Abstract:
A cervical collar includes a collar member for encircling the neck of a patient in restrict movement of the head and neck of the patient and a removable closure disposed in a front portion of the collar member. The closure, when removed from the front portion of the collar member, provides an opening for accessing the larynx of the patient to perform a tracheotomy.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/645,516, filed on Jan. 20, 2005, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0002]     Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/224,990, entitled REUSABLE CERVICAL COLLAR HAVING A CHIN STRAP MEMBER FASTENING ELEMENT WITH A PULL CORD, filed on Aug. 22, 2002 by Albert Santelli, Jr. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     This invention relates to cervical collars. More specifically, this invention relates to a reusable cervical collar having a larynx access openings.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     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.  
         [0005]     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.  
         [0006]     It is sometimes necessary during an emergency medical situation to have access to a patient&#39;s larynx to perform a tracheotomy. For this reason, existing cervical collars are provided with an opening, which exposes the patient&#39;s larynx to permit a tracheotomy to be performed therethrough with the cervical collar in place. However, this opening weakens the collar and may allow the portion of the collar disposed under the chin to buckle and collapse from the weight of the patients head, thereby allowing the head of the patient to bend down abruptly, which may injure or further injure the patient  
         [0007]     Accordingly, there is a need for an improved cervical collar that provides access to a patient&#39;s larynx to perform a tracheotomy, but which will not collapse.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     A cervical collar is disclosed that comprises a collar member for encircling the neck of a patient to restrict movement of the head and neck of the patient and a removable closure disposed in a front portion of the collar member. The closure, when removed from the front portion of the collar member, provides entry to an opening in the collar for accessing the larynx of the patient to perform a tracheotomy.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of an embodiment of a cervical collar.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a rear elevational view of the cervical collar of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 3A  is an elevational view of a front portion of a collar member of the cervical collar of  FIG. 1 , which shows a plug-type closure for closing a tracheal access opening formed in the collar member front portion.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3B  is a partial sectional view showing the closure installed in the tracheal access opening.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3C  is a partial sectional view showing the closure removed from the tracheal access opening.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is an elevational view of a front portion of the collar member of the cervical collar of  FIG. 1 , which shows a tear or knock-out type closure that, when removed, forms a tracheal access opening in the collar member front portion.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a partial sectional view showing another embodiment of the closure prior to removal from the collar member front portion.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a partial sectional view showing yet another embodiment of the closure prior to removal from the collar member front portion.  
         [0017]      FIGS. 7-10  depict a method for assembling the chin strap member to the collar member wherein  FIGS. 7 and 9  are front elevational views of the cervical collar and  FIGS. 8 and 10  are rear elevational views of the cervical collar. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]     Referring collectively to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown an illustrative embodiment of a cervical collar  10 . 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 V-shape chin strap member  14 , which supports the chin of the patient.  
         [0019]     The collar member  12  may be constructed as a unitary, asymmetrical component comprised of a back portion  12   a , a first side portion  12   b , a U-shape front portion  12   c , and a second side portion  12   d . The back portion  12   a  defines collar first end  12   e  and the second side portion  12   d  defines collar second end  12   f . The chin strap member  14  may be partially assembled to the collar member  12  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  to allow flat packaging and storage of the collar  10 .  
         [0020]     The collar and chin strap members  12  and  14  may be formed from somewhat rigid, plastic sheet material, such as high density polyethylene. The members 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.  
         [0021]     Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a first pad element  16  may cover portions the inner surface  12   h  of the collar member  12  that contact the patient&#39;s body or head. A second pad element  18  may cover the inner surface of the chin strap member  14 , and overlaps the edges of this member  14 . The pad elements  16  and  18  prevent the edges and the inners surface portions of the collar and chin strap members from pressing and rubbing uncomfortably against the patient&#39;s body, head and neck. The pad elements  16  and  18  may be formed conventionally from foam using die cutting or the like.  
         [0022]     A plurality of air holes  20  may extend through the back portion  12   a  and a corresponding portion of the pad element  16 . A collar retaining strap  22 , which may include a first element  22   a  of a hook and loop fastening system, may be provided on the back portion  12   a  of the collar member  12  and a strap retaining mechanism  24 , which may include a corresponding second element  24   a  of the hook and loop fastening system, may be provided on the second side portion  12   d  of the collar member  12  for coupling 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. In one embodiment of use, the U-shape front portion  12   c  of the collar member  12 , which has affixed to it a center portion of the chin strap member  14 , may be 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  may be placed behind the back of the patient&#39;s neck.  
         [0023]      FIGS. 7-10  illustrate one method for assembling the chin strap member  14  to the collar member  12 . A pull cord  30  of a fastening element  32  connected to the unattached end of the chin strap  14 , is grasped and pulled to bend the chin strap member  14  and the front portion  12   c  of the collar member  12  into a curvilinear, operational shape. Continued pulling of the pull cord  30  moves the chin strap member  14  into position against the second side portion  12   d  of the collar member  12  and pulls the fastening element  32  into aperture  34  in the second side portion  12   d  of the collar member  12 , thereby securing the chin strap member  14  to the collar member  12  and completing the assembly of the collar  10 . The fully assembled collar  10  may then be placed around the patient&#39;s neck and secured with the collar retaining strap  22 . Further details of this cervical collar and assembling method are described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/224,990 filed on Aug. 22, 2002 by Albert Santelli, Jr., the inventor herein.  
         [0024]     Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the U-shape front portion  12   c  of the collar member  12  generally includes an access opening  40  which aligns with the larynx of a patient&#39;s neck when the cervical collar  10  is worn thereby, and permits a tracheotomy to be performed therethrough with the cervical collar  10  in place. A removable closure, as will be described in further detail immediately below, is provided for closing the access opening  40 . When disposed in the access opening  40 , the removable closure maintains the strength of the U-shape front portion  12   c  of the collar member  12 , so that it will not buckle and collapse from the weight of the patient&#39;s head.  
         [0025]     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C , the removable closure may comprise a type of closure  50  which may be securely reinstalled in the access opening  40 , if desired. The closure  50  may be retained in the access opening  40  using any suitable retaining arrangement or structure. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C , the closure  50  may include a wall  51  surrounded by a flange  52  and a plug member  54  with a retaining bead  56 . The flange  52  may be formed as a continuous or segmented element, and may be sized to substantially prevent the closure  50  from being pushed through the access opening  40 . The plug member  54  extends from an inner surface of the wall  51  and be sized to extend through and plug the access opening  40 . The retaining bead  56  may be provided at or adjacent to the free end of the plug member  54  to help retain the closure  50  within the access opening  40 , while still allowing removal of the closure  50  from the access opening  40  when desired. The retaining bead  56  may be formed as a continuous or segmented element. A handle  58  may be provided on the outer surface of the closure  50  to facilitate removal thereof from the access opening  40 . Other finger or tool grippable structures including, without limitation, pull cords, tabs, projections, may be used in place of the handle  58  for facilitating removal of the closure  50  from the access opening  40 . The closure  50  may be unitarily formed of any material suitable for use in a collar member. In some embodiments, the closure  50  may be made of a polymeric material.  
         [0026]     In other embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the closure may comprise a unitarily formed tear or knock-out type closure  60  formed in the front portion  12   c  of the collar member. The closure  60  may be made removable by providing a line of weakness  62  that circumscribes a selected area of the collar member front portion  12   c  which aligns with the larynx of the patient&#39;s neck when the cervical collar  10  is worn thereby. The line of weakness  63  allows the closure  60  to be torn out from the collar member front portion  12   c , thereby forming the access opening  40 . The line of weakness  63  may be embodied as a segmented line  64  comprising a plurality of perforations or cut lines  64   a . The areas of the front portion  12   c  disposed between the ends of the cut lines or perforations  64   a  form frangible bridges  64   b . The cut lines or perforations  64   a  may be made using any suitable cutting or perforating method. The closure  60  may be removing by pressing on the closure  60  with a force sufficient to fracture or tear the frangible bridges  64   b . The opening left in the collar member front portion  12   c  by removing the closure  60  forms the earlier described access opening.  
         [0027]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the line of weakness may also be constructed as a groove  70  formed in the outer surface  12   g  or inner surface  12   h  of the collar member front portion  12   c . The groove may be configured such that a frangible web  71  is formed at the bottom of the groove  70 . The closure  60  may be removed by pressing on the closure  60  with a force sufficient to fracture or tear the web  71 . The opening left in the collar member front portion  12   c  by removing the closure  60  forms the earlier described access opening.  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  shows yet another embodiment of the line of weakness. In the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , the line weakness may be constructed as a first groove  80   a  formed in the outer surface  12   g  of the collar member front portion  12   c  and an oppositely disposed second groove  80   b  formed in the inner surface  12   h  of the collar member front portion  12   c . The grooves  80   a  and  80   b  may be configured such that a frangible web  81  is formed between the first and second grooves  80   a  and  80   b . The closure  60  may be removed by pressing on the closure  60  with a force sufficient to fracture or tear the web  81 . The opening left in the collar member front portion  12   c  by removing the closure  60  forms the earlier described access opening.  
         [0029]     A handle  68  ( FIG. 4 ) may be provided on the outer surface of the closure  60  to facilitate removal of the closure  60  from the collar member front portion  12   c . This feature is especially helpful when a tracheotomy must be performed sometime after the cervical collar has already been placed on the neck or a patient. Other finger or tool grippable structures including, without limitation, pull cords, tabs, projections, may be used in place of the handle  68  for facilitating removal of the closure  60 .  
         [0030]     While the foregoing invention has been described with reference to the above, 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.