Cervical thoracic orthosis

Surgery: splint – brace – or bandage – Orthopedic bandage – Splint or brace

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C602S019000, C128SDIG008

Reexamination Certificate

active

06267741

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a cervical thoracic orthosis for use in immobilizing the head and neck region of a patient, particularly one who has had an upper spinal cord fracture.
BACKGROUND
A cervical injury, such as a fracture to the upper cervical spine, requires immobilization of the head, neck and sternum so that the upper cervical spine does not move. There is a need for an orthosis that immobilizes the head and neck of the patient, particularly when the patient is lying in a hospital bed. There is also a need to ensure that adjustments can be made to immobilize the patient's head in a desired position. In the past, braces used for immobilizing spinal fractures have not provided a truly effective means of preventing rotation of the patient's head or providing adjustments to the position in which the head is immobilized. My U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,913 discloses a cervical thoracic orthosis for maintaining the patient's upper cervical spine immobilized, for preventing undesired rotation of the patient's head, while also securely yet comfortably maintaining the patient's head in a desired angular position during immobilization. However, immobilization of the patient's head, neck and jaw regions is not completely effective inasmuch as some movements are still possible. In addition, it has been discovered that a continuous rigid support to the patient's chin can produce injury to the chin bone, and that added padding does not help and, in fact, makes the problem worse. Further, prior art cervical thoracic orthoses are not known to provide good immobilization for the patient's head if there is a need to temporarily remove the chin support while the patient is eating, for example.
The present invention provides a cervical thoracic orthosis which improves upon maintaining the patient's upper cervical spine completely immobilized while preventing undesired rotation of the patient's head. The invention also provides a chin support which prevents undue pressure on the patient's chin bone and at the same time allows for a temporary release of the chin support to facilitate sufficient jaw movement during eating while still maintaining immobilization of the patient's head.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the cervical thoracic orthosis of this invention includes a chest plate for overlying the chest region of a patient, a back plate for overlying the back of the patient, and fasteners for securing the chest plate and back plate in a fixed position around the front and back sides of the patient's upper torso. A chin support secured to the chest plate holds the chin of the patient in a fixed position. An occipital support secured to the back plate holds the occipital portion of the patient's head in a fixed position.
In one embodiment of the invention, axially rigid but bendable lateral support members are fastened between and cooperate with the occipital support and the chin support to form a rigid frame structure surrounding the sides of the patient's neck region and the patient's jaw. A flexible forehead strap secured to the occipital support and adjustable for fastening around the patient's forehead provides sufficient support to preclude movement of the patient's head. The forehead strap in one embodiment is made from a skin adhesion material to enhance frictional contact with the patient's head to prevent slippage sufficiently for resisting movement of the patient's head even in the temporary absence of the chin support.
In another embodiment of the invention, the chin support comprises a flexible chin support, and a rigid chin support member affixed to a chin support bar that rigidly mounts to the front of the chest plate. The flexible chin support is adjustably suspended inside the chin support member to apply supporting pressure directly to the sides of the patient's jaw while the flexible chin support provides the sole means of support for the chin above a recessed front, central region of the chin support member. The recessed region of the chin support member provides an open space absent any means of applying rigid pressure contact to the underside of the patient's chin bone.
These and other aspects of the invention will be more fully understood by referring to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4628913 (1986-12-01), Lerman
patent: 5201702 (1993-04-01), Mars
patent: 5531669 (1996-07-01), Varnau
patent: 5575763 (1996-11-01), Nagata

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