7 includes a hexagonal body part 76 and a flange 77 extendlng radially fronl one end of the body part. 'rhe face of each flange 77 distal to the body part 76 includes a plurality of radially directed teeth 78. A circular section bore 79 extends longitudinally through each of the locking pieces 72, 73, 74 and 75.
q'he locking piece 72 is positioned within ~ore 69 of tube 67 with its flange 77 facing inwardly and similarly locking piece 75 is positioned within bore 71 of tu~e b8.
1~951 Loc~lng pleces 73 and 7~ are pos1tloned witr~ln opposlte ends of bore 64 ln tube 63 wlth the tlanges 77 facing outwardly.
~hen assem~led the teeth 78 ot respective palrs of 5 loc~ing pieces 72 and ~3 and 74 and 75 interdigltate.
rod 81 which is threaded at each end extends throug~, respective bores 79 in locKing pieces 7~, 73, 74 and 7~.
A wing nut 82 is threadedly engaged with each end oi rod 81. Each wing nut 8~ includes a irusto-conical tace ~3 1~ surrounding bolt 81 which engages with a corresponding frusto-conlcal face surroundlng the bore 79 of the loc~ing pieces 72 and 75.
In use, when it is desired to change the relative angular inclination between the head part 61 and the body 15 part 65 o$ the central support portion 11 the wing nuts 8 are loosened to enable the locking parts 73 and 74 to rotate relative to loc~ing parts 72 and 75 as the head part 61 and body part 65 are rotated relatlve to one another. ~hen the desired angular inclination has been achieved the wing nuts 82 are again tightened forcing ilanges 77 of loc~ing parts 7~ and 73 and 74 and 7~
together such that their interdigitatlng teeth 78 prevent further relative rotatlon Detween head part 61 and body part 65.
The positioning of tuoes 63, 67 and 6~ on the head part 61 and body part 65 is sucn that the parts 61 and 65 may rotate relative to one another between a positlon ln which they are in axlal align~ent to a positlon in whlch they are 25 out o$ alignment.
The present invention consists in a splint device for the spinal immobilization of a patient, comprising a generally rigid central support portion adapted to extend from the lumbar region to the head region adjacent the spine of a patient, two pairs of laterally extending flexible wings attached to the side edges of the support portion, a first pair of the wings being adapted to extend about the head of a patient, and a second pair of the wings being adapted to extend about at least one of the thoracic and lumbar region of the patient, first engagement means adapted to retain the first pair of wings about the head of a patient and second engagement means adapted to retain the said second pair of wings about at least one of the thoracic and lumbar regions of a patient, the splint device being characterized in that the central support portion is formed integrally with the wings from a synthetic plastic material and has a longitudinal cavity and includes within the cavity a plurality of longitudinal and diagonal stiffening ribs adapted to render the central support portion substantially inflexible laterally along its length.
~299951 rrhe stiftenlng ribs positioned wlthin the concavlty serve to give the central support portion rigldity and inflexibility suf~icient to adequately support the splne of the patient from movlng in a way which could dan,age the patient's spinal cord if the patient's vertebrae have been damaged. These stiffening ribs serve to mechanically rigi~ify the plastics material which has been selected specifically to give flexibility to the wings whlch are formed integrally with the central support portion. The central support portion itself, is preferably concave on the side proximal to the side which will come into contact with a patient in use and the integrally formed ri~s, or at least some of them, preferably run diagonally of the central support portion. The use of at least some diagonal ribs in the concavlty provides improved torsional rigidity as compared with ribs which only run longitudinally and~or transversely of the central support portion of the splint device. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention two sets of substantially parallel diagonal ri~s are provided in the concavity, ribs of the respective sets intersecting. Such an array of intersecting diagonal ribs may be combined with one or more longitudinal and/or transverse ribs.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention a closure panel is provided on the central support portion to cover the concavity and the integrally formed stiffening ribs contained therein. I'he closure panel is preferably so connected with the central support portion that its outer surface is flush with the outer surface of the central support portion or any other portion of the device with which it is contiguous. In this way the splint device may be given a smooth exterior shape such that it may readily be positloned about a patient even if it has to be slid between the patient and `~ 129995~
a car seat or the like on whlch the patlent wac positlonea when the accident occurred.
The wings must have sufficient flexibillty to allow them to be freely posltioned about the patient. In one em~odiment of the invention each wing of at least one palr of wings is formed with a plurality of spaced apart, substantially parallel and longitudinally extendlng, integral hinges. These hinges need to be qulte numero~s in order to provide the wings with the desired flexibility. In a more preferred em~odiment of the invention the wings of at least one pair are each tormed of a moulded sheet (formed integrally with the central support portion) of the synthetic plastics material and is of such a thickness and the synthetic plastics materlal is so selected that the wing is inherently flexible. It is particularly preferred that the thic~ness of the wing tapers, continuously or discontinuously, from a position adjacent the central support portion to a position adjacent the free end of that wing. It is particularly preferred that each wing tapers from a thickness of from 3 to 5mm adjacent the central support portion to a thic~ness of from 0.5 to 2 5mm adjacent the free end of that wlng.
It is also particularly preferred that the wings, and therefore the whole splint device, is formed ot polypropylene.
The wings of at least one pair are, in a most preferred emoodiment of~this invention, formed of such a sheet of synthetic plastics material which tapers slightly towards its free end as has been described and whicn is formed wlth an array of longitudinally extending, su~stantially parallel, corrugations, each of which extends part way across the width of the wing but without making contact with the edge thereof. Each of these corrugations preferably extends through the full thickness of the wing. Each corrugation lS prefera~ly separated ` 12999S~
~, from the next a~jacent corrugation by a planar portlon o~
the wing which portion has a width of from ~.3 to 3.0 times the width of the corrugation. These corrugations provide to the wings a longitudinal stiftness wlthout inhibiting the treedom with which the wing may ~e wrappe~
around the appropriate region of the patlent's anatomy.
This longitudinally stiffness is desirable to stop one wing "riding" up or down on the patient's body relatlve to the other wing to which it is connected by the respective one of the engagement means.
In a preterred embodiment of the invention the tirst engagement means comprise a pair of straps adapted to ~e passed around the forehead and chin respectively of a patient an~ connected at each end to one or other oi the first pair of wings. The second engagement means preferably comprises straps adapted to pass around the legs and abdomen of a patient. The straps are prefera~ly connected to the second wings by releasable clips or buckles or are formed in two parts each of which is connected to one of the second pair of wings, the strap parts being connectable together oy releasable clips or buckles.
There are situations where a patient's anatomy is such, or where the patient's position after an accident is such, that it is not appropriate or desirable that the part of the central support portion in the region of the head of the patient be in axial alignment wlth the part o~
the central support portion in the thoracic or lumbar region of the patient. The second aspect of the present invention addresses this problem by providing a hinge between these parts of the central support portion. 'rhis hinge can preferably operate over a range of about 30 with the parts in alignment at one end o~ the range and out of alignment by the full 30 at the other end o~ the range. It is important that locking means are provided to releasably retain the two parts in s~bstantlally any desired relative angular relationship.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the n1nge comprises tubular members on each part adapted to ~e arranyed in axial alignment such that they lnterdlgltate with one another, the locking means comprising bolt means extending axially through the interdigitated tu~ular members and means on the bolt means to releasably clamp the tubular members together by axial pressure on the opposite end ones thereof.
Hereinafter described by way of example only, are preferred embodiments of the present invention described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a splint according to the present invention in position on a patient;
Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the splint ofEigure 1 without fastening means and with the cover plate removed;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along III-III of the splint according to Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along IV-IV of the splint according to Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the ~.ead portion of the splint according to Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view along VI-VI of t~,e splint according to Figure 2, Flgure 7 is a longitudlnal sectional view through a cover plate for attachment to the splint of Figure 2 showing an enlargement of a nipple for connection of the 3~ cover plate to the splint;
Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of a splint according to this invention showing a hinged connectlon between the head portion and the thoracic portion of the support portion thereof; and Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view through the hinge ~ 1299951 of the embodiment of the inventlon depicted in Figure ~.
The splint device 10 according to Eigs. 1 to 7 comprises a central support portion 11, a first pair o~
wings 12 and 13 adapted to extend abo~t the head of a wearer, a second pair of wings 14 and 15 adapted to exten~
about the body of a wearer, a first pair of straps 16 and 17 adapted to hold wings 12 and 13 about the wearer's head and a second pair of straps 18 and 19 adapted to hold wings 14 and 15 about the wearer's body.
The central support portion 11, as is best seen in Fig. 2, is rectangular and concave, being recessed on its side proximal to the patient. The central support portion 11 comprises a pair of inclined end walls 21 and 22, a pair of inclined side walls 23 and 24, and a bacK
wall 25. ~ithin the recess formed by the end walls 21 and 22, the side walls 23 and 24, and the back wall 25 are a plurality of stiffening ribs. One stiffening ri~ 26 extends longitudinally of the recess; one set of ribs 27 extend diagonally across the recess in one direction; and a second set of ribs 2~ extend diagonally across the recess in a direction transverse to the set of ribs 27 such that there is a minimum included angle therebetween of approximately 60. Each of the ribs 26, 27 and 28 is formed integrally with the central support portion and extends from the back wall 25 up to a level flush with a ledge 29 WhiCh surrounds the recess. At the point of intersection of some of,the ribs 27 and 2~ an enlarged boss 31 is formed. Each ~oss is formed with an axially extending bore ~2. At it upper end each bore 32 is constricted by an annular, inwardly directed flange 33.
The back wall 25 is itself provided with two indentations 20, one spaced eguidistantly on each side of rib 26 midway between the zones over which the wings 12 and 13 join the central support section 11. The indentations 20 are of such a depth that the back wall 25 ,~ .
129995~
is, over the areas of the indentations 20, flush with the free edges of the ribs 26, 27 and 28 and the ledge 29. These indenta-tions 20 add further to the stiffening of the central support portion provided by ribs 26, 27 and 28.
The central support portion 11 includes a substantially planar extension 34 at its head end in which is formed an aperture 35 by which the splint 10 may be carried. The aperture 35 is strengthened by a peripheral rib 36.
The first pair of wings 12 and 13 are substantially planar having a thickness adjacent to the central support portion 11 of 3mm and tapers to 1.5mm adjacent its free edge. The outer face of each wing is provided with two pads 37 of a "hook and loop" fastener material such as that sold under the trade mark "VELCR0". Each of the straps 16 and 17 is provided on its inside surface adjacent its ends with a complimentary pad (not shown) of the fastener material.
The second wings 14 and 15 are each provided adjacent their free ends with two pairs of apertures 38, 39, 40 and 41, each of which is surrounded by a stiffening rib 42. The strap 18 is adapted to be connected at its ends to a respective pair of apertures 38, or, in the case of a patient of slight build, to the apertures 40. Similarly, strap 19 is adapted to be connected at its ends to apertures 39 or 41. Each of the straps 18 and 19 is provided with a buckle, 43 and 44 respectively, allowing the strap to be rejoinably broken intermediate their respective ends.
129995~
- 9a - 64283-7 The lower edge of each of the wings 14 and 15 is provi-ded with a pair of apertures 45 and 46 which are each surrounded by a strengthening rib 47. These apertures 45 and 46 are adapted to be connected to straps encircling the patient's thighs if that is required for the safe handling of the patient.
1299951.
1 (, ~ ach of the wings 14 and 15 is providea with a plurality of elongate, substant1ally parallel corrugations 47. Each corrugation 47 stops short o~ the free edge ot the wing 14 or 15 and serves to provide lonyitudlnal stiffening to the wing which not restricting its flexibility as it is wrapped around the body o~ a patient. The wlngs 14 and 15 taper in thicKness trom about 5mm adjacent `the central support portion ~1 to a~out 2.5mm adjacent its free edge.
A cover plate 48 is provided to cover over the recess in the central support portion 11. Tne plate 4~ is provided on one face with detent devices 49 made up of a pair of divergent f1ngers 51 each of whlch is provided adjacent its free end with a radially outwardly projecting protruberance 52. The detent devices 49 are adapted to project into the bores 32 in bosses 31 of the central support portion 11. The protruberances 52 on fingers 51 engage behind respective flanges 33 to hold the plate 48 in place on the central support portion 11. The free edges of plate 48 nest into the ledge 29 surrounding the recess in the central support portion 11 and the face of the plate 48 carrying the detent devices 49 lies flush with the free edges of the ribs 26, 27 and 28 and the back wall 25 in the region of indentations 20.
The central support portion 11 and wings 1~, 13, 14 and 15 are formed integrally in a single moulding from polypropylene which is by its nat~re reasonably flexi~le.
By providing the central support portion 11 with a recess containing the array of ribs 26, 27 and ~ the central support portion 11 is rendere~ sufficiently stiff to allow a patient's bac~ to be immobilized while the wings retain the resilience and flexibility to be wrapped around a patient. The fact that the whole splint 10 is formed of essentially X-ray transparent materials allows a patient to be examined by X-rays without being removed from the 2999Sl splint.
The second aspect of the invention will now be described wlth reference to Figs. 8 an~ g. Slmilar parts of the splint 1~ o~ this e~odlment will receive the sanle nu~ers as they received in the description relating to Figs. 1 to 7. In all respects except the provislon of a hinge the splint 10 is identical with the splint 10 earlier described and for this reason the whole splint 1 is not described.
The hinge 60 is provided in the central support portion 11 between the indentations ~0 and the start o$
the wings 12 and 13. The head part 61 of central support portion is provided with an end wall b2 and projecting from the end wall is a transversely extending tube 63 having a hexagonal bore 64. The tu~e ~3 has its axis parallel to the plane of the ~ac~ wall 25 and at right angles to the axis of the central support portion 11. The tube 63 is centrally disposed on wall 62 and is su~stantially shorter than it.
The body part b5 of the central support portlon is provided with an end wall 66 from which extend a pair of spaced apart transversely extending tubes b7 and b8 each of which has a hexagonal bore 69 and 71 respectively.
The hinge includes four tu~ular locking pieces 72, 25 73, 74 and 75 formed of structural plastics material such as nylon. Each of the locking pieces 72, 73, 7~ and 7 includes a hexagonal body part 76 and a flange 77 extendlng radially fronl one end of the body part. 'rhe face of each flange 77 distal to the body part 76 includes a plurality of radially directed teeth 78. A circular section bore 79 extends longitudinally through each of the locking pieces 72, 73, 74 and 75.
q'he locking piece 72 is positioned within ~ore 69 of tube 67 with its flange 77 facing inwardly and similarly locking piece 75 is positioned within bore 71 of tu~e b8.
1~951 Loc~lng pleces 73 and 7~ are pos1tloned witr~ln opposlte ends of bore 64 ln tube 63 wlth the tlanges 77 facing outwardly.
~hen assem~led the teeth 78 ot respective palrs of 5 loc~ing pieces 72 and ~3 and 74 and 75 interdigltate.
rod 81 which is threaded at each end extends throug~, respective bores 79 in locKing pieces 7~, 73, 74 and 7~.
A wing nut 82 is threadedly engaged with each end oi rod 81. Each wing nut 8~ includes a irusto-conical tace ~3 1~ surrounding bolt 81 which engages with a corresponding frusto-conlcal face surroundlng the bore 79 of the loc~ing pieces 72 and 75.
In use, when it is desired to change the relative angular inclination between the head part 61 and the body 15 part 65 o$ the central support portion 11 the wing nuts 8 are loosened to enable the locking parts 73 and 74 to rotate relative to loc~ing parts 72 and 75 as the head part 61 and body part 65 are rotated relatlve to one another. ~hen the desired angular inclination has been achieved the wing nuts 82 are again tightened forcing ilanges 77 of loc~ing parts 7~ and 73 and 74 and 7~
together such that their interdigitatlng teeth 78 prevent further relative rotatlon Detween head part 61 and body part 65.
The positioning of tuoes 63, 67 and 6~ on the head part 61 and body part 65 is sucn that the parts 61 and 65 may rotate relative to one another between a positlon ln which they are in axlal align~ent to a positlon in whlch they are 25 out o$ alignment.
Claims (12)
1. A splint device for the spinal immobilization of a patient, comprising a generally rigid central support portion adapted to extend from the lumbar region to the head region ad-jacent the spine of a patient, two pairs of laterally extending flexible wings attached to the side edges of the support portion, a first pair of the wings being adapted to extend about the head of a patient, and a second pair of the wings being adapted to extend about at least one of the thoracic and lumbar regions of the patient, first engagement means adapted to retain the first pair of wings about the head of a patient and second engagement means adapted to retain the said second pair of wings about at least one of the thoracic and lumbar regions of a patient, the splint device being characterized in that the central support por-tion is formed integrally with the wings from a synthetic plastic material and has a longitudinal cavity and includes within the cavity a plurality of longitudinal and diagonal stiffening ribs adapted to render the central support portion substantially in-flexible laterally along its length.
2. A splint device as claimed in claim 1, in which the said cavity is concave on its side proximal to the patient.
3. A splint device as claimed in claim 1, in which the stiffening ribs include two sets of substantially parallel dia-gonal ribs, ribs of the respective sets intersecting.
4. A splint device as claimed in claim 1, in which a closure panel is provided on the central support portion to cover the cavity and the integrally formed stiffening ribs contained therein.
5. A splint device as claimed in claim 4, in which the closure panel is so connected with the central support portion that its outer surface is flush with the outer surface of the central support portion of the splint device.
6. A splint device as claimed in claim 1, in which the wings of at least one pair each reduce in thickness in tapering fashion from a position adjacent the central support portion to a position adjacent the free end of that wing.
7. A splint device as claimed in claim 6, in which each wing tapers in thickness from a thickness of from 3 to 5 mm adjacent the central support portion to a thickness of from 0.5 to 2.5 mm adjacent the free end of that wing.
8. A splint device as claimed in claim 1, in which the wings of at least one pair thereof are formed with an array of longitudinally extending, substantially parallel corrugations.
9. A splint device as claimed in claim 1, in which the central support portion and the wings are made from polypropylene.
10. A splint device as claimed in claim 1, in which the first engagement means comprise a pair of straps adapted to be passed around the forehead and chin respectively of a patient and connected at each end to a respective one of the first pair of wings.
11. A splint device as claimed in claim 1, in which the second engagement means comprise straps adapted to pass respectively around the legs and abdomen of a patient, the straps being connected at each end to a respective one of the second pair of wings.
12. A splint device for the spinal immobilization of a patient, comprising a generally rigid central support portion adapted to extend from the lumbar region to the head region adjacent the spine of a patient, first and second pairs of laterally extending flexible wings attached to side edges of the support portion, said first pair of the wings being adapted to extend about the head of a patient, and said second pair of the wings being adapted to extend about at least one of the thoracic and lumbar regions of the patient, first engagement means adapted to retain the first pair of wings about the head of a patient and second engagement means adapted to retain the said second pair of wings about at least one of the thoracic and lumbar regions of patient, the splint device being characterized in that the central support portion includes a part connected to the first pair of wings and a part connected to the second pair of wings, with each of the parts formed integrally with the connected pair of wings from a synthetic plastic material and having a longitudinal cavity and including within the cavity a plurality of longitudinal and diagonal stiffening ribs adapted to render the central support portion substantially inflexible laterally along its length.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000560089A CA1299951C (en) | 1988-02-29 | 1988-02-29 | Splint device for spinal immobilization |
| CA000616088A CA1308984C (en) | 1988-02-29 | 1991-06-05 | Splint device for spinal immobilization |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000560089A CA1299951C (en) | 1988-02-29 | 1988-02-29 | Splint device for spinal immobilization |
Related Child Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000616088A Division CA1308984C (en) | 1988-02-29 | 1991-06-05 | Splint device for spinal immobilization |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1299951C true CA1299951C (en) | 1992-05-05 |
Family
ID=4137527
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000560089A Expired - Lifetime CA1299951C (en) | 1988-02-29 | 1988-02-29 | Splint device for spinal immobilization |
| CA000616088A Expired - Fee Related CA1308984C (en) | 1988-02-29 | 1991-06-05 | Splint device for spinal immobilization |
Family Applications After (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000616088A Expired - Fee Related CA1308984C (en) | 1988-02-29 | 1991-06-05 | Splint device for spinal immobilization |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (2) | CA1299951C (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2013056314A1 (en) * | 2011-10-19 | 2013-04-25 | Price Roger William | A spinal support device |
-
1988
- 1988-02-29 CA CA000560089A patent/CA1299951C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1991
- 1991-06-05 CA CA000616088A patent/CA1308984C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2013056314A1 (en) * | 2011-10-19 | 2013-04-25 | Price Roger William | A spinal support device |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA1308984C (en) | 1992-10-20 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |