Orthopedic device and method for supporting and treating portions of the body

Claim 1

An orthopedic device or assemblage adapted to rapidly form a cast composed of pivotally interconnected individually movable sections for providing at closed position immobilization and repair of a displaced, fractured or otherwise injured body member or area while permitting at open position direct visual and tactile access to said member or area at all times for inspection and treatment purposes and avoiding cutting of the cast to obtain its removal or in most cases avoiding the need to effect its complete removal during treatment, comprising: a first preferably generally-rectangular cast-producing section composed of a flexible supportive sheet material adapted to be superimposed with and generally conform to the contours of a given impaired area of said body member; a second cast-producing section substantially similar to said first section adapted to be superimposed with and conform to the contours of an impaired area of said body member contiguous said first-named area; a substance impregnated throughout both said sections of sheet material adapted to operate therewith in forming a cast; pivotal hinge means adapted to so interconnect and dispose said first and second sections of sheet material along contiguous margins therof as to permit manually induced pivotal turning movement of said sections toward and away from one another; means enabling provision of a liquid cooperating with said sheet material and impregnated substance in forming said cast; and means for releasably holding said first and second sections at functional closed position superposed with said body member or area after formation of said cast.