Abstract:
A cervical collar including a collar member, a chin strap member having a first arm attached to the collar member; and a fastening element coupled to a second arm of the chin strap member. The fastening element attaches the second arm of the chin strap member to the collar member at a time of use. The fastening element includes a pull cord member that pulls the fastening element into an aperture in the collar member to attach the second arm of the chin strap member to the collar member at the time of use. One or more of the components of the collar may be made from materials having an antimicrobial additive which enable the cervical collar to be reused.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    Copending U.S. patent application, No. ______, entitled “FASTENING ELEMENT HAVING A FLEXIBLE PULL CORD”, filed Aug. 21, 2002. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to cervical collars. More specifically, this invention relates to a reusable cervical collar including a fastening element with a pull cord member that facilitates complete assembly of collar at the time of use.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    There are many types of cervical collars that are designed to restrict movement of the head and neck of a person who has suffered a neck or spinal injury. More recent cervical collars are generally constructed from relatively stiff, light-weight plastic materials that are capable of being bent to encircle the neck of the injured patient and yet still provide substantial support for the patient.  
           [0004]    Cervical collars commonly include an elongated neck encircling collar member and a strap-like chin support member attached to the collar member. The chin support member of the collar is located under the patient&#39;s chin after the collar member of the collar has been positioned around the neck of the patient. The chin support member is typically formed with a snap-fastening element that is snapped into a corresponding aperture in the collar member to secure the free end of the chin support member to the collar member. The other end of the chin support member is attached to the collar member during the manufacturing process.  
           [0005]    It is sometimes difficult in an emergency medical situation to insert the fastening element into the aperture in the collar member to secure the free end of the chin support member thereto, after the collar member is positioned around the neck of the patient. Fastening the chin support member to the collar member before the collar member is positioned around the patient&#39;s neck makes the application of the collar member difficult and uncomfortable for the patient, as the patient&#39;s head body may need to be moved slightly to fit the collar member around the patient&#39;s neck.  
           [0006]    Further, present cervical collars are typically discarded after a single use, especially if they become contaminated with blood or other bodily fluids, thus increasing the costs of emergency medical services. This is because conventional cervical collars must be sterilized in a relatively expensive process, after the blood or other bodily fluid is wiped from the surfaces of the collar.  
           [0007]    Accordingly, there is a need for a reusable cervical collar that has a chin support fastening element which is easily accessed and operated.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    Summarily described is a cervical collar comprising a collar member, a chin strap member having a first arm attached to the collar member; and a fastening element coupled to a second arm of the chin strap member. The fastening element attaches the second arm of the chin strap member to the collar member at a time of use. The fastening element includes a pull cord member that pulls the fastening element into an aperture in the collar member to attach the second arm of the chin strap member to the collar member at the time of use. The fastening element permits the collar member to be positioned around the neck of a patient from a flat storage position and the chin strap member to be easily positioned and secured minimal movement of the patient.  
           [0009]    In one embodiment of the invention, the collar and chin strap members may be made from plastic sheet material having an antimicrobial additive, which enables the cervical collar to be reused. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a cervical collar made according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the cervical collar of FIG. 1.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a sectional view through portions of the collar and chin strap members of the cervical collar of FIGS. 1 and 2.  
         [0013]    FIGS.  4 - 7  depict the use of the fastening element of the present invention to facilitate complete assembly of the chin strap member to the collar member at the time of use wherein FIGS. 4 and 6 are front elevational views of the cervical collar and FIGS. 5 and 7 are rear elevational views of the cervical collar.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8A is an elevational view of the fastening element of the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8B is an end view of the fastening element of FIG. 8A looking toward the head of the fastening element.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8C is a sectional end view through line  8 C- 8 C of the fastening element of FIG. 8A.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9A is a partial view of the shank and pull cord showing a frangible connection according to first exemplary embodiment of the present invention at the pull cord shank interface, for removably coupling the pull cord to the shank.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9B is a partial view of the shank and pull cord showing a frangible connection according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention adjacent the pull cord shank interface, for removably coupling the pull cord to the shank. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]    Referring collectively to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a cervical collar  10  made according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The collar  10  generally comprises an elongated collar member  12 , that is capable of being rolled to encircle the neck of a patient, and a chin strap member  14 , which supports the chin of the patient.  
         [0020]    The collar member  12  is typically constructed as a unitary, asymmetrical component comprised of a back portion  12   a, a  first side portion  12   b, a  front portion  12   c , and a second side portion  12   d . The free end of the back portion defines a first end  12   e  of the collar member  12  and the free end of the second side portion  12   d  defines a second end  12   f  of the collar member  12 . In use, the front portion  12   c , which has affixed to it a center portion  14   c  of the chin strap member  14 , is located in the front of the patient&#39;s neck under the patient&#39;s chin, and the back portion  12   a  of the collar member  12  is placed behind the back of the patient&#39;s neck.  
         [0021]    The collar member  12  is typically formed from somewhat rigid, plastic sheet material, such as high density polyethylene. The collar member may be die cut or injection molded as is conventional in the industry. Although the plastic sheet material is somewhat rigid, it is still flexible enough to be rolled so that when it is formed into the collar member  12 , the collar member  12  can be placed around the patient&#39;s neck.  
         [0022]    Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the collar member  12  has an outer surface  12   g  and an inner surface  12   h . The portions of the inner surface  12   h  of the collar member  12  which come into contact with the patient&#39;s body or head are covered by at least one pad element  16 . The pad element  16  is formed conventionally from foam using die cutting or the like. The pad element  16  prevents the inner surface  12   h  and the edges of the collar member  12  from pressing and rubbing uncomfortably against the patient&#39;s body and head. The pad element  16  is secured to the inner surface  12   h  of the collar member  12  with snap fasteners  18  that extend through apertures (not visible) in the collar member  12  and the pad element  16 . One of ordinary skill in the art will of course recognize that any other conventional securing means can be used to secure the pad element  16  to the inner surface  12   h  of the collar member  12 .  
         [0023]    The front portion  12   c  and the first and second side portions  12   b  and  12   d  of the collar member  12  form a V-shape section  20  with a concave upper edge  20   a  and a convex lower edge  20   b . A strip-like portion  16   a  of the pad element  16  extends along the lower portion of the V-shape section  20  on the inner surface  12   h  of the collar  12 . The strip-like portion  16   a  of the pad  16  overlaps the convex lower edge  20   b  of the V-shape section  20  but generally follows the contour of the lower edge  20   b . The front portion  12   c  of the collar member  12  includes an opening  22 , which in use, exposes the patient&#39;s larynx to permit a tracheotomy to be performed therethrough with the cervical collar  10  in place. The concave upper edge  20   a  of the V-shaped section  20  (formed by the front portion  12   c ) includes an upwardly extending chin strap support tab  24 . The chin strap support tab ( 30 ) is used for securing the chin strap member  14  to the front portion  12   c  of the collar member  12  as will be described further on in greater detail.  
         [0024]    The back portion  12   a  of the collar member  12  typically has a generally rectangular or oval shape. The portion  16   b  of the pad element that is secured to the inner surface  12   h  of the back portion  12   a  of the collar member  12 , overlaps the edges of the back portion  12   a . A plurality of air holes  26  extend through the back portion  12   a  and its corresponding portion  16   b  of the pad element  16 . The air holes  26  may be elongated as shown, or formed in other conventional configurations.  
         [0025]    A collar retaining strap  28  is attached adjacent the free end of the back portion  12   a  of the collar member  12  by push fasteners  30  that extend through apertures (not visible) in the strap  28 , back portion  12   a  and the pad element  16 . The strap  28  passes through a loop tab  32  extending from the free end of the back portion  12   a . The retaining strap  28  cooperates with strap retaining means  34  associated with the second side portion  12   d  of the collar member  12  to couple the back portion  12   a  of the collar member  12  to the second side portion  12   d  of the collar member  12  to hold the cervical collar  10  securely in place around the neck of the patient. The collar retaining strap  28  can be implemented with any suitable choice of straps or fasteners. In the shown embodiment, the retaining strap  28  comprises a hook and loop fastener strip. The strap retaining means  34  comprise a corresponding hook and loop fastener strip secured to the outer surface  12   g  of the collar member  12  where the front portion  12   c  and second side portion  12   d  merge together.  
         [0026]    The chin strap member  14  has first and second arms  14   a ,  14   b  that form an inverted V-shape. The chin strap member  14  is typically formed from rigid, plastic sheet material, such as high density polyethylene. The chin strap member  14  may be die cut or injection molded as is conventional in the industry. A second pad element  38  is secured to an inner surface (not visible) of the chin strap member  14 , and overlaps the edges of this member  14 . The chin strap member  14  is partially assembled to the collar member  12  to allow flat packaging and storage of the collar  10 . Specifically, the end of the first arm  14   a  is attached to the first side portion  12   b  of the collar member  12  by a push fastener  40  that extends through apertures (not visible) in the first arm  14   a , second pad element  38 , and first side portion  12   b . The center portion  14   c  of the chin strap member  14 , where the first and second arms  14   a ,  14   b  meet is attached to the chin support tab  24  with a push fastener that extends through apertures (not visible) in the center portion  14   c  of the strap member  14 , the second pad element  38  and the chin strap support tab  24 .  
         [0027]    As shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 , the end of the second arm  14   b  of the chin strap member  14  is located near the bottom of the front portion  12  of the collar member  12  in the partially assembled state. The second arm  14   b  includes a quick assembly fastening element  50  that facilitates assembly of the second arm  14   b  to the collar member  12 . The fastening element  50  extends through apertures (not visible) in the second pad element  38  and second arm  14   b . The fastening element  50  includes a flexible pull cord  56  that extends through an aperture  54  in the second side portion  12   d  of the collar member  12 .  
         [0028]    As shown collectively in FIGS.  8 A- 8 C, the fastening element  50  generally comprises a head  52 , a shank  54  depending from the head  52  and a flexible pull cord  56  extending from the shank  54 . The head  52  of the fastening element  50  includes a rigid central portion  52   a  having a substantially planar top surface  52   b  formed in a rectangular configuration, and opposing, tapered, flanges  52   d  extending downwardly from two opposing sides  52   c  of the central portion  52   a . The leading edge  52   e  of each flange  52   d  is arcuately formed to define a convex edge shape. The flanges  52   d  are thinner than the central portion  52   a  and therefore, flexible relative thereto. Accordingly, the flanges  52   d  abut against the portion of the second pad element  38  that covers the second arm  14   b  of the chin strap member  14 .  
         [0029]    It should be understood that the head  52  shown and described herein is exemplary, and that the fastening element  50  may utilize any suitable well known head design.  
         [0030]    The shank  54  of the fastening element  50  is a rigid, elongated member having a generally square cross-sectional configuration that defines a first pair of substantially planar, axially extending opposing side surfaces  54   a  and a second pair of substantially planar, axially extending opposing side surfaces  54   b . The opposing side surfaces  54   a  each include a plurality of equally-spaced flexible gripping fingers  54   c  and the opposing side surfaces  54   b  each include a plurality of equally-spaced flexible gripping fingers  54   d . The gripping fingers  54   c  and  54   d  extend outwardly from, and generally perpendicular to their respective side surfaces  54   a  and  54   b , and have respective arcuate terminal edges  54   j  and  54   k . The gripping fingers  54   c  and  54   d  are disposed in an alternating, staggered manner such that the gripping fingers  54   c  on the opposing side surfaces  54   a  are disposed in planes that lie between the planes of the gripping fingers  54   d  disposed on the opposing side surfaces  54   b.    
         [0031]    A pair of substantially rigid, lead-in elements  54   f  are formed laterally adjacent the free end surface  54   e  of the shank  54 . The lead-in elements  54   f  extend from the opposing side surfaces  54   a  and have arcuate terminal edges  54   g . As shown in FIG. 9A, each lead-in element  54   f  has a trailing surface  54   h  that extends perpendicular to the side surface  54   b , and an inclined leading surface  54   i  that leans back toward the trailing surface  54   h.    
         [0032]    It should be understood that the shank  54  shown and described herein is exemplary, and that the fastening element  50  of the invention may utilize any suitable well known shank design.  
         [0033]    Referring again to FIG. 3, the lead-in elements  54   f  facilitate entry into an aperture  62  in the second pad element  38 , an aperture  60  in the second arm  14   b  of the chin strap member  14 , and a corresponding aperture  64  formed in the second side portion  12   d  of the collar member  12 . The gripping fingers  54   c  and  54   d  retain the fastening element  50  in the apertures  60 ,  64  of the chin strap member second arm  14   b  and the collar member second side portion  12   d , to secure these structures together but can be forcibly withdrawn from one or both of the apertures  60 ,  64 , when it is desired to separate these structures from one another.  
         [0034]    The flexible pull cord  56  extends from the free end surface  54   e  of the shank  54 . The flexible pull cord  56  may be rectangular in cross-section and formed in any desired length, width, and thickness. In one exemplary embodiment, the flexible pull cord may be about 8 inches in length (L in FIG. 8A), about 0.100 inches wide (W in FIG. 8B), and about 0.050 inches thick (T in FIG. 8C). The flexible pull cord  56  is preferably made detachable from the end surface  54   e  of the shank  54 . Depending upon the material used for making the fastening element  50  and the cross-sectional area of the pull cord  56 , no special frangible connection structure is typically required to facilitate detachment of the pull cord  56  from the end surface  54   e  of the shank  54 . If necessary, however, a frangible connection  62  at or near the pull cord shank interface may be provided. The frangible connection  62  may be formed by an area  62   a  having a reduced cross-section (FIG. 9A), a score line  62   b  (FIG. 9B), or by any other conventional frangible connection. The terminal end  56   a  of the pull cord  56  is terminated with a flexible, finger grasping member  56   b  for manually grasping the pull cord with one&#39;s fingers. The grasping member  56   b  may be ring-shaped as in the shown embodiment, or any other suitable shape or design. The flexible grasping member  56   b  can be bent into a shape that allows it to be threaded through the apertures formed in the second arm  14   b , second pad element  38 , and the second side portion  12   d  of the collar member  12  so that it lies adjacent the outer surface  12   g  of the collar member  12 .  
         [0035]    The fastening element  50  is typically constructed as a unitary structure from a suitable plastic material, such as nylon, high density polyethylene, or polypropylene and can be made using conventional plastic forming methods, for example, injection molding.  
         [0036]    As shown in FIGS.  4 - 7 , the fastening element  50  is used to facilitate complete assembly of the chin strap member  14  to the collar member  12  at the time of use. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the grasping member  56   b  of the pull cord  56  is grasped and pulled to bend the chin strap member  14  and the V-shape section  20  of the collar member  12  into a curvilinear, operational shape. In FIGS. 6 and 7, continued pulling the pull cord  56  moves the second arm  14   b  of the chin strap member  14  into position against the second side portion  12   d  of the collar member  12  and pulls the stud  54  of the fastening element  50  into the corresponding aperture  64  in the second side portion  12   d  of the collar member  12 , thereby securing the second arm  14   b  of the chin strap member  14  to the collar member  12  and completing the assembly of the collar  10 . The fully assembled collar  10  can then be placed around the patient&#39;s neck and secured with the collar retaining strap  28 . The pull cord  56  can then be detached from the fastening element  50  by, for example, bending it back and forth at the end surface  54   e  of the shank  54  (or at the frangible connection  62 ), until it detaches therefrom.  
         [0037]    The plastic sheet material used for forming the collar member  12  and the chin strap member  14 , and the foam used for forming the pad elements, may include a non-leaching, antimicrobial additive that continuously wards off a wide variety of commonly occurring bacteria, fungi, and yeast the surfaces of the collar member. The antimicrobial additive combines silver with a zeolite ceramic. A preferred antimicrobial additive is Agion™ Silver Antimicrobial Type AJ10D, which is manufactured and sold by Agion™ Technologies. The antimicrobial may be introduced into the plastic sheet material by compounding it directly into the plastic pellets used for extruding or molding the plastic sheet material or mixing it with the plastic pellets during extrusion or the molding process. At least 0.3 percent by weight of the antimicrobial is compound into or mixed with the plastic pellets. The antimicrobial additive may be incorporated into the sheet material at up to 5.0 percent by weight.  
         [0038]    The fastening element and/or the other fasteners may also be made from a material such as plastic, which includes the antimicrobial.  
         [0039]    The antimicrobial additive in the sheet material allows the collar to be reused for other patients by merely wiping the surfaces of the collar with a suitable towel like cleaning device. Sterilization of the collar member is not required due to the antimicrobial properties of the plastic sheet material.  
         [0040]    While the foregoing invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, all such modifications and changes are considered to be within the scope of the appended claims.