US1950331A - Adjustable humerus splint - Google Patents

Description

March 6, 1934. E, TORNSJO 1,950,331

ADJUSTABLE HUMERUS SPLINT Filed March 20, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l "March 6, 1934. G. E. TORNSJO ADJUSTABLE HUMERUS SPLINT Filed March 20, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 6, 1934. TQRNSJQ 1,950,331

ADJUSTABLE HUMERUS SPLINT Filed March 20, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES P-ATENT OFFICE 1.959331 ADJUSTABLE-HUMERUS SPLINT Gustaf Elof Tornsjo, Columbia, Mo., assignor to Research Foundatiom'lnc Columbia, Mo., a corporation ofMissouri p efi -Mere 33 Se ial 18 .4 9

6 Claims. (01. 128 88) This invention is a novel splint for use inthe frame is composed of parallel side bars 1 spaced treatment of injuries to the arm of a patient, and apart sufi'i'c'iently to permiteasy placing. of a ,paespecially useful in treating fracturesof .the hu- --tients arm or forearmtherebetwee'n. Each .ofthe merus by traction and mobilization, and its .obbars 1 is provided with a series of equi-spaced peri l ject is to provide a splint which can .be attached forations 12 for a purpose hereinafter explained: to the bed in which the patient lies, and adjusted The outer ends of bars 1 are connected, preferto support the upper arm andforearm inany deably by a transverse piece 1a; andthe inner ends sired positions, and is provided with means for of the barsl are-connected to opposite endsof a raising or lowering the upper arm to any level semi-circular member 16, to one end 'of which is 10 desired away from the horizontal. and for adhinged a similar member 10 whichwith member justing the forearm to any angle desiredrelative 1?) forms a split ring. The free end of the memto the upper arm. It also providesmeanswhereber -1c may besecured tothe other end of member by the arm may be readily supported in proper lb by a thumb screw or other suitable device inposition while being bandaged and can be ad- 'dicated at-ld. The member 10 can beturnedback [J18 justed and manipulated as required during the out of the way whenthe patients forearm lis tofi treatment of the injured member. a be placed between thebars 1 of thebaseframe. In thev accompanying drawings I have illus Thering memberslbrlc arepreferably covered trated one practical embodiment of the invenwith rubber as indicated.

tion and will describe the same with reference -The perpendicular splint frame is composed of I '20 thereto, to enable others familiar with the art to parallel sidebars-2, connected at their outer ends .1

readily use the same. The essential features of preferably by a cross piece 20,, and their inner the invention and novel combination of v.parts endsare-pivoted respectively as at 2b,' to supports for which protection is desired are summarized in 3. 'I'he'bars 2 are also provided with equi-spacecl the claims. perforations 2e-for a purpose hereinafter deii!!! In the drawings: scribed.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the splint and The supports 3 are slidably and adjustably meansfor detachably attaching the same to the mountd on the bars 1 and may have flanges3a bed inwhich the patient lies. and 32)- (Fig. 5) respectively above and below the Fig. 2 is a side elevation of thesplint detached. bars extending in front of the bars 1, and at- 1 Fig. 3 isan enlarged view of the splint adjusttached to'the outer faces of the flanges 3a and 317.11

ing devices. r are plates- 3c-through which are tappedthumb Fig. 4 is a detail top plan viewvof the outer end screws 3d adapted'to frictionally engage the outer of the supporting frame. sides of bars 1 whereby-by tightening screws 3d Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5. the supports 3 can be f xed in'adjusted'positions 35 Fig. 3. fonthe bars 1. 5

Fig. 6 is a transverse section of-the frameshow- Each bar 2 is connected above its pivot 21; to ing the means for adjusting the pulley supportopposite ends of the supports 3' preferably by ing standard thereon. resilient members composed of telescopic tubes 4 Fig. 7 is a detail view of the means on the splint and 40 (Fig. 3) enclosing springs 4d. The outer 40 for adjusting the traction on the forearm. "end of each member 4 is pivoted at 4?) to 9. lug} Fig. 8 is a side view of Fig. 7. on the adjacent end of the member 3, and the Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the detachable inner end'of' each membe'ria is pivotally conpads attached to the frame. nected to a'pin 40 on the bar 2. Within the tele- Fig. 10 is a transverse section on the line 10-40, scopic members 4, 4a are preferably arranged L 45 Fig. 9. expansion springs 4d. These resilient membersi Fig. 11 is a side elevation illustratingnse of tend'to hold the splint frame 2 in a position perthe splint for producing tension on the upper arm. Ipendicular to bars 1, the inclination of the splint Fig. 12 is a similar view illustrating use ofthe frame 2 relative to the bars 1 being regulable splint for maintaining the forearm in a fixed poand preferably controlled as hereinafter .de-

50 sition. scribed. Fig. 13 is an end elevation illustrating use of -The frame bars 1 may be supported on the bed the splint for producing tension on theforearm: by any suitable means, preferably. by, means of The splint comprises a base frame, for. supa supporting frame composed of opposite bars 5 porting the upper arm; andaperpendicularsplint adjustably connected at theirfupper ends to the 55 frame for supporting theforearm. -'-I'he -base bars 1 by a s Of bolts 5 h h y be enga with perforations 1e in the bars 1 and secured by thumb nuts. Each of the bars 5 is pivoted at its lower end to a clamp member 6 provided with an adjustable bolt 6a tapped through the lower jaw thereof, the upper jaw of the clamp engaging the side rail R of the bed in which the patient is lying (see Fig. 1). The angle of adjustment of the base frame 1 can be varied by means of links 6b, pivoted on the clamp members 6 and having slots 60 transfixed by bolts 50 passed through the slots in links 61) and into the bars 5 and secured by thumb nuts 5d (see Figs. 1 and The bars 5 may be braced by a tie rod or bolt 5e adjacent their upper ends, whichrod or bolt Se is adjustable by means of a thumb nut 5 Mounted on the base frame isan adjustable cross-plate '7 (Figs. 1, 2 and 6) which can be secured in position on bars 1 by clamp bolts provided with thumb nuts 7a. The cross-piece carries a standard 7b, in the upper bifurcated end.

of which is journaled a pulley 7c. The standard 7b may be threaded through the piece 7 so that it can be adjusted up or down, and may be locked in adjusted position by means of opposed thumb nuts 7e.

To the outer face of end piece 1a of the base frame is secured a bracket carrying a pulley 1h (Figs. 1, 2 and 1) and attached to the inner face of said end piece 1a is a bracket 1i in which is mounted a pulley 1 Mounted in the bars 2 adjacent the end bar 2a is a rotatable shaft 8 (Figs. 1, '7 and 8) to which a cord may be attached. On one end of this shaft 8 is a disk 8a, preferably knurled, having ratchet teeth 81) on its inner face (Figs; 7 and 8) These teeth are adapted to be engaged by a pawl 80 which is normally pressed outward by a flat spring 8d on which the pawlis mounted, the spring being attached at one end to the adjacent bar 2 and carrying a thumb piece orbutton 8e. By pressing button 8e inwardly the pawl 80 can be disengaged from the ratchet 8b.

In preparing the apparatus for use, the base frame and the perpendicular splint frame are adjusted to convenient positions to receive the patientsarm preparatory to bandaging it. To support the arm during bandaging I provide detachable pads, see Figs. 9 and 10, which preferably consist of felt pads 9b carried by adjustable straps 9 connecting hooks 9a. The hooks So can be engaged with opposed perforations 1e or 2c in the opposite bars 1, or 2 respectively, A sulficient number of these pads are placed in position to comfortably support the patients arm during the bandaging, and these pads 9b constitute the main support of the arm and forearm as long as the splint is used. V

p In operation when tension is desired for the upper arm the two pulleys 7c and 17' are used. Adhesive tapes (not shown) are wrapped along and around the upper arm when in the position shown in Fig. 11, and a cord 20 is attached at the elbow where the tapes converge and is passed over one of the pulleys '10 or 11', with a weight 21 attached at the other end of the cord to produce the desired tension. .This tension on the upper arm also tends to hold the rubber-covered ring 1b, 1c of the splint against the patients side and shoulder thereby securing necessary stability.

If it is desired to keep the upper arm in a horizontal position the cord. 20 is run over pulley 17', as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11. The pulley 7c is used if a slightly upward pull or tension away from the horizontal is desired and the cord passed over pulleys 7c and 171. as shown in full lines in Fig. 11. The pulley 7c is, as hereinbefore stated, adjustable as to height, and may be adjusted at any time should it become necessary. If adhesive tapes cannot be used around the upper arm a Steinman pin 22 is inserted through the lower part of the humerus, and the cord 20 and Weight 21 attached to the pin in the same manner above described.

The perpendicular splint frame in which the forearm is bandaged is used mostly as an exerciser. In order to keep the muscles soft and pliable the patient may swing the arm back and forth against the action of the opposed sprirms 4d (Fig. 3) which being oppositely acting tend to keep the perpendicular frame upright. These forearm in a certain position, relative. to the humerus, and the pulley 1h is usedfor that purpose. A cord 23 is fastened to the shaft 8 and run through pulley 1h to a weight or fixed object 24 on the floor, as shown in Fig. 12. ."10E

The ratchet 8b and pawl 8c at the end of the perpendicular frame (Figs. '7 and 8) is used for tension on the forearm. As shown in Fig. 13 adhesive tapes 26 are applied along the forearm andthe ends secured to a cross member 28 sus ilh pended from a cord 27 attached to a peg 8:): on shaft 8. When the ratchet 8a is turned the proper tension on the forearm may be obtained, and the pawl. will prevent backward rotation of the shaft 8. "711! I claim:--

1. In a splint of the character specified, a base frame comprising opposite side bars, supporting members adjustably mounted on said bars, a splint-frame comprising opposite bars respective 12( ly pivotally attached to the said suporting members,- spring members at opposite sides of the splint-frame and respectively connected to the splint-frame and to the supporting members and adapted to hold the splint frame perpendicular? 121 to the base frame.

. 2. In a splint as set forth in claim 1, supports connected with the base frame, clamps connected to the lower ends of said supports adapted to engage the side of a bed and links, connecting? in said clamps and adjustably connected to said supports.

3. In a splint of the character specified, a base frame comprising opposite parallel bars, a split ring connecting the inner ends of the bars, sup? porting members adjustably mounted on said bars, a splint frame comprising opposite bars respectively pivotally attached to the said supporting members, telescopic spring members at opposite sides of the splint-frame and respec tively connected to the splint-frame bars and to the supporting members and adapted to hold the splint-frame perpendicular to the base frame, means for supporting the upper arm of a patient in said base frame, and means for supporting 14 the forearm of the patient in the splint-frame,

4. In a splint asset forth in claim 3, supporting bars connected with the bars of the base frame, clamps connected to the lower ends of said supporting bars adapted to engage the side the splint frame and adjustable longitudinally of the base frame normally holding the splint frame perpendicular to the base frame.

6. In a splint as set forth in claim 5, supports connected. with side bars of the base frame, clamps connected to said supports adapted to engage the side rail of a bed, and bracing links connected to said clamps and adjustably connected to said supports.

GUSTAF ELOF TORNSJO.

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