Dynamic extension splint

• US 5,036,837 A
• Filed: 02/09/1990
• Issued: 08/06/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ultraflex Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: BioTex Incorporated
• Inventors: Mitchell, Andrew, Muir, William L., DeLorenzo, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/477,460
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 128/84 R, 128/84 C, 128/80 R, 128/80 A, 128/80 C, 128/80 F, 128/80 G, 128/88, 128/89 R, 128/87 A, 128/87 R
• US Class Current: 606/241
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0139 geared
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0167 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0179 with spring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0123 for the knees A61F5/0106 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0125 the device articulating around a single pivot-point
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0127 for the feet A61F5/0111 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/013 for the arms, hands or fingers A61F5/0118 takes precedence

Abstract

A dynamic extension splint is provided which has a pair of elongated strut assemblies which each include a pivotal joint. Each strut assembly is removably supported on one side of a strut support unit which operates to mount the strut assemblies on a body member in alignment with a body joint. A strut assembly includes first and second elongated strut members which are flat units which extend from a pivotal joint. This joint connects one end of the first and second strut members for pivotal movement about one or more pivot axes, and a bias unit mounted at the joint opposes pivotal movement of the strut members in one direction and aids such pivotal movement in a second opposite direction. The bias of this bias unit is adjustable by a bias adjustment mechanism also located at the pivotal joint.

Claims

1. An adjustable splint device for applying force across a body joint comprising a first elongated strut member having a longitudinal axis extending between opposed ends thereof, a second elongated strut member having a longitudinal axis extending between opposed ends thereof, joint means for connecting one end of said first and second strut members for pivotal movement about a pivot axis which is transverse to the longitudinal axes of said first and second strut members, said joint means operating to permit pivotal movement of said first and second elongated sturdy members between a first extended position where said first and second elongated strut members extend outwardly away from opposite sides of said joint means and a second closed position where said first and second elongated strut members extended outwardly in close proximity from the same side of said joint means and including at least one pivot pin mounted for rotation relative to said first and second elongated strut members about which at least one of said elongated strut members pivots, bias means mounted at said joint means and connected to provide a bias to oppose pivotal movement of said first and second elongated strut members in a first direction between said first extended position and second closed position and to aid such pivotal movement in a second direction opposite to said first direction between said first extended position and second closed position, said bias means including spring means extending around said pivot pin, sand connected between said pivot pin and at least one of said first and second elongated strut members, and bias adjustment means mounted at said joint means and operative to adjust the bias of said bias means by rotation of said pivot pin.

2. The adjustable splint device of claim 1, wherein said joint means connects one end of said first strut members for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis and connects one end of said second strut member for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis substantially parallel to but spaced from said first pivot axis.

3. The adjustable splint device of claim 2, wherein said joint means includes a first pivot pin extending through the end of said first strut member along said first pivot axis and a second pivot pin extending through the end of said second strut member along said second pivot axis, said bias means including a first spring means mounted around said first pivot pin and a second spring means mounted around said second pivot pin.

4. The adjustable splint device of claim 3, wherein said first and second pivot pins are mounted for rotation, said first spring means being connected between said first pivot pin an said first elongated strut member and said second spring means being connected between said second pivot pin and said second elongated strut member, said bias adjustment means operating to rotate said first and second pivot pins.

5. The adjustable splint device of claim 4, wherein said bias adjustment means includes gear means connected to said first and second pivot pins, said gear means operating to cause simultaneous rotation of both said first and second pivot pins.

6. The adjustable splint device of claim 5, wherein said bias adjustment means includes locking means mounted to be selectively engaged or disengaged with said gear means.

7. The adjustable splint device of claim 1, wherein said first and second strut members include an elongate, flat strut section formed of material which may be contoured to conform the strut section to various body shapes, the end of each said first and second strut members connected by said joint means for pivotal movement including a bifurcated end section, said bifurcated end section including first and second spaced, superimposed legs extending outwardly from said flat strut section.

8. The adjustable splint device of claim 7, wherein said bias means includes spring means mounted between the first and second spaced legs of the bifurcated end sections of said first and second strut members.

9. The adjustable splint device of claim 8, wherein said pivot pin extends through the bifurcated end sections of said first and second strut members, said spring means being connected between said pivot pin and at least the bifurcated end section of one of said first or second strut members.

10. An adjustable splint device for applying force across a body joint comprising a first elongated strut member having a longitudinal axis extending between opposed ends thereof, a second elongated strut member having a longitudinal axis extending between opposed ends thereof, joint means connected one end of said first and second strut members for pivotal movement about a pivot axis which is transverse to the longitudinal axes of said first and second strut members, said joint means including pivot means for mounting at least one of said first and second strut members for pivotal movement about said pivot means, said pivot means being rotatable relative to said first and second strut members, bias means mounted at said joint means and connected to provide a bias to oppose pivotal movement of said first and second strut members in a first direction and to aid said pivotal movement in a second direction opposite to said first direction, said bias means being connected between said pivot means and at least open of said first and second strut members, and bias adjustment means mounted at said joint means and operative to rotate said pivot means relative to said first and second strut members to adjust the bias of said bias means.

11. The adjustable splint device of claim 10 wherein said bias adjustment means includes gear means connected to said pivot means to cause the rotation thereof, and gear operator means connected to said gear means and operative to rotate said gear means to cause the rotation of said pivot means.

12. The adjustable splint device of claim 11 wherein said gear operator means include a rotatable adjustment screw having threads which engage said gear means to rotate said gear means up on the rotation of said adjustment screw.

13. The adjustable splint device of claim 12 wherein said bias means includes a circular leaf spring encircling said pivot means, said leaf spring having a first end connected to said pivot means and a second end connected to one of said first or second elongated strut members.

14. The adjustable splint device of claim 13 wherein said first and second elongated strut members each include an elongate flat strut section formed of material which may be contoured to conform the strut section to various body shapes, the end of each of said first and second strut members connected by said joint means for pivotal movement including a bifurcated end section connected to said strut section, said bifurcated end section including firs and second spaced, superimposed legs extending outwardly from said flat strut section, said leaf spring being mounted between the first and second spaced legs of the bifurcated end sections of said first and second strut members.

15. The adjustable sling device of claim 14 wherein the first and second legs of the bifurcated end sections of said first and second strut members are of greater width than the flat strut section connected thereto, said bifurcated end section of said first and second strut members being connected together by said pivot means with said first and second legs of the bifurcated end section of said first elongated strut member lowering the first and second legs respectively of the bifurcated end section of said second elongated strut member to form a housing for said joint means.

16. The adjustable splint device of claim 15 wherein a housing is formed on one of said first or second legs of the bifurcated end section of said fist elongated strut member, said pivot means extending through eh bifurcated end of said first and second strut members into said housing , said gear means being secured to said pivot means within said housing and said rotatable adjustment screw being mounted on said housing to extend into said housing and into engagement with said gear means.

17. The adjustable sling device of claim 15 which includes range of motion locking means to limit the extent of pivotal movement o said first and second elongated strut means, said range of motion locking means including at least one pair of aligned apertures formed in the first and second legs of said first elongated strut member and pin means adapted to be removably mounted in said aligned apertures to extend between the first and second legs of said first elongated strut member.

18. The adjustable sling device of claim 11 wherein said joint means connects one end of said fist strut member for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis and connects one end of said second strut member for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis substantially parallel to but spaced from said first pivot axis, said pivot means including a first pivot pin extending through the end of said first strut member along said fist pivot axis and a second pivot pin extending through the end of said second strut member along said second pivot axis, said first and second pivot pins being mounted for rotation relative to said fist and second strut members respectively.

19. The adjustable splint device of claim 18 wherein said bias means includes a first spring means mounted around said fist pivot pin and being connected to said first pivot pin and said first elongated strut member and a second spring means mounted around said second pivot pin and being connected to said second pivot pin and said elongated strut member, said gear means including a first gear connected to said first pivot pin and a second gear, meshed with said fist gear, connected to said second pivot pin whereby rotation of one of said fist and second pivot pins by said bias adjustment means operates to simultaneously adjust the bias of said first and second spring means.

20. The adjustable sling device of claim 19 wherein said joint means includes a joint housing having opposite open ends and an open side which open into a housing interior, the first and second pivot pins extending through said joint housing to mount the ends of said fist and second elongated strut members within said housing, said first and second gears being mounted externally of said joint housing.

21. The adjustable splint device of claim 20 wherein said first and second elongated strut members each include an elongated flat strut section formed of material which may be contoured to conform the strut section to various body shapes, each said fist and second strut members connected by said joint means for pivotal movement including a bifurcated end section connected to said strut section, said bifurcated end section including first and second spaced, superimposed legs extending outwardly from said flat strut section, said first and second spring means each including a circular leaf spring encircling said fist and second pivot pins respectively, and being positioned thereby between the superimposed legs of the bifurcated end sections for said first and seconds tut members respectively, said first pivot pin extending through the bifurcated end section of said first strut member and said second pivot pin extending through the bifurcated end section of said second strut member.

22. The adjustable splint device of claim 21 wherein the strut sections of said first and second strut members each extend outwardly from an opposite open end of said joint housing in a first extended position of said first and second strut members and pivot between said first extended position and a second closed position where the strut sections of said fist and second elongated strut members extend outwardly from the open side of said joint housing in close proximity.

23. The adjustable splint device of claim 22 wherein said bias adjustment means includes locking means mounted upon said joint housing to engage at least one of said fist or second gears to lock said first and second gears against rotation once the bias of said spring means has been adjusted.

24. The adjustable splint device of claim 23 wherein said locking means includes a locking gear slidably mounted upon said joint housing for movement into and out of meshing engagement with said first and second gears.

25. The adjustable splint device of claim 24 which includes range of motion locking means to limit the extent of pivotal movement of said first and second elongated strut means to less than the full extent of movement between said first extended position and second closed position.

26. The adjustable splint dvice of claim 25 wherein said range of motion locking means includes at least one pair of aligned apertures formed in said joint housing adjacent to and on opposite sides of the open side of said joint housing and pin means adapted to be removably mounted in said aligned apertures to extend across the open side of said joint housing.

27. The adjustable splint device of claim 10 which includes range of motion locking means mounted at said point means which is selectively operable to limit the pivotal movement of said first and second elongated strut means.

28. An adjustable splint device for applying force across a body joint in a body member, comprising a pair of elongated strut assemblies, each such strut assembly having a first elongated strut member having a longitudinal axis extending between opposed ends thereof, a second elongated strut member having a longitudinal axis extending between opposed ends thereof, joint means connecting one end of said first and second strut members for pivotal movement about a pivot axis which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of said first and second strut members, said joint means including pivot means for mounting at least one of said first and second strut members for pivotal movement about said pivot means, said pivot means a being rotatable relative to said first and second strut members, bias means mounted sat said joint means and connected to provide a bias to oppose pivotal movement of said first and second strut members in a first direction and to aid said pivotal movement in a second direction opposite to said first direction, said bias means being connected between said pivot means and at least one of said first and second strut members, bias adjustment means mounted sat said joint means and operative to rotate said pivot means relative to said first and second strut means to adjust the bias of said bias means, and strut support means mountable upon said body member for supporting said strut assemblies on opposite sides of said body joint with the joint means thereof in alignment with said body joint.

29. The adjustable splint device of claim 28 wherein said bias adjustment means for each said strut assembly includes gear means connected to said pivot means to cause the rotation thereof, and gear operator means connected to said gar mean and operative to rotate said gear means to cause the rotation of said pivot means, said strut support means operating to position said gear means and gear operator means outwardly away from contact with said body joint when said strut assemblies are mounted thereby on opposite sides of ad body joint.

30. The adjustable splint device of claim 29 wherein said strut support means removably mounts said strut assemblies to permit said strut assemblies to be removed therefrom when said strut support means is mounted on said body member.

31. The adjustable splint device of claim 30, wherein said strut support means includes first and second strap assemblies for circumventing said body member on opposite sides of said body joint, each such strap assembly including an anterior strap to extend around a first side of the body member and a posterior strap to extend around a second opposite side of the body member.

32. The adjustable splint device of claim 30 wherein said strut support means includes elastic sleeve means adapted to extend around said body member, and first and second strap assemblies for circumventing said body member on opposite sides of said body joint, said first and second strap assemblies overlying said elastic sleeve means and each including an anterior strap to extend around a first side of said body member and a posterior strap to extend around a second opposite side of the body member.

33. The adjustable splint device of claim 32 wherein said elastic sleeve means is formed of Neoprene.

34. The adjustable splint device of claim 32, wherein said strut support means includes a spaced pair of pocket means formed upon opposed sides of said strut support means, each pair of pocket means operating to removably receive the first and second elongated strut members of one of said elongated strut assemblies.