US2488058A

US2488058A - Fracture sling

Info

Publication number: US2488058A
Application number: US742910A
Authority: US
Inventors: Norman A Fleishman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-04-21
Filing date: 1947-04-21
Publication date: 1949-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 1966-11-15

Description

N. A. FLEISI-IIMAN 2,488,058

' FRACTURE SLING Nov. 15, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 21, 1947 I i \NVENTOR I NORMAN A. Fmsnnm ATTORNEYS Now l5, 1949 v N. A. FLEISHMAN 2,488,058

FRAC'IURE SLING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 21, 1947 \NVENTQR NORMAN ATLmsHMAN ATTORNEYfi Patented Nov. 15, 1949 FRACTURE SLING Norman A. Fleishman, Muskcgon, Mich.

Application April 21, 1947,- Serial Nb. 742,910

1 Claim. -(Cl- 128-84) The present invention relates to a fracture sling and more particularly to a sling adapted to maintain the position of reduction ofa fractured vertebra during the application of any suitable immobilizing agent such as that commercially known as Air-Lite, manufactured and sold by the Tower Company, Seattle, Washington.

The primary objects of the instant invention are to provide a fracture sling of the general character above indicated whereby a cast mayhe closely'fltted to a patient'suffering from the fracture of the vertebra at the upper point of any of the three points of fixation to therebyobtain reduction, which three points are (l) the pelvic brim anteriorly, (2) the site of fracture posteriorly, and (3) the region of the sternal notch anteriorly and superiorly; to provide such a fracture-sling whereby thethree points referred to above permit the retention of the necessary extension of the patient; .to provide such a fracture sling whose opposite-ends may be both either elevated and/or dropped and lengthened or shortened to increaseor decrease the degree and character of 'arch of the vertebra ofathe patient; to providesuch afracture slingihavingra secondary sling adapted'to allow the arms-of the patient to remain in a position of comfort not greater than'90 degrees :abduction to thereby permit .a close fitting of the application of the cast without extension of the scapulae and latissimus dorsae muscles; .toiprovide such a fracture sling which is highly efficient and convenient in its intended use; and, to provide such a fracture sling which is reasonably-economical in manufacture.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l'is a side elevational view of the sling and its supporting frame showing the patient selectively slung in one position prior to the fitting of the cast; W

Figure 2is-a view similar toFigure l butshowingthe patient selectively slung :in a different position;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the sling and its supporting frame, partly broken away at its foot end;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary head end view of the sling and its supporting frame, partly in section; and

Figure 5 is a plan view of the sling per se.

Referring then to the drawings wherein like parts of the structure shown are designated by the same numerals in the several views, the supis l in Figure 5 ,is bifurcated at its head end whose porting frame for the sling l0 comprises apair of parallelly spaced forward vertically disposed members'il l, 512 and a pair of parallelly spaced rearward vertically disposed members witha foot t5.

.A horizontally disposed rectangularly formed frame head 16, likewise formed of tubular stock, is supported on and fixedly secured to the-upper ends of theframe members ll,'l2, l3 and I4 and the upper lengthsof each longer member of the frame head It is provided with a series of spaced pin receiving apertures l1 and with a series of spaced pin receiving apertures l8, each of the opposite series of apertures l1, it being in lateral registration-as best shown in Figure 3.

An arm rest IQ for the patient 20 is securedto the inner ends of a pair of inwardly converging tubular stock members 21, 22 whose outer ends are vertically adjust-ably :securedito the forward frame members H, l2 in any suitable manner as by thumbscrews 23' whereby the arm rest 19 may be-selectively elevated or dropped within the discretion of the attending physician and for the comfort of the patient who is to be encased withinthe cast.

A cross member 24 slidably disposed between the longer lengths of the rectangular frame head I6 is provided at its :opposite ends with a pin receiving well adapted to register with any of the proximate series of pin receiving apertures l1 whereby a detachable pin 25 may longitudinally adjustably fix the cross bar as may be desired ,and, a hanger '2 6 likewise slidably disposed on each longer length of the rectangular frame head 16 is provided with a pin receiving well adapted to register with any of the proximate seriesof apertures l8 whereby each hanger may be longitudinally adjustably fixed to its length of the frame ahead as may be required in a given instance by a detachable pin-2 1.

The sling Ill-of any suitable flexible material such as canvas or other fabric and bestshown spaced tongues 28 are adapted to accommodate the neck of the patient therebetween when in slung position, the arms being disposed on op posite sides of each tongue and supported on the adjustable arm rest l9 as best shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The outer end of each tongue 28 is provided with a hem 29 for suspending the head end of the sling by means of a pair of longitudinally adjustable straps 30, each secured to a pair of spaced hangers 3| laterally adjustable on the .l3, l4 all: here shownas'tubular inform-and each provided and the foot end of the sling pair of spaced strap receiving grommets 32 each adapted to receive a longitudinally adjustable strap 33 secured to a cross bar 34 vertically adjustable on and between the rearward frame member I3, M by means of the thumb screws 35.

The side lengths of the sling I are provided with a pair of oppositely disposed laterally projecting tongues 36 intermediate their lengths but nearer the foot end of the sling which tongues are each provided with a strap receiving grommet 3'! adapted to receive a longitudinally adjustable strap 38 whose other end is: suspended from a longitudinally adjustable hanger 26.

The sling per se may of course be suspended from any suitable type of frame, the gist of the invention residing in a longitudinally adjustable sling provided with a bifurcated head adapted to accommodate the neck of the patient and whose tongues are adapted to be selectively elevated or dropped, a foot adapted to be selectively elevated or dropped-both adjustably controlling the degree and character of curvature of the fractured vertebra-and most important, the sling is provided with oppositely disposed lateral tongues to which vertically and horizontally adjustable suspending ligaments may be secured whereby rigid fixation of the knees of the patient cross member 24 is provided with a tion which begins at the pelvis.

In use, the tongue portions 28 of the sling l9 which engage opposite sides of the neck of the patient 25 can be made to effect the greatest point of fiexion at either the high, low or intermediate portion of the vertebral column by horizontally and vertically adjusting the sling, the degree and character of the arching Of the fracbeing essential in the obtaining of complete reduction. The close application to the body of the patient of the two rami or tongue portions 28 of the sling permits of a close fitting cast at the upper point or any of the three points of fixation which is highly desirable.

The use of the secondary sling or arm rest I9 is highly desirable since the arms of the patient duction, out extension of the scapulae and latissimus dorsae muscles. The cast which is otherwise at this point because the arms of the patient are extended over the head fits snugly facilitating a much better reduction.

It will thus be seen that the fracture sling herein shown and described is Well adapted for use in applying a close fitting cast to a patient suffering from the fracture of the vertebra; that the fracture sling permits of (1) the pelvic brim anteriorly, (2) the site of fracture posteriorly, and (3) the region of the sternal notch anteriorly and superiorly; that the opposite ends of the fracture sling may be both either elevated or dropped and lengthened or shortened to increase or decrease the degree and character of the arch of the vertebra of the patient; that the fracture sling preferably includes a secondary sling adapted to allow the arms of the patient to remain in a position of comfort not greater than degrees abduction thereby permitting a close fitting of the application of the cast without extension of the scapulae and latissimus dorsae muscles; that the fracture sling is highly eiiicient and convenient in its intended use; and, that the fracture sling is reasonably economical in manufacture.

While but one specific embodiment of the invention has been herein shown and described, it Will be understood that certain details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted Without departing from the spirit of the invention as the same is defined by the following claim.

I claim: 9

A fracture frame including spaced pairs of supporting legs and parallel longitudinal supporting members connected to the said pairs of legs and spacing them from each other, a longitudinally adjustable transverse bar mounted on said supporting members and extending therebetween, a longitudinally adjustable hanger on each supmember mounted in spaced relation to transverse bar, a second transverse bar NORMAN A. FLEISHMAN. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS