Device to reduce SLOSH energy absorption and its damaging effects through the reduction of the flow of one or more outflow vessels of the cranium

• US 10,342,550 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2015
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tbi Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Tbi Innovations LLC
• Inventors: Smith, David W., Fisher, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Houston, Elizabeth
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wei, Charles M
• Application Number:
  US14/861,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20160008004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0015 Sports garments other than provided for in groups A41D13/0007 - A41D13/088
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0156 having projecting patterns
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0512 Neck or shoulders area
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/055 Protector fastening, e.g. on the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0568 with straps
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0587 Integral with the garment
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2400/14 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2600/10 for sport activities
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/16 Collar-shields
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/18 Elastic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12009 Implements for ligaturing other than by clamps or clips, e.g. using a loop with a slip knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1325 with means for applying local pressure pressure pads A61F5/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/135 inflatable for measuring blood pressure A61B5/022; inflatable pressure pads A61F5/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/30 Pressure-pads corn-pads, corn-rings A61F13/06; tourniquets A61B17/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/34 Pressure pads filled with air or liquid valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; valves per se F16K

Abstract

A first embodiment can be a device comprising a means to reduce SLOSH energy absorption in a fluid containing organism by reducing the flow of one or more outflow vessels of the cranium by compressing said vessels.

Claims

1. A method for reducing or preventing traumatic brain injury in a human subject comprising applying an externally-applied pressure of about 15 mm Hg to about 80 mm Hg to one or more outflow vessels of the cranium prior to and during a traumatic event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure is applied to two or more outflow vessels of the cranium.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the two or more outflow vessels comprises an internal jugular vein.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the two or more outflow vessels comprises an external jugular vein.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more outflow vessels comprises an internal jugular vein.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more outflow vessels comprises an external jugular vein.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure is applied by a device worn about the neck of the subject, the device comprising a collar having one or more inwardly-directed structures positioned to partially or totally occlude the one or more outflow vessels of the cranium.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more outflow vessels comprises an internal jugular vein.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more outflow vessels comprises an external jugular vein.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the device comprises two or more inwardly-directed structures positioned to partially or totally occlude the two or more outflow vessels of the cranium.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the collar is sized to fully encircle the neck of the subject.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the collar further comprises a breakaway release mechanism.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the collar is sized to partially encircle the neck of the subject.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more inwardly-directed structures are non-inflatable.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more inwardly-directed structures are inflatable.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the collar further comprises a pressure release valve.