FR2585238A1 - Modular, completely plastic, thermoformable and X-ray-transparent orthopaedic jacket - Google Patents

Abstract

Completely plastic modular jacket for treatment or immobilisation of the spine characterised in that all the support and fastening elements are made of a plastic material which is preferably transparent, thermoformable and transparent to X-rays. The fastening of the support blocks on the rigid pole is performed with slide bars 1 on which the support blocks are glued, welded or even bolted. The bolting system 3a, 3b as well as the "hinge effect" 2 allows easy positioning and fitting of the jacket. All the elements may be prefabricated and adapted to various types of jacket.

Description

MODULAR ORTHOPEDIC CORSET, ALL PLASTIC, THERMOFORMABLE,
TRANSPARENT TO X-RAYS
The present invention relates to a modular orthopedic corset all plastic, thermoformable, transparent to x-rays.

Different types of corsets for the treatment or immobilization of the spine include in particular
- Pelvic or thoraco-pelvic shells or support hands,
- Fastening or adjustment elements.

 The thoraco-pelvic shells or the supporting hands are thermoformed and then cut from a plate of transparent material, thermoformable at temperatures above 1000.

 The fastening and adjustment elements are made up of metal parts that are fixed on the one hand to a rigid steel mast and on the other hand to the support hands or shells. A fastening system ensures the fixing.

The disadvantages of such a technique are threefold
- for the manufacturer, mechanically, the connection by riveting
metal fixings on the plastic makes the material
fragile and brittle plastic at the riveting points. Types of
thermoformable materials currently used make it difficult to
shaping of the corset.

- for the prescriber, the corset not completely transparent to
x-rays do not facilitate the interpretation of x-rays. Non
visual transparency does not allow observation of the location
support points.

- for the user, the current system does not facilitate setting up
instead of the corset, the metal does not improve comfort and often causes
tearing of clothing and skin irritation in the
fixings.

The main object of the present invention is therefore
- for the manufacturer, to be able to work with a thermoformable material,
an easy modeling and shaping, to get rid of systems
fixing and adjusting metal by replacing them with
thennoformable plastic parts, to allow the reshaping of the
corset.

- for the prescriber, to bring transparency (visual and
x-rays), to allow the reshaping of the supports.

- for the user, to have a lighter device, a setting
easy place, more comfortable to wear, avoiding metal protrusions
against the skin, causing clothing to tear.

To this end, the invention relates to a method for producing modular pieces allowing the production of a corset. Process characterized in that all the parts are made of transparent thermoformable plastic material (visual and x-ray transparency>
These pieces are
- 2 rigid masts,
- Several support hands or pelvic or thoraco-pelvic shells,
- Connection, de-fixation and adjustment elements.

 Rigid masts must be made of material with good rigidity and which can be easily shaped. We will cite as an example the use of composite thermoplastic beams, such as carbon fibers. All the pieces can be preformed and then adapted on each corset.

 The characteristics of the invention will be highlighted during the following description, as described in the attached drawings. In these drawings, Figures 1, 2 and 3 show in perspective the various elements for assembling, fixing and adjusting the hands of pelvic or thoraco-pelvic supports or shells.

 Figure 1 shows a system for fixing and adjusting a support hand on the rigid mat. The height adjustment of the supporting hand is ensured by a slide (1) which slides along the mast (2) provided with holes, the blocking is ensured by a grooved nail (3) "housed" in a hole (4 ) located on the slide and on the mast. The adjustment and fixing of the support hand is ensured by a bar (5a) having its serrated end, this end coming to fit in a slide (6) glued or welded to the support hand; a lever system (7) ensures blocking.

This system allows the support hand to be locked quickly and efficiently. Other systems can be used and will be presented in Figure 2.

 Figure 2 shows a double system, with "hinge effect" of fixing and adjustment of two support hands on the rigid mast. The height adjustment of the support hands is ensured as in Figure 1.

 The "hinge effect" is achieved by welding an element (8) of transparent thermoplastic material, of less rigidity between the slide (1) and the support hand holding bar (5b). The fixing and adjustment of the support hands can be ensured either in the same way as that described in FIG. 1, either by gluing or direct welding of the bar 5b on the support hand, or by fitting the bar 5c in a guide (9) in transparent plastic material glued or welded on the hand. The blocking is then ensured by the insertion of a grooved nail (3) in the holes (10) provided on the bar (5c) and on the guide (9).

Figure 3 shows a link bar of the bar type
Sa of Figure 1, which provides the connection and adjustment between two support hands or thoraco-pelvic shells. One end will be glued or welded to a hand or shell, the other end may have an adjustment and fixing system of the type presented in this Figure or that of the
Figure 2 (5c).

 Figures 1, 2 and 3 are not limiting in their forms. The bar 5a, 5b, 5c can be of any length and preformed, the characteristics of the plastic material allowing easy reshaping.

 Figures 4 and 5 show the use of the elements of Figures 1, 2 and 3 in the production of two types of corsets.

Figure 4 shows the assembly of the elements of Figures 1 and 2, to obtain a Lyon type corset. The element of Figure 1 has, in this case, a "hinge effect (8), allowing to open the corset
The fixing and adjustment of the support hands can be ensured by the elements of Figure 1 (6, 7) or Figure 2 (9).

 Figure 5 shows the assembly of a support corset formed by two thermoformed shells made of transparent plastic material. 4 bars identical to those of Figure 3 can be glued from one end and have a means of adjusting the other. This adjustment means can also be of the type of that of Figure 2. The guides and locking systems will be glued or welded directly to the shell 11b. The shell 11a will come to fit into these guides by means of the bars.

Claims (3)

1) Modular corset for treatment or immobilization of the spine characterized  in that all the supporting and fixing elements are made of material  plastic, preferably transparent, thermoformable, transparent to  X-rays. The fasteners will be glued, welded or fixed  by any other means (fluted nails, plastic screws, tongue to  self-locking rack, etc.) on the supporting hand.  2) element for fixing a support hand to the mast according to claim  1, characterized in that it is formed by a slide which slides the  along the mast and a fixing bar on the supporting hand. The glis  siere can have a "hinge effect" achieved by welding a  plastic material of lower rigidity. The fixing bar of the  support hand will be glued welded or blocked by a locking system  age. This locking system is adjustable to facilitate the  fitting and adapting the corset to the patient. 3) connecting elements according to the preceding claims, characterized  in that these elements can be prefabricated.