Animal Splint

The field of this invention is directed to animal restraint devices, and, in particular, a splint useful during intravenous feeding procedures. Intravenous feeding of animals is best accomplished by injecting the fluids into the vein of the animal's front limb between the elbow and the carpel.

The absence of some type of restraint allows the animal to move the forelimb by rotation or flexing of the limb, either at the elbow and/or the shoulder or clavicle joints which causes the needle to move in or out of the vein, thus making the procedure very difficult. The most common patient restraint is accomplished by continuous `hands on restraint` by the hospital staff. When considering that intravenous feeding can take up to as much as two or three hours, places a burden upon personnel.

In the prior art there are a variety of splints which are primarily directed to the treatment of bone fractures, and are not useful or successful in intravenous feeding because they are not designed to restrain movement of both the shoulder and elbow joints of the animals legs, or interfere with proper placement of the needle.

It is an object of this invention to provide a splint capable of restraining movement of the limb of a dog or cat or other animal during intravenous feeding procedures.

Another specific object is to provide a splint for the forelimb of animals that will restrain or inactivate the shoulder and elbow joints from flexing and hold the limb in extension whereby intravenous feeding can take place without premature removal of the injection needle or other harm to the animal, that can otherwise take place by such movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a splint or restraint for the forelimb of animals which is adjustable to the various sizes of animals and/or their forelimbs. Such adjustment can occur by various types of releasable locking devices for the movement of the various parts of the splint.

In particular, the invention is directed to a restraint or splint for the forelimb of animals wherein a basic tubular frame is provided in a horizontal position. The relationship of the various parts of the invention are described herein for clarity relative to the horizontal and vertical although the invention is capable of use while the animal is standing or lying down or in any position. Extending upwardly from the frame and adjacent one end of the tubular frame is a first vertical member, usually of fixed length. Extending downwardly from the frame adjacent the other end is a second vertical member, which may be adjustable in its length. A third L-shaped member formed of a vertical and horizontal part the latter of which is adapted to be adjustable inwardly and outwardly relative to the tubular frame. The vertical part is substantially parallel to the first vertical member while the horizontal part is telescopically movable and fixable to the tubular frame. In the typical construction of the apparatus the frame, the first and second vertical members and the third member, when in working position, all lie in the same imaginary vertical plane. A fourth member is positioned adjacent the intersection of the second vertical member and is movable in an inwardly and outwardly direction that is transverse to the vertical plane. In the ordinary use of the invention, some form of a strap is to be provided to encircle various parts of the forelimb and the splint of this invention. In a preferred embodiment strapping such as is sold under the trademark "VELCRO" is utilized, as hereinafter described.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the splint of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view taken along the lines of 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top elevational view of the splint of this invention taken along the lines of 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view showing the invention in use relative to the forelimb of an animal.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompany drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in a variety of ways. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the splint of this invention comprises a basic tubular frame 10 which is open at both ends for purposes herein described. Extending upwardly adjacent one end of the tubular frame 10 is a first vertical member 12, which in this embodiment is also a tubular member. A protective cap 14 is provided at the end of the first vertical member. A second vertical member 16 is fixed to said frame 10 adjacent its other end and extends downwardly as shown. An extension member 18 is telescopically movable within the second vertical member 16 for adjustment relative to the length of the lower portion of forelimb of the animal. A third member generally indicated by the numeral 20 is formed of a vertical part 22 and a horizontal part 24. Caps 23 and 25 protect the ends of the parts. The vertical part extends substantially parallel and typically about the same length as the first vertical member 12. In this embodiment the horizontal member 24 is attached to the vertical member by an elbow 26. The horizontal member 24 is adapted to slide within the frame 10 to various positions as shown by the dotted lines depending upon the size of the shoulder area of the patient. A set screw or other indent 28 extends within a slot 29 of the horizontal part 24 to maintain the third member in the same imaginary plane of the first vertical member 12. The third member 20 is fixable to the frame 10 by any form of lock bolt arrangement or as shown by a spring loaded detent button 30 formed inside the horizontal part 24 of the third member. A plurality of detent opening 32 are provided for fixing the third member in the desired position, by pushing the detent button and sliding member 20 to the next opening 32.

The frame 10, the first vertical member 12, second member 16 and the third member are constructed so as to lie in the same imaginary vertical plane.

A fourth member 40 is positioned adjacent the intersection of the second vertical member and the frame so as to be movable in an inwardly and outwardly direction that is transverse to the defined imaginary vertical plane. That is, in this view, into and out of the plane of the paper. This is best described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The fourth member is comprised of a basic tubular housing 40 with protective caps at each end 42 and 44. The member is slidable through a ring 46 attached at the define intersection. Spring detents 48 and 50 are formed as a part of the tubular member 40 adjacent each end and are operable to be locked in an opening 52 formed as a part of the ring 46. The purpose of the fourth member is to permit the apparatus to be utilized with a right and/or left forelimb of the animal by turning the device over, or otherwise positioning the splint such that the vertical part 22 is always located anterior of the limb and sliding the member 40 as shown by the dotted lines.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, strapping such as is sold under the mark "VELCRO" is used to affix the forelimb to the splint of this invention. In the embodiment shown, the `hook` portion of the Velcro strapping 60 is affixed to the outside surface of the first vertical member 12. Likewise, additional `hook` strapping 62 is positioned to the outside of the second vertical member 16, and an additional `hook` strapping 64 is positioned to the same side of extension 18. As best shown in FIG. 4, the `loop` portion of the Velcro strapping 66 can then be utilized in conjunction therewith as further restraint to movement of the animals forelimb.

The operation and use of the device is best described with reference to FIG. 4 wherein the left forelimb of the animal is shown in the restrained position relative to the splint of this invention.

In this view the animal forelimb is indicated by the solid outline 70, with the bone structure show in dotted lines. The shoulder joint 72 is formed at the junction of the Scapula 74 and the Humerus 76. One important function of the apparatus is to adjust the third member 20 toward the first member 12 such that the anterior pressure causes an extension of the joint 72, and thus immobilize the shoulder joint movement. The lower part of the limb is structured by the Radius bone 78 and Ulna 80 which joins at the elbow 82. The Ulna 80 terminates at the top by the Olecranon 84 that forms the outward part of the elbow. Thus a second function of the splint of this invention is to immobilize the elbow movement by locking the elbow below the fourth member 40 which acts as a fulcrum when the lower limb is strapped to the second vertical member 16.

Although the invention is shown to be manufactured of tubular metal, this is not limiting as other non-metallic, i.e. high density plastics could be used in the construction. Also, the invention can be adapted for use with the aft limbs and can be used to treat fractures.