Cervical collar and methods of manufacture and use

• US 9,186,272 B1
• Filed: 10/14/2012
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bariatric Collar, LLC
• Original Assignee: Bariatric Collar, LLC
• Inventors: Kussow, Timothy Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Nia, Alireza
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Camtu
• Application Number:
  US13/651,457
• Time in Patent Office: 1,129 Days
• Field of Search: 128/869, 128/870, 128/876, 602/17, 602/18, 602/19, 246/8, 563/0, 563/6, 563/7, 564/0, 564/3, 562/2, 606/240, D29/100, D29/101.1, D29/101.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/055 Cervical collars
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/05808 Splints for clavicle fractures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/05883 for the neck or head A61F5/05816, A61F5/05833 take precedence; cervical supports A61F5/055

Abstract

A cervical collar includes a flexible, elongate support member having two ends, a longitudinal axis, an initial length, and a plurality of slits near at least one end. Each slit defines a terminal segment of the support member and a connective link between the terminal segment and the remainder of the support member. A connector is provided for securing together the two ends. The support member may be manufactured by forming slits near at least one end of a flexible support member. The collar may be applied to a patient by providing a support member which is longer than is needed for the patient'"'"'s neck, removing a terminal segment of the support member to adjust the length so that the support member is sized to appropriately encircle the patient'"'"'s neck, flexing the support member around the patient'"'"'s neck, and connecting the ends of the support member together.

Claims

1. A method for applying a cervical collar to a patient, comprising:

providing a support member having two ends and an initial length longer than is needed for the patient'"'"'s neck;

removing a terminal segment of the support member to adjust the length so that the support member is sized to appropriately encircle the patient'"'"'s neck to inhibit movement of the patient'"'"'s head when the ends of the support member are joined in abutting relation to each other;

flexing the support member around the patient'"'"'s neck; and

applying a connector to loin the ends of the support member together;

wherein the support member has an elongate configuration with two ends, a longitudinal axis, an internal bore and an initial length, and a plurality of slits near at least one end, the slits being coextensive with the internal bore; and

wherein each slit serves to define the terminal segment of the support member, a remainder of the support member and a connective link between the terminal segment and the remainder of the support member; and

wherein removing the terminal segment comprises exposing an internal bore and applying the connector comprises inserting the connector into the internal bore.

2. A cervical collar comprising:

a flexible support member having an elongate configuration with two ends, a longitudinal axis, an internal bore and an initial length, and having a plurality of slits near at least one end, the slits being coextensive with the internal bore;

each slit serving to define a terminal segment of the support member, a remainder of the support member and a connective link between the terminal segment and the remainder of the support member; and

connecting means for securing together the two ends of the support member;

wherein each end of the support member has an internal bore and the connecting means comprises a connector sized for insertion into the internal bore to establish a friction fit therein.