WO1992003111A2

WO1992003111A2 - Splint and bandage applicator

Info

Publication number: WO1992003111A2
Application number: PCT/CA1991/000282
Authority: WO
Inventors: Randy Otterson
Original assignee: Randy Otterson
Priority date: 1990-08-14
Filing date: 1991-08-14
Publication date: 1992-03-05
Also published as: AU8393391A; WO1992003111A3

Abstract

A method of immobilizing an injured body member by applying a bandage and a splint (12) to the injured body member, in which the bandage is wound on the member using a cylindrical applicator and the splint is secured on the member by one or more lockable straps (44). The devices using the method comprise a cylindrical bandage applicator on which the bandage is wound and a splint having one or more straps (48) which carry a rigid bar (54) and which are fixed to a plate (38) at one end and lockable thereto at the other end.

Description

Title of Invention

SPLINT AND BANDAGE APPLICATOR

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a splint and to a bandage applicator for protecting a wound and immobilizing the injured body member.

Background to the Invention

To immobilize injured body members, it is usual to apply a splint by hand bandaging it to the injured body member. If the injured body member includes a wound, it is additionally hand bandaged before the splint is applied. These methods are cumbersome and time consuming.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bandage which is simple to apply.

It is another object of the invention to provide a splint which is simple to apply.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a splint which will correct disfigurement of an injured body member.

Statement of the Invention

In its broadest aspect, this invention relates to a method of applying a splint to an injured body member comprising the steps of: first, applying an elongated strip, the strip having leading and trailing ends and being wound around a cylinder, to the body member by applying the leading edge of the strip to the body member and thereafter simultaneously rotating the cylinder and orbiting the cylinder around the body member; and second, positioning the body member (which is wrapped by the elongated strip) on a splint comprised of a rigid plate adapted to bear against a body member with at least one strap fixed at one end to the plate and having at least one rigid bar carried by the strap parallel to the splint and spaced from the rigid plate to bear against the body member when the strap is looped over the plate looping the strap over the body member with the end of the strap being received in locking means on the plate to secure the body member to the plate and at least one rigid bar carried by the strap parallel to the splint and spaced from the rigid plate to bear against the body member when the strap is looped over the plate.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a splint for use on an injured body member comprising a rigid plate adapted to bear against a body part, at least one strap fixed at one end to the plate and locking means on the plate to receive the other end of the strap to form a loop over the plate to secure the body member to the plate.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a bandage applicator comprising: a cylinder and a handle coaxial with the cylinder, and a bandage comprising an elongated strip wound on the cylinder.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which describe example embodiments of the invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container and its contents, namely a bandage applicator, a splint, a tube of medicine and medicine applicators;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the splint of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bandage applicator of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1 measuring an injured finger;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the bandage applicator of Figure 1 positioned to apply a bandage to a finger;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a finger with a bandage applied, and an unsecured splint;

Figure 7 is a perspective view similar to Figure 6, in position on the bandaged finger of a bandaged finger with the splint properly secured; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the splint of Figure 2. Description of Preferred Embodiment

The exe pie embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7 of the drawings consists of a bandage applicator 10, a splint 12, and a container 14. Bandage applicator 10 consists of a shaft 16 and a bandage 18. Shaft 16 comprises a cylinder 20 and a handle 22 which is attachable to the cylinder by means of a threaded post 24 engaging threaded bore 26.

Bandage 18 is wound on cylinder 20 and comprises an elongated strip 28 of woven material with a surgical pad 32 located adjacent leading edge 34 of the strip. Trailing edge 36 of strip 28, opposite to pad 32, is preferably removably attached to cylinder 20 of shaft 16 by means of tabs 30a. Strip 28 is rolled onto cylinder 20 and leading edge 34 is removably attached to the cylinder.

Splint 12 comprises a rigid plate 38 with a face 40 having an inclined end 42. A plurality of flexible straps 44, preferably of nylon, are fixed at one end along one side 46 of plate 38 and extend laterally from the plate to form loops above face 40. Free ends 48 of straps 44 are ridged and are receivable in locks 50 along the opposite side 52 of plate 38 for one way movement only.

Straps 44 are threaded through a rigid bar 54 whereby the bar lies above, and is spaced from, face 40 of plate 38 when strips 44 are received into locks 50.

Tie 56 is attached at one end to rigid bar 54, and another tie 58 is attached at one end to rigid plate 38.

Tubular container 14 houses applicator 10, splint 12, medication applicators 60 and a tube of medicine 62. The outer wall of container 14 carries a scale 64 which indicates the length of splint 12 housed in the container. Container 14 is able to maintain the sterility of those contents housed within it.

In the use of the example embodiment for the treatment of an injured finger 66 of a hand 68 (see Figure 4), the finger is placed against a scale 64 to choose a container 14 having a splint of a suitable length, as shown in Figure 4. The appropriate container 14 having been chosen, the contents are removed.

Next handle 22 is attached to cylinder 20 and tabs 30b on leading edge 34 of elongated strip 28 are adhered to finger 66 with handle 22 extending away from the finger, as shown in Figure 5. Handle 22 is then rotated to expose pad 32 and medication from tube 62 is applied to the pad. Thereafter handle 22 is rotated and at the same time it is revolved around finger 66 to wind elongated strip 28 around the finger until tabs 30a at the trailing edge 36 of the strip 28 are exposed, whereupon the tabs are detached from cylinder 20 and adhered to the elongated strip.

Splint 12 is attached to the bandaged finger 66 by placing the finger on face 40 so that the finger bears against plate 38, with the free end 70 of the finger resting against inclined end 42 of face 40 for mallet finger correction. Straps 44 are looped over the bandaged finger 66, and the free ends 48 are anchored in locks 50, as shown in Figures 6 and 7. In this position of splint 12, rigid bar 54 lies above bandaged finger 66.

Finally, to further inhibit splint 12 from slipping relative to bandaged finger 66, ties 56 and 58 are secured together around wrist 72, as shown in Figure 7.

It will be appreciated that the invention can be readily adapted for use upon other body members.

Also, it will be appreciated that there are variations which can be made to the example embodiment within the scope of this invention. For example, it is possible to replace the plurality of straps 44 with a single strap. Instead of a single rigid bar 54, a plurality of rigid bars could be utilized. Also, instead of two ties 56 and 58, a singe tie might be used.

In a variation of the splint shown in Figure 8, the inclined end of rigid plate 38 is a separate element 80 which is pivoted to the rigid plate by a pin 82 mounted transversely on a tongue 84 projecting from the rigid plate into a recess 86 in element 80. An elastic strap 88 is anchored at one end to element 80 and at the other end to plate 38 to urge element 80 upwardly. End 90 of element 80 and end 92 of plate 38 abutting one another are bevelled o allow element 80 to upwardly incline to about 30" wit._ respect to the plane of the plate, and to downwardly incline to about 90° when pressure is applied to the element.

As seen in Figure 8, upper face 94 of rigid plate 38 may carry an array of protuberances 96 and similar protuberances may be carried on the lower face of rigid bar 54, to allow for ventilation and to prevent slippage.

To facilitate manufacture, locks 50 may be moulded as passages 98 in plate 30 instead of the bosses seen in Figure 2.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A method of applying a splint to an injured body member comprising the sequential steps of:

(a) winding an elongated strip, the strip having a leading end and a trailing end with the strip being wound around a cylinder, on the body member by applying the leading edge of the strip to the body member, and thereafter simultaneously rotating the cylinder and orbiting the cylinder around the body member; and

(b) positioning a splint on the body member having the elongated strip wound thereon, the splint comprising a rigid plate adapted to bear against the body member and at least one strap fixed at one end to the plate with at least one rigid bar carried by the strap parallel to the splint and spaced from the rigid plate to bear against the body member when the strap is looped over the plate and locking means on the plate to receive and lock the strap, and looping the strap over the body member to engage the locking means thereby securing the splint to the body member.

2. A finger splint comprising:

(a) a rigid plate adapted to bear against a finger;

(b) at least one strap fixed at one end to the plate;

(c) means on the plate to receive and lock the opposite end of the strap whereby a loop is formed over the plate to secure the plate to the finger; and

(d) at least one rigid bar carried by the strap, the strap being parallel to the rigid plate and spaced therefrom to bear thereto against the side of the finger opposite the plate when the strap is looped over the plate and locked.

3. A splint as claimed in claim 2, including at least one tie attached to the splint for wrist attachment.

4. A splint as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rigid plate is elongated with opposed side edges, the strap is attached to one of the side edges, and the locking means for said strap is attached to the opposite side edge.

5. A splint as claimed in claim 2, wherein one end portion of the rigid plate is inclined thereto.

6. A bandage applicator comprising;

(a) a cylinder and a handle coaxial with the cylinder; and

(b) .a bandage wound on the cylinder.

7. A bandage applicator as claimed in claim 6, wherein a surgical pad is carried by the elongated strip adjacent the leading edge of the strip.

8. A bandage applicator as claimed in claim 6, wherein adhesive means is carried by the trailing edge of the bandage and removably adhered to the cylinder.

9. A bandage applicator as claimed in claim 6, including a container therefor with a measuring scale visibly located on the outside surface thereof.

10. A splint as claimed in claim 2, in which the rigid plate carries at one end a separate element as a planar extension thereof, the element being hingedly mounted on the plate, and means to urge the element into an inclined position with respect to the plane of the plate.

11. A splint as claimed in claim 10, in which said one end of the plate carries a tongue receivable in a recess in the separate element, the separate element being pivotally mounted on the tongue, and the means to urge the element into an inclined position comprises elastic means anchored at one end to the plate and at the other end to the element whereby the element is inclinable in either direction with respect to the plate.

12. A splint as claimed in claim 2, in which the face of the rigid plate is adapted to bear against the finger carries an array of protuberances.

13. A splint as claimed in claim 2 in which that surface of the rigid bar bearing against the finger carries an array of protuberances.