GB2320434A - Arm sling - Google Patents

Abstract

The sling comprises a portion 12 formed from a material having an open structure, such as a net or open weave textile, so that the part of the arm and/or hand beneath such portion can be readily inspected. The other portion 14 of the sling may be of padded or soft, close woven textile material and may have openings 26 to allow extension therethrough of any pins placed in the elbow joint for traction purposes. The portion 12 may have a ring 16 and suspension means 18 attached thereto. The two portions can both be opened out to enable easy location of the sling on the arm.

Description

P56865 GB IXPROVININTS IN OR RELATING TO ARM 8LING8 The present invention relates to arm slings.

In particular, though not exclusively, the invention relates to arm slings for use by patients when the arm must be retained in an elevated position whilst the patient is in a recumbent or seated position.

Arm slings are known for this purpose but do have at least one disadvantage. Usually the sling is made of a close woven type of material and the sling not only covers the arm but also the hand of the patient. Therefore it is not possible to make a rapid and easy inspection of that part of the patient's arm or hand whilst it is enclosed within the sling. Inspections of patients with arm injuries is required to ensure that the patient is comfortable and that good circulation is being maintained. For example, regular inspection is essential in order to ensure that the patient's hand has not turned blue e.g. through poor circulation.

The present invention seeks to provide an arm sling which overcomes this difficulty and also provides further advantages.

Accordingly the present invention provides an arm sling including a portion formed from a material having an open structure.

The said portion can be the upper portion of the arm sling e.g.

that portion of the arm sling which encloses the lower part of an arm, and, or the hand, distally from just below the elbow joint.

The lower portion of the arm sling e.g. that part of the sling which covers the upper part of the arm can be of a close woven texture type material capable of resisting abrasion by a plaster or synthetic cast.

The open upper end of the upper portion of the sling can be held open, for example, by a ring, so that the open texture material of that portion of the sling does not constrict the arm, and, or hand of the patient.

The ring or the upper end of the upper portion of the arm sling can have a hook or loop or a form of suspension means allowing the sling to be attached in a position such that the patient's arm is correctly elevated.

The suspension means can comprise an adjustable length strap which has releasable fastening means.

The strap can be released from the fastening means and secured to an attachment means at the opposite end of the sling, enabling the sling to function as a high arm sling when the patient is ambulatory.

Preferably the lower portion of the sling has openings so that any pins which have been placed in the patient's elbow joint for skeletal traction purposes can extend through the sling and not interfere with the sling itself.

Preferably the sling has an opening throughout its length enabling the sling to be placed on a patient's arm and for the free edges of the open sling to be secured together, for example, by means of VELCRO (registered trade mark) strips.

The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which, Figure 1 shows a side elevation of one form of arm sling according to the present invention and Figure 2 shows a front elevation of the sling shown in Figure 1 but with the sling opened out.

Referring to the drawings there is shown an arm sling (10) comprising an upper portion (12) and a lower portion (14). The upper portion (12) is formed from a material having an open texture e.g. a net or an open weave textile fabric whilst the lower portion (14) can be formed from a padded or soft close woven textile material.

The upper end of the upper portion (12) is attached to a ring (16) and a suspension means (18) is also attached either directly to the ring (16) or to the upper end of the upper portion (12).

The attachment means (18) comprises a strap (20) of adjustable length which is releasably secured to the portion (12) by attachment means (22) having a female portion (22A) at one end of the strap (20) and a male portion (22B) attached either to the ring (16) or to the upper portion (12).

The opposite end of the arm sling is also provided with a female attachment means (24), the function of which will be described below.

The lower portion (14) is provided with two openings (26) so that the arm sling can be positioned on a patients arm where the elbow joint of the patient has been pinned for skeletal traction purposes. The openings (26) allow the pins (not shown) to extend through the arm sling and not interfere with the function of the arm sling.

As will be seen from Figure 2 the upper and lower portions (12 and 14) can both be opened out allowing the sling to be located easily on the arm of a patient. The free edges of the upper and lower portions (12 and 14) can be drawn together by any suitable fastening means e.g. straps and buckles, pop fasteners or VELCRO (registered trade mark) strips.

When the arm sling is used for the purposes of arm elevation the sling is placed on the patient's arm as described and the male and female members (22A and 22B) are attached together so that the strap (20) forms a loop which can be hooked over any suitable apparatus in order to maintain the patient's arm at the correct elevation.

It will be appreciated that the length of the strap can be adjusted if required to obtain the correct elevation.

The ring (16) prevents the material of the upper portion (12) from constraining the lower portion of the patient's arm, and, or hand. However, more importantly, the open structure of the upper portion (12) allows for easy inspection of the patient's arm to ensure that the patient is not suffering in any way. The arm sling according to the present invention means that the sling does not have to be removed in order for the patient's arm to be inspected.

The provision of the openings (26) enable the sling to be readily used even if the elbow joint of the patient has been provided with pins for skeletal traction.

The sling (10) can also be used as a high arm sling. The male and female members (22A and 22B) are disengaged and the male member (22A) is then engaged with the female member (24) so that the arm is brought into the "high" position. If necessary, the length of the strap can be adjusted suitably.

It will be appreciated that an arm sling according to the present invention has a number of advantages as follows; 1. That part of the arm and or hand covered by the open texture portion (12) can be readily inspected 2. The ring (16) maintains the upper portion (12) in an arrangement such that the portion (12) does not constrain the patient's arm, and, or hand 3. The provision of the openings (26) enable the sling to be used on a patient having pins provided for skeletal traction 4. The sling can be used either as an arm elevation or as a high arm sling.

Claims (10)

1. An arm sling including a portion formed from a material having an open structure.

2. An arm sling as claimed in claim 1 in which the said portion is the upper portion of the arm sling e.g. that portion of the arm sling which encloses the lower part of an arm, and, or the hand.

3. An arm sling as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the lower portion of the arm sling e.g. that part of the sling which covers the upper part of the arm is of a close woven texture type material.

4. An arm sling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the upper portion of the sling can be held open, for example, by a ring, so that the open texture material of that portion of the sling does not constrict the arm, and, or hand of the patient.

5. An arm sling as claimed in claim 4 in which the ring or the upper end of the upper portion of the arm sling has a hook or loop or a form of suspension means allowing the sling to be attached in a position such that the patient's arm is correctly elevated.

6. An arm sling as claimed in claim 5 in which the suspension means comprises an adjustable length strap which has releasable fastening means.

7. An arm sling as claimed in claim 6 in which the strap can be released from the fastening means and secured to an attachment means at the opposite end of the sling, enabling the sling to function as a high arm sling.

8. An arm sling as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the lower portion of the sling has openings so that any pins which have been placed in the patient's elbow joint for skeletal traction purposes can extend through the sling and not interfere with the sling itself.

9. An arm sling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the sling has an opening throughout its length enabling the sling to be placed on a patients arm and for the free edges of the open sling to be secured together, for example, by means of VELCRO (registered trade mark) strips.

10. An arm sling constructed and arranged for use and operation substantially as described as herein and with reference to the accompanying drawing.