FR2770995A1 - Arm splint preventing baby from scratching wounds - Google Patents

Abstract

The splint is designed to fit over the whole of the front face (3) of the arm from shoulder (1) to wrist (2), and has rounded edges (5). It is shaped to hold the elbow in a flexed position at an angle of 30 degrees, and is held in place by self-adhesive straps (6, 10) fixed to the splint at one end and passed through loops (9) at the other. The splint is made from a plastic panel which is heated to 60 degrees and molded to shape, and it can have a foam lining for sensitive skins.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for preventing a child from injuring the tissues or sutures, at the level of the head or the bust, in particular after a surgical intervention.
This device keeps the elbow in flexion (300) and allows, thanks to the hands left free, to keep the essential gestures.

 Until now, the method used has been to bandage the upper limbs with closed fists, which takes a long time for installation and causes discomfort for the child.

The complete blockage of the hands in very young children, creates a gene in the play function and the awakening can be disturbed. In addition, it becomes impossible to establish reciprocal manual contact.

 The device according to the invention overcomes these drawbacks.

According to a first characteristic:
A micro-perforated thermoformable plastic gutter, placed on the anterior side of the limb, from the birth of the arm to the wrist (hands free), whose contours are rounded in order to avoid any injuries. An angle of flexion of 30 at the elbow respects the physiological position of the elbow at rest and allows the prone lying with articular comfort of the shoulder.

This gutter has the advantages of being light, thin (2 mm thick), and offers ideal rigidity. In addition, it is practical because it is airy, washable with water and quickly dries.

According to a second characteristic:
A system of hook-and-loop fasteners comprising two bands (loops), a plastic loop and four bands (hooks), located on the gutter at its two ends.

The fastening system consists of bringing the strip (loops) from the external face to the internal face, sliding under the plastic loop and coming to hang on the strips (hooks), thus closing the system by winding around of the member.

This fixing has the advantages of being simple and quick to use, it offers real security and reliability.

 This device is made in different dimensions depending on the age of the child and can be worn on the skin or on clothing.

 According to the aforementioned characteristics (hands-free, reliability, lightness, easy installation), and by way of nonlimiting example, this device can be used during an intervention of a cleft lip-palate (cleft lip), the child absolutely prohibited, for three weeks, from putting his hands to his mouth or any object whatsoever. Which is not easy at the age of six months.

This device finds its interest for various reasons:
In post-operative, the comfort of the child is ensured by reciprocal manual contact.

 Then the child can play with his hands, an essential element at this age.

 And if a new intervention is carried out at one year old, the child can hold himself with his hands and thus ensure his movements.

Moreover; because of its reliability, the child cannot remove it, which reassures the parents; due to its lightness the child forgets it. Parents can therefore change the child and then replace this device easily and quickly, without crying.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:
Figure 1 shows the complete device, seen on the internal face.

Figure 2 "shows the detail of attachment of a fastener to the outer face.

Figure 30 shows the detail of attachment of a fastener to the internal face.

With reference to its drawings, and without implied limitation, the device comprises;
-Figure 1 a gutter placed on the anterior face (3) of the limb, from the birth of the arm (1) to the wrist (2), with an angle of 30 at the elbow (4) whose edges are rounded (5) . It is held by two hook-and-loop fasteners (6 and 10) which wrap around the member from the external face (7) to the internal face (8) by sliding under the loops (9).

 -Figure 2 ": on the external face (7), the band (loops) (6), about 3cm wide and of variable length (adjustable by simple scissor cut) is fixed on the gutter and closes the system on the internal face (8).

 -Figure 3 ": on the internal face (8), there is a plastic loop (9) integrated into the gutter and two bands (hooks) (10), about 3cm wide and of variable length, fixed on both sides and the band (loops) (6) slides under the band (9) and grips the bands (hooks) (10).

 The device manufacturing process consists in heating to 600 a thermoformable plate with pre-established dimensions, and to form it according to the aforementioned characteristics (rounded contours, angle of 300, due to the birth of the arm on the wrist and passers-by).

The passers-by are made by two parallel notches on the gutter between the two bands (hooks) and are raised by means of projections on the form, to allow the passage of the bands (loops).

 The strips are fixed to the gutter by means of heat.

 It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to a single embodiment; variants can be made, in particular the installation of an aerated foam as a lining for sensitive skin.

 Also as an innovation, any device having all or part, application of similar provisions, is to avoid that an injured child, with his hands or an object, tissues or sutures at the level of the head or the bust.

Claims (5)

 1) Device for preventing a child from injuring the tissues or sutures at the level of the head or the bust, characterized in that it consists of a groove conforming to the anterior face (3) of the limb, from the birth of the arm ( l) on the wrist (2), and whose edges are rounded (5).  2) Device according to claim 1 "characterized in that the gutter keeps the elbow in flexion with an angle of 300 (4).  3) Device according to claims 1 "and 2" characterized in that the gutter is held by a system of hook-and-loop fasteners (6 and 10).  4) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system of fasteners consists of the outer face (7): of at least two bands (loops) (6) fixed on the gutter at its ends, and on the internal face (8): at least two safety loops (9) integrated at the ends of the gutter and at least two bands (hooks) (10) fixed opposite the passers-by.  - Heats to 60 a thermoformable plate with the desired dimensions.  5) Method of manufacturing a device to prevent a child from injuring the tissues or sutures at the level of the head or the bust, according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that  - Apply the plate on a form to obtain the gutter.  - Raises passers-by thanks to protrusions on the form.  -Fixes the fastening system by thermal bonding on the gutter.