Adjustable Cervical Collar with Threaded Chin Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trauma collars disrupt the neck of the subject during placement, potentially exacerbating injuries or discomfort.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable cervical collar with a chest piece, back piece, chin support, and shaft assemblies that allow for customizable fitting and minimal disruption during placement, featuring a helically threaded portion, bendable portion, geared portion, and adjustment knob for precise adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional trauma collar is placed on the subject, then the neck is stabilized, but the placement process disrupts the neck and may exacerbate injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is divided into separate components including a front piece, back piece, and adjustable shaft assemblies that can be independently positioned and secured, allowing gradual stabilization without sudden neck movement
Solution Approach 2:
The collar incorporates adjustable shaft assemblies with threaded portions and geared mechanisms that allow dynamic adjustment of the collar's fit and position, enabling customization to minimize disruption during placement while maintaining stabilization
2Ease of manufacture
If a fixed-size trauma collar is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but the fit cannot be customized for different subjects
Solution Approach 1:
The collar employs adjustable shaft assemblies with threaded portions that can be rotated to change the distance between the front and back pieces, allowing the same collar to be customized for different neck sizes and shapes while maintaining a standardized manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
The collar's fit is adjusted by changing the positional parameter between the front and back pieces through the threaded adjustment mechanism, enabling a single collar design to accommodate multiple subjects with different anatomical dimensions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The adjustable cervical collar provides a customizable fit that minimizes disruption to the neck during placement and use, offering improved comfort and reduced risk of exacerbating injuries.
Implementation Method 1
a helically threaded portion engaged with the chin support such that rotation of the helically threaded shaft causes the chin support to raise and lower
Implementation Method 2
a geared portion coupled to the bendable portion on an opposite end relative to the helically threaded portion
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect of the invention provides an adjustable cervical collar including a chest piece adapted and configured to rest against a subject's sternum. The adjustable cervical collar also includes a back piece adapted and configured to rest on a posterior surface of the subject's neck and couple to the chest piece. The adjustable cervical collar also includes a chin support movably coupled to the chest piece. The adjustable cervical collar also includes a first shaft assembly and a second shaft assembly each rotatably mounted on a opposing lateral regions of the chest piece. The first shaft assembly and a second shaft assembly each includes: a helically threaded portion engaged with the chin support such that rotation of the helically threaded shaft causes the chin support to raise and lower: a bendable portion coupled to the helically threaded portion; and a geared portion coupled to the bendable portion.