Cervical Collar Pump System With Fluid-Circulation Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cervical collars do not effectively manage temperature to prevent over-heating or provide therapeutic hypothermia, which can be crucial in treating traumatic head or neck injuries, and lack features for comfort and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A cervical collar system with an outer shell and a bladder that can hold fluid, allowing for temperature regulation through fluid circulation, featuring a bladder that changes color with temperature changes and includes a mechanism for adjusting fit and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional cervical collars are used, then the device is simple in structure, but it cannot effectively manage temperature to prevent over-heating or provide therapeutic hypothermia
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is nested within the cervical collar structure. The bladder is positioned inside the collar body, and the cooling elements are integrated within the bladder structure, creating a compact nested arrangement that provides temperature management without significantly increasing external device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The cervical collar is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides structural neck support immobilization while simultaneously delivering temperature management through the integrated cooling system. This multi-functionality allows a single device to address both mechanical stabilization and thermal regulation needs
2Reliability
If a cooling system with fluid circulation is added to the cervical collar, then therapeutic hypothermia can be induced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump mechanism is extracted from the collar body and placed in an external location. Only the essential fluid circulation components (bladder, conduits, flow director) remain integrated with the collar, while the pump operates externally and connects through flexible hoses, reducing the complexity burden on the collar structure itself
Solution Approach 2:
A flow director element is introduced as an intermediary component between the cooling fluid source and the patient's neck. This flow director ensures proper fluid distribution and direction within the bladder, mediating the interaction between the external pump system and the therapeutic target area
3Device complexity
If the pump is located away from the collar, then the collar structure is simplified, but the connection between pump and collar becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic, flexible connections between the pump and collar rather than rigid fixed connections. The bladder and conduits can flex and adapt to different positioning scenarios, allowing the pump to be located at various distances from the collar while maintaining functional connectivity through flexible fluid pathways
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 system provides targeted temperature management, reducing the risk of over-heating or hypothermia, enhances patient comfort, and facilitates rapid induction of therapeutic hypothermia, minimizing tissue injury and improving treatment outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
A cooling system can be employed to cool a patient's body, and more particularly to cool a patient's brain, to induce therapeutic hypothermia
Implementation Method 2
The collar can include a phase change material
Data Source
AI summary
A system that selectively controls temperature within a device such as a neck/head wrap is disclosed. The system can include a pump system having a reservoir that holds a liquid, an element that regulates temperature of the liquid within the reservoir; a pump that draws the liquid from the reservoir; and a distribution manifold attached to the pump hose that receives and distributes the liquid to at least two devices (e.g., cervical collars). The system is also equipped to be selectively monitored, for example, via a smartphone, tablet or computer.