Adjustable Cervical Collar Height Locking for Pressure Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cervical collars face challenges in balancing immobilization with user comfort, leading to decubitus ulcers due to pressure points, inadequate height adjustment mechanisms, and inconvenient strap systems, which can result in accidental tampering and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A cervical collar with a height adjustment system that allows for customizable pressure distribution, a secure strap system, and improved posterior components to minimize pressure points and enhance user comfort, featuring a locking mechanism to prevent accidental adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cervical collars use restrictive design to improve immobilization, then cervical range of motion restriction is improved, but pressure points cause decubitus ulcers and user comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cervical collar is divided into multiple pressure distribution zones with different compliance characteristics. The shell includes high-compliance regions and low-compliance regions that segment the pressure application, allowing immobilization in critical areas while relieving pressure from bony prominences to prevent decubitus ulcers.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the cervical collar shell are designed with locally differentiated compliance properties. High-compliance areas are positioned to relieve pressure from occipital and cervical bony prominences, while low-compliance areas provide rigid support for immobilization, creating local quality variations that simultaneously achieve both goals.
2Device complexity
If cervical collars use fixed height design to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different patient anatomies deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cervical collar incorporates an adjustable height mechanism that allows the collar to be dynamically reconfigured for different patient anatomies. The adjustment system enables vertical positioning of the shell relative to the chin support, providing adaptability across various neck sizes and shapes without requiring multiple fixed-size collars.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar height parameter is made variable through an adjustment mechanism that changes the vertical dimension of the collar. This parameter change capability allows the same collar structure to adapt to different patient anatomies by modifying its effective height, maintaining both simplicity and versatility.
3Device complexity
If cervical collars use non-adjustable design to reduce mechanism complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but ability to accommodate swelling and anatomical changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The collar incorporates adjustable components that enable dynamic adaptation to anatomical changes such as swelling. The height adjustment mechanism and circumferential adjustment system allow the collar to be reconfigured as patient conditions change, providing ongoing adaptability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanisms serve multiple functions: accommodating initial anatomical variations, adapting to swelling or shrinking during treatment, and ensuring proper fit across different patient populations. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing comprehensive adaptability.
4Device complexity
If cervical collars use simple strap systems to reduce complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but security and protection against accidental tampering deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The strap system incorporates pre-positioned adjustment mechanisms and secure attachment points that are configured before use. The quick-adjust features allow for preliminary secure fitting, and the design includes tamper-resistant elements that prevent accidental loosening or removal during normal patient movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The strap system uses simple, robust fastening mechanisms that prioritize reliability over complexity. The design accepts that straps may need replacement over time but ensures they provide secure, tamper-resistant fastening during their service life, balancing simplicity with security.
Data Source
AI summary
A cervical collar having an anterior component including a main support, an intermediate support pivotally connecting to the main support at a rear portion of the anterior component, and forming a frontal opening with the main support. An adjustment mechanism connects the main support to the intermediate support and locks a position of the intermediate support relative to the main support at a front portion of anterior component. The adjustment mechanism has an actuator for disengaging the main support from the intermediate support at the front portion and permits the intermediate support to pivot relative to the main support at the rear portion to vary a height of the frontal opening. A posterior component of the cervical collar is adapted to provide improved anterior-posterior and lateral occipital support.