Cervical Collar Integrating Fluid Cooling for Therapeutic Hypothermia
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cervical collars lack an effective means to induce therapeutic hypothermia or manage temperature in pre-hospital settings, which is crucial for treating traumatic head or neck injuries, as they often rely on invasive methods or inefficient non-invasive techniques like cold packs.
Innovation Solution
A cervical collar with an integrated cooling device that includes a bladder to circulate cooling or warming fluid, targeting cerebral circulation arteries to selectively manage temperature, featuring a flexible outer shell, adjustable design, and optional indicators for temperature monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional cervical collars are used without integrated cooling devices, then the device complexity is low and ease of manufacture is high, but the ability to induce therapeutic hypothermia is insufficient and temperature management capability is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a cervical collar with an integrated cooling device into a single unified system. The cooling device includes a bladder with cooling elements that can be positioned against the patient's neck, fluid circulation system with pumps and reservoirs, and temperature sensors, all integrated with the cervical collar structure to provide combined immobilization and temperature management functions
Solution Approach 2:
The cervical collar is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides cervical immobilization for spinal protection and simultaneously serves as a platform for delivering therapeutic hypothermia through integrated cooling components. This multi-functional design allows a single device to address both mechanical stabilization and thermal management needs
2Temperature
If invasive methods are used for therapeutic hypothermia, then temperature management effectiveness is high, but patient comfort deteriorates and ease of operation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a fluid circulation system as an intermediary between the cooling source and the patient's body. The fluid acts as a heat transfer medium that carries cooling effect from the external reservoir through the cervical collar and into the patient's neck region, enabling non-invasive thermal management while maintaining effective temperature control
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces invasive mechanical procedures (such as surgical insertion of cooling catheters) with a non-invasive fluid circulation system. The cooling is delivered through a flexible bladder and conformal contact surfaces that distribute thermal energy without requiring penetration of the skin or insertion of mechanical devices into the body
3Temperature
If cold packs are used for cooling, then the device complexity remains low, but the precision of temperature control is insufficient and therapeutic hypothermia induction is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates temperature sensors that continuously monitor the patient's temperature and feed this information back to a control system. The control system adjusts the fluid circulation rate and cooling intensity based on real-time temperature readings, enabling precise temperature control and preventing both overheating and excessive cooling
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The fluid circulation rate can be adjusted in real-time, the cooling intensity can be modulated, and the system can adapt to changing patient needs. This dynamic capability allows for precise temperature control that responds to physiological changes during treatment
4Temperature
If non-invasive cooling methods are used, then patient comfort is maintained, but the speed of therapeutic hypothermia induction is slow and productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a hydraulic fluid circulation system to deliver cooling therapy. A pump drives cooled fluid through hoses and into a bladder that contacts the patient's neck, enabling efficient heat transfer through the fluid medium. This hydraulic approach accelerates cooling compared to passive methods while maintaining non-invasive benefits
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 non-invasive, efficient induction of therapeutic hypothermia or warming, reducing the risk of tissue injury by targeting specific vascular regions, thus providing effective temperature management in emergency situations.
Implementation Method 1
a bladder disposed on an interior of the outer shell, wherein the bladder selectively targets blood flowing through cerebral circulation arteries thereby changing a temperature of the blood flowing through the cerebral circulation arteries to a patient's brain
Implementation Method 2
an indicator that changes color based on a change in a measurable event, wherein the bladder is the indicator
Data Source
AI summary
A cervical collar that facilitates therapeutic hypothermia is provided and includes a cooling device having a front portion and a back portion fixedly coupled to the front portion on one side and removably coupled to the front portion on an opposite side. A fastening device removably couples the back portion to the front portion on the opposite side. The cooling device induces hypothermia in at least a portion of a patient. A sensor is provided that measures a physical characteristic of the patient.