US2808050A - Surgical brace - Google Patents

Description

T. C. WARD SURGICAL BRACE Oct. 1, 1957 Filed July 27, 1954 Thomas C.Ward

IN V EN TOR.

i d States Patent fltice 2,808,050 Patented Octal, 1957 SURGICAL BRACE Thomas C. Ward, Waco, Tex. Application July 27, 1954, Serial No. 446,123

Claims. (Cl. 128-18 vertebral bodies from the middorsal through the last lumbar segment, without the inconveniences encountered in the use of plaster casts. The brace is particularly adapted to provide a greater degree of comfort to the wearer than previously developed devices of this general nature by the provision of the simplest and lightest kind of framework which carries various support pads thereon in such a manner that the pads readily adapt themselves to the portions of the users body against which they are engaged, this being accomplished, more specifically, by a movable connection of the pads to the frame.

Figure l is a perspective View of the improved brace;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the brace as applied to the body of a wearer;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the lumbar support pads; and

Figure 4 is an elevational view showing a modification in the brace construction.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 indicates the main portion of the brace framework which takes the form of a substantially rigid, vertical stay member which carries a sternal support pad assembly 12 at its upper end and the pubic support pad assembly 14 at its lower end. These assemblies embody relatively rigid backing plate members 16 and 18, respectively, which are secured by means of the respective hinges 20 and 22 to the opposite ends of the stay such that they are connected thereto about horizontal or transverse pivot axes. The body contacting portion of each respective pad is provided with a layer of resilient material 24 or 26. The body contacting portions 24 and 26 are preferably formed of felt, sponge rubber or other similar soft material, and it is to be appreciated that these portions are to be made sufliciently thick as to prevent discomfort to the wearer.

Somewhat below the midportion of the stay 10 is attached a semi-circular resilient band member 28 such that its opposite end portions trail behind and stay in waist encircling relation thereto, and the opposite ends of this band carry the right and left torso side supports pads 30 and 32, respectively. Each of the torso side support pads embodies a metallic backing plate 34 rovided with a resilient, body engaging pad or layer 36 similar to the pre viously mentioned sternal and pubic support pads. The lower ends of the backing plates 34 are rigidly connected to the free ends of the band 28 and these pads, being vertically arranged, extend upwardly from the band in the manner shown. Attached to the stay 10 above the band 28 at substantially the height of the upper ends of the pads 30 and 32 is a strap anchoring member 38 by means of which metal loops 40 and 42 of a pair of flexible strap members 44 and 46 are secured to the stay. The upper end of each of the pads 30 and 32 is provided with a further anchoring member 48 by means of which the opposite ends of the straps 44 and 46 are attached thereto. A further flexible strap 50 is secured to the upper end of one of the pads and extends therefrom for connection with a buckle 52 secured to the upper end of the other pad.

The free ends of the band 28 carry a flexible strap member 54 and a buckle 56, respectively, by means of which the lumbar support pad assembly 58 is attached to the band. l

A metallic anchor strap 60 is secured to the free end of the strap 54 and carries at its opposite end a flexible strap 62 for cooperation with the buckle 56, as will be read ily apparent. A pair of lumbar pads 64 and 66 are secured to the metallic strap 60 and each will be seen to consist of an elongated, vertically disposed backing strip 68 having aprotective body engaging pad 70 secured thereto and it is to be noted that each backing strip is slightly arcuated and is secured at substantially its midpoint to the strap 60 for a purpose which will become presently apparent.

' In use, as shown most clearly in Figure 2, the sternal and pubic support pads are engaged against the proper portions of the users body and the strap 62 is engaged with the buckle 56 to secure the device and obtain the proper amount of hyperextension. Thereafter, the strap;

50 is engaged with the buckle 52 to complete the proper positioning of the torso side support pads 30 and 32. A further flexible strap 72 is secured at one end to the anchor member 74 at the lower end of the stay 10, andits free end is engaged with the buckle 76 to complete the securement of the brace assembly.

The stay 10 is, of course, of relatively rigid metallic construction, and it is to be noted that the provision of the hinge means 20 and 22 for connection thereto of the sternal and pubic support pads 12 and 14 permits these pads to flatly engage against the portions of the wearers body with which they come into contact Without digging or gouging thereagainst and without the necessity of bending the stay 10 to shape for permitting their flat contact engagement. Ftu'thermore, it will be seen that the band 28, being relatively flexible to twisting motion, in effect movably carries the torso side support pads 30 and 32 to permit their proper alignment with the wearers body once the strap 50 is secured. The pads 64 and 66 are, of course, arranged on opposite sides of the wearers spine, and due to their connection with the remainder of the brace by means of the straps 54 and 62, are rigidly but flexibly connected therewith such as to afford the maximum of comfort to the wearer. In fact, all the pad assemblies of the brace are movably connected with respect to the rigid brace frame and with respect to each other to properly engage the wearers body with a minimum of discomfort.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 4, the modification therein shown will be seen to consist of a sliding joint connection in the upper end of the main portion of the brace framework. The main portion is indicated by the reference numeral '78 and an extension therefor, 88, carries the pad 82 which is identical in all respects to the previously described pad 12 and corresponds thereto. The connection between the brace portion 78 and the extension 80 is effected by means of a rectangular sleeve or collar 84 which embraces both of these members and, is rigidly secured to one, such :as the extension, by rivets.

It is, of course, appreciated that the brace portion 78. and the extension 80 are thus slidably interconnected...

such thatthe vertical height of pad 82 may be varied to properly fit the user.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary.

' What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A surgical brace comprising a vertical stay member, sternal and pubic support pads secured to the upper and lower ends respectively of said stay, a resilient, semicircular band secured to said stay between said sternal and pubic 'supportpads, right and left torso side support pads secured to the opposite ends of said band, a lumbar support pad, and flexible strap means secured to the opposite ends of said band and carrying said lumbar pad.

A surgical bracecomprising a vertical stay member, sternal and pubic support pads, means securing said sternal support paid about a transverse pivot to the upper end of said stay, means securing said pubic support pad about a transverse pivot to thelower end of said stay, a'resilient, semi-circular band secured to said stay between said sternal and pubic support pads, right and left torso side support pads secured to the oppositeends of said band, a lumbar support pad, and flexible strap means secured to the opposite ends of said band and carrying said lumbar pad.

3. A surgical brace comprising a vertical stay member, sternal and pubic support pads, means securing said sternal support pad about a transverse pivot to the upper end of said stay, means securing said pubic support pad about a transverse pivot to the lower end of said stay, a resilient, semi-circular band secured to said stay between said sternal and pubic support pads, right and left torso side support pads secured to the opposite ends of said band, a lumbar support pad, and flexible strap means secured to the opposite ends of said band and carrying said lumbar pad, said right and left torso side support pads being ver tically elongated and secured at their lower ends to said band, and a flexible strap buckle-connected to form a loop and secured to the upper ends of said right and left torso side support pads.

4 A surgical brace comprising a vertical stay member, sternal and pubic support pads, means securing said sternal support pad about a transverse pivot to the upper end of said stay, means securing said pubic support pad about a transverse pivot to the lower end of said stay, a resilient, semi-circular band secured to said stay between said sternal and pubic support pads, right and left torso side support pads secured to the opposite ends of said band, a lumbar support pad, and flexible strap means secured to the opposite ends of said band and carrying said lumbar pad, said lumbar pad being vertically elongated and secured at its midpoint to said flexible strap means.

5. A surgical brace comprising a vertical stay member, sternal and pubic support pads, means securing said sternal support pad about a transverse pivot to the upper end of said stay, means securing said pubic support pad about a transverse pivot to the lower end of said stay, a resilient, semi-circular band secured to said stay between said sternal and pubic support pads, right and left torso side support pads secured to the opposite ends of said band, a lumbar support pad, and flexible strap means secured to the opposite ends of said band and carrying said lumbar pad, said lumbar pad being vertically elongated and secured at its midpoint to said flexible strap means, said right and left torso side support pads being vertically elongated and secured at their lower ends to said band, and a flexible strap buckle-connected to form a loop and secured to the upper ends of said right and left torso side support pads.

6. A surgical brace as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vertical stay member includes a vertically adjustable extension portion upon which the sternal support pad is pivotally mounted.

7. A surgical brace as set forth in claim 2 wherein said vertical stay member includes a vertically adjustable extension portion upon which the sternal support pad is pivotally mounted 8. A surgical brace as set forth in claim 3 wherein said vertical stay member includes a vertically adjustable extension portion upon which the sternal support pad is pivotally mounted.

9. A surgical brace as set forth in claim 4 wherein said vertical stay member includes a vertically adjustable extension portion upon which the sternal support pad is pivotally mounted.

10. A surgical brace as set forth in claim 5 wherein said vertical stay member includes a vertically adjustable extension portion upon which the sternal support pad is pivotally mounted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 639,072 Lyons Dec. 12, 1899 2,453,370 Hittenberger Nov. 9, 1948 2,582,930 Jewett Jan. 15, 1952 OTHER REFERENCES The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, for July 1936, pages 784-6. (Copy in Scientific Library.)

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