US1992904A - Jaw brace - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 26, 1935. J. PRESTON JAW BRACE Filed Sept. 6, 1932 INVENIOR.

J17: presrfom ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE John L. Preston, Wichita Falls, Tex.

Application September 6, 1932, Serial No. 631,868

2 Claims.

This invention relates to surgical appliances for the treatment of fractures of the jaw.

Hereinafter, for convenience, the type of appliance to which the invention relates will be referred to simply as jaw brace but this is to be understood as illustrative only and not as in any way, a limitation upon the scope of the invention.

In present practice in cases of jaw fracture where bandages of various kinds are relied upon for the treatment ofthis condition it has been found difficult to prevent slippage of the bandages and discomfort to the patient.

My appliance has the advantage of giving maximum comfort to the patient and at the same time is very effective in producing satisfactory stability and firmly supports the fragments in their proper relation to each other which is necessary to the natural healing process.

The jaw brace is of simple construction and may be easily applied. It has the advantage of being relatively cheap to manufacture.

The object of this invention is to provide a jaw brace which will overcome the disadvantages of the appliances now in use, thereby adding to the comfort of the patient and aiding the healing process.

With this object in view, this invention consists in general, of the structural characteristics and combinations of parts illustrated in the accompanying one sheet of drawing, described in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the head cap and jaw brace, applied to the patient in operative position.

Figure 2 is atop or plan view of the head cap.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the jaw brace.

Figure 4 is a cross section of Figure 3 thru the base of the jaw brace.

Referring in the first instance to that part of the invention shown in Figure 2, 1 is a head cap of material preferably such as an artificial leather-like fabric commonly known in the trade as Fabricoid or other suitable material, having webbing straps, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 securely fastened to said cap at proper positions so that the cap will fit snugly to the head. Straps for supporting the brace (4, 5, 6, and 7) are fastened to the head cap in such a manner as to be conveniently fastened and secured to the brace and holding said brace firmly but comfort- (Cl; 12889) e ably in position. One strap 2 is stitched around the lower edge or rim of the head owl and is provided at the back with a buckle 8 permitting adjustmenj so that the cap may be adapted to fit various headsizes. Strap 3 is secured to 5 the head cap on, a center line from the front to rear terminating at a distance from the lower edge or rim, the remaining distance (1 being slit orcut permitting adjustment in the size of the cap; This strap 3 is rivetted to the cap by 10 means of eyelets which permits of ventilation.

4 and Band 6 and 7 are pairs of straps'for supporting the brace. These straps are secured to thecap at spaced distances from the center of the crown and are held in place by means of eyelets as in the case of strap 3. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are arranged to slip through unstitched portions as shown at 9 and 10 of Figure l on either side 'of strap 2. These pairs of straps 4, 5, 6, and '7 are looped through hooks as shown at 11 of Figure 1, the straps are then reversed and again passed thru the openings of strap 2 as shown at 9 and 10 and their ends secured by buckles 12, 13, 14, and 15 on the straps on the crown of the head cap.

In Figure 3 is shown the brace which is formed to approximate the natural contour of the jaw and is of substantially V shaped formation. It is rounded at the base to produce a concave formation and forms a pocket on the inside of the outer part. This brace 16 is composed of two parts, the outer part 17 being made of relatively light weight, yet strong and durable, moisture-proof and sanitary material, preferably of the character of commercial products of vulcanized viscous substance or reconverted cellulose, particularly such as commonly known in the trade as Viscoloid and Bakelite, which is moulded to proper contour and perforated as at 18 to provide ventilation. The inner part 19 which comes in contact with the patients jaw, is lined with a soft and resilient material such as delicate sponge rubber, although it is obvious that various material may be used for this purpose. As can be seen in Figure 4 this lining or inner part 19 does not fit snugly against the base of the brace there being a space 20 between the lining and the outer part. The object of this feature is to form a cushion in conjunction with the pocket formed at the base of the 50 brace. The inner lining 19 is secured to the outer part 1'7 of the brace at its upper portions.

Buttons 21 are secured near the upper edges of the sides of the brace adapted to engage the hooks. The head cap 1 and jaw brace 16 are 55 shown in conjunction in Figure 1 adapted to the patient 22. The cap 1 is shown attached to the brace by means of the hook 11, similarly applied to both sides. The appliance is adjusted by the buckles 12, 13, 14, and 15 which permit vertical and anterior-posterior adjustments and adaptation to the various contours and sizes. Strap 2 adjusts the cap to the patients head size.

By reason of these adjustable features, the device may be almost universally applied. It is apparent that the appliance may be made of any suitable material and that it is not limited to the suggestions made in this specification. lt is also obvious that the appliance is adaptable for treatment of fractures of the jaw bothu'pper and lower as one of the means for stabilizing the fragments which will result in a satisfactory immobilization which must be maintained as nearly as possible throughout the course of treat.-

.25 sary to rebandage the fracture.

ment.

As vI have heretofore pointed out it is well knownin surgical practice that where bandages are relied upon in cases of jaw fracture there is often, a tendency of the bandages to slip or stretch and get out of position, making it neces- With the use of my appliance slippage and stretching is eliminated.

Modifications and alterations in the form and arrangement of parts will'sl lggest themselves to those skilled in the art and it is to be understood that such differentlforms of construction are contemplated as forming a part of this invention in so far as they fall within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim as new is:

1. An appliance of the class described including a head cap, a strap secured around the lower edge of the head cap, a slit extending upwardly from the lower edge of the said head cap and providing an opening whereby the head size of thehead cap may be varied, asubstantially V- shaped jaw brace adjustably secured 310 the head cap, said jaw brace perforated to permit the passage of air therethrough and a resilient lining in said brace, the said lining being attached to the brace at its upper ends and being spaced apart at its lower portion from the said brace.

2. In a device of the class described comprising a head cap, a slit in said head cap extending upwardly from the periphery of the head cap, a strap secured substantially around the lower edge of the head cap, said strap being free at the k 9 the ead cap and ar anged to b sec red together for closing the slit whereby the head s Of th h a can ay e a ed wo: a rs of straps secured .to the crown of said. head cap,

the said pairs of straps being folded into loops, b k es on e a s, fo ad u tin he 19 9s, hooks secured in the loops and a substantially v.-shaped jaw brace detachable connected to the said hooks. HN vL- RE TQN-

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