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Publication Number
US-10492941-B2
Publication Date
2019-12-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
A cervical collar for ensuring an open airway has an occipital portion, right and left mandible engaging sections extending from the occipital portion, and right and left sternum engaging portions extending from the occipital portion. Each of the mandible engaging sections has an adjustable airway opening member for assuring opening of the airway. In one embodiment, each of the mandible engaging sections has a baseplate, and a carrier for the airway opening member which is controllably displaceable along a groove formed in the baseplate. A strap is attachable to an anterior portion of each baseplate, so that right and left straps are simultaneously tensionable and fastenable together on the chin of a subject to ensure symmetric stabilization. The anterior triangle of the neck is unobstructed following fastening together of the straps and of the sternum engaging portions, to facilitate monitoring of various throat related clinical conditions following a traumatic event.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a cervical collar for ensuring an open airway of a subject. The collar includes an occipital portion, right and left mandible engaging sections extending from the occipital portion, and separate right and left sternum engaging portions extending from the occipital portion. Each mandible engaging section is configured to engage a corresponding mandible angle to assure opening of the airway while supporting immobilization of the subject’s neck during a traumatic event.
Each right and left mandible engaging section comprises an adjustable and angled airway opening member, a substantially planar baseplate pivotally connected to the occipital portion, and a carrier for the adjustable and angled airway opening member. The carrier is incrementally and anteroposteriorly displaceable along a groove formed in the baseplate, and the adjustable and angled airway opening member protrudes medially from the baseplate and defines an obtuse angle between first and second elements that creates an unoccupied interior space for receiving the corresponding mandible angle proximate to a junction with a ramus.
When the adjustable and angled airway opening member is displaced anteriorly along the groove, it is configured to receive within the interior space the corresponding mandible angle and apply a force onto the corresponding mandible angle for causing jaws of the subject to open. The collar architecture leaves an unobstructed interior space in the anterior region of the neck for monitoring throat-related clinical conditions after trauma, including thyroid cartilage visualization and carotid artery blood pulse measurement, while the sternum engaging portions and chin straps provide bilateral symmetry stabilization for further interventions such as tracheostomy or transfusion.
Claims Coverage
The document contains one independent claim that defines a cervical collar ensuring an open airway, with three inventive features covering the collar structure, the adjustable mandible-engaging member, and the incremental anteroposterior displacement along a groove.
Open-airway cervical collar with occipital-, mandible-, and sternum-engaging portions
A cervical collar for ensuring an open airway of a subject, comprising an occipital portion, right and left mandible engaging sections extending from said occipital portion, and separate right and left sternum engaging portions extending from said occipital portion.
Adjustable angled airway opening member with medial protrusion and obtuse-angle elements
Each mandible engaging section comprises an adjustable and angled airway opening member configured to engage a corresponding mandible angle and assure opening of the airway, wherein the adjustable and angled airway opening member protrudes medially from the baseplate and comprises a first element configured to contact a bottom of the mandible angle and a second element angularly spaced from the first element to define an obtuse angle having an unoccupied interior space.
Incremental anteroposterior displacement along a groove to apply force to the mandible angle
Each mandible engaging section includes a substantially planar baseplate pivotally connected to the occipital portion and a carrier for the adjustable and angled airway opening member, the carrier being incrementally and anteroposteriorly displaceable along a groove formed in the baseplate; when displaced anteriorly along the groove, the member receives the mandible angle proximate to a junction with a ramus and applies a force onto the mandible angle for causing jaws of the subject to open.
The inventive concept is a cervical collar that maintains an open airway by using right and left mandible engaging sections with an adjustable and angled airway opening member. The airway-opening member is displaced incrementally anteroposteriorly along a groove in a planar pivotally connected baseplate to receive the mandible angle proximate to a junction with a ramus and apply a force that causes jaws to open.
Stated Advantages
Ensures an open airway of a subject.
Causes jaws of the subject to open by applying a force to a corresponding mandible angle.
Keeps the anterior neck triangle unobstructed for monitoring throat-related clinical conditions after trauma.
Provides symmetric stabilization on the sternum and chin while maintaining the unobstructed anterior area for monitoring.
Documented Applications
Monitoring throat-related clinical conditions after trauma, including thyroid cartilage visualization and carotid artery blood pulse measurement and observation of bleeding/swelling including expanding neck hematoma.
Further interventions after trauma, including tracheostomy and external jugular vein transfusion.
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