Methods and devices to reduce the likelihood of injury from concussive or blast forces

• US 9,173,660 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• 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, Vititoe, Kevin John, Float, Jamison Joseph, Leeder, Chad Michael, Fisher, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Erezo, Darwin
• Assistant Examiner(s): OBU, KENDRA NNEAMAKA
• Application Number:
  US13/842,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20140277101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• 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 13/018 inflatable automatically
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/05 protecting only a particular body part ear protectors A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0568 with straps
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0587 Integral with the garment
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2600/102 Motorcycling
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/16 Collar-shields
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/18 Elastic
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/185 using layered materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1325 with means for applying local pressure pressure pads A61F5/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1327 Tensioning clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/135 inflatable for measuring blood pressure A61B5/022; inflatable pressure pads A61F5/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/30 Pressure-pads corn-pads, corn-rings A61F13/06; tourniquets A61B17/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/32 Adjustable pressure pads
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/1291 for the neck

Abstract

A method and device for reducing the damaging effects of radiant energy, blast, or concussive events includes applying pressure to at least one jugular vein to reduce the egress of blood from the cranial cavity during or before the incidence of the imparting event. Reducing blood outflow from the cranial cavity increases intracranial volume and/or pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid to reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury and injuries to the spinal column. Reducing blood outflow further increases the intracranial pressure and volume, and thereby increases the pressure and volume of the cochlear fluid, the vitreous humor and the cerebrospinal fluid to thereby reduce the risk of injury to the inner ear, internal structure of the eye and of the spinal column. In addition, increasing intracranial pressure and volume reduces the likelihood of brain injury and any associated loss of olfactory function.

Claims

1. A device for applying pressure to two or more neck veins of a subject consisting essentially of:

a circumferential collar sized to fully encircle the neck of a subject; and

two or more inwardly directed protuberances integral to the collar;

wherein the protuberances are located on the collar such that each protuberance is configured to be disposed above one or more neck veins of the subject when the collar is encircling the neck of the subject; and

wherein the collar and protuberances are adapted to exert a pressure that does not exceed 70 mm Hg on the neck veins to restrict blood flow egressing from the head of the subject through the neck veins.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said neck veins includes an internal jugular vein or an external jugular vein.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said device restricts blood flow egressing from the head of the subject wearing the device sufficiently to reduce the likelihood of injury in a subject exposed to an external concussive force relative to a subject not wearing the device.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said injury is selected from the group consisting of traumatic brain injury, spinal column injury, inner ear injury, ocular structure injury, and olfactory center injury.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said two or more protuberances exerts a pressure on said neck veins equivalent to a fluid pressure within the range of 5 mmHg to about 25 mmHg.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the collar comprises a rigid or semi-rigid portion defining a bridge spanning the laryngeal prominence.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said collar comprises an elastic material capable of stretching so as to increase the circumference of the collar.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising a compression indicator associated with said elastic material configured to provide a visual indication of the elongation or compression of said portion when encircling the neck of the subject.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the collar comprises a flexible material strap and engagement elements at opposite ends of said strap configured to be releasably engaged so as to encircle the neck of the subject.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the collar comprises a rigid or semi-rigid portion defining a bridge spanning the laryngeal prominence, and wherein the engagement elements at opposite ends of the strap are configured to be releasably engaged to corresponding ends of the rigid or semi-rigid laryngeal bridge.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the flexible material strap comprises an elastic material capable of being stretched so as to increase the circumference of the collar.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more bladders disposed within said collar.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said at least one of said bladders is disposed at a location above one or more of said protuberances such that inflation of the bladder increases the pressure of the protuberance on the neck of a subject wearing said device.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein a protuberance is defined by said one or more bladders.

15. The device of claim 12, further comprising a pump element in fluid communication with a bladder, whereby the fill level of a bladder can be adjusted by the subject.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising a cable-tie ratcheting fit adjustment system comprising:

one or more cable-tie type ratcheting tabs; and

one or more receivers for said tabs,

wherein each of said cable-tie type ratcheting tabs is disposed so as to pass through a receiver, said receivers are configured to allow movement of a ratcheting tab through the receiver in one direction thereby reducing the circumference of said collar, but prevent movement of the ratcheting tab in the reverse direction; and

wherein said ratcheting tabs are configured to break away from said collar at a point below their corresponding receivers when pulled away from said collar at a force greater than or equal to a predetermined level.

17. The device of claim 1, further comprising a cable ratcheting fit adjustment system comprising:

one or more cables spanning at least a portion of the circumference of the collar; and

one or more ratcheting elements, each attached to at least one of said cables,

wherein each of said ratcheting elements is configured to adjust the circumference of the collar by adjusting the length of a cable spanning at least a portion of the circumference of the collar.

18. A garment comprising the device of claim 1.

19. A device for applying pressure to two or more neck veins of a subject consisting essentially of:

a partially-circumferential collar comprising a resilient arcuate band having a general C, V, or U-shape and sized to encircle only a majority of the neck of a subject when in use; and

two or more inwardly directed protuberances integral to the partially-circumferential collar;

wherein the protuberances are located on the partially-circumferential collar such that each protuberance is configured to be disposed above one or more neck veins of the subject when the collar is encircling a portion of the neck of the subject; and

wherein the collar and protuberances are adapted to exert a pressure that does not exceed 70 mm Hg on the one or more neck veins to restrict blood flow egressing from the head of the subject through the neck veins.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said neck veins includes an internal jugular vein or an external jugular vein.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein said device restricts blood flow egressing from the head of the subject wearing the device sufficiently to reduce the likelihood of injury in a subject exposed to an external concussive force relative to a subject not wearing the device.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said injury is selected from the group consisting of traumatic brain injury, spinal column injury, inner ear injury, ocular structure injury, and olfactory center injury.

23. The device of claim 19, wherein said two or more protuberances exerts a pressure on said neck veins equivalent to a fluid pressure within the range of 5 mmHg to about 25 mmHg.

24. The device of claim 19, wherein said collar does not bridge the laryngeal prominence.

25. The device of claim 19, wherein said collar is discontinuous at a region at the back of the neck.

26. The device of claim 19, further comprising one or more bladders disposed within said collar.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein said at least one of said bladders is disposed at a location above one or more of said protuberances such that inflation of the bladder increases the pressure of the protuberance on the neck of a subject wearing said device.

28. The device of claim 26, wherein a protuberance is defined by said one or more bladders.

29. The device of claim 26, further comprising a pump element in fluid communication with a bladder, whereby the fill level of a bladder can be adjusted by the subject.

30. A garment comprising the device of claim 19.