WO2022013463A1

WO2022013463A1 - Skin-protecting tool for the removal of plaster casts

Info

Publication number: WO2022013463A1
Application number: PCT/ES2021/070448
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alfonso Enrique RANGEL CEDEÑO
Original assignee: Rangel Cedeno Alfonso Enrique
Priority date: 2020-07-16
Filing date: 2021-06-17
Publication date: 2022-01-20
Also published as: ES1259243Y; ES1259243U

Abstract

Disclosed is a skin-protecting tool for the removal of plaster casts, which can be used to protect the skin of a patient immobilised by a plaster cast when it needs to be removed by cutting with an electric saw. The tool comprises at least one elongate body (2) formed by two parallel plates, a top plate (3) and a bottom plate (4), of similar width and length and which are connected together at one end, such that there is a gap (5) between them, wherein the bottom plate (4) is made of material resistant to saw cuts, and the top plate (3) is provided with a central slot (6) that runs longitudinally from one end to the other, covering practically the entire length thereof, the slot having a width such that it acts as a guide for inserting the saw blade. Preferably, a recess (7) is provided in the surface of the bottom plate (4) and is arranged in line with the slot (6) of the top plate (3). Preferably, the top plate (3) is rigid or semi-rigid and the bottom plate (4) is flexible.

Description

USEFUL SKIN PROTECTOR FOR REMOVING PLASTERS

DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The invention, as expressed in the title of this specification, refers to a useful skin protector for plaster removal that provides, to the function for which it is intended, advantages and characteristics, which are described in detail later.

The object of the present invention lies in a tool whose purpose is to provide a means to protect the skin of patients immobilized with casts (casts) at the time they must be removed by being cut with an electric saw, avoiding the risk of causing possible injuries when making this cut.

FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

The field of application of the present invention falls within the sector of the industry dedicated to the manufacture of medical-sanitary products, focusing particularly on the field of protection accessories.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known, the orthopedic treatment of fractures in humans consists of immobilizing the affected limb with a cast or cast, whether in the arm (upper limb) or in the leg (lower limb). lower). Said immobilization consists of a tubular coating with plaster of Paris or synthetic resin, which, when moistened, becomes an easily moldable pasty substance on the surface it covers. After a few minutes, due to an exothermic chemical reaction, the initially moist and moldable substance sets, acquiring a completely rigid and very solid consistency.

In general terms, such immobilizations must be removed in periods of time that vary between three weeks and three months. The removal procedure consists of cutting the rigid immobilization with an electric saw, with a cut that goes through the entire thickness of the plaster or resin from its external surface to a point a few millimeters from the skin. The procedure is performed blindly and completely freehand by the doctor, having to stop abruptly when feeling changes in resistance to cutting and having very small stopping spaces (2-3mm) to prevent the oscillating saw from contacting the skin and injuring it. .

For this reason, it is possible that the saw generates injuries in the patient such as cuts, burns or abrasions on the skin, which are painful and can have infectious, functional or aesthetic complications.

The probability of injury increases in pediatric patients, usually uncooperative, who show fear and great psychomotor agitation when faced with a cutting instrument that also generates a strident noise.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have reliable instruments that protect the patient's skin from potential accidental cuts by the saw blade when removing an orthopedic immobilization, and that at the same time allow the doctor to work with more safety and comfort, avoiding committing errors that could additionally be penalized by law.

Currently, there are rudimentary skin protection measures, such as inserting wooden sticks (tongue depressors) between the skin and the immobilization, which do not guarantee exact coincidence between the spatial location of the skin and the edge of the saw. Because they are also rigid, such paddles do not adapt to the convexities and concavities of the body surface.

The objective of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a practical and safe means to avoid said problem through a tool specifically designed for it.

On the other hand, and as a reference to the current state of the art, it should be noted that, although some protection devices are known for the same purpose, at least by the applicant, the existence of any other useful skin protector for removal is unknown. of plasters that present technical characteristics equal to or similar to those presented by the one claimed here.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The useful skin protector for plaster removal that the invention proposes is configured as the ideal solution for the aforementioned objective, the characterizing details that make it possible and that conveniently distinguish it being collected in the final claims that accompany this description.

Specifically, what the invention proposes, as noted above, is a tool that has the purpose of serving as a means to protect the skin of patients immobilized with plasters (casts) in the moment in which these must be removed by cutting with an electric saw, avoiding the risk of causing possible injuries to the patient's skin that covers the plaster when making said cut.

For this, and more specifically, the tool of the invention comprises at least one elongated body made up of two parallel valves, one upper and one lower, which are joined together at one end, with a constant gap between them.

The lower valve is manually inserted between the patient's skin and the plaster, being made of material resistant to saw cuts. And the upper shell is provided with a slot that runs along practically its entire length in the longitudinal direction, which serves as a guide for inserting the cutting blade of the saw, forcing the cutting path to coincide with the surface of the lower shell. In this way, the saw operator will be able to incise his cut with the certainty that the skin has been properly protected by the lower blade.

Preferably, the upper leaflet is rigid or semi-rigid and the lower leaflet is flexible, which allows it to adapt to irregularities in body surfaces, such as the angle between the back of the hand and the surface of the body. of the forearm when they are in physiological position (approximate 40° between the hand and the forearm.).

Preferably, the lower leaflet is flattened, approximately 2-3 mm thick, with a blunt tip whose convexity contacts the patient's skin. This allows the interstice between skin and cotton/plaster to be penetrated more easily. Due to its design and configuration, this leaflet can have buckling movements in a plane perpendicular to the patient's skin and parallel to the cutting blade. On the contrary, the upper leaflet is rigid and inflexible to perform movements in a plane parallel to the skin, presenting a greater thickness, of about 4 to 5 mm. This ensures that the lower blade always coincides with the groove in the upper blade that guides the saw blade, preventing accidental cuts or skin injuries.

Preferably, in addition, the end of the body in which both leaflets are joined together incorporates a holding handle which, in the preferred embodiment, is removable, for example by means of a threaded screw or any quick or pressure anchoring system, to facilitate the transport and storage of tools taking up less space.

In any case, the angle between the handle and the leaflets will be greater than or equal to 90 degrees.

Preferably, the tool is washable, in order to guarantee its reuse with different patients without potential hygienic risk, and can be made of plastic or metal material, in this case, preferably stainless.

Optionally, if there is a removable handle, the shells, which can also be made of wood or polymer material, such as polylactic acid, can be either disposable or reusable, depending on the material, while the handle, preferably, always It will be reusable material such as metal or polymers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to To help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a drawing is attached to this specification, as an integral part thereof, in which the following has been represented by way of illustration and not limitation:

Figure number 1 shows a top plan view of an embodiment of the useful skin protector for plaster removal object of the invention; Figure number 2 - Shows a side elevational view of the example of the useful skin protector for plaster removal, according to the invention, shown in Figure 1; Figure number 3.- Shows a front elevation view of the example of the useful skin protector for plaster removal, according to the invention, shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure number 4.- Shows a perspective view of another example of the useful skin protector for plaster removal, according to the invention, in this case with an angle greater than 90° between the handle and the valves; and figure number 5.- Shows again a perspective view of the example of the useful skin protector for removing plasters, according to the invention, shown in figure 4, in this case with the removable handle separated from the body.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the adopted numbering, it can be seen in them an example of embodiment not limitation of the useful skin protector for plaster removal of the invention, which includes what is described in detail below.

Thus, as can be seen in said figures, the tool (1) in question comprises at least one elongated body (2) made up of two parallel valves, one upper (3) and one lower (4), of width and length similar that are joined together at one end so that between them there is a separation space (5), preferably of constant thickness.

In any case, the lower valve (4) is made of a material resistant to saw cuts, and the upper valve (3) is provided with a central groove (6) that runs longitudinally from one end to the other, encompassing practically its entire length, which has a width such that it serves as a guide for inserting the saw blade, forcing the cutting path to coincide with the surface of the lower valve (4), in which, preferably, it has been provided a recess (7) located in correspondence with said groove (6).

Preferably, the upper leaflet (3) is of a rigid or semi-rigid nature and the lower leaflet (4) is of a flexible nature, to allow it to adapt to the irregularities of the body surfaces.

Preferably, the lower leaflet (4) is flattened and approximately 2 to 3 mm thick, with a blunt tip (4a).

Preferably, the upper leaflet (3) is rigid and inflexible, having a thickness greater than the lower leaflet (4), approximately 4 to 5 mm., also having a blunt tip (3a). Preferably, in addition, the end of the body (2) in which both leaflets (3, 4) are joined together incorporates a fastening handle (8).

Preferably, said handle (8), as seen in figure 5, is removable, for example by means of a threaded screw (9) that emerges from the end of the body (2) being insertable into a hole (not shown) provided at the effect at the base of the handle (8), or for example by means of a quick or pressure anchoring system (options not shown).

In any case, preferably the tool (1), is washable, and may be made entirely of plastic or metal material, in which case, it is preferably stainless, although alternatively, at least, the shells (3, 4) are made of wood or of polymeric material, such as polylactic acid.

In addition, when the handle (8) is removable, the shells (3, 4) may be removable or reusable, depending on the material, while the handle (8), preferably, is always reusable and made of a material such as metal or polymers. .

Finally, it should be noted that the angle (a) existing between the handle (8) and the valves (3, 4) is greater (figures 4-5) or equal (figures 1-3) to 90 degrees.

Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as the way of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to make its explanation more extensive so that any person skilled in the art understands its scope and the advantages derived from it.

Claims

1 useful skin protector for plaster removal that, applicable to protect the skin of patients immobilized with plasters (casts) at the moment in which these must be removed by being cut with an electric saw, is characterized by comprising, at least, an elongated body (2) made up of two parallel valves, one upper (3) and one lower (4), of similar width and length that are joined together at one end so that there is a separation space between them (5) ; in which the lower valve (4) is made of a material resistant to saw cuts, and the upper valve (3) is provided with a central groove (6) that runs longitudinally from one end to the other, covering practically the entire its extension, and has a width such that it serves as a guide to insert the saw blade.

2 useful skin protector for plaster removal, according to claim 1, characterized in that a recess (7) located in correspondence with the groove (6) of the upper valve (3) has been provided on the surface of the lower shell (4). ).

3. Useful skin protector for plaster removal, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the upper shell (3) is rigid or semi-rigid and the lower shell (4) is flexible.

4.- useful skin protector for plaster removal, according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the lower valve (4) is flattened, has a thickness of between 2 and 3 mm approximately, and a tip (4a ) rome.

5.- useful skin protector for plaster removal, according to any of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the upper valve (3) is rigid and inflexible, has a thickness greater than the lower valve (4), approximately 4 to 5 mm, and a blunt tip (3a).

6. Useful skin protector for plaster removal, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end of the body (2) in which both valves (3, 4) are joined together incorporates a fastening handle (8).

7.- useful skin protector for plaster removal, according to claim 6, characterized in that the handle (8) is removable.

8. Useful skin protector for plaster removal, according to claim 7, characterized in that the shells (3, 4) are removable and the handle (8) reusable.

9.- useful skin protector for plaster removal, according to any of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the angle (a) between the handle (8) and the valves (3, 4) is greater than or equal to 90 degrees .

10.- useful skin protector for plaster removal, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is washable.

11.- useful skin protector for plaster removal, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of plastic material.

12.- useful skin protector for plaster removal, according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it is made of stainless metal material.

13.- useful skin protector for plaster removal, according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least the shells (3, 4) are made of wood.

14.- useful skin protector for plaster removal, according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least the valves (3, 4) are made of polymer material.