Cervical Traction Collar with Occipital Locking and Jaw Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cervical traction devices limit mobility and often generate pressure on the temporomandibular joint, jaw, and chin, which can lead to injury and are impractical for use in work settings, as they require users to lie down and are not suitable for sitting positions.
Innovation Solution
A cervical traction collar that conforms to the shape of the neck, engaging the shoulders and occipital/mastoid regions without applying pressure to the temporomandibular joint, jaw, or chin, featuring a semi-rigid collar with a pliant joint and adjustable design to allow for independent engagement with the skull, maintaining unobstructed clearance for the jaw and chin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional mobile cervical traction devices are used to increase patient mobility and decrease cost, then patient mobility is improved and cost is reduced, but considerable pressure is generated on the jaw, chin and temporomandibular joint increasing the likelihood of injury
Solution Approach 1:
The cervical collar is divided into distinct functional zones: a front portion that provides clearance for the jaw and chin, and a rear portion that applies traction force to the occipital region. This segmentation allows the device to provide cervical traction while avoiding pressure on the temporomandibular joint area.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar features non-uniform pressure distribution with a first region at the front providing minimal pressure for jaw/chin clearance and a second region at the rear providing maximal pressure for occipital traction. This local quality variation enables selective pressure application to achieve therapeutic effect while avoiding harmful pressure on sensitive areas.
2Reliability
If conventional cervical traction devices require users to lie down, then effective cervical traction can be provided, but user mobility is limited and the devices are not practical for work applications
Solution Approach 1:
The collar incorporates an adjustable mechanism that allows the rear portion to be positioned at different heights and angles, enabling effective traction to be delivered in various user positions including sitting, standing, and lying down. This dynamic adjustability maintains therapeutic effectiveness across multiple positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The cervical collar is designed to function effectively across multiple positions and applications - it can be used during work activities, commuting, or rest periods. The universal design allows the same device to provide reliable traction whether the user is sitting at a desk, standing, or lying down, making it suitable for diverse daily activities.
3Force
If conventional mobile cervical traction devices apply pressure to the jaw and chin, then cervical traction force is generated, but the upward pressure limits the user's field of view and is impractical for computer use or desk work
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful pressure application to the jaw and chin area is completely removed from the device design. The front portion of the collar is specifically shaped to provide clearance for these facial features, extracting the problematic pressure application while retaining the beneficial cervical traction function through occipital engagement.
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment, a cervical collar includes a semi-rigid collar substantially conforming to the back of a neck, an occipital locking mechanism coupled to the semi-rigid collar, configured to generally conform to and engage with the base of a skull at the occipital or mastoid region without engaging the temporomandibular joint, jaw or chin of the skull and a traction mechanism coupled to the semi-rigid collar, the at least one traction mechanism configured to provide cervical traction through the occipital locking mechanism of the semi-rigid collar against the base of the skull without pressure against the temporomandibular joint, jaw and chin.