WO2024246384A1 - 3d-printed splint for immobilising limbs or the pelvis - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a nylon splint for immobilising limbs or the pelvis that is produced by the technique of using 3D printing CAD programs, comprising scanning the arm, leg or pelvis of a patient, and constructing and adapting the individual design for the patient based on the result obtained from said scan and using computer-aided three-dimensional design software. Said splint takes the form of a mesh (4) and is configured as a single part or as a set of parts (2), the shape of the splint being adapted to the specific part of the patient's body to be immobilised, which are joined by joining means such as snap pins (3) that can be removed when the splint (1) has served its purpose and must be removed.

Description

DESCRIPTION

3D PRINTED SPLINT FOR IMMOBILIZING LIMBS OR PELVIS

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a nylon splint that replaces the plaster cast that is conventionally used to immobilize the limbs or pelvis of a person or animal that has suffered a broken bone, as well as an injury to a ligament, tendon or muscle, which has important technical and therapeutic advantages over known conventional systems.

It provides a solution for obtaining nylon or other polymer splints with a high level of detail, in a precise way and adapted to the limb or pelvis of the person or animal whose broken bone or injured ligament, tendon or muscle is to be immobilized, based on CAD program techniques. To do this, the patient's arm, leg or pelvis is scanned. With the result of the scan, the individual design for the patient is built and adapted in a CAD program. This design is sent to a 3D printer where the mold is printed in two or more components that are closed through joining means. At the end, the parts of the splint thus obtained are placed on the limb or pelvis, closing its parts with said joining means.

It offers the following technical and therapeutic advantages:

- Does not promote the growth of bacteria, fungi or yeast.

- The skin can breathe and perspire without problems

- Its design is specifically adapted to the patient's anatomy.

- The closures are designed so that the attachment means can be separated when the splint is to be removed.

- With the splint on, the patient can shower, bathe and engage in better physical activity, since the material it is made of, Nylon 12 or a similar polymer, repels water and other fluids.

- It has a rigid, resistant structure.

The industrial application of this invention is within the sector of molds for the immobilization of bones or muscle-tendon structures in humans or animals and more specifically in Nylon splints or similar polymers that replace the plaster casts conventionally used for such immobilization.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Although no invention identical to the one described has been found, we present below the documents found that reflect the state of the art related to it.

ES1001721 U proposes a deformable support for obtaining irregular bodies, which is designed to adapt to a mold of any configuration and to constitute the base for applying a layer of resin or any other synthetic product, which after its solidification and hardening constitutes the true resistant element of the body in question, essentially characterized by being made up of a plurality of small pieces, identical to each other, preferably of parallelepiped configuration, although they can adopt any other configuration, pieces that initially adopt a coplanar arrangement and determine, through their shapes, a perfect surface continuity, said pieces being associated with each other, with the possibility of longitudinal and transverse tilting, with the collaboration of a mesh, textile or plastic, fixed by gluing or by any other means to one of the general faces of the support as a whole, all in such a way that the aforementioned mesh acts as a means of "hinging" between the different pieces, allowing their adaptation to curved or warped surfaces, and so that after coupling the support to the corresponding mould, the latter is covered by the layer of resin or product in question, which must constitute the resistant envelope, resin which is also housed in the interstices defined between the different pieces of the support at the angle between them determined by the mould, defining for the irregular body as a whole an alveolar structure, based on a resin envelope whose side walls are related by means of a grid of intermediate transverse partitions and in whose alveoli the pieces belonging to the support are located, having also provided that said pieces be of a light material, such as wood, cork or similar, and with a low coefficient of thermal or acoustic transmission, in order to transmit these properties to the body to be obtained as a whole.

PA/a/2006/005142 describes a device and method for supplying gas into a container after closing and sealing to pressurize and/or prevent or counteract kinking. thereof, and/or to provide structural rigidity and strength thereto and/or to supply components.

Conclusions: As can be seen from the research carried out, none of the documents found solve the problems raised as the proposed invention does.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The splint object of the present invention is made from Nylon or a similar polymer that provides favorable properties for the patient such as being repellent to water and other fluids, being a biocompatible material that does not promote the growth of pathogens or microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi, and having a rigid, resistant structure.

This plastic piece is designed and manufactured using 3D printing techniques and can be configured as a single piece, or arranged in the form of two or more pieces, which can be joined together using means when the splint needs to be removed.

The splint piece or pieces are obtained using the technique of using CAD programs on 3D printers. To do this, the patient's arm, leg or pelvis is scanned. The scan results are used to build and adapt the individual design for the patient in the CAD program. This design is sent to a 3D printer where the pieces are printed and then placed on the limb or pelvis, closing their parts with said joining means.

Unless otherwise indicated, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. Methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice of the present invention.

Throughout the description and claims, the word “comprises” and its variants are not intended to exclude other technical features, additives, components or steps. For those skilled in the art, other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent in part from the description and in part from the practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present description, some drawings are attached that represent a preferred non-limiting embodiment of the present invention: Figure 1: Conventional perspective view of a splint object of the present invention placed on the arm.

Figure 2: Conventional perspective view of a splint object of the present invention placed on the arm, seen on the reverse.

Figure 3: Conventional perspective view of the anterior part of a splint object of the present invention.

The numerical references appearing in said figures correspond to the following constituent elements of the invention:

1. Splint

2. Pieces

3. Means of joining

4. Grid

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of the Nylon 12 or similar polymer splint for the immobilization of fractured or insured bones and muscle-tendon injuries, object of the present invention, with reference to the numerical references, may be based on a splint (1) designed and manufactured from 3D printing techniques, in the shape of a grid (4) and able to be configured as a single piece, or as a set of pieces (2), which can be joined by joining means such as pressure pins (3) that allow its removal when the splint (1) has already fulfilled its function and has to be removed.

The splint piece or pieces are obtained using the technique of using CAD programs on a 3D printer. To do this, the patient's arm, leg or pelvis is scanned and the scan result is used to build and adapt the individual design for the patient using a computer-aided three-dimensional design application. This design is sent to a 3D printer where the molds are printed and then placed on the limb or pelvis, closing its parts with said joining means such as snap pins.

Furthermore, the pieces that define a concavity can be about 6 mm and arranged as a grid structure to give strength to said pieces and the grid can be made of bars, with its longest side perpendicular to the wall of the piece that defines a concavity, increasing its strength and its ease of being better printed in 3D and manufactured.

In addition, in the case of printing on stereolithographic 3D printers, magnetic plates can be used to remove the printed parts, which are very easily removed using said magnetic plates by bending and thus separating from the printed parts, and squares or rhombuses can be used for the grid configuration. In this case, 3D printing is used using selective laser sintering SLS.

INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (RULE 20.6)

Claims

1. - Nylon splint for immobilizing limbs or pelvis, characterized by being obtained from the technique of using CAD programs in a 3D printer, for which the patient's arm, leg or pelvis is scanned and with the result obtained from said scan, the individual design for the patient is built and adapted in a computer application of three-dimensional computer-aided design, in the form of a grid (4) configured as a single piece, or as a set of pieces (2), in which the shape of the splint adapts to the specific part of the patient's body that must be immobilized, which are joined by joining means such as pressure pins (3) that allow its removal when the splint (1) has already fulfilled its function and must be removed. 2. - Nylon splint to immobilize limbs or pelvis, according to claim 1, Said design is sent to a 3D Printer where the molds are printed which are subsequently placed on the limb or pelvis, closing its parts with said snap pins (3) as joining means. 3. - Nylon splint for immobilizing limbs or pelvis, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the pieces that define a concavity are about 6 mm thick, and are structured in the form of a grid, said pieces being able to be thin and of thin thicknesses, with their longest side perpendicular to the wall of the piece that defines a concavity, or an interior space, according to the shape of the part of the body to be immobilized, increasing with said thicknesses its resistance and ease of being better printed in 3D and manufactured. 4. - Nylon splint for immobilizing limbs or pelvis, according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in case of printing in stereolithographic 3D printers, magnetic plates can be used to remove the printed pieces, which are removed very easily using said magnetic plates that bend and separate from the printed pieces, and in addition, squares or rhombuses can be used for the configuration of the grid, in this case using 3D printing by selective laser synthesis SLS.