Cervical Collar Cable Adjustment Chin Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cervical collars lack effective mechanisms for adjusting the height of the chin support to accommodate various patient sizes, limiting their versatility and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A cervical collar with a vertically adjustable chin support system, featuring a cable reel and pulley mechanism that allows for precise adjustment of the chin support's position through a sliding cable stop along an elongate slot, maintaining consistent orientation and tension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-size cervical collar is used, then the collar provides stable structural support, but it cannot accommodate various patient sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The collar incorporates a dynamic adjustment mechanism where the chin support can be repositioned vertically along an elongate slot using a cable reel system. This allows the collar to adapt to different patient sizes and neck circumferences while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The cable reel mechanism enables continuous adjustment rather than fixed positions, providing versatility without requiring multiple collar models.
2Measurement precision
If a simple adjustable mechanism is used, then the collar structure remains simple, but the adjustment precision of the chin support is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cable reel system as an intermediary mechanism between the user's manual input and the chin support position. The cable reel provides mechanical advantage and precise control, allowing small rotational movements of the reel handle to translate into fine adjustments of the chin support position along the elongate slot. This intermediary mechanism achieves high adjustment precision without requiring direct complex linkages between the adjustment control and the chin support.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the chin support position is adjusted vertically, then the collar fits different patient sizes, but the chin orientation may become inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The collar design allows different parts to have different adjustment characteristics. The chin support can be positioned at various heights along the elongate slot to accommodate different patient sizes, while the front and rear body portions maintain their relative positioning and structural integrity. This localized adjustment capability enables size adaptation without compromising the overall structural stability and chin orientation consistency.
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
Enables adjustable height of the chin support to fit different patient sizes, ensuring consistent support and comfort while maintaining the chin's desired orientation, allowing for a single collar model to be used across various sizes.
Implementation Method 1
a pulley located on the collar body adjacent to the elongate slot. The cable cooperates with the pulley so that the direction of the cable is changed between the cable stop and the cable reel
Implementation Method 2
rotation of the cable reel adjusts the cable to adjust the position of the cable stop along the slot
Data Source
AI summary
A cervical collar having a vertically adjustable chin support, the collar including a chin support adjustably connected to a collar body, the collar body defining an elongate slot; a cable located on the collar body; a cable stop connected to a distal portion of the cable and connecting between the collar body and the chin support, the cable stop being slidingly positionable along the slot on the collar body; and a pulley located on the collar body adjacent to the elongate slot. The cable cooperates with the pulley so that the direction of the cable is changed between the cable stop and a proximal portion of the cable, and movement of the distal portion of the cable adjusts the position of the cable stop along the slot and adjusts the vertical position of the chin support relative to the collar body.