Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ADJUSTABLE SPLINT
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an adjustable splint
More particularly, this invention relates to an
adjustable splint useful in treating impairments in
body joints such as wrists, and the like from flaxen
contractor, weakness in the supporting musculature,
or some other malady inhibiting the integrity of the
body joint in accomplishing extension.
People often develop flaxen contractors in
wrists and other joints from many and various
causes. Weakness, disuse, fractures, surgeries,
traumatic injuries, illness and other causes have
been known to cause loss of ability to extend the
body joint otherwise known as a flaxen contractor.
No device presently exists to reduce flaxen
contractors by adjustable, quantifiable pressure as
does the adjustable splint for extension as described
herein.
Many splint devices and mechanisms have been
designed to be influential at the knee either for
support or for mobilizing the knee joint.
Illustrative of such devices are those described in
US. Patent Nos. 3,055,3S9; 3,928,872; 3,785,372 and
3,799,159. However, all of these devices are not
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designed to reduce wrist flaxen contractors and
cannot be tolerated by the patient population for a
long enough period to effectively reduce a
contractor. Moreover, none of the devices offer a
satisfactory means for adjusting the pressure exerted
by the lateral struts of the splint devices.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordinylyj it is an object of the invention to
provide an improved splint device for reducing
flaxen contractors about a wrist.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide
a splint device, which allows easy gradual adjustment
to the quantifiable force desired on an extremity
acting across a body joint.
A further object of the invention is to provide a
splint device for incarcerated patients to help
obtain a higher level of independence in their
activities of daily living, self care and ambulatory
activities.
A further object would be to provide an improved
splint for providing support to a wrist in cases
where muscular weakness exists.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects of the invention are
obtained by an adjustable splint assembly comprising
a lower strut and an upper strut pivot ably connected
to said lower strut, one of said struts having at one
end a pivot ably mounted head portion defining a cam
surface, an adjustable biasing means mounted within
the other strut and biased into engagement with said
cam surface, for applying a quantifiable force
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tending to approximate or align said upper and lower
struts, a palmer pressure pad, means for adjusting
the splint. assembly to the palm, and means for
securing said splint assembly to the forearm
In a preferred embodiment the present invention
comprises a pair of lower struts and a pair of upper
struts, said members of each pair being spaced apart
a distance to accommodate limb parts distal and
proximal to the limb joint, at least one of said
struts having at one end, a pivot ably mounted head
portion defining a cam surface, an adjustable biasing
means mounted within the strut pivot ably connected to
said cam surface containing strut and biased into
engagement with said cam surface, for applying a
quantifiable force tending to align or approximate
the cam surface-containing strut with the adjustable
biasing means containing strut and means provided
said pair of upper struts and said pair of lower
struts for securely holding there between said distal
and proximal parts of a limb.
The means for adjusting the splint assembly to
the palmer pressure pad comprises means attached to
said palmer pressure pad providing both rotational
and vertical adjustment of said palmer pressure pad
and means connecting the palmer pressure pad to the
end of the lower or distal strut, said connecting
means containing at least one lateral adjusting bar
for medial and lateral adjustment of said polymer
pressure pad.
In a preferred embodiment the means attached to
said palmer pressure pad providing said rotational
and vertical adjustment thereof comprises a base
plate having an arcuate slot, a member fixed to said
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pad and projecting through said slot about which the
pad rotates and a means slid ably mounted thereto for
vertical adjustment of said pad, said slide ably
mounted means containing means for receiving said bar
for medial and lateral adjustment of said pad.
Advantageously a pair of upper, i.e. distal,
struts and a pair of lower, i.e. proximal struts are
employed in which case the ends of the distal struts
are provided with suitable interconnecting means to
which the means containing the lateral adjusting bars
are connected.
BRIEF RESCRIPT ON OF TIE DRAWINGS
The invention will appear more clearly from the
following detailed description when taken in
connection with the following drawings which show by
way of example a preferred embodiment of the
invention:
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the adjustable
splint for reducing flaxen contractors;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of one upper and
one lower strut assembly of the adjustable splint of
the invention for reducing flaxen contractors
wherein a strut is broken away to show the adjustable
spring-loaded means mounted therein;
Figure 3 is a perspective, exploded view of the
splint device of Figure l;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the splint
device provided with a break apart" wire assembly
for mounting of the means by which the device is
secured to the limb
Figure 5 is a cuff designed for attachment to the
wire assembly shown in Figure 4;
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Figure 6 is a perspective view of one upper and
one lower strut assembly of the adjustable splint of
the invention for reducing extension contractors
wherein a strut is broken away to show the adjustable
spring-loaded means mounted therein;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the splint
device provided with a telescoping slid able
adjustable wire assembly for mounting of the means by
which the device is secured to the limb;
Figure 8 is a plan view of the splint device
including the means for adjusting the splint assembly
to the palm;
Figure 9 is a partial front view of the device
shown in Figure 8 with the palmer pressure pad about
to be mounted onto a lateral adjusting bar.
Figure 10 is a partial front view of another
embodiment of the splint device including different
means for adjusting the splint assembly to the palm;
and
Figure if is a partial side of the embodiment of
Figure 10.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figures 1-3, an adjustable splint
device l is comprised of upper struts 3 and pa and
lower struts 5 and pa. upper strut 3 contains a
rounded head portion 7 and lower strut 5 contains a
socket head portion 9 which receives head portion 7
for pivot able engagement therewith. Rounded head
portion 7 it cut away to define a cam surface 10 and
is provided with an axial surface recess 13. A first
surface plate 15 having a screw hole 17 covers one
side of the combined head portions 7-9 and a second
plate member 18 having a threaded protruding member
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19 (see Fly . 3) covers the other half of the combined
head portion 7-9. When surface plate member 18 is
positioned over the combined head partaken 7-9
protruding member 19 projects through the axial
circular recess 13 and receives a screw 21 through
screw hole 17. upper strut pa and lower strut pa are
similarly pivot ably connected by corresponding
members bearing like numbers but carrying the
distinguishing suffix "a'.
The lower and upper struts may be constructed of
any material of sufficient strength such as plastic,
metal, wood and the like. Particularly preferred are
struts made of stingless steel metal. At least one of
the struts should be at least partially hollow so as
to house therein the adjustable spring mechanism of
the invention. Most advantageously, all of the
struts are tubular in construction so as to provide a
lightweight product Preferably each of the struts
3, pa, 5 and Spa can be comprised of two telescoping
portions as shown in the single strut depicted in
Fig. 7 so as to permit lengthening and shortening of
the struts. Directing attention to Fig. 7, strut 3
is comprised of telescoping portions 4 and 4', strut
S of telescoping portions 6 and 6'. The inner
portions 4 and 6 are provided with a series of
threaded holes 8 and pa and the outer portions 4' and
6' with holes and threaded holes, respectively,
through which screws 12 pass for threaded engagement
with a coincident hole 8 and pa. Where the distal
strut is of larger diameter than the proximal strut
as shown in Fig. 7 it is preferable to provide
threads in the holes of the outer portion 6'. Such a
telescoping feature provides a splint which can be
adjusted to several different lengths allowing the
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splint to fit a greater number of individuals. It
should be understood that in this embodiment the
splint device combination of the invention will
include a series of spring abutting members 20 (see
Fig. I of varying lengths so as to accommodate
different limb lengths.
The adjustable spring-loaded mechanism designated
generally as 20 may be provided in either the lower
or the upper struts. Preferably, only the lower
struts 5 and pa are provided with the adjustable
spring mechanism.
The adjustable spring mechanism 20 is comprised
of a spring 22 to which is attached a nose element I
that bears on cam surface 10. Coil or clock springs
are generally preferred but in some instances leaf
springs are advantageously employed. An adjustable
screw means indicated generally as 25 abuts the other
end of the spring 22 and produces a quantifiable
force which tends to either extend, (i.e. align the
lower strut 5 with the upper strut 3 and lower strut
pa with upper strut pa in a parallel fashion) as
shown in Fig. 2 or to approximate (i.e. bring
together the lower strut S with the upper strut 3 arid
lower strut pa with upper strut pa) as shown in Fig.
6. As maximum flaxen is approached, tension is
created in the compression coiled spring 22. The
adjustable screw means 25 is comprised of an "Allen"
head screw or slotted head screw 27 threaded to a
spring-abutting member 29. Lowe Allen" head screw is
fixed within upper strut 3 by screw 33. The "Allen"
head screw 27 receives and is turned by an "Allen"
socket wrench 32 (see Fig. 1) whereas a slotted head
screw is adjustable with a conventional screwdriver
blade. The turning of the screw creates greater
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compression of spring 22 thereby exerting greater
force on the cam surface 10 ox the lower strut 5 to
exert a one way tension. The tension capability of
the spring mechanism can range from 0 pounds tension
up to the maximum tension capable of the spring In
general, the tension of the spring mechanism will
range from 0 pounds tension up to 5 pounds of tension
and the tension exerted by the spring can be varied
at any point ox joint range of motion, say from 20
flaxen to 70 extension of the joint.
Whereas the specific joint range of motion to
which tension can be exerted is preferred to be 20
flaxen through 70 extension for reducing flaxen
contractors in the wrist, the joint range of motion
at which tension can be applied can vary to nearly
any degree in the 360~ circular range simply by
varying the point of attachment of the inner portion
of strut 3 to rounded head portion 7 and by varying
the point of attachment of the inner portion of strut
5 to socket head portion 9. Likewise, the same
variations apply to struts pa and pa.
The purpose of varying the point in the joint
range to which tension is applied is obvious when you
consider that different illnesses and injuries cause
different types of limitations at different degrees
of joint ranges of motion thereby making necessary
different points in the joint range at which tension
must be applied to improve their condition. The
spring mechanism can be calibrated to exert the
desired range of tension. The calibration can be
effected by providing spring-abutting member 29 with
a poundage indicator line 35 and a calibration scale
37 about the lower strut 5 which scale has a slot 39
through which the poundage indicator 35 is visible.
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While the preferred adjustable biasing means of
the invention is a spring means such-as described,
equivalent biasing means such as air or hydraulic
powered biasing means will readily come to the mind
of those skilled in this art.
Any suitable means can be utilized to secure
pivot ably mounted struts 3 and 5 and pivot ably
mounted struts pa and Spa to the limb so that they lie
lateral to the joint with the axis of rotation
coinciding as closely as possible to the axis of
rotation of the joint. As shown in the figures, the
securing means comprise a proximal cuff 41 attached
to and extending between upper strut pa and upper
strut 3 and distal cuff 43 attached to and extending
between lower strut pa and lower strut 5. The
length of the proximal cuff 41 and distal cuff 43 is
of sufficient distance to comfortably accommodate the
limb parts distal and proximal to the limb joint. An
overlying flap 45 is attached at one end to upper
strut pa and contains on its outer surface an
attaching means such as velcro hooks 46 by which the
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flap can wrap about the proximal portion of the limb
and be secured to the velcro poops 47 on the outer
surface of the proximal cuff wrapped about upper
strut 3. Distal cuff 43 is secured to lower strut pa
and S and contains two separate flaps 49 and 51 each
containing on their outside velcro attaching loops 53
and 55 respectively. The flaps 49 and 51 are of
sufficient length to extend over and secure the limb
portion lying in distal cuff 43 by attachment to the
velcro loops receiving areas 57 and 59 provided on
the distal cuff 43 about the lower strut 5.
It should be understood that a single combined
strut, such as upper strut 3 pivot ably connected to
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lower strut 5, can alone be utilized as a splint
device by securing same by suitable means to the
lateral side of the limb to be treated. Again, any
suitable means ton strapping or securing the splint
device of the invention can be used, for example, by
distal and proximal cuffs of sufficient lengths to
wrap around the distal and proximal portions of the
limb being treated. The straps 45, 49 and 51 as well
as the cuffs 41 and 43 can be secured to the struts
in any suitable manner as by sewing, typing, etc.
To facilitate the attachment of the cuffs and
straps, however, it is preferred that wire
assemblies, designated generally in figure 4 as 60,
62, 64 and 66, be fastened as by welding to struts 5,
pa and 3 and pa, respectively. The wire assembly 62
is comprised of an upper thin wire portion 83 and a
thin wire lower portion 82, each of which wire
assembly portions extend from one end of strut pa to
the other. Similarly, wire assembly 60 is comprised
of an upper thin wire portion 86 and a lower wire
portion 87. In the preferred embodiment shown in
Fig. 7 the shorter sides of the wire assemblies are
of continuous construction and bent for more secure
attachment as by welding to the struts. In the
embodiment of Fig. 4 wire assemblies 64 and 66 differ
from wire assemblies 60 and 62 in being of the "break
apart" type as will be explained below so as to
facilitate insertion and removal of the cuffs or
straps for cleaning replacing, etc. Thus, wire
assembly 66 is comprised of an upper thin wire
portion 80 and a lower thin wire portion 81 both of
which are broken at 87 and 88, respectively, so that
the wire can be pulled apart slightly when the cuff
are to be attached or removed. Similarly, wire
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assembly 64 is comprised of a thin upper wire section
84 and a thin lower wire section 85 both of which are
broken at 89 and 90, respectively. In the embodiment
of Fig 7, however, all of the wire assemblies are of
break apart type but one, wire portion on both the
distal and proximal struts, that is, two of the four
receiving wires contains telescoping sections B and
By. Telescoping sections B and B' are internally
threaded at one end for engagement with threaded end
11 and 11' or the wire portion, This gives the wire
fixture added strength. Normally a wire assembly
with telescoping sections B and B', however, is only
used on the side of the strut which makes an angle of
65 when flexed.
When the adjustable splint is to be used for
extension of a joint, a strap 110 is provided between
struts 3 and pa as shown in Fig. 4 and between 5 and
pa. Use of a strap 110 both between struts 3 and pa
and 5 and pa is often advisable in many instances
particularly in reducing knee flaxen contractors.
Strap 110 in these applications is important in order
to maintain optimal alignment of the upper and lower
struts along the parallel of the limb part proximal
and distal to the joint. Strap 110 also helps
maintain the axis of rotation of the splint joint
assembly more coincident with the axis of rotation of
the body joint to which the splint is being applied.
Attachment of cuff 92, provided with velcro hooks
section 98 and a velcro loop section 100 as shown in
Fig. 5, to the wire assemblies shown in Fig. 4 may
then be conducted in the following manner-
Loop end section 94 of cuff 92 is put on wire portion 80 via break 87 with the velcro hooks section
98 and velcro loop section 100 facing outward. Edge
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96 is taken over the limb and fed through and under
wire portion 83 of wire assembly 62, and then put
back on itself whereby velcro hooks 98 adhere to
velcro poops 100. This secures one of the four cuffs
needed to fix the splint assembly to a limp about a
joint. A cuff is attached to wire sections 84 and 86
in a similar manner. The same procedure is used to
attach cuffs or straps to the wire sections 81-82 and
wire sections 85-87.
Where but a single assembly of an upper and lower
strut is to be used the respective cuffs and straps
are provided near their ends with suitable securing
means such as velcro hooks and loops. It should be
understood that while the securing means are shown to
be velcro closures other alternative closures such
as snaps and the like can be provided the slaps and
cuffs.
The means for adjusting the splint assembly to
the palm is shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9. Referring to
these figures, a member 150 interconnects distal or
upper members 3 and pa. A palmer pressure pad 152,
for example, of high density polyurethane is attached
to member 150 via a member 154 which is integral with
or fixed to interconnecting members 150. The member
154 contains one or more lateral adjusting bars 156
and 158, each provided with thread holes 160. In the
single strut embodiment of the invention members 150
and 154 connect strut 3 to pad 152.
The palmer pressure pad 152 has attached to one
surface a circular plate 162 on which is positioned
intermediate fixing plate 164 for receipt of screw
members 166 and 168. On top of intermediate plate
16~ is positioned a base plate 170 which contains at
its upper end an arcuate slot 172 through which screw
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member 166 protrudes and about which the plate 170
rotates. Slid ably mounted on base plate 170 is a
means indicated generally as 174 which contains a
cylindrical sleeve 176 for receipt of any one of the
vertical adjusting bars. A port 177 is provided
cylindrical sleeve 176 to receive a mounting screw
(not shown) that passes through port 177 and a
selected coinciding threaded hole 160. The slid ably
mounted means 174 is slotted to adjust the height of
the pad and fixed at the desired height by means ox
screw means 178.
Primly strut members 5 and pa are received by a
sleeve 180 mounted on a plate 182. The sleeve 180
and plate 182 are preferably constructed of a plastic
material. containing slots 184 through which are
attached the means for securing the assembly to the
forearm. Attached to the opposite sides of the plate
182 are comfort pads 186, preferably of foamed
plastic.
Referring to the embodiment shown in Figures 10
and 11, a distal or upper members 5 and pa, are
interconnected by an elongated support member,
indicated generally as 190, comprised of an outer
telescoping member 192' and inner telescoping member
192. Outer telescoping member 192' contains a slot
196.
An elliptical palmer pressure pad 198 comprised
of a base pad 199 of a rigid plastic material such as
high density polyurethane and a cover 200 of a soft
plastic material such as foamed polystyrene, is
attached to a transverse support member 190 via an
interconnecting member 202. The base pad 199 is
attached to the cover 200 by any suitable means such
as adhesive, Velcro attaching system and the like.
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When a Velcro attaching system is employed, a Velcro
hook section is adhesively secured to pad 198 (not
shown) and a Velcro top section snot shown) is
adhesively secured to the inside of cover 200.
Interconnecting member 202 is composed of
telescoping portions 206 and 208 that enable the
palmer pressure pad to be both vertically adjusted
and rotationally adjusted about the axis of
interconnecting member 202. Telescoping portion 208
contains a slot (not shown) over which fits a
securing element 209. Securing element 209 is
provided with ports 211 and 211' which receive screws
(not shown) to adjustable secure the telescoping
portions 206 and 20~ relative to each other,
The end of telescoping portion 208 is connected
to a cylindrical sleeve 210 which is slid ably mounted
on the elongated support member 190 enabling lateral
and medial movement of the interconnecting member
202. Circular sleeve 210 is provided with ports 212
and 213 for receipt of screws (not shown) that pass
into slot 196 of outer telescoping element 192' to
secure interconnecting means 206 against the inner
telescoping element 192 by frictional engagement.
The base pad 198 has attached to one surface a
circular plate 217 by means of screws 219 and 221.
The base pad 198 together with circular plate 217 is
rotationally mounted to circular arm 222 of an
L-shaped bracket 224 by pin 226 about whose axis the
palmer pad rotates in the plane of the pad. The
other arm 228 of bracket 224 is pivtoably mounted to
a phalanges 230 provided the top of interconnecting
member 202 by means of a screw 232 which when
tightened fixes the palmer pad in the desired angle
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relative to the patient's arm. Another fixing means
232 comprised of a screw 235 and washer 236 that
overlaps circular plate 217 is provided for securing
the palmer pad at a predetermined rotated position.
The ends of telescoping members 192 and 192'
curve into telescoping engagement with female
receiving elements 194 and 194l, Respectively,
provided rounded head portions 7 and pa and are
adjustable secured therein by screws 195 and 195',
respectively. The telescoping members 192 and 192'
allow for lateral and medial adjustment of the struts
5 and pa of the wrist splint while the telescoping
engagement of the end members 192 and 192' with
female receiving members 194 and 194' allow for
rearward and forward longitudinal movement of the
palmer pad.
While the embodiment of the splint assembly just
described comprises a pair of lower struts and a pair
of upper struts provided the palmer pressure pad, it
should be understood that a single set of a lower
strut and an upper strut to which the palmer pressure
pad is attached is contemplated by the present
invention. In this case, one need only eliminate
from the device one of the pair of assemblies such as
strut pa, head portion pa, a female receiving section
194 and telescoping portion 192 or alternatively, the
other half of the pair.
The unique characteristics of the adjustable
spring-loaded mechanism of the present invention is
that it allows for adjustment of quantifiable force
on an extremity acting across the body joint from O
foot poundage up to maximum foot poundage at various
body joint ranges.
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As an example, in a patient having a wrist
flaxen contractor, one may want to apply the splint
to the wrist and build in a tension of 1 foot pound
of force acting on the palm at lug wrist: extension.
As the patient develops greater tolerance to the
device in days to come, greater force can be
adjusted in the mechanism by simply adjusting the
"Allen wrench 32 and causing greater compression to
the spring in the strut. This will exert a greater
compression to the spring in the strut. This will
exert a greater force toward extending the joint
which will ultimately serve a more beneficial purpose
in accomplishing reduction of the wrist flaxen
contractor. In addition, the invention permits the
interchangeability of springs bearing force-exerting
capabilities 90 as to allow for varying the degrees
of tension exerted by the spring mechanism depending
upon the particular use to which the device is
applied.
The palm pressure pad and the means for adjusting
same insures proper location of the pad to achieve
the optional combination of patient comfort and
mechanical leverage.
Once the beginning tension and duration of splint
application is determined, progression of the tension
and duration can be accomplished by simple adjustment
of the head screw 27 and increasing time,
respectively.
A unique feature of this device in the present
application to the wrist, and to any body joint, is
the ability of this device to allow graduated,
quantified, adjustable tension with the ability to
relax the stretch across the joint by flexing the
wrist from the limitation of extension. This will
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allow the tissue being stretched to have a rest
period while not disturbing the adjustment of the
spring tension and without having to remove the
splint. In order to relieve the pressure on the
contractured tissues, one merely has to overcome, by
any means the tension in the splint and flex the
joint to a comfortable posture. Once a short rest is
achieved, the splint may again exert its tension
against the contractured tissue to help accomplish a
greater degree of extension in the joint.
While the features of this invention have been
disclosed with reference to the specific embodiments
described therein, it is to be understood that
various modifications may be made in the construction
without departing from the scope of the invention as
defined in the appended clailns.
