Cervical collar

A. R. MOORE

CERVICAL COLLAR

Aug. 6, 1957

Filed Dec. 23, 1955

2,801,630

Sheets-Sheet 1

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Aug. 6, 1957

2,801,630

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A. R. MOORE

CERVICAL COLLAR

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ATTORNEY

2,801,630

Patented Aug. 6, 1957

United States Patent Office ¹

2,801,630

CERVICAL COLLAR

Arthur R. Moore, Daytona Beach, Fla,

Application December 23,1955, Serial No. 555,013

Claims. (Cl. 128—75)

This invention relates to improvements in Cervical collars used primarily for pathological conditions such as arthritis, “wry neck” or torticollis, traumatic conditions such as “whip lash injuries,” subluxations and dislocations, muscular strains, and for post-fracture treatment. The collar is designed for hyperextension and restriction of head motion but not for total fixed immobilization. In general the use is to take the load off the neck muscles.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple, light but sufficiently rigid collar structure that is adjustable for hyperextension but is also capable of lateral flexing so that it may be applied or removed by the patient when desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cervical collar of this character that is formed of two overlapping sheets of semi-rigid material adjustably interengaged to obtain the desired degree of hyperextension or tilt of the collar in use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide the collar with an upper head engaging and neck encircling section and a lower chest engaging section so interconnected to accommodate for the change of relationship of the sections when the collar encircles a patient’s neck and also permitting a conformation of lower section to the contour of the engaged chest of the patient.

These and other objects of the present invention will appear as the following description thereof proceeds, and in order to more clearly understand the invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the cervical collar in applied position;

Figure 2 is a similar front view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the cervical collar laid out flat;

Figure 4 is a vertical· section on the line 4—4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line 5—5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a partial section on the line 6—6 of Figure 3; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of one of the adjusting clamps.

The primary purpose of this cervical collar is to take the load off the neck muscles for the purposes noted. The collar may be adjusted for the desired degree of hyperextension and in use will restrict the head motion but it is not intended for fixed immobilization such as results from the use of a cast or some forms of removable braces. It is inherent in the structure employed that sufficient rigidity is maintained to obtain the desired result but the portable nature and intended use of the collar permits it to be flexed laterally to encircle the patient’s neck and strapped in that position.

The collar itself comprises an upper larger head engaging and neck encircling section 1 and a smaller lower overlapped chest engaging section 2. These sections 1 and 2 are formed of plastic sheet material that is semirigid but may be flexed laterally. At present a plastic identified as “Kodapak #2” (a cellulose acetate-butyrate marketed by Eastman Company) is being used but a ® worker skilled in the art could readily select an appropriate common variety of cellulose acetate or nylon sheeting for such a use.

The upper section 1 adjacent one extremity carries a strap 3 of any suitable material secured thereto by a rivet ¹⁰ 4. A conventional buckle 5 is adjustably mounted on the strap and said buckle may be secured by a stud fastener 6 to the other terminal end of the section 1. This provides a means for snugly and comfortably positioning the collar around a patient’s neck and permits easy removal ¹⁰ when desired.

The upper edge of the upper section 1 is curved to substantially conform to the head engagement with the collar which is under the chin and around the back of above the neck. The entire edge that does not overlap the lower section 2 has stitched thereto a strip of suitable covering material 7 and the head engaging portion has a cushioning element 8, usually formed of rubber interposed between the edge of the section and covering material to avoid 2₅ undue discomfort when the collar is in position.

The lower smaller section 2 of the collar is not as long as the section 1 and the extremities of the latter form substantially neck encircling portions. The central portion thereof overlaps the upper edge of the lower section as 30 clearly shown in the drawings. The lower edge of the lower section 2 is curved downwardly as clearly shown in the drawings to conform to the chest portion of the patient’s body. The entire edge has stitched thereto a strip of suitable covering material 15 and substantially the 35 entire lower edge has la cushioning element 16 similar to the cushioning element 8, usually formed of rubber interposed between the lower edge of the section and covering material 15 to avoid undue discomfort when the plastic collar is in position.

The sections 1 and 2 are primarily interengaged where the extremities of the lower smaller section 2 are overlapped by the upper larger section 1 by rivets 9 and 10 passing through substantially horizontal slots 11 in the upper section 1 and crossing substantially vertical slots 11' 45 in the lower section 2. The slots 11 accommodate for the change of relationship of the two sections when the collar is flexed to circular form for positioning on the patient’s neck and the slots 11' permit substantially vertical change at this point when necessary and furthermore 50 permits the lower edge of the lower section to conform to the contour of the chest by slight rotation on the rivets 9 and 10. At the central front of the overlapped edges of the sections 1 and 2 there is an additional engaging and guiding means in the nature of a stud 12. The stud 12 55 is slidable in a vertical slot 14 in the section 1 as clearly shown in Figure 4.

For the purpose of adjusting the collar vertically, there is provided a pair of adjusting clamps 17 adjacent each side of front center of the collar and angled vertically with 60 respect thereto as clearly shown in the drawings. As these clamps 17 are of identical construction only one will be described in detail. The clamps comprise an upper member 18 comprising a flat metal strip 19 riveted at 20 at its upper end to the upper section 1 adjacent its upper 65 edge and having an elongated slot 21 running from adjacent the rivet 20 to a point adjacent the lower end of the strip 19. A lower member 22 of the clamp 17 similar in general shape to the upper member 18 is riveted at 23 at its lower end to the lower section 2 adjacent the lower edge 70 thereof. The lower member 22 also has an elongated slot 24 similar to the slot 21 in the upper member 18. As the clamps are mounted outside the collar the members

2,801,630 thereof are of such a length they will overlap a portion of their length. The upper end of the lower member 22 is provided with a terminal angled tongue 25 which has a sliding fit in the elongated slot 21 in the upper member 18 for the purpose of slidably interlocking the members 18 and 22 when positioned as shown. The tongue 25 is held in the slot by lateral tongues 25' as shown in Figure 7.

For the purpose of adjusting the clamps 17 to vary the effective height of the collar there is provided a metal screw 26 positioned through the slot 24 of the lower member 22 and engageable in a threaded opening 27 at the lower end of the member 18 below the slot 21. By releasing the screw 26 the members 18 and 22 may be adjusted vertically to move the sections 1 and 2 of the collar toward or from each other and thus adjust the collar to the desired height. When this point is ascertained the screw 26 is tightened to clamping position. The riveted connections and slots by which the sections 1 and 2 are secured together previously described permit the vertical adjustment of the plastic collar just described without bending the set configuration of the same.

In use the collar is snugly arranged around the patient’s neck. The properly adjusted buckle 5 on the strap 3 is engaged with the fastener 6 to secure the collar in position. When so arranged the curved lower edge of the section 2 of the collar rests upon the patient’s chest and curved upper edge engages the patient’s head beneath the chin and around the back of the neck. Thus the weight of the patient’s head is supported by the collar on the chest and shoulders to take the load off the neck muscles and the movement of the head is restricted. The collar may be vertically adjusted or tilted by the means described to secure the desired hyperextension. The collar being formed of sheet plastic material is provided with ventilating openings 28 through the upper and lower sections 1 and 2.

This invention provides a very simple, economical and extremely light form of easily positioned and adjusted orthopedic appliance. The weight of the patient’s head is carried entirely by this substantially unitary structure resting on the chest and shoulders of the patient and the neck muscles are relieved of any strain in maintaining the desired hyperextension. The rigidity of the sheet plastic material from which the collar is formed is sufficient to accomplish the desired purpose supplemented by the clamps 17.

Although the improved cervical collar has been illustrated and described herein to a detailed extent, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be regarded as limited correspondingly in scope, but includes all variations coming within the terms of the appended claims.