GB2176115A - Cervical collar - Google Patents

Abstract

A cervical collar including a flexible panel (22) and a member (24) extending therefrom. The member (24) is located against the outer surface (38) of the panel (22) when the panel is flat (Figure 1) and flips over the panel to form a chin support member when the panel is formed into a neck encircling band (Figure 4). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cervical collar This invention relates generally to cervical collars and more particularly to a cervical collarthatcan be stored in a flat configuration and that has a chin supportthat requires no assembly.

The use of cervical collars in the treatment of various neck injuries is well-known in the art. Such collars basically function by holding the wearer's head in a particular position, while relieving the strain from the neck. In many emergency situations, such as automobile accidents, neckinjuriescan be diagnosed by paramedics. In such cases it is importantto puta neck brace on the patient as soon as possible. Consequentlythe ease of storage of cervical collars on emergency vehicles and the ease of application to the injured individuals are very important.

Traditionally, cervical collars have been thick and bulky in order to provide maximum support to the wearer's head. As a resu It, the sto rage of such devices on emergencyvehicles has been limited. Attempts have been made to reduce the size of cervical collars to allowforstorage of many such devices in a small area. U.S. Patent No. 3,164,151 to E.D. Vera Nicoll describes a collarwhich is inflatable. When deflated the collar is relatively small and takes up little space in storage; however, this type of collar can be easily punctured, leaving it inoperative. Furthermore, if it is improperly inflated, it may not provide adequate sup port to the wearer's head. U.S. Patent No. 4,413,619toNo.

Geoffrey C. Garth describes another collar which requires little storage space; however, it includes a chin supportthat is secured to the neck encricling band and which requires assemblage to position the chin support in an operable position.

Accordingly, it is an o bject of the current invention to provide a cervical collarwhich requires little storage space, requires no assemblage of the chin support, and is effective in providing support to thewearer's head.

These and other objects are provided for by a cervical collar which includes a flexible panel that can be maintained in a flat configuration to facilitate storage and portability and can be easily formed into the operable configuration of a neck encircling band. A member is connected to the panel which is pivotable from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the member lies adjacent to the outer such face of the flat panel. Upon formation of the panel into a band, the member pivots over the top of the panel into the second position where it extends across the band to provide supportto the wearer's chin.The panel can be retained in the band configuration by an appropriate fastening mechanism, such as by Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) type strips located at each end of the panel which interlock upon suitable mutual contact of the strips.

The foregoing and other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 7 is a top plan view of a cervical collartaken in the open flat configuration in accordance with the present invention; Figure2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a viewtaken along line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a view taken from the upper right of the cervical collar of Figure 1 mounted in its operable configuration on a person, with the person shown in phantom; Figure 5is a view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4; Figure 6is a view taken along 6-6 of Figure 4;; Figure 7is atop plan view of an alternative embodi mentofacervicalcollartaken intheopenflatcon- figuration, in accordance with the present invention; Figure 8is a viewtaken along line 8-8 of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a viewtaken along line 9-9 of Figure7; Figure 10 is a viewtaken from the upper right of the cervical collar of Figure 7 mounted in its operable configuration on a person, with the person shown in phantom; Figure 11 is a viewtaken along line 11-11 of Figure 10;and Figure 12 is a view taken along line 12-12 of Figure 11.

Referring nowthethe Figures 1-6 wherein a cervical collar in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral 20 and includes a flexible panel 22 and a member 24 extending from the panel 22. The member 24, as described below, supports the wearer's chin when appropriately positioned. The panel 22 includes an anterior portion 26, an intermediate portion 28, posterior portion 30, and end portion 32. The panel 22 is preferably composed of a sheet 34 of plastic material, such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene, and a backing 36 of cushioning material, such as polyethylene or polyurethane foam.

The sheet 34 has an outer surface 38, inner surface 40 and top 42 and bottom surface 44. The backing 36 is secured againstthe inner surface 40 bya series of fasteners 50, such as rivets, extending through both the sheets 34 and backing 36. This arrangement causes the backing 36 to conform to the shape and configuration of the sheet, when it is in the flat configuration (Figure 1-3), or curled to form its operable configuration (Figures 3-6) of a neck encircling band 41.

The backing 36 includes an upper region 52 which extends above the top edge 42 of the sheet 34 in the posterior portion 30 and a lower region 54which extends beyond the bottom edge 44 of the sheet 34 along its entire length. In the operable configuration, as shown in Figures 4-6, the lower region 54 is in contact with the chest 56 and back 58 of the wearer 60 and the upper region 54 provides supportforthe back ofthe neck 62. The upper 52 and lower regions 54 of the backing 36 provide comfort which exceeds that obtained were the bottom 44 and top edges 42 ofthe sheet 34 in direct contact with the neck 62 and chest 56 of the wearer 60. It should be noted, however, that a panel 22 composed of a single sheetwithoutback- ing would also function properly, however, typically less comfortably.

The sheet 34 includes two cut-out slits 66 which increases its flexibility thereby conforming to the con tours ofthe occipital region and facilitates theforma- tion of the panel 22 into the neck encircling band 41 shown in Figures 4-6. Extending through the panel 22 is an aperture 70,through which a carotid pulse may be accessed.

The panel 22 is equipped with a retaining means that retainsthe panel 22 in the configuration ofthe neck encircling band 41. The retaining means in cludesafastenerlocated neareach opposing end 72 ofthe panel A strip 74 of Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) loop material is secured to the innersurface40 ofthe panel 22 by fasteners 50, such as rivets. This strip 74 extends from the innersurface 40 ofthe panel 22to the outer surface 38 th rough a slit 66 in the end portion 32 of the panel 22. Secured to the outersur face 38 of the anterior portion 26 ofthe panel 22 is a patch 76 of Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) hook material. To form the panel 22 into the band 41 the strip 74 is interlocked with the patch 76.The utilization - ofthe Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) material per mitssizeadjustmentofthe neck encircling band 41 which is dependent on the interlocked position ofthe strip 74 on the patch 76.

The member 24 is oblong in shape and includes a flexible strap 78 having a pad 80 of cushioning mate rial secured thereto. The strap 78 has two end por tions 84 and an intermediate portion 86. Each end portion 84 includes a ribbon 88 of flexible material which is connected to the sheet 34. The sheet 34 has a - top surface portion 90 with a W-shaped curvilinear contourwhich includes two shoulders 92 and a cen tral projecting tab 94. The tab 94 is connected to the intermediate portion 86 ofthe strap 78. Aspace 96 is defined between the strap 78 and top surface 42. The tab 94 and ribbons 88 a reare adequatelyflexible to per- mitthe member 24to be folded for positioning the member 24 adjacentthe outer surface ofthe sheet34 as shown in Figure 1.

The cervical collar 20 is typically stored and/orship ped in theflatconfiguration shown in Figure 1 with the member 24 adjacent the outer surface 38 of the sheet 34. A portion ofthe strap 78 extends above the curvilinear contourofthe top surface42. When the cervical collar 20 is applied to the wearer or patient 60, the panel 22 is curled into a neck encircling band 41.

When curled into the band 41, the member24, using the top surface 42 as a fulcrum, pivots at least in part overthe top surface 42 and moves into a position extending across part of the band 41 with the shoul ders 92 providing underlying supportforthe strap 78.

In this position,the member 24 gives support to the wearer's chin 98 (see Figure 4).

The panel 22 encircles the wearer's neck 62 with the anterior portion 26 positioned bythefrontofthe neck 62, the intermediate 28 and end portion 32 positioned atthe side of the neck 62 and the posterior portion 30 positioned atthe back of the neck 62. The retaining means securestheanterior portion 26 to the end portion 32 atthe side ofthe neck 62 making it easierto install the cervical collar 20 on a patient 60 in a hori zontal position.

Referring nowto Figures 7-1 2 wh ich show a second embodiment of a cervical collarthat is generally de signated bythe numeral 120. As in the firstembodi ment,the collar 120 includes a panel 122 comprised of a sheet 134 having a backing 136 of cushioning material secured againstthe sheet 134, for example byfasteners 50 such as rivets. The panel 120 includes a plurality of grooves 160 cut into the sheet 134which facilitates bending of the panel 120 from the flat con figuration shown in Figures 7-9 into the operable con figuration of the neck encircling band 141 of Figures 10-12.The panel 122 has an aperture 170 fortracheal access and a pair of opposing wings 143 located be neath the aperture 170 with a slit 145 extending there between. The slit 145 permits either spreading of the panel 120 so as to increase tracheal accessibility or overlapping of the wings 143 so as to decrease acces sibility. Also,the spreading or overlapping affects the contour ofthe lower edge ofthe sheet 134 and back ing 136 so thatthe wings' 143 orientation can be used for contouradjustmentto ensure thatthe panel 120 bears comfortably againstthe wearer's chest 56.

In orderto maintain the wings 143 at the desired orientation the panel 120 is equipped with slit adjust ing means. The slit adjusting means includes a fas tener proximal to each of the opposing wings 143 and an interconnecting strap 147. Avelcro (Registered Trade Mark) hook patch is mounted at 149 and 151 on the panel 120. A strap 147 of loop material is posi tioned on each of the patches 149,151 while extend ing across the wings 143 and slit 145. The position of the strap 147 on the patches 148 and 151 determines and affects to a limited extentthe contour ofthe chest contacting bottom surfaces 153 ofthe panel 22.

The cervical collar 120 is equipped with a member 124 which includes a strap 178 and padding 180. The member 124 is connected along end portions 84 by ribbons 88 offlexible material. The member 124 has a flexible drop leaf 127 ortab portion which extends downward from the member 124 and is attached bya fastener 129 to the central portion 186 of the sheet 134. Thedrop leaf 127 is cutfrom the member 124 leaving an aperture 129. The aperture 129 is adapted in configuration so asto comfortably accommodate and limitthe undesirable movementofthe patient's chin 89. The pivoting ofthe member 124 during curl-- ing ofthe panel 122 into a band 141, and retention of the panel 122, in the band config uration, functions similarly to the cervical collar 20 of Figures 1 -6 de scribed above.

Claims (21)

1. Acervical collar comprising: a flexible panel having an inner surface, outer such face and interconnecting top surface, said panel being formable from a flat configuration to a neck encircling band configuration; a member connected to said panel and pivotable - relative thereto from a first position to a second position, said member in said first position located adja cent to said outer surface of said panel, and upon formation of said panel into said band configuration said member pivoting over said top surface into said second position extending across said band for pro viding support to a wearer's chin; and meansforretainingsaid panel in said neckencirc- ling band configuration.

2. The cervical collar of Claim 1 wherein said panel includes a flexible sheet having a front and rear surface and a backing made of a cushioning material affixed against said rear surface.

3. The cervical collar of Claim 2, said neck encircling band having a width adequate to extend between the wearer's head and chest, said backing extending above said top surface to cushion said panel against the wearer's head.

4. The cervical collar of Claim 2 or Claim 3, said panel having a bottom surface, said backing extending below said bottom surface to cushion said panel againstthe wearer's chest.

5. The cervical collar of any preceding claim wherein said member includes a flexible strap, and a cushioning pad affixed to said strap.

6. Thecervical collarofanyoneofClaims2or4 wherein said member includes a flexible strap having two opposing end portions and an intermediate portion therebetween, each of said end portions including a ribbon of flexible material connected to said sheet.

7. The cervical collar of Claim 6 wherein said intermediate portion is connected to said sheet.

8. The cervical collar of Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein said sheet and said strap are composed of the said material.

9. The cervical collar of Claim 8 wherein said sheet and strap are unitarily constructed.

10. The cervical collar of any one of Claims 6 or 9 wherein said member includes a cushioning pad affixed to said strap and said backing and pad are composed ofthesame material.

11. Thecervical collarofany preceding claim wherein said panel has an aperture providing tracheal access.

12. The cervical collarofanyone of Claims 5 or 10 wherein said panel has a curvilineartop surface portion, said top surface and strap defining a space there between.

13. The cervical collar of Claim 12 wherein said top surface has a tab projecting therefrom, said tab being connected to said intermediate portion of said member.

14. The cervical collar of Claim 13 wherein said tabs and ribbons are flexible, said member being foldable so asto be positionable adjacent to said outer surface with said strap adjacent to said outer sheet surface.

15. Thecervical collarof Claim 14whereinsaid curvilinear surface includes two spaced apart shoul der portions, said tab being located between said shoulder portions, said member being supported by said shoulder portions when said panel is in said neck encircling band configuration.

16. Thecervical collarof Claim 15wherein a por- tion of said strap extends above said curvilinear sur face when said member is folded, said panel being pivotable over said top surface, said top surface pro viding supportto said memberwhen said panel is formed into said band.

17. Thecervicalcollarofanyprecedingclaim wherein said retaining means includes two strips, onestripincludinga loop material, said other strip including hook material, each strip being positioned near an opposing end of said panel, said strips interlocking upon suitable mutual contact.

18. The cervical collar of Claim 17 wherein one of said strips extends from an end portion, and said other strip is mounted on said front surface of said sheet.

19. The cervical collar of Claim 11 wherein said panel has a slit communicating with said aperture, said slit being defined between two spaced apart opposing wing portions, said wing portions being spreadable to widen said slit or overlappable to close said slit.

20. The cervical collar of Claim 19 wherein said panel includes meansforadjusting and maintaining said wings in a predetermined position relative to each other.

21. The cervical collar of Claim 20 wherein said means includes a patch of material at least proximate to each of said wings, a belt extending between said patches and positionable on said patches so asto interlocktherewith and link said patches.