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 9,168,045 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2011
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tbi Innovations LLC, Thornhill Research Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tbi Innovations LLC, Thornhill Research Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, David William, Fisher, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Erezo, Darwin
• Assistant Examiner(s): OBU, KENDRA NNEAMAKA
• Application Number:
  US12/931,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20120197290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,729 Days
• Field of Search: 606201-20415
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 device comprising a collar having two or more inwardly-directed and non-inflatable structures selected from the group consisting of protuberances and thicker protruding regions;

wherein the collar is sized to fully encircle the neck of a human subject,

wherein each of the non-inflatable structures is positioned to partially or totally occlude one or more of the outflow vessels of the cranium when the device is worn around the neck by the subject; and

wherein the collar is adapted to apply a pressure that does not surpass 80 mmHg to the outflow vessels.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the collar comprises an elastic material.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the collar is adjustable.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the collar comprises a cinch for adjusting the size of the collar.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the collar comprises a first end, a second end, and a fastener, wherein the collar is fitted to the subject by connecting the first end to the second end via the fastener.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the collar comprises a breakaway release mechanism.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the collar comprises a monitoring device, a recording device, or a communicating device.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the outflow vessels of the cranium are the internal jugular veins.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the outflow vessels of the cranium are the external jugular veins.

10. A device comprising a collar having two or more inwardly-directed and non-inflatable structures selected from the group consisting of protuberances and thicker protruding regions;

wherein the collar is sized to only partially encircle the neck of a human subject,

wherein each of the non-inflatable structures is positioned to partially or totally occlude one or more of the outflow vessels of the cranium when the device is worn around the neck by the subject; and

wherein the collar is adapted to apply a pressure that does not surpass 80 mmHg to the outflow vessels.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the collar is adjustable.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the collar comprises a breakaway release mechanism.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the collar comprises a monitoring device, a recording device, or a communicating device.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the outflow vessels of the cranium are the internal jugular veins.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the outflow vessels of the cranium are the external jugular veins.

16. A device consisting essentially of a collar having (i) two or more inwardly-directed and inflatable structures selected from the group consisting of protuberances, thicker protruding regions, and segments, and (ii) a pressure release valve;

wherein the collar is sized to fully encircle the neck of a human subject,

wherein each of the inflatable structures, when inflated, are positioned to partially or totally occlude one or more of the outflow vessels of the cranium when the device is worn around the neck by the subject; and

wherein the pressure release valve is adapted such that a that does not surpass 80 mmHg is applied to the outflow vessels by the inflatable structures.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the collar comprises an elastic material.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the collar is adjustable.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the collar comprises a cinch for adjusting the size of the collar.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the collar comprises a first end, a second end, and a fastener, wherein the collar is fitted to the subject by connecting the first end to the second end via the fastener.

21. The device of claim 16, wherein the collar comprises a breakaway release mechanism.

22. The device of claim 16, wherein the collar comprises a monitoring device, a recording device, or a communicating device.

23. The device of claim 16, wherein the outflow vessels of the cranium are the internal jugular veins.

24. The device of claim 16, wherein the outflow vessels of the cranium are the external jugular veins.

25. A device consisting essentially of a collar having (i) two or more inwardly-directed and inflatable structures selected from the group consisting of protuberances, thicker protruding regions, and segments, and (ii) a pressure release valve;

wherein the collar is sized to only partially encircle the neck of a human subject,

wherein each of the inflatable structures, when inflated, are positioned to partially or totally occlude one or more of the outflow vessels of the cranium when the device is worn around the neck by the subject; and

wherein the pressure release valve is adapted such that a pressure that does not surpass 80 mmHg is applied to the outflow vessels by the inflatable structures.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the collar is adjustable.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein the collar comprises a breakaway release mechanism.

28. The device of claim 25, wherein the collar comprises a monitoring device, a recording device, or a communicating device.

29. The device of claim 25, wherein the outflow vessels of the cranium are the internal jugular veins.

30. The device of claim 25, wherein the outflow vessels of the cranium are the external jugular veins.