Custom-formable knee immobilizer product, knee immobilizer and method
AssigneeBSN Medical, Inc.
InventorThomas D. Darcey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A knee immobilizer for being custom-formed to the shape of a knee while flexible and upon hardening providing a rigid, knee-supporting custom fit. The knee immobilizer includes an elongate splint with a substrate impregnated or coated with a reactive system. The system hardens upon exposure to moisture to form a rigid, self-supporting structure. A flexible cover overlies the substrate for forming an integrated splint structure for being molded while flexible to an aspect of the knee. A bandage extends around the knee for holding the splint in a supporting position on the knee. A splint support cooperates with the splint and the bandage for maintaining the splint on the bandage in a conforming shape against the knee and substantially immobilizing the knee in a predetermined position.
Claims5
A method of therapeutically immobilizing a knee, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a knee splint, comprising:
- (i) an elongate substrate;
- (ii) a reactive system impregnated into or coated onto said substrate, the system remaining stable when maintained in substantially moisture-free conditions and hardening upon exposure to moisture to form a rigid, self supporting structure;
- and
- (iii) a flexible outer cover positioned over and enclosing the substrate, the substrate and outer cover forming a unitary structure for being molded while flexible to an aspect of the knee;
- (b) providing a bandage for being positioned on and held in a closely-conforming configuration around the knee;
- and
- (c) providing a splint support cooperating with said splint and said bandage for maintaining the splint on the bandage in a closely conforming position against the knee and substantially immobilizing the knee in a predetermined position;
- (d) placing the bandage in a closely-conforming configuration around the knee;
- (e) wetting the splint;
- (f) placing the splint into engagement with the bandage by cooperation with said splint support against the knee and thereby substantially immobilizing the knee in a predetermined recovery position;
- and
- (g) maintaining the bandage and engaged splint in the closely-conforming configuration for a period of time sufficient to allow the reactive system to harden the splint.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.