GB2477778A

GB2477778A - Neck support apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2477778A
Application number: GB1002414A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Hurley
Original assignee: Salts Healthcare Ltd
Current assignee: Salts Healthcare Ltd
Priority date: 2010-02-12
Filing date: 2010-02-12
Publication date: 2011-08-17
Also published as: GB201002414D0

Abstract

A support apparatus 10 including an inflatable support member 12 which in use extends around a neck of a user is provided. An inflation device 20, 22 inflates the inflatable support member 12, the device 20, 22 preferably comprise a bladder which is compressible by the hand 21. The inflatable support member 12 includes a receiving formation for receiving a lower anterior portion of the user's head and/or neck. Preferably, the receiving formation is a recess and the cross sectional area of the formation is smaller than that of the remainder of the inflatable support member 12. The inflatable support member 12 may be comprised of two portions 14, 16, which are independently inflatable and joined by a connecting portion. The inflatable support member 12 may further comprise a second receiving formation for the neck in the form of a recess, located opposite the first receiving formation. The free ends 12a, 12b of the inflatable support member 12 can be connectable to each other 19.

Description

Title: A Support Apparatus

Description of Invention

This invention relates to a support apparatus. More particularly, this invention relates to a support apparatus for supporting a head and/or neck of a user, the apparatus extending around a neck of the user.

Support apparatus of this kind are utilised to prevent movement of the head and/or neck of a user. Such support apparatus have many uses. For example, the apparatus may be configured to hold a user's head in a normal, generally upright, position, if the user is unable to do so by themselves.

Alternatively, the apparatus may be configured to hold a user's neck and/or head in a fixed position to permit a neck/head injury to heal. Thus, such supports are used both for treatment of injuries (e.g. as a result of a road traffic accident) and for assistance with medical conditions (e.g. motor neurone disease).

The present invention has been devised specifically for use by people who suffer from motor neurone disease. However, it should be appreciated that it may be used to treat/assist with many other medical conditions or injuries.

According to a first aspect of the invention, we provide a support apparatus including:-an inflatable support member which in use extends around a neck of a user; and an inflation device for inflating the inflatable support member, wherein the inflatable support member includes a receiving formation for receiving a lower anterior portion of the user's head and/or neck.

The receiving formation may be a recess.

The receiving formation may be configured to receive the mandible, throat and/or anterior triangle of neck of a user.

When inflated, a cross-sectional area of inflatable member at the receiving formation may be smaller than that of a majority of the remainder of the inflatable support member.

The inflatable support member may be comprised of first and second portions which are independently inflatable by respective inflation devices.

The first and second portions may be joined by a connecting portion which extends transversely to a longitudinal axis of the inflatable support member.

The connecting portion may be inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the inflatable support member.

The support member may include a further receiving formation for receiving a portion of the user's neck.

The further receiving portion may be a recess.

The further receiving portion may be positioned opposite the first receiving formation.

The further receiving formation may be smaller than the first receiving formation.

The further receiving formation may be shallower than the first receiving formation.

Free ends of the inflatable support member, or free ends of the first and second portions of the inflatable member, as the case may be, are connectable to each other, e.g. by a fastener or a Velcro® type arrangement.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:-Figure 1 is a front view of a support apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a further front view of the support apparatus of figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear view of the support apparatus of figure 1; Figure 4 is a front view of the support apparatus of figure 1 when inflated; Figure 5 is a plan view of the support apparatus of figure 1 when inflated; Figure 6 is a front view of a user wearing the support apparatus of figure 1; Figure 7 is a side view of the user wearing the support apparatus of figure 1; and Figure 8 is a rear view of a user wearing the support apparatus of figure 1.

Referring to figure 1 there is shown a support apparatus 10 which has been devised primarily for use by a person suffering with motor neurone disease.

The purpose of the support apparatus 10 is to support the head of the user, to prevent the head from tilting laterally to either side or from moving forwards or backwards.

The requirement for such a support apparatus 10 is because motor neurone disease sufferers often cannot hold their head in a normal, generally upright, position, due to lack of muscle control.

The support apparatus 10 is comprised of a general elongated inflatable support member 12 which in use extends around the neck of a user (see figures 6 to 8).

In the present example the apparatus is manufactured from two appropriately shaped sheets of 6-ply phthalate-free PVC which are heat sealed to each other around their peripheries.

The inflatable support member 12 is comprised of first 14 and second 16 portions which are independently inflatable by respective inflatable devices 20, 22. The inflation devices 20, 22 each have a bladder which is compressible by the user, with their hand, to force air into the cavity of the respective portion of the respective inflatable support member. Each inflation device includes a manually activatable member 21, 23 which, when pressed, allows air to escape from the respective portion of the inflatable support member.

The inflation device 20 is connected to the first portion 14 by a tube 15 and the inflation device 22 is connected to the portion 16 by a tube 17. The tubes 15, 17 are removably connected to the portions 14, 16.

As can be seen from the figures, free ends 1 2a, 1 2a of the inflatable support member 12 are connectable to each other by a Velcro® type fastening arrangement 19. This provides for some adjustability to accommodate different sizes of neck.

As can be seen from figure 2 each portion 14, 16 of the inflatable support member 12 is separated into a plurality of inflatable zones 14a to 14e and 16a to 16e by a plurality of dividers 25 which are heat seals in the sheets of phthalate-free PVC. In the present example there are four dividers 25 in each portion 14, 16, each of which extends laterally across the apparatus 10, generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A of the apparatus 10. The dividers 25 are each spaced from a lower side of the member 12, such that the zones in each portion are in fluid communication with each other.

As can be seen from the figures, the inflatable support member 12 includes a receiving formation 30 which is configured for receiving a lower anterior portion of a user's head and/or neck. For example, the receiving formation 30 is configured to receive the mandible, throat and/or anterior triangle of a neck of a user and is provided to permit the user more easily to breathe when wearing the inflated apparatus 10.

The apparatus 10 also includes a further receiving formation 32 which is positioned opposite the first receiving formation 30 and is smaller, in depth, than the first receiving formation 30. The further receiving formation 32 is also provided to assist in permitting the user to breathe/swallow food/drink more easily when wearing the inflated apparatus 10.

Both receiving formations 30, 32 are positioned generally centrally in the support apparatus 10 midway between the free ends 12a and 12b.

As also shown in the figures, the first and second portions 14, 16 of the support member 12 are connected to each other by a connecting portion 40, which in this example is a further heat seal between the two sheets of phthalate-free PVC.

The connecting portion 40 extends transversely to the longitudinal axis A of the inflatable support member 12 and in this embodiment is inclined at an angle B to the functional axis A. In the present example, B (theta) is about 30 degrees, although it should be appreciated that any desired angle of inclination could be utilised.

The connecting formation 40 assists in permitting the user to breathe/swallow more easily when wearing the inflated apparatus 10.

As shown in figures 6 to 8, the apparatus 10 is positioned around a user's neck and the fastening mechanism 19 is used to secure the free ends 12a, 12b to each other. Although the apparatus 10 is shown with both portions 14, 16 fully inflated, to support both sides of the user's head 50, it should be appreciated that the amount of inflation of the portions 14, 16 can be altered easily by the user using the inflation/deflation devices 20 to 23.

It should be appreciated that many modifications could be made to the embodiment described above without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it is possible to provide only one inflation device which inflates both portions 14, 16 at the same time. In addition, the inflatable support member 12 could be a continuous loop, in which case a user would slide the apparatus 10 over their head in order to position it around their neck.

It is not necessary to have four dividers 25 in each portion 14, 16. For example, fewer or more dividers 25 could be used, and indeed, if desired, no dividers 25 could be provided.

It should also be noted that the tubes 15, 17 which connect the inflation/deflation devices 20 to 23 to the inflatable support member 10 could be permanently secured thereto. In other words it is not necessary to provide for a releasable connection between the ends of the tubes 15, 17 and the respective portions 14, 16. It should be noted that the apparatus 10 could also be configured for front fastening. In other words, where the fastening mechanism 19 is positioned opposite to that shown in the figures albeit with a receiving formation(s) still being provided to receive an anterior portion of the users head and/or neck. As a further alternative the fastening mechanism 19 could be provided laterally to one side, or indeed both sides, of the user's head.

The phthalate-free PVC used is 0.25mm thick and includes a K80 softener. It should be appreciated, however, that any appropriate thickness / material could be used. For example any flexible PVC could be utilised.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A support apparatus including:-an inflatable support member which in use extends around a neck of a user; and an inflation device for inflating the inflatable support member, wherein the inflatable support member includes a receiving formation for receiving a lower anterior portion of the user's head and/or neck.
2. A support apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the receiving formation is a recess.
3. A support apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the receiving formation is configured to receive the mandible, throat and/or anterior triangle of neck of a user.
4. A support apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein, when inflated, a cross-sectional area of inflatable member at the receiving formation is smaller than that of a majority of the remainder of the inflatable support member.
5. A support apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the inflatable support member is comprised of first and second portions which are independently inflatable by respective inflation devices.
6. A support apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the first and second portions are joined by a connecting portion which extends transversely to a longitudinal axis of the inflatable support member.
7. A support apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the connecting portion is inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the inflatable support member.
8. A support apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the support member includes a further receiving formation for receiving a portion of the user's neck.
9. A support apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the further receiving portion is a recess.
10. A support apparatus according to claim 8 or 9 wherein the further receiving portion is positioned opposite the first receiving formation.
11. A support apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein the further receiving formation is smaller than the first receiving formation.
12. A support apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 11 wherein the further receiving formation is shallower than the first receiving formation.
13. A support apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein free ends of the inflatable support member, or free ends of the first and second portions of the inflatable member, are connectable to each other.
14. A support apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
15. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.