Surgery: splint – brace – or bandage – Orthopedic bandage – Splint or brace
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-24
2001-03-13
Brown, Michael A. (Department: 3764)
Surgery: splint, brace, or bandage
Orthopedic bandage
Splint or brace
C128SDIG008
Reexamination Certificate
active
06200285
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to medical apparatus and, more particularly, to an airway opener particularly useful in post-anesthesia applications.
2. Description of Related Art
During post-operative procedures, it is necessary to hold open the airway of an anesthetized unconscious patient. For many years and, in fact today, this is done by a nurse, or other attendant, who must hold the patient's chin in an appropriate position.
A proposed device for holding a patient's airway open during surgical procedures has been disclosed in Carden, U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,283. The device of this patent employs a tether which extends around the patient's chin and ties to a pylon. Various other neck support devices are known in the prior art, however, as with the Carden device they are not suitable for post-operative use. Moreover, such prior art neck support apparatus typically includes a relatively large number of parts, is expensive and complicated to use, and does not properly accommodate the needs of the post-operative patient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a cervical collar is provided which is removably attachable about the neck of the patient and shaped to lift the angle of the lower jaw to an appropriate position where the patient's airway is open.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3276444 (1966-10-01), Rice
patent: 5494048 (1996-02-01), Carden
patent: 5785670 (1998-07-01), Hiebert
Brown Michael A.
Price and Gess
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