Disposable full spinal immobilization backboard

• US 4,584,729 A
• Filed: 04/20/1984
• Issued: 04/29/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George E. Wimpelberg, Jess D. Roberts
• Original Assignee: George E. Wimpelberg, Jess D. Roberts
• Inventors: Roberts, Jess D., Wimpelberg, George E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRETTEL, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US06/602,603
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 5/81 R, 5/82 R, 5/DIG. 1, 128/87 R, 128/87 B, 128/87 C, 128/88, 128/133, 128/134, 428/184, 428/186, 108/51.3
• US Class Current: 5/625
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/01 Sheets specially adapted for use as or with stretchers restraining devices used in nursing A61F5/37
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/924 Cardboard containing

Abstract

A disposable total spinal immobilization backboard of multiple ply corrugated material impregnated with a waxing substance by a cascading process which acts to both waterproof and to improve the strength and rigidity of the backboard. A panel has a width of about 16 inches and a length of about 6 feet and is reinforced to allow a deflection of less than 1/2 inch either laterally or longitudinally when exposed to a weight of 300 pounds. Handholds receive hands for the carrying of an injured party. An injured party is securely strapped to strap receiving means, including handholds whereby total spinal immobilization is effectuated for safe and secure transfer.

Claims

1. A disposable total spinal immobilization backboard comprising a panel of multiple ply corrugated material, said multiple ply corrugated material being impregnated with a waxing substance causing said material to be waterproofed and increasing the rigidity and strength of said material;

one ply of said panel including two permanent longitudinal fold lines, each of said permanent longitudinal fold lines connecting a central horizontal portion of said ply with one of two opposing vertical portions of said ply, said ply further including two pivotable longitudinal fold lines, each of said pivotable longitudinal fold lines connecting one of said opposing vertical portions with one of two opposing extending wing portions of said ply, said extending wing portions being pivotable between first horizontally extending positions to facilitate storage and transfer of a patient onto said backboard and second vertically extending positions to facilitate strapping of a patient to said backboard and transport of an injured party on said backboard, said panel being sized to be about as long as and about as wide as an average person when said extending wing portions are in said second vertically extending positions;

said disposable total spinal immobilization backboard being reinforced both laterally and longitudinally to allow a deflection of less than 1/2 inch when supporting a body weight of 300 pounds;

said disposable total spinal immobilization backboard further comprising handhold means for receiving hands for the carrying of said backboard in the transporting of an injured party, said disposable total spinal immobilization backboard further comprising strap receiving means for securedly accepting strapping material for the immobilizing strapping of an injured party to said disposable total spinal immobilization backboard.

2. A disposable total spinal immobilization backboard comprising a panel of multiple ply cascaded corrugated material, said multiple ply corrugated material being impregnated with a waxing substance by a cascading process causing said material to be waterproofed and increasing the rigidity and strength of said material;

one ply of said panel including two permanent longitudinal fold lines, each of said permanent longitudinal fold lines connecting a central horizontal portion of said ply with one of two opposing vertical portions of said ply, said ply further including two pivotable longitudinal fold lines, each of said pivotable longitudinal fold lines connecting one of said opposing vertical portions with one of two opposing extending wing portions of said ply, said extending wing portions being pivotable between first horizontally extending positions to facilitate storage and transfer of a patient onto said backboard and second vertically extending positions to facilitate strapping of a patient to said backboard and transport of an injured party on said backboard, said panel being sized to be about as long as and about as wide as an average person when said extending wing portions are in said second vertically extending positions;

said disposable total spinal immobilization backboard being reinforced both laterally and longitudinally to allow a deflection of less than 1/2 inch when supporting a body weight of 300 pounds;

said disposable total spinal immobilization backboard further comprising handhold means for receiving hands for the carrying of said backboard in the transporting of an injured party, said disposable total spinal immobilization backboard further comprising strap receiving means for securedly accepting strapping material for the immobilizing strapping of an injured party to said disposable total spinal immobilization backboard.

3. A disposable total spinal immobilization backboard comprising a panel of multiple ply corrugated material, said multiple ply corrugated material being impregnated with a waxing substance causing said material to be waterproofed and increasing the rigidity and strength of said material;

one ply of said panel including two permanent longitudinal fold lines, each of said permanent longitudinal fold lines connecting a central horizontal portion of said ply with one of two opposing vertical portions of said ply, said ply further including two pivotable longitudinal fold lines, each of said pivotable longitudinal fold lines connecting one of said opposing vertical portions with one of two opposing extending wing portions of said ply, said extending wing portions being pivotable between first horizontally extending positions to facilitate storage and transfer of a patient onto said backboard and second vertically extending positions to facilitate strapping of a patient to said backboard and transport of an injured part on said backboard, said panel having a width of less than 18 inches when said extending wing portions are in said second vertically extending positions and a length of about 6 feet;

said disposable total spinal immobilization backboard being reinforced both laterally and longitudinally to allow a deflection of less than 1/2 inch when supporting a body weight of 300 pounds;

said disposable total spinal immobilization backboard further comprising handhold means for receiving hands for the carrying of said backboard in the transporting of an injured party, said disposable total spinal immobilization backboard further comprising strap receiving means for securedly accepting strapping material for the immobilizing strapping of an injured party to said disposable total spinal immobilization backboard.

4. A disposable total spinal immobilization backboard comprising a panel of multiple ply corrugated material, said multiple ply corrugated material being impregnated with a waxing substance causing said material to be waterproofed and increasing the rigidity and strength of said material;

one ply of said panel including two permanent longitudinal fold lines, each of said permanent longitudinal fold lines connecting a central horizontal portion of said ply with one of two opposing vertical portions of said ply, said ply further including two pivotable longitudinal fold lines, each of said pivotable longitudinal fold lines connecting one of said opposing vertical portions with one of two opposing extending wing portions of said ply, said extending wing portions being pivotable between first horizontally extending positions to facilitate storage and transfer of a patient onto said backboard and second vertically extending positions to facilitate strapping of a patient to said backboard and transport of an injured party on said backboard, said panel having a width of less than 18 inches when said extending wing portions are in said second vertically extending positions and a length of about 6 feet;

said disposable total spinal immobilization backboard having at least six layers of body supporting corrugation and being further reinforced to allow a deflection of less than 1/2 inch either laterally or longitudinally when exposed to a body weight of 300 pounds;

said disposable total spinal immobilization backboard further comprising handhold means for receiving hands for the carrying of said backboard in the transporting of an injured party, said disposable total spinal immobilization backboard further comprising strap receiving means for securedly accepting strapping material for the immobilizing strapping of an injured party to said disposable total spinal immobilization backboard.

5. A method for making a disposable total immobilization backboard comprising the steps of:

(1) constructing an immobilization backboard frame by

(a) forming a panel of multiple ply corrugated material, one ply of the panel including two permanent longitudinal fold lines, each of the permanent longitudinal fold lines connecting a central horizontal portion of the ply with one of two opposing vertical portions of the ply, the ply further including two pivotable longitudinal fold lines, each of the pivotable longitudinal fold lines connecting one of the opposing vertical portions with one of two opposing extending wing portions of the ply, the extending wing portions being pivotable between first horizontally extending positions to facilitate storage and transfer of a patient onto the backboard and second vertically extending positions to facilitate strapping of a patient to the backboard and transport of an injured party on the backboard, the formed panel being sized to be about as long as and about as wide as an average person when the extending wing portions are in the second vertically extending positions, and

(b) forming handholds and strapholds integrally connected to the formed panel; and

(2) cascading said constructed immobilization backboard with a waxing substance which impregnates the multiple ply corrugated material to both waterproof the constructed frame and increase the frame'"'"'s strength and rigidity to enable the frame to allow a body weight of 300 pounds with a deflection of less than 1/2 inch either laterally or longitudinally.

6. A method for transporting an injured person comprising the steps of:

(1) placing the injured person in the position he has been found on a panel of multiple ply corrugated material one ply of the panel including two permanent longitudinal fold lines, each of the permanent longitudinal fold lines connecting a central horizontal portion of the ply with one of two opposing vertical portions of the ply, the ply further including two pivotable longitudinal fold lines, each of the pivotable longitudinal fold lines connecting one of the opposing vertical portions with one of two opposing extending wing portions of the ply, the extending wing portions being pivotable between first horizontally extending positions to facilitate storage and transfer of a patient onto the backboard and second vertically extending positions to facilitate strapping of a patient to the backboard and transport of an injured party on the backboard, the panel being sized to be about as long and about as wide as an average person when the extending wing portions are in the second vertically extending positions, the material having been cascaded with a paraffin based wax;

(2) placing the person in the position found onto the panel with the extending wing portions in horizontally extending positions;

(3) immobilizing the person in the position found to the panel by strapping him to the panel with the winged portions in vertically extending positions;

(4) transporting the person by carrying the panel; and

(5) disposing of the panel after a single use.