US1878913A - Surgical support - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 20, 1932. S T SURGICAL SUPPORT Filed Aug. 17, 1927 Frank J Stuart,

Patented Sept. 20, 1932 FRANK J. srt'rARr; or sa ouis, "ivr'rss'ounr SURGICAL SUPPORT Application filed August 17, 1927. Seiial No. 213,583.

The invention relates to improvements in hernia pads and the like. It has been known in the prior art to provide a central hard pad or knob-like member to bear upon the hernia or other afflicted part, and it has been a development to provide around such hard pad a soft cushion member, such as an annulus of soft rubber, whereby a maximum pressure of the complete device may be possible without liability of thrusting the hard element too deeply into the tissues. It has also been appreciated that an adjustment of thehard element with respect to the soft cushion is desirable, and devices have beenevolved to meet such requirements, examples of which are found in the patent to Forsberg, No. 54,521, May 8th, 1856; McCullom, 1,158,139, October 26, 1915, and Fuller, 453,298, June 2, 1891. I

It is an object of my invention to enable the embodiment of a device of this character with the encircling soft cushion adjustable upon the hard pad in a novel and ine'Xpensive manner and also with an absence of structural elements liable to derangement of involving excessivebulk or disagreeable appearance.

It is also an important aim to avoid excessive weight in such devices, and complicated manufacturing operations, and in-the attainment of these objects I have also cheapened the articlewithout detracting from its functional merits'so as to place it within the reach of the public generally and adaptable to use by persons of inexperience in such manner as to attain the proper functions required of such appliances. j 1

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention reside in the construction, the arragements and combination of parts as will be understood from the following 0 scription and accompanying drawing,

wherein I I I Figure 1 is an elevational view of an appliance constructed in accordance with my invention including means for its securement =15 upon the body'of a patient. Figure 2 is a detailof the annulus showing its form and size detached. I Figure 3 is a cross'sec'tion of the appliance, the hard pad being in elevation,

Figure e is a fragmentary top View of pad element.

. while thelower parts of the the Pad and mounting as shown in Figure 1, with "a portion of the adhesive omitted.

' Figure ,5 is an elevational view of the hard 9 Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of the appliance showing it as appliedto the body of a person. V Figure 7 is a cross section of a modification of the annulus 16,. I j i The figures are the full size tive device 'as-marketed. I w 1 Thereis-illustrated a hard or semi=hard pad element 10, which in the present instance is hollowand apertured at itsbodyengag- V 7 mg point for use as an applicator of an ab- 65 sorbable, medica, as it serves in retaining a hernia when set thereover, or per-forming otherjfunct'ions. The pad 10is ovatein top View as 'shown'in Figure 4, and may be some what apple-shaped in longitudinal section and pear-shaped in cross-section, as indicate'd'i'n Figures 1 and 3. It is formed with of an Opera 50 a flat bottom 11 centrally of which a slight recess 1'2is sometimes formed, having angular edges. An attaching means is provided the form of a sheet of fabric having an adhesive coating 14 throughout on one side, this support being customarily formedof a comparatively broad "stripwith 1 a an enlarged oval end portion 15. shown in Figure 4. The pad is set with its flat bottom side centrally of the enlargement 15 and pressed forcibly thereon. The adhesive coating 14 is of mam-rem serve as apermanent attachment of the pad to the fabric, and the central portion of the f abric and adhesive material being embedded in the recess 12 affords 'a furtherflassurance of adequate anchorage, so that'the pad is not likely to slipon 1 the mounting fabric. I j I [The pad'10 is oval in plan and is sub.- stantially apple-shaped as viewed in section taken on a plane coincident with themajor axis of this ovfal and perpendicular to the bottom 11; while in a'corresponding section on the minor axis of the oval, the pad ,is in the shape ofanfegg frustrum, the sfnaller end of theeggb'eingcut off; That is to say, pad are convex as viewed in the sections mentioned, it is nulus 16 is circular in cross? section initially,

the part 10', this cross sectional 'shape'yis deion to engage the body of the wearenl; Ini-i tially, the opening through the annulus v16 is much smaller than the cross sectional -dimension of the pad 16 to be engaged, so that the annulusfits snugly and with ample frie tional bearing. up'on'lthe pad 10; The anbut by reason of the ma-nner ofits fit upon formed, as shown in Figure3, so that a large bearing surface is obtained between the annulus 16 and pad 10. Consequently, the annulus 16 will remainwherever adjusted'bej tween the base of the pad 10 and" its outer part, within the range of adjustments de sirable in such appliances. "Itis desirable that the surfaces of the sidesof the pad shall diverge outwardly from the base in order to prevent-casual movement of the annulus16 toward the body-engaging portion of the pad 10 under exigencies of body movement and pressure variously exerted upon the device externally of the wearer; At thefsame time,

in applying this device in accordance-with practices understood inthe art, it will be apparent that the annulus 16 is also securely heldby the adhesive fabric in proper opera ative relation tothe body of the wearer.

If desired, a multiplicity of circumscribing fine ribs or serrations 1718 may be formed respectively upon the'pad 10. andon the annulus 16, as above mentioned, and shown in Figures 5, and'Z. Where the ribs 17 are formed on the pad, when theannulus 16 is put in place, a portion of the material of the annulus willsink between the ribs or serrations and thereby be held against movement transversely of the ribs. If the ribs are also formed on theannulus 16 a very positive adjustment'niay be secured. r In the use of the pad 10 in connection with attaching means such as here shown, it 'is customary to warm the adhesive'aiid adjust the part 10 properly upon the hernia or other affected part, drawingthe' adhesive fabric outwardly and pressing'it securely upon the skin of thelwearerthe muscular tissues being in a relaxed condition-While the pad is held in proper bearing upon the'body; In consequence,jthe pad is-the ii held in place without the use of laces, belts, or other fastenings. The annulus 16 ,isinc luded between the body andthe adhesive support, which is be more, or less flexible.

wall. For a maximum projection of the pad 10, the annulus 16 ispressed, toward the base ofthe pad until the desired projection is attained,.while if a minimum projection is desired, the annulus 16 is adjusted inwardly toward the portion of major diameter in thepad (see dottedposition in Figure 1). These adjustments being made before the appli mice is adjusted upon the person, and before the adhesive is drawn into Contact with the annulus 16, when the adhesive is drawn taut and then brought inwardly upon the an nulus the latter is secured positively in the positionto which it is adjusted upon the pad, and the subsequent application of the extreme edge portions of the adhesive fabric to the body of the wearer'additionally retains the annulus in proper" place. At the same time the annulus 16 itself supports the pad 10 resiliently by reason of the indirect connection between the adhesive vfabric and the bottom ing liability of displacement of the pad 10 from its exact adjustment-upon the body of the person applied, as is apparent. This has special functional value-in enhancing the massaging action'of the pad 10, a certain of the pad 10, and this afiords a resilient support of the pad 10 without, however, IIIYOlV- amount of relativemovement of the pad 10 upon the affected p'artjbeing recognized as advantageous as'long as it is properly'limited.

Also theannulus 16 by this manner of mount- ,ing exerts a gentle working of the tissues adjacent the area of bearing of the pad 10.

It will be seen that without the use of truss, belt, mounting metal, or other rigid mountingandwithout the use of levers,- screws or the like, I have attained the provision of a relatively adjustable pad and cushion annulus meeting the requirements of the surgical uses contemplated, and at the same time have provided an extremely light, simple and comparatively inexpensive appliance havingthe" advantages sought and heretofore attained .only in more complicated form un suited to wear upon the person beneath clothing and also distas'teful because of the machine-like appearance which the prior devices have presented. 7 x j.

The top partof the pad 10 will ordinarily be hard, or relatively hard, but in cases. where so indicatedcby medical or surgical'requiremerits the outer one-quarter or one-thirdmay The peculiar and novel construction of the surgical support brings about" automatic massage through automatic action of the pad 10 and annulus 16, on the flexible fabric strip, with the adhesive mass spread thereon. The fieXible fabric strip, holding the pad 10 and annulus 16 firmly against themuscles and tissues, and over the opening, serves every intent and purpose, so far as local pressure and retention of the viscera, is concerned; further, the fabric being flexible there is a certain space left immediately surrounding the annulus 16 suflicient to'permit both pad 10 and annulus 16 to move not translativeiy on the epidermis, but with an oscillatory, or vibratory motion, caused by inhaling and exhaling of the breath, which causes the entirediaphragm-- including the abdominal cavity-tocontract and expand with each respiratory movement, producing that natural motion, automatically brought about by the peculiar diaphragmatic rise and fall of the diaphragm. Va-

rious other movements of the body incident to the conscious activities of the wearer contribute to this effect.

It is to be remembered that abdominal hernia is caused by a relaxation, weakening and consequent separation of certain muscular fibres and tissues surrounding certain natural openings, in the abdominal walls, the

usual points of occurrence being the inguinal opening; the femoral opening and the umbelical opening. Also be it remembered that muscles can be strengthened by application thereto of the proper stimulione of the most common, and perhaps the best form of stimulus, being massage.

The novel construction, application and i use of the surgical support, therefore, produces and furnishes the massage; hence the proper stimuli to the affected muscles tending to curative outcome of the use of my appliance.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a central hard pad member, and a thick soft and elastic annulus fitted snugly thereon, the pad being of an altitude from bottom totop much greater than the corresponding measurement of the annulus, said pad having a series of irregularities on its lateral surfaces spaced from the top of the pad and being constructed and adapted to be embedded in the engaged part of the annulus by contraction of the latter, to prevent casual slipping of the annulus from adjusted positionson the pad, the lower side portions of said pad having a mutual relation between diametrically opposite portions such as to support the annulus in positions spaced from the bottom of the pad, whereby the annulus will be held adjustably with respect to the top of the pad, said annulus being of suificient tensile strength to trans mit effective pressure from the annulus to ture.

FRANK J. STUART.

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