Surgery: splint – brace – or bandage – Orthopedic bandage – Splint or brace
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-08
2001-07-03
Brown, Michael A. (Department: 3733)
Surgery: splint, brace, or bandage
Orthopedic bandage
Splint or brace
C128SDIG008
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254560
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates, in general, to orthopedic units and, in particular, to cervical collars which (a) redistribute the weight of the collar from the shoulders of the patient to the sternum of the patient, (b) have the facility for angular adjustment between the jaw support and the sternum brace which form a front portion of the cervical collar and the occipital support and the back support which form a back portion of the cervical collar, and (c) have improved effectiveness in providing head support for a patient.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various cervical collars have been developed for treating conditions of the neck and the cervical spine. Some of these collars which are arranged to handle whiplash and other such injuries, where support for the head and neck of the patient is needed, function to partially immobilize the head and neck of the patient and relieve spasm or strain to which the neck muscles of the patient might be subjected by transferring weight or force from the head of the patient to the shoulders or adjacent areas of the patient. Other collars, arranged for complete or near complete immobilization of the head and neck of the patient, also have been developed.
Unfortunately, many patients using cervical collars develop decubitus or decubitus ulcers (also known as bed sores, pressure sores, or trophic ulcers) when wearing cervical collars. These ailments, which involve a breakdown of tissue overlying a bone, arise when tissues overlying a bony prominence are subjected to prolonged pressure against an object such as a cervical collar. In addition to affecting superficial tissues such as the skin, decubitus and decubitus ulcers also can affect muscle and bone.
Moisture and pressure are two of the major factors which contribute to the formation of decubitus. Once a decubitus ulcer forms, it is like an iceberg having a small visible surface with an extensive base of unknown size. There is no good method of determining the extent of tissue damage. Once started, decubitus can continue to progress through the skin and fat tissue to muscle and eventually to bone. Once started, decubitus is very difficult to treat and arrest. In extreme cases, surgical replacement of bone, muscle and skin are required to restore that portion of the body of the patient where decubitus has formed.
Consequently, it is desirable to eliminate or at least minimize the effect of pressure points when using cervical collars. The likelihood of contracting decubitus can be greatly reduced by a more even distribution of pressure to a number of parts of the body of the patient.
A feature, preferably included in cervical collars to overcome limited adaptability to accommodate the body of the patient and the particular ailment prompting the need for wearing a cervical collar, is the facility for adjusting the relative positions of various components of the cervical collar. Currently available cervical collars generally lack such a feature.
A shortcoming of currently available cervical collars worn by children is that they have been designed by simply scaling down adult cervical collars. Such designs fail to take into consideration the considerable difference in the anatomy of a child and the anatomy of an adult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a cervical collar, constructed in accordance with the present invention, includes a sternum brace having an extension adapted to extend to below the clavicle of a patient and a padded movable footplate attached to the extension and adapted to rest against the body of the patient. This cervical collar also includes a back portion and means for attaching the sternum brace and the back portion together.
According to another aspect of the present invention, certain components of the cervical collar are attached by means which permit relative sliding movement to adjust the relative positions of the components. For example, a front portion of the cervical collar has a jaw support mounted to the sternum brace by means which permit relative sliding movement between the jaw support and the sternum brace and the back portion of the cervical collar has an occipital support mounted to a back support by means which permit relative sliding movement between the occipital support and the back support.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is the arranging the relative positions of a jaw support and a sternum brace and the relative positions of an occipital support and a back support to accommodate the anatomy of a child.
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Burns Clay A.
Tweardy Lisa A. G.
Ulrich Karl T.
Brown Michael A.
Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP
The Jerome Group Inc.
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