WO2011064588A1 - Splint - Google Patents

Splint Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2011064588A1
WO2011064588A1 PCT/GB2010/051968 GB2010051968W WO2011064588A1 WO 2011064588 A1 WO2011064588 A1 WO 2011064588A1 GB 2010051968 W GB2010051968 W GB 2010051968W WO 2011064588 A1 WO2011064588 A1 WO 2011064588A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
splint
portions
bone
part engaging
engaging portions
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2010/051968
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Richard King
Original Assignee
University Hospitals Coventry And Warwickshire Nhs Trust
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by University Hospitals Coventry And Warwickshire Nhs Trust filed Critical University Hospitals Coventry And Warwickshire Nhs Trust
Publication of WO2011064588A1 publication Critical patent/WO2011064588A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61FFILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F5/00Orthopaedic methods or devices for non-surgical treatment of bones or joints; Nursing devices; Anti-rape devices
    • A61F5/01Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces
    • A61F5/04Devices for stretching or reducing fractured limbs; Devices for distractions; Splints
    • A61F5/05Devices for stretching or reducing fractured limbs; Devices for distractions; Splints for immobilising
    • A61F5/058Splints
    • A61F5/05841Splints for the limbs
    • A61F5/05858Splints for the limbs for the arms
    • A61F5/05866Splints for the limbs for the arms for wrists, hands, fingers or thumbs

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to splints, in particular to splints to aid bone setting.
  • the present invention also relates to associated methods of manufacturing a splint and to associated methods of supporting bone portions using a splint.
  • a splint for supporting portions of bone to be set, the splint comprising first and second body-part engaging portions arranged with elastic bias there-between to provide support to portions of bone to be set and thereby in use hold the portions of bone to be set in place with a pressure above a predetermined minimum.
  • the splint is able to accommodate a reduction in swelling around the portions of bones to be set while maintaining the pressure to the portions of bone to thereby hold the portions of bone in the correct position while healing occurs.
  • the splint comprises a plastics material.
  • the body-part engaging portions are formed as one piece of flexible material.
  • the splint comprises a one-piece plastics form.
  • the splint comprises a heat-formable material.
  • the body-part engaging portions are distributed along the splint and are arranged along the splint to extend in alternating directions away from one another.
  • the body- part engaging portions are arranged to wrap, or partially wrap around a body part, preferably a limb or limb portion.
  • the body-part engaging portions are arranged to partially wrap around a body part in alternating directions.
  • the splint comprises first, second and third body-part engaging portions arranged with elastic bias there-between to provide three-point support to portions of bone to be set and thereby in use hold the portions of bone to be set in place with a pressure above a predetermined minimum
  • one of the first, second and third body-part engaging portions comprises a primary portion arranged to provide support proximate to the portions of bone to be set, and the others of the first, second and third body-part engaging portions comprise secondary portions arranged to provide support for the primary portions at a distance therefrom.
  • the splint comprises a wrist splint.
  • the splint is arranged to support portions of bone from a distal radius fracture.
  • the predetermined minimum pressure applied to the site of the distal radius fracture corresponds to a force in the range 5-15N applied over the fracture site, preferably 10N.
  • the predetermined minimum pressure corresponds to that which a physician would typically apply when setting the portions of bone in a rigid cast.
  • a method of manufacturing a splint comprising: forming first and second body-part engaging portions and providing elastic bias there-between, such that in use the splint is arrangeable to provide support to portions of bone to be set and thereby in use hold the portions of bone to be set in place with a pressure above a predetermined minimum.
  • a method of supporting bone portions using a splint comprising arranging first and second body-part engaging portions of the splint to provide support to the bone portions to hold the bone portions in place with a pressure above a predetermined minimum, as determined by elastic bias between first and second body-part engaging portions.
  • the method employs the splint of the first aspect of the present invention or a splint manufactured according to the method of the second aspect of the present invention
  • an apparatus and method as set forth in any appended claims.
  • Other features of the invention will be apparent from any dependent claims, and the description which follows.
  • Figure 1 shows a perspective view from a first side and above a splint according to an example embodiment of the present invention, in use
  • Figure 2 shows a perspective view from a first side and above a splint according to an example embodiment of the present invention, in use, this view from a lower point than that of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 shows a perspective view from a second side and above the splint of Figure 1 , in use;
  • Figures 4 and 5 show further perspective views of the splint of Figure 1 in use.
  • the splint 1 comprises a wrist splint, and is shown in use arranged to support portions of bone formed by a distal radius fracture.
  • the splint 1 comprises first, second and third body-part engaging portions 1 1 , 12, 13 arranged with elastic bias there-between to provide support to portions of bone to be set. In this way the splint 1 holds the portions of bone to be set in place with a pressure above a predetermined minimum, even when swelling under the splint subsides or is reduced.
  • the splint is able to accommodate a reduction in swelling around the portions of bones to be set while maintaining the pressure to the portions of bone. Maintaining pressure holds the portions of bone in the desired position while healing occurs, resisting any tendency of the bone portions to move within the splint 1.
  • the first, second and third body-part engaging portions 11 , 12, 13 are distributed along the splint 1 , and are arranged along the splint 1 to extend in alternating directions away from one another and generally perpendicular to the axial length of the splint 1.
  • the body-part engaging portions 11 , 12, 13 partially wrap around a body part, here the wrist to provide three- point support to the portions of bone to be set.
  • the body-part engaging portions may be provided in other arrangements to provide the support, for example in one or more loops or broken loops substantially encircling the body part of interest, and arranged unevenly along the length of the splint and unevenly between opposite sides of the splint.
  • the first body-part engaging portion 1 1 comprises a primary portion arranged to support at the fractured portion of bone to be set, and the second and third body-part engaging portions 12, 13 comprise secondary portions arranged to provide support for the primary portion 11.
  • the secondary portions engage the wrist at a distance from the portions of bone to be set, and cooperate with the primary portion to provide the three-point support.
  • the splint including the body-part engaging portions 11-13 is formed as one piece of flexible plastics material, and are heat-formed to provide the correct size and deformation for the patient's personal requirements.
  • the splint may be provided in a range of sizes, with the correct size from the range of sizes being selected according to the requirements of a patient.
  • the process of heat- forming to provide conformance with the anatomy of a patient may not be needed at all, and the material used for such embodiments need not be heat-formable at the fitting stage.
  • a wrist splint comprising three body-part engaging portions
  • other embodiments are envisaged.
  • example embodiments comprising two, four or more body part engaging portions are envisaged.
  • the example embodiments of the present invention may also be particularly suited to ankle fractures.

Abstract

There is provided a splint for supporting portions of bone to be set, the splint comprising first and second body-part engaging portions arranged with elastic bias there-between to provide support to portions of bone to be set and thereby in use hold the portions of bone to be set in place with a pressure above a predetermined minimum.

Description

Splint
The present invention relates to splints, in particular to splints to aid bone setting. The present invention also relates to associated methods of manufacturing a splint and to associated methods of supporting bone portions using a splint.
Providing a rigid plaster cast splint to externally support portions of broken bones and thereby aid bone setting remains a widely practiced technique. However, when applying a plaster cast it is sometimes difficult to hold the portions of bone to be set in the correct position while at the same time avoiding application of excess pressure. Further problems arise when soft tissue swelling surrounds the portions of bone to be set, as a subsequent reduction in swelling within a finished plaster cast can allow the portions of bone to move within the cast in a way that is undesirable. It is an aim of example embodiments of the present invention to address at least one disadvantage of the prior art, whether identified herein, or otherwise.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a splint for supporting portions of bone to be set, the splint comprising first and second body-part engaging portions arranged with elastic bias there-between to provide support to portions of bone to be set and thereby in use hold the portions of bone to be set in place with a pressure above a predetermined minimum.
In this way, the splint is able to accommodate a reduction in swelling around the portions of bones to be set while maintaining the pressure to the portions of bone to thereby hold the portions of bone in the correct position while healing occurs.
Suitably, the splint comprises a plastics material. Suitably, the body-part engaging portions are formed as one piece of flexible material. Suitably, the splint comprises a one-piece plastics form. Suitably, the splint comprises a heat-formable material.
Suitably, the body-part engaging portions are distributed along the splint and are arranged along the splint to extend in alternating directions away from one another. Suitably, the body- part engaging portions are arranged to wrap, or partially wrap around a body part, preferably a limb or limb portion. Suitably, the body-part engaging portions are arranged to partially wrap around a body part in alternating directions.
Suitably, the splint comprises first, second and third body-part engaging portions arranged with elastic bias there-between to provide three-point support to portions of bone to be set and thereby in use hold the portions of bone to be set in place with a pressure above a predetermined minimum
Suitably, one of the first, second and third body-part engaging portions comprises a primary portion arranged to provide support proximate to the portions of bone to be set, and the others of the first, second and third body-part engaging portions comprise secondary portions arranged to provide support for the primary portions at a distance therefrom.
Suitably, the splint comprises a wrist splint. Suitably, the splint is arranged to support portions of bone from a distal radius fracture. Suitably, the predetermined minimum pressure applied to the site of the distal radius fracture corresponds to a force in the range 5-15N applied over the fracture site, preferably 10N. Suitably, the predetermined minimum pressure corresponds to that which a physician would typically apply when setting the portions of bone in a rigid cast. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a splint, the method comprising: forming first and second body-part engaging portions and providing elastic bias there-between, such that in use the splint is arrangeable to provide support to portions of bone to be set and thereby in use hold the portions of bone to be set in place with a pressure above a predetermined minimum.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of supporting bone portions using a splint, the method comprising arranging first and second body-part engaging portions of the splint to provide support to the bone portions to hold the bone portions in place with a pressure above a predetermined minimum, as determined by elastic bias between first and second body-part engaging portions.
Suitably, the method employs the splint of the first aspect of the present invention or a splint manufactured according to the method of the second aspect of the present invention According to the present invention in other aspects there is provided an apparatus and method as set forth in any appended claims. Other features of the invention will be apparent from any dependent claims, and the description which follows.
For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view from a first side and above a splint according to an example embodiment of the present invention, in use; Figure 2 shows a perspective view from a first side and above a splint according to an example embodiment of the present invention, in use, this view from a lower point than that of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 shows a perspective view from a second side and above the splint of Figure 1 , in use; and
Figures 4 and 5 show further perspective views of the splint of Figure 1 in use.
Referring now to Figures 1 to 5 there is shown a splint 1. The splint 1 comprises a wrist splint, and is shown in use arranged to support portions of bone formed by a distal radius fracture.
The splint 1 comprises first, second and third body-part engaging portions 1 1 , 12, 13 arranged with elastic bias there-between to provide support to portions of bone to be set. In this way the splint 1 holds the portions of bone to be set in place with a pressure above a predetermined minimum, even when swelling under the splint subsides or is reduced. The splint is able to accommodate a reduction in swelling around the portions of bones to be set while maintaining the pressure to the portions of bone. Maintaining pressure holds the portions of bone in the desired position while healing occurs, resisting any tendency of the bone portions to move within the splint 1.
The first, second and third body-part engaging portions 11 , 12, 13 are distributed along the splint 1 , and are arranged along the splint 1 to extend in alternating directions away from one another and generally perpendicular to the axial length of the splint 1. In use the body-part engaging portions 11 , 12, 13 partially wrap around a body part, here the wrist to provide three- point support to the portions of bone to be set. In other embodiments the body-part engaging portions may be provided in other arrangements to provide the support, for example in one or more loops or broken loops substantially encircling the body part of interest, and arranged unevenly along the length of the splint and unevenly between opposite sides of the splint.
The first body-part engaging portion 1 1 comprises a primary portion arranged to support at the fractured portion of bone to be set, and the second and third body-part engaging portions 12, 13 comprise secondary portions arranged to provide support for the primary portion 11. The secondary portions engage the wrist at a distance from the portions of bone to be set, and cooperate with the primary portion to provide the three-point support.
As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the splint, including the body-part engaging portions 11-13 is formed as one piece of flexible plastics material, and are heat-formed to provide the correct size and deformation for the patient's personal requirements. In other embodiments the splint may be provided in a range of sizes, with the correct size from the range of sizes being selected according to the requirements of a patient. In such embodiments the process of heat- forming to provide conformance with the anatomy of a patient may not be needed at all, and the material used for such embodiments need not be heat-formable at the fitting stage.
Although the specific embodiment shown is a wrist splint comprising three body-part engaging portions, other embodiments are envisaged. For example embodiments comprising two, four or more body part engaging portions are envisaged. In particular, the example embodiments of the present invention may also be particularly suited to ankle fractures.
Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.
All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.
Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A splint for supporting portions of bone to be set, the splint comprising first and second body-part engaging portions arranged with elastic bias there-between to provide support to portions of bone to be set and thereby in use hold the portions of bone to be set in place with a pressure above a predetermined minimum.
2. The splint of claim 1 , wherein the body-part engaging portions are formed as one piece of flexible material.
3. The splint of claim 2, comprises a plastics material.
4. The splint of claim 3, comprises a one-piece plastics form.
5. The splint of any preceding claim, comprises a heat-formable material.
6. The splint of any preceding claim, wherein the body-part engaging portions are distributed along the splint and are arranged along the splint to extend in alternating directions away from one another.
7. The splint of any preceding claim, wherein the body-part engaging portions are arranged to wrap, or partially wrap around a body part, preferably a limb or limb portion.
8. The splint of claim 7, wherein the body-part engaging portions are arranged to partially wrap around a body part in alternating directions.
9. The splint of any preceding claim comprises first, second and third body-part engaging portions arranged with elastic bias there-between to provide three-point support to portions of bone to be set and thereby in use hold the portions of bone to be set in place with a pressure above a predetermined minimum
10. The splint of claim 9, wherein one of the first, second and third body-part engaging portions comprises a primary portion arranged to provide support proximate to the portions of bone to be set, and the others of the first, second and third body-part engaging portions comprise secondary portions arranged to provide support for the primary portions at a distance therefrom.
1 1. The splint of any preceding claim comprises a wrist splint.
12. The splint of claim 1 1 , comprising body part engaging portions arranged to support portions of bone from a distal radius fracture.
13. The splint of claim 12, wherein the predetermined minimum pressure applied to the site of the distal radius fracture corresponds to a force in the range 5-15N applied over the fracture site, preferably 10N.
14. A method of manufacturing a splint, the method comprising: forming first and second body-part engaging portions and providing elastic bias there-between, such that in use the splint is arrangeable to provide support to portions of bone to be set and thereby in use hold the portions of bone to be set in place with a pressure above a predetermined minimum.
15. A method of supporting bone portions using a splint, the method comprising arranging first and second body-part engaging portions of the splint to provide support to the bone portions to hold the bone portions in place with a pressure above a predetermined minimum, as determined by elastic bias between first and second body-part engaging portions.
16. The method of claim 15 employing the splint of any one of claims 1 to 13, or a splint manufactured according to claim 14.
17. A splint or method substantially as herein-described, with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.
PCT/GB2010/051968 2009-11-25 2010-11-25 Splint WO2011064588A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0920588.1 2009-11-25
GB0920588A GB0920588D0 (en) 2009-11-25 2009-11-25 Splint

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2011064588A1 true WO2011064588A1 (en) 2011-06-03

Family

ID=41565811

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2010/051968 WO2011064588A1 (en) 2009-11-25 2010-11-25 Splint

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GB (1) GB0920588D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2011064588A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2505199A (en) * 2012-08-21 2014-02-26 Philip Holland A splint with biasing pressure

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3906943A (en) * 1974-04-29 1975-09-23 Yardney Co Orthopedic device
DE3906443A1 (en) * 1989-03-01 1990-09-06 Gerhard Dr Hensler Dressing for the orthopaedic fixation of extremities and, in particular, the joints thereof
US5286249A (en) * 1989-10-31 1994-02-15 Thibodaux Peggy L Brace for fixation of bone fractures
WO1994028830A1 (en) * 1993-06-16 1994-12-22 Orthopedic Technology, Inc. Wrist brace

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3906943A (en) * 1974-04-29 1975-09-23 Yardney Co Orthopedic device
DE3906443A1 (en) * 1989-03-01 1990-09-06 Gerhard Dr Hensler Dressing for the orthopaedic fixation of extremities and, in particular, the joints thereof
US5286249A (en) * 1989-10-31 1994-02-15 Thibodaux Peggy L Brace for fixation of bone fractures
WO1994028830A1 (en) * 1993-06-16 1994-12-22 Orthopedic Technology, Inc. Wrist brace

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2505199A (en) * 2012-08-21 2014-02-26 Philip Holland A splint with biasing pressure

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0920588D0 (en) 2010-01-06

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