U.S. patent number 3,683,902 [Application Number 05/049,447] was granted by the patent office on 1972-08-15 for medical splint apparatus.
Invention is credited to Anatoly Ivanovich Artemenko, Rafail Yakovlevich Gershtenkern, Igor Nikolaevich Yagupov.
United States Patent |
3,683,902 |
Artemenko , et al. |
August 15, 1972 |
MEDICAL SPLINT APPARATUS
Abstract
A medical splint apparatus, useful for treatment of crush
syndromes, an inflatable splint body adapted to be inflated by a
working fluid received thereinside, and a heat exchange structure
including an external vessel and an internal vessel received inside
the external vessel, the vessels communicating with each other and
being provided with respective fluid pressure control valves, the
vessels also communicating with the inflatable splint body, the
external vessel being filled with a supply of the working fluid and
the internal vessel being filled with a supply of a cooling agent,
particularly solid carbonic acid.
Inventors: |
Artemenko; Anatoly Ivanovich
(Donetsk, SU), Gershtenkern; Rafail Yakovlevich
(Donetsk, SU), Yagupov; Igor Nikolaevich (Donetsk,
SU) |
Family
ID: |
21959864 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/049,447 |
Filed: |
June 24, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
602/14;
128/DIG.20; 165/46; 607/104 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
5/05816 (20130101); A61F 7/10 (20130101); A61F
2007/0001 (20130101); A61F 2007/0056 (20130101); Y10S
128/20 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
5/058 (20060101); A61F 5/04 (20060101); A61F
7/00 (20060101); A61F 7/10 (20060101); A61f
005/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/89,87,399,400,401,402,403,362,DIG.20 ;165/46,72-75 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
"Anesthesia by Local Refrigeration," Restarski The Journal of the
American Dental Assoc. May, 1944 pp. 600, 601.
|
Primary Examiner: Gaudet; Richard A.
Assistant Examiner: Yasko; J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A medical splint apparatus comprising a heat exchange means
including two vessels, one of said vessels being received inside
the other, a throttling orifice communicating the inside of the
inner vessel with the space defined between the inner and outer
vessels, a filling opening communicating with said inner vessel and
a quantity of solid carbonic acid contained within said inner
vessel, relief valve means connected to said inner vessel for
controlling the pressure therewithin produced by gas resulting from
sublimation of said solid carbonic acid, a quantity of working
fluid contained with said space between said inner and outer
vessels, an inflatable splint means, conduit means communicating
said inflatable splint means with said space between said inner and
outer vessels for feeding working fluid to and from said inflatable
splint means, a portion of the gas resulting from sublimation of
said solid carbonic acid passing through said throttling orifice
and providing pressure on said working fluid.
2. A medical splint apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said
inflatable splint body has an internal wall and an external wall,
said walls being made of respective materials of different degrees
of rigidity and being interconnected with each other, so that a
tortuous fluid passage is formed therebetween, said passage being
in fluid communication with said heat exchange structure.
3. A medical splint apparatus, according to claim 2, further
including a set of selectively removable panels made of a thermally
insulating material connected to said internal wall of said splint
body.
4. A medical splint apparatus according to claim 1 further
including a diaphragm-type pneumatic pump means operatively
connected to said conduit means to accelerate flow of cooling
working fluid supplied to said inflatable splint means, and further
conduit means communicating between said inner vessel and said pump
means, whereby a portion of the gas produced by sublimation of said
solid carbonic acid selectively operates said pump means.
5. A splint according to claim 1, wherein said inner vessel
includes valve means to control circulation rate of said working
fluid and time of cooling, and said outer vessel includes valve
means to provide immobolization and a given pressure in the
inflatable splint means.
Description
The present invention relates to splint apparatus for rendering
medical aid, and, more particularly, it relates to apparatus used
for treating crush syndromes.
Medical splints are known, which comprise an inflatable body made
from an elastic material, adapted to be filled with either liquid
or gas and incorporating means for securing this body to and
tightening it about an injured part of a human body (see, for
example, British Pat. No. 970,890, Class A5R). Splints of this
known kind effect immobilization and compression of a limb or other
part of a human body.
However, these known splints do not provide for effecting
immobilization and compression of an injured limb simultaneously
with controllable cooling and controllable compression thereof.
It is an object of the present invention to eliminate this
shortcoming of the known splints.
The present invention has for its aim the provision of a medical
splint apparatus,which is capable of effecting simultaneously
immobilization, controllable compression, and controllable cooling
of an injured part or parts of a human body, particularly of an
injured limb.
This aim is attained in a medical splint apparatus comprising a
heat exchange structure including two vessels one of them being
received inside the other and being in communication through a
throttling orifice, the internal vessel of said heat exchange
structure being provided with an opening and being filled with
solid carbonic acid CO.sub.2 , and also being provided with a
conduit for escape of compressed gas produced by sublimiation of
solid carbonic acid, the external vessel being provided with inlet
and outlet openings for working fluid contained therein; due to the
heat exchange between solid carbonic acid and working fluid solid
carbonic acid sublimates producing gas, a portion of said gas
escaping through said throttling orifice from the internal vessel
into the external vessel, producing pressure therein, said heat
exchange structure being in communication with the inflatable
splint body preferably by means of flexible conduits.
In order to provide for varying pressure of gas produced by
sublimation of solid carbonic acid in the internal vessel of the
heat exchange structure, the internal vessel of the heat exchange
structure is provided with a valve, and in order to provide for
immobilization and to ensure a given pressure inside the inflatable
splint body, the external vessel of the heat exchange structure is
also provided with a valve.
In order to provide for controllable compression and cooling of
specified portions of a human body, it is advisable for the
internal and external walls of the inflatable splint body to be
made from materials featuring different degrees of rigidity, the
internal and external walls being interconnected by seams in such a
manner as to form therebetween a zigzag a tortuous fluid passage
communicable with the heat exchange structure.
In order to provide for selective insulation of specified portions
of a human body from cooling, the internal wall of the inflatable
splint body can be associated with a set of selectively removable
panels made from a thermally insulating material, e.g., from a
porous plastic material.
In order to provide for accelerated cooling of injured parts of a
human body, there is a diaphragm-type pneumatic pump between the
heat exchange structure and the inflatable splint body driven by
compressed gas produced by sublimation of solid carbonic acid.
As compared with the known splint structures, the herein disclosed
medical splint apparatus features an advantage of combining
immobilization of an injured portion of a human body with
controllable selective compression and controllable cooling of such
portion. The combined effect of the above three kinds of medical
treatment is the basic aspect of the recently developed advanced
technique of curing crush syndromes. A splint apparatus,
constructed in accordance with the present invention, can be widely
used for the medical treatment of fractures, scalds, burns, or
smashes, in cases when it is highly advisable to combine
immobilization with simultaneous compression and moderate cooling
of an injured portion of a human body.
The present invention will be better understood from the following
detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof in a medical
splint apparatus, with reference being had to the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a general schematic view of a splint apparatus, embodying
the invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of an inflatable splint body
embodying the invention, taken along line II II of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the inflatable splint body,
shown in FIG. 1, in an operative position, and
FIG. 4 is a drive diagram of the diaphragm-type pneumatic pump of
the splint apparatus fig. 1.
Referring now in particular to the appended drawings, it can be
seen from FIG. 1 that a splint apparatus for medical purposes,
constructed in accordance with the present invention, comprises an
inflatable body 1 adapted to be filled with a working fluid, and
flexible conduits 2 and 3 establishing communication between the
inflatable body 1 and a heat exchange structure 4. The conduits 2
and 3 include fluid control and connection means, such as control
taps 5 and 6 associated, respectively, with two-part threaded
couplings 7 and 8, as is illustrated in FIG. 1; alternatively,
self-closing connections can be employed.
The heat exchange structure 4 comprises an external vessel 9
receiving thereinside an internal vessel 10. The internal vessel 10
communicates with the external one 9 by means of a connecting
conduit 11 having therein a throttling orifice 12. The external
vessel 9 in operation of the herein disclosed medical splint
apparatus is permanently filled with the working fluid, e.g., water
13 or an antifreezing composition. In operation of the herein
disclosed medical splint apparatus the internal vessel 10 of the
heat exchange structure 4 is filled, as such need arises, with a
cooling agent through a charging opening 14, e.g., with solid
carbonic acid 15. In order to maintain a desired pressure inside
the internal vessel 10, the latter is provided with a pressure
control valve 16, through which excessive gas produced by
sublimation of the solid carbonic acid 15 escapes. For similar
purposes the external vessel 9 is also provided with a pressure and
relief valve 17. The external vessel 9 is additionally provided
with a discharge tap 18. The vessels 9 and 10 of the heat exchange
structure 4 may also be equipped with means for connecting thereto
respective pressure gauges (not shown) indicating the pressure
values inside these vessels.
The working fluid can be selectively directed either into the heat
exchange structure 4 and therefrom into the splint body 1, or
directly into the splint body 1, by-passing the heat exchange
structure 4, for which end the herein disclosed apparatus includes
a control two-way tap 19 mounted intermediate of the connecting
conduit 2 and the heat exchange structure 4.
The splint body 1 is made from an elastic, water-impervious
material, for example, from rubber or from rubber-impregnated
fabric. The external wall 20 (FIG. 2) of the inflatable splint body
1 is made from a material featuring a higher degree of rigidity
than the internal wall 21 of the same body 1. The walls 20 and 21
of the inflatable splint body 1 are so connected to each other by a
series of seams that there is formed inside the body 1 a tortuous
zigzag-shaped internal passage 22 (FIGS. 1,2 and 3) communicating
at the opposite ends thereof, respectively, with the connecting
conduits 2 and 3. The external wall 20 of the inflatable splint
body 1 is provided with means 23 for tightening and securing the
body to or around a human limb, for example, with securing belts,
cooperable with pins. The internal wall 21 of the inflatable splint
body 1 is provided with a set of removable panels 24 (FIGS. 2 and
3) made of a heat insulating material, e.g., a porous plastic
material. In cases when the entire limb has to be cooled, the heat
insulating panels 24 are removed. In case a single specified
portion of the limb upon which the splint is applied is to be
cooled, the respective one or several ones of the panels 24 are
removed.
In order to accelerate the process of the cooling of the injured
limb onto which the herein disclosed medical splint is applied, the
latter is associated with a pneumatic pump means 25 (FIG. 1)
communicating with the inflatable body 1 through the conduit 3 and
with the internal and external vessels 9 and 10 of the heat
exchange structure 4 -- through a T-pipe 26 and a conduit 27,
respectively.
In the herein described embodiment of the present invention a
diaphragm-type pneumatic pump is used, comprising a body 28 (FIG.
4), an intake valve 29, a delivery valve 30, a diaphragm 31 rigidly
connected to a diaphragm-operating rod 32, and a spring 33. In
order to effect periodic supply of compressed gas into the chamber
34 of the pump body, the pump includes a two-arm linkage comprising
pivotably mounted arms 35 and 36 connected by a cut-off spring 37.
The arm 35 is pivotally mounted in the slot of the rod 32. The arm
36 supports an inlet valve 38 and an outlet valve 39. The inlet
valve 38 is connected through the conduit 27 with the internal
vessel 10 (FIGS. 1,4) of the heat exchange structure 4. The intake
valve 29 is connected through a conduit 40 with the connecting
conduit 3 of the body 1, while the delivery valve 30 is connected
through a T-pipe 26 with the external vessel 9 of the heat exchange
structure 4 and with the two-way control tap 19.
The herein disclosed medical splint apparatus operates as follows.
The heat, derived from the working liquid, effects sublimation of
the carbonic acid 15, and the latter is partially turned into a
vapor state. Consequently, the pressure inside the internal vessel
10 of the heat exchange structure 4 is built up. A portion of this
compressed vapor or gas flows through the conduit 11 and the
throttling orifice 12 into the internal space of the external
vessel 9, where the pressure is built up to a value maintained by
the corresponding setting of the pressure relief and control valve
17. The pressure of the gas in the external vessel 9 drives a
portion of the working fluid therefrom into the inflatable body 1
and inflates the latter. The pressure inside the splint body 1
equalizes with the pressure inside the external vessel 9 of the
heat exchange structure 4. In this way the injured limb is
immobilized by the splint body 1 applied thereto and compressed
with a desired force preset by a corresponding adjustment of the
relief valve 17.
Cooling of the injured limb can be effected by natural circulation
of the working fluid along a closed path from the inflatable splint
body 1 to the heat exchanger structure 4 and back to the splint
body 1. In this case the working fluid in the splint body 1 is
heated by the heat obtained from the injured limb, then it flows
into the heat exchanger structure 4, where it is cooled down, and
so on.
In the herein described embodiment of the present invention
accelerated cooling of the injured limb of a human body can be
effected with the help of the diaphragm-type pneumatic pump 25
which operates in the following manner. The major portion of the
gas produced inside the internal vessel 10 of the heat exchange
structure 4, which portion in case of natural circulation of the
working liquid is let out into the ambient atmosphere by an
appropriate setting of the relief valve 16, and in case of forced
circulation is fed through the conduit 27 and the inlet valve 38
(FIG. 4) into the internal chamber 34 of the pump 25.
The pressure of this compressed gas drives the diaphragm 31 from
the extreme upper position to the extreme lower position, whereby
the working fluid delivered from the splint body 1 is forced from a
chamber 41 into the external vessel 9 of the heat exchanger 4
through the valve 30 and the T-pipe 26. The rod 32 follows the
motion of the diaphragm 31, whereby the return spring is compressed
and the arm 35 turns from the upper position to the lower one. The
cut-off spring abruptly throws over the arm 36 from the upper
position to the lower one as the arm 35 changes its position. As a
result, the inlet valve 38 closes and the outlet valve 39 opens.
The gas that has been fed to the chamber 34 is let out into the
atmosphere.
When the pressure inside the chamber 34 drops to the atmospheric
pressure and the diaphragm 31 through the action of the return
spring 33 is referred to its extreme upper position, the arm 35
turns from the lower position to the upper one. Simultaneously the
working fluid is sucked into the chamber 41 from the body 1 through
the external vessel 9 of the heat exchanger 4.
The cut-off spring 37 abruptly throws over the arm 36 from the
lower position to the upper one as the arm 35 changes its position
so that the outlet valve 39 closes and the inlet valve 38
opens,whereby the gas from the internal vessel 10 of the heat
exchanger passes to the chamber 34.
Then the abovedescribed operating cycle of the pump 35 repeats
itself.
The pneumatic diaphragm type pump 28 is shown in FIG. 4 in a final
position of the working fluid delivery stroke; the dotted arrow
lines indicate the direction of the flow of the compressed gas, and
the solid arrow lines indicate the direction of the flow of the
working liquid.
When needed, the herein described medical splint apparatus can
effect separately either immobilization with compression of an
injured limb, without cooling same, or else cooling of an injured
limb without its immobilization and compression. This can be
attained by controlling the apparatus correspondingly and by
adjusting accordingly the relief control valve 17.
For transportation of the herein described medical splint
apparatus,the inflatable body 1 with the connecting flexible
conduits 2 and 3 is disconnected from the heat exchange structure 4
and from the pump 25. The internal vessel 10 of the heat exchange
structure 4 may be filled with solid carbonic acid 15, and the
working fluid should be drained from the external vessel 9. The
body 1 should be filled with the working fluid and can be rolled
up.
The flexible connecting conduits 2 and 3 of the inflatable body 1
should be closed by their respective taps.
* * * * *